Adolescents and teenagers are being exposed to technology faster than ever before. With Social Media websites such as Facebook and MySpace, teenagers around the world are socializing and creating hangouts that are causing concern to the common Public. In a documentary called "Growing Up Online" from Frontline, a public affairs television program that produces videos on various subjects, the program discusses the growth of the Internet and how the common teenager is growing up with such technology. The presentation shows that many issues are rising from the Internet. Although the Film was produced in New Jersey, the contents and facts from the film can be seen around the world.
One of the main issues the documentary talks about is how most of these teenagers cannot live without the Internet. Over ninety percent of teenagers use the internet which undermines the idea that most parents do not have control over what their kids are doing on the Web. These teenagers go to the web to complain about their lives, parents, and their problems and isolate themselves from family gatherings and actual hangouts. One of the teenagers in the movie named Greg even states that the Internet is a form of "Currency". If you don't use it, your behind everyone else. Another issue that comes from the Internet are websites like Sparknotes in which students decrease their time for reading and studying. Most teenagers lose focus in school and spend most their hours on the internet.
The most biggest concern with teenagers using the Internet is interacting with Strangers (Predators or Stalkers) or Cyber bullying. Many students in the documentary showed that they have been involved in online fights and have seen some of them turn into real brawls in school. There are many Sexual Predators online and as Jess's Father explained, there are no safe guards. Seeing suicides from teenagers such as Ryan from the internet has shown the masses that Cyber Bullying and Predators are something to be taken seriously. The Internet has created the biggest generation gap the world has ever seen. Issues such as Parental Isolation, Decrease in School Performance, Sexual Predators, and Cyber Bullying are only some of the many issues that arise from the documentary and being on the web. Parents and Institutions need to take action before these issues become out of hand.
Yes, I agree that the parents should take action, one action is to monitor their children as much as possible. As for the institution, they should take action whenever a situation is bought to their attention and try to resolve any issues before it elevates.
ReplyDeleteAlthough many parents that dont know about what thier children are doing online, the small amount that do still dont have much control of whats going on . I agree with you on how the internet is like a trap when u say thier stuck to it. I myself am stuck on the net and if i were to be off it for a while, life seems to be more boring and not much things can be done. i would also like to add that the internet seems to make us more lazy instead of going out to the park were online chatting and posting pitures etc.
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