Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Response to Frontline: Growing Up Online


The PBS Frontline program, Growing Up Online, brought to life some of the startling realities of how teenagers and all youth interact on the internet. Through social media networking sites like Facebook, myspace or twitter, teens can now operate their social lives from the comfort of a desk chair in front of a computer, without ever having to engage in any sort of social activity or interpersonal communication.
I personally view my generation as one of the earliest to be exposed to the world of socializing via social media. I have felt some of the symptoms described by students and observed by parents in their children such as trouble focusing in classes and lectures. This is a symptom that I know many of my friends and peers have also acknowledged suffering, and one that may be tied into our generation’s need to be connected at all times. We rely on our cell phones and laptops to communicate with others, often substituting actual human interaction completely by utilizing the technology.
            While I generally view the internet in a positive light, this segment has shown some serious issues plaguing the youth in the United States. I noticed that the narrator and many of the parents interviewed used words like “frightening” or “startling” when describing what impacts they learned internet use had been having on their children. While I don’t often associate these words with internet browsing, the Frontline segment shows how harmful this media can be to unsuspecting youth. 

2 comments:

  1. I think internet as positive. It's just depend on how youth using the Internet. Children have trouble focusing in class and lecture anyways, no matter if there's internet or not. There's always something will distract them. They can't focus because they don't have strong sense of concentration.
    I think internet use is not Frightening or startling too. It is on the user of the internet who go on dangerous website and have low alertness. I never met anyone or getting any trouble on internet. And my parents never worry about it. So the parents from the interviewed need to teach their kids who should do and what shouldn't do on the internet.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think internet as positive. It's just depend on how youth using the Internet. Children have trouble focusing in class and lecture anyways, no matter if there's internet or not. There's always something will distract them. They can't focus because they don't have strong sense of concentration.
    I think internet use is not Frightening or startling too. It is on the user of the internet who go on dangerous website and have low alertness. I never met anyone or getting any trouble on internet. And my parents never worry about it. So the parents from the interviewed need to teach their kids who should do and what shouldn't do on the internet.

    ReplyDelete