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.
|