“Growing up Online,” produced and directed by Rachel Dretgin evaluates how the Internet has effected the new generation of teens. She embellishes the fearlessness teens have when they go online, in a couple of the interviews it was described as an “alter ego.” A point made clear in the video was the secrecy of their personality; particularly the parents were the ones kept in the dark. One teen created a whole new image of her online as a model named Autumn Edows, the girl said it was her niche in society, how she was able to fit in. In another case a young girl with an eating disorder would go to online support groups for people obsessed with being thin. The girls literally worshipped being thin and would share bingeing and purging secrets. Dretgin also showed other negative episodes that were the after math of conflict on social networking sites, such as fights at school, suicide, youth posting inappropriate pictures. At a point in the video Dretgin begins to add the parental insight to teens involvement on the Internet. Many parents were completely oblivious to what their kids online indulgent. Some attempted to monitor their online activities but were cunningly outsmarted by the kids themselves who knew how to get around child blocks. What were apparent while watching were the trust parents had in their kids, how little they knew, and unaware of the trouble their kids were getting into. I thought it was interesting how teachers have been practicing online safety with the students, and how most students today know how to avoid online predators. This video does well at making people aware of dangers of online social networking, by showing real life experiences. Also I appreciate how the video doesn’t ever choose a side on the issue, not making all people who use social networking sites. Its made clear that the Internet is here to stay, but makes you aware of issues that should be taken into consideration.
Internet and media have had an impact on my life, but I consider myself lucky because I haven’t grown up with television or high speed Internet. It was available no doubt, but my parents always encouraged my brothers and I to take part in outdoor activities instead. But now that these resources are available to me I do use them, but in a limited way. It annoys me how addicted people are to facebook and myspace, especially in teenaged years when they should be outside or in person with friend, building social skills. Internet has made learning more efficient though, research has become easier by Internet, and teachers are able to show their students more because of new technology like projectors, and smart boards. Budget has an effect on the amount of technology in schools, my high school can barely afford new textbooks, but in my old school almost every classroom had a smart board, and brand new computers. Internet and media can offer many benefits to students, but overindulgence in social networking is unnecessary.