Growing Up Online
I recently finished watching Frontline:
Growing Up Online. It is a compelling
look at how teens engage with the internet in the
US. It looks at the effects of social network
sites (like Facebook & MySpace) on youth
culture and suggests that just as we learn social
interaction skills so do we need to learn online
skills. One of the biggest insights I felt was the
distinction between how adults and teens interact
with the web. For adults it is a place we go for
additional services, be it shopping, emailing, or
gathering information. For teens the internet is
just a natural progression of their daily
interaction with friends. To not have it is to be
isolated. The 45 minute documentary is well worth
your time and is available to view online
for free or can be purchased from
iTunes for $1.99.
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