Reading Response 4 : "Growing up Online"

Through watching “Growing up Online” produced by Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio people see the affects the internet has had on teenagers in America. C. J. Pasco says "The Internet and the digital world was something that belonged to adults, and now it's something that really is the province of teenagers, " While watching “Growing up Online” we take a look at different teens private lives. We see what happens on Facebook, different networking sites, and different blog posts. The internet is affecting different ages. The older child would be on facebook, myspace , or other networking sites and the younger sibling would be playing games on the computer. The students that are using the internet describe it as addicting, hidden, and their way to get away from the real world. Parents concerns are always predators or pedophiles. Most parents don’t realize that students know what they are doing online and know how to avoid predators and other threats on the internet. Steve Maher a teacher at one of the schools says “We almost have to be entertainers,” he also says "They consume so much media. We have to cut through that cloud of information around them, cut through that media, and capture their attention." Teachers and parents are having to altar their ways of life to get students attention. “Growing up Online” shows us how the internet is affecting students and how parents and teachers are either learning to go along with the advancement of the internet or fight against it.
In my life I experience the internet everyday. The internet has made it so my life can revolve around it. If I’m not on Facebook I am either checking e-mail, myspace, doing homework or classes online, or listening to different songs on youtube. Also I help others with the internet. I usually have to help my parents or my grandma with different things on their facebooks, e-mails, different sites they like to visit. I also help with different things on their computers. Facebook is a way I get to communicate with friends that live in different states or are going to college in different places. Also I talk to many relatives through facebook. I will use the internet for watching different shows or movies. Also I am one of those students is always texting. If I don’t have my phone with me I feel like something is missing. Texting is one of the ways I get to talk to my friends everyday. Also everyone in my immediate family texts so it is easier for all of us to communicate when we are in different places. When doing homework I have to listen to music to get anything done. I also get distracted and go on facebook way too much, so homework takes me much longer than it probably should. My homework does get done eventually. As you can see technology has a big impact on my life. I’m trying to lessen my use of the internet and technology so I am not so dependent on it.