Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying has seemed to been arising as more and more teens are able to interact with each other. Because this socially interactive technology is available to us 24/7, students are bringing their school lives homes and taunting other students. It is a shame that many students are under as much pressure to be forced into committing suicide. It is also appalling that all of this is taking place with parents not being knowledgeable of what is happening in their children’s lives. We cannot blame parents though, because if their children want to hide something, they will and it is the parent’s responsibility to interact and communicate with their children in order to find this information out. What I would like to know is why hasn’t this topic been drawn to the attention of schools and made more important. Students and school faculty should be made aware that this is something that is happening and something needs to be done. Of course, we have all experienced peer pressure, but home has been the safe haven where those who are pressured go in refuge. Now, they are under attack everywhere they turn because of cyber space. There is always good and bad to technology, and this is one of those bad moments.

Observing Observations

Based on a h.w. assignment, we were supposed to observe ourselves daily and document all the technology / new media that we used throughout the day and record if it was necessary to use it or not. I found that because of the advancement of technology, most of the technology that I interact with is necessary and I didn’t know what should be done if I didn’t have that specific medium. From checking my emails, bank account statuses, and paying bills online, I have become so accustomed to do doing these things, that I could not even imagination myself doing it otherwise. I don’t even remember when online banking did not exist!! I am trying to go back into time to where I had to go to the bank to make transfers, and simply can’t remember!! Technology has made it easier for us to advance in the future and do things easier, but has terminated the things we do in the past. If we were to stop using technology, I feel we would be going backwards. What do you think?

Growing Up Online

From watching Frontline’s Growing Up Online documentary, I must say that I learned much and gained insight into the perspective of parents who are simply worried about the well being of their children. It is true that we (teens and adults) have turned social networks such as MySpace and Facebook into “digital hangouts: and are living our lives online. Facebook is a very addicting site that keeps you “in synch” with the lives of your friends and family. I do agree with the researchers who think that teenagers are living double lives and have taken on an extra persona outside of who they portray themselves as in front of their parents. Teenagers mostly do this because they aren’t judged in Facebook, especially since their peers are all doing the same and because the internet is a willing listener AT ANY TIME.

As they have been called, “Generation Facebook” is most definitely immersed in a virtual world that will continue to grow and evolve. Their children in the future may only rely on technology and not know or understand the traditional way of doing things.

The documentary also speaks about the revolution in the classroom and teachers having the need to be as interactive with the students as necessary. In a sense they have to compete with all the students' technological devices because once you lose their attention, they are gone!! I was once a high school student, and even though cell phones were prohibited in school, we all found a way to get our cell phones into the school and would text each other throughout the day and even in class. When teenagers want something, they will do whatever they can to get it.

Another thing I would like to focus on is where is the line drawn with parents and their kids privacy? As a teenager, I wanted nothing more than to be as independent as possible and for my mom to respect my property. Of course she didn't, and was always snooping around my stuff, but teens these days want so much privacy but are doing wrong things with it. Where should the line be drawn? when should the parents intervene? Some should be monitored until they reach an age to understand that they cannot reveal too much information about themselves because times have changed and there are predators out there who will try their best to get another young naive teen... Think about it....