Growing Up Online

This documentary spends time investigating the aspects of the internet that affect teens and parents alike. The video speaks about a concerned mother that would like to be involved in her student’s online life. Addressed is the teens desire for privacy. Parents lack of involvement in the teens internet lives, including suicide, Autum Edows alternative life. The video really makes you think about what you need to be aware of and conscience of. Fear is not used as a motivator for parents but the story aims to make everyone think about how engrained in the internet. 1. A survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that in 2004, 67 percent of parents said the Internet has been a good thing for their children. However, this number decreased to 59 percent in 2006. In 2012, 69% of parents of online teens said they were concerned about how their child’s online activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities, with some 44% being “very” concerned. Cite some reasons why parental support for their children’s independent internet use is decreasing. Why do you think the number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their children has decreased? I believe that as teens spend more time on line either gaming or socializing, we are starting to see decreases in several key aspects of human interaction that will have long lasting effects on society as we know it. The first issue that I would think parents should be afraid of it the lack of imagination. Internet kids have so many things on the net that can stimulate or entertain them that they do not need to go outside and invent ways to entertain themselves or others. Children currently do not have the ability to “see” a solution to a problem. These students are more intent on a teacher, parent or some one else telling them the solution than being able to imagine a solution. This is worrying parent because of the founded or unfounded fears that kids will become unable to function or will be come unable to cope with the things that happen in “real’ life. 2. More teachers are using tools to try to detect cheating or deter students’ inclination to cheat. In the program, we see the use of plagiarism-detection tools like Turnitin.com and writing assignments completed during class time to make sure students do their own work and generate their own ideas. How can we as educators stop students from using material they found online as their own work? Should that be considered cheating, in your opinion? I am not sure as educators that you can completely eliminate all information that students find on the internet. I believe that turnitin.com is a great start to ensure that a student’s work is theirs. How ever I know that in the theatrical design side of my life that I often use the internet to find materials or ways of solving peculiar problems that arise while building a show. I feel that we should encourage our students to use the internet as a creditable resource and then tech them how to properly site their sources so that credit goes where it belongs. 3. One student claims he "never reads books" but relies on summaries and annotated notes he finds on Web sites. He confesses that he feels guilty about this, stating, "I feel like I kind of cheated it." In your opinion, should he feel guilty? Why or why not? I do believe he should feel guilty. He did cheat. The assignment was to read the book Hamlet. He did not read the book. The issue will arise if assessments were written differently and included very subtle questions about symbolism and hidden undertones. These students will not be able to answer these from Spark notes. Students need to understand that as their academic careers move on Spark notes and other short cuts are not the answer. 4. Before the Internet, in order to be seen by the world, you had to be portrayed in some form of mass media, and you had to be famous in some respect -- in the news, in politics or as a celebrity. Now anyone can be seen online by anyone else in the world. Some people have become famous for videos or photos they’ve posted (such as Autumn Edows). In your opinion, should people like Edows, or others who become “ famous” through their online presence, be considered “celebrities?” Has the ability to create an online persona, and receive worldwide attention for it, affected our cultural values? Fame depends on your individual definition of fame. Individuals in my generation may define fame as someone who has exhibited bravery or has made several movies that have been box office smashes. Younger generations seem to define fame as something much more fleeting. Someone’s YouTube video goes viral and that individual is famous for a second. The cultural values issue is one that again I believe is defined differently. Older generations would say that cultural values are being affect due to the ease of becoming famous. Younger generations would say that there is no effect at all on cultural values. Theirs are different than our cultural values. 5. Shows like "To Catch a Predator" on Dateline NBC (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10912603/) contribute to parental anxiety about online media. It is obvious that certain elements of programs like “To Catch a Predator,” and even this documentary, will likely increase parents’ fears. Cite one current event from the past year where a young person has been affected (positively or negatively) by being active online. (find a link to a news story, describe it in your answer to this question, and provide the link as well). Click here to see an example of what I’m looking for: http://www.startribune.com/nation/254228371.html (Please do some research on your own and find a story other than Rebecca Sedwick's...her story is probably the most famous cyberbullying case to date.) http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/14/17747411-california-case-another-three-part-tragedy-of-rape-cyber-bullying-and-suicide?lite This is a news story about a 15 year old girl in California that became intoxicated and was apparently raped at a party. The next day the youth found many pictures, posts and emails about the rape. She found out that the boys who raped here where supposed to be her friends. She found all of this information and made a post that her life was ruined where she committed suicide. 6. Teasing, lying, gossiping, threatening, spreading rumors or harassing online (and offline)can severely affect people’s self-concept and self-esteem and have an impact on their emotional state. In the program, we see one girl who describes flirting with boys and then revealing she was just kidding. She explains: "You wouldn’t do that to someone’s face, but online is completely different. ... No one can do anything. You’re at your house, they’re e at their house." In her quote, this teen is describing Suler’s disinhibition effects. Which one do you think it is, and why? Dissociative Anonymity is Suler’s disinhibition that this girl is describing. She speaks about the fact she is flirting with these boys and then stating that she is just kidding. She also state that she is at her house and they are at theirs. No one can do anything. She is disassociating herself from the issues or bad things she is saying. She does not see any real consequences to her actions. 7. At the end of the program, Greg decides it’s time for him to "disconnect" by going to the Coast Guard Academy, where he will spend seven weeks without cell phones or the Internet. Have you ever thought about "disconnecting" from it all? Do you think it would be easy or difficult for you personally? What would you enjoy or dislike about disconnecting? Disconnecting has crossed my mind several times. I face some very hectic times and I have often wondered what would happen if I gave up my phone and the ability to text. I have no huge attachment to the internet except the required email for our district grade book. I could really care less about facebook, or twitter. I am old enough to remember before pagers, cell phone and the internet did not exist outside the educational world. I would love to find out how my family would do with disconnecting. I could see a lessening of stress and anxiety from being out of touch. I would be going home and actually