Growing Up Online
The PBS presentation looked at various ways that social networking has affected and altered the ways in which adolescents now grow up. An important change that stood out was the way that bullying now affects teens. Before the use of social media, if someone was being bullied in school, he could escape it at the end of the day when he went home. Now, bullying no longer has to take place in person with taunts to their face; bullies can post hateful messages online anonymously anytime, anywhere. As kids spends most of their time online, it would be difficult to escape bullying, as it now leaks outside of school.
Another notable way that the internet and social networking has affected teens is the way it allows people to be their true selves, usually unknown to their parents and friends. One girl, Jessica, created an online persona that was completely different from herself, allowing her to receive compliments and adoration that she never received in real life. When her parents found out and forced her to delete her site, it made her realize how quickly her online persona just disappeared as if it never existed. She was devastated because the only good thing in her life was her site and the positive comments she received.
Another notable way that the internet and social networking has affected teens is the way it allows people to be their true selves, usually unknown to their parents and friends. One girl, Jessica, created an online persona that was completely different from herself, allowing her to receive compliments and adoration that she never received in real life. When her parents found out and forced her to delete her site, it made her realize how quickly her online persona just disappeared as if it never existed. She was devastated because the only good thing in her life was her site and the positive comments she received.
I really like your positive intake on this documentary. I do also feel like the internet is a great way someone can express themselves. I too feel like I can express myself way more on social media. The only downside is that children don’t realize how dangerous it can be sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way towards the internet. We are a growing society. I like how you appreciate what the internet allows us to do nowadays, in the past we did not have this technology. People are allowed to express themselves and their feelings to the whole world in seconds. This allows us to find people with same interest and beliefs and chat from across nations.
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