Growing up Online

A recent documentary was done on the effects that the internet has on children growing up called “Growing up Online.” This video was mainly focused around teenagers and children, but also shared the adult perspective on their experiences with technology. Some teachers like Steve Maher, have stated that it has become a job not only to teach but to also entertain the students because of the media world we live in and cut through it to capture their attention. Online hangouts have taken over real world hangouts. For some people like Jessica, it has become a place where they can be someone else and find someone who has the same interests and likes them for who they are. It is not, however, necessarily a place that they would want their parents to see what they are doing. For parents like Evan Skinner, she states that, “My fear isn’t that I have bad kids, my fear is that my good kids will make a bad decision; one bad judgment and pay for it permanently.” From the parents perspective they want to protect their children from doing bad things on the internet because anyone can see it and not just the intended crowd. From other people’s perspective, they do not view the children as victims, but as participants in what goes on, on the internet. As Evan Skinner learned, if parents do anything to try and help protect their children’s innocence online, they can be praised for their efforts, but inevitably crucified for their actions. The internet is a new frontier for the new generation of children and even parents can seldom save their children from its vast power.

My life, as well as many other teenagers my age, almost revolves around technology. School itself demands the knowledge of technology and its use on a daily base. The internet is how I receive assignments and grades as well as updates on what is coming up so I don’t forget like school functions. In my free time I usually am watching TV, playing video games, am on the computer, or am out with friends. The majority of my life is spent behind a screen in which I have fast and fluid information at my fingertips. If I were to do a documentary I would find out the effects that technology has on teenagers of today and compare it with the world of just ten years ago. Technology is quickly changing and with it so do the people behind it.