PBS Presentation:
Social networking is what we call the new generation of living life. Without computers and Internet usage there would be no fun for a teenager. It's true when the boy says everyone uses spark notes for their book reading assignments. To be honest with you that is the way I got through high school. While we are in computer science lab the professor assumes that we are talking on AIM or checking our facebooks. There's no way out of it. It's just an addiction. Another way of social networking would be cellphones. Cellphones are a major problem inside and outside the classroom. Inside the classroom when someone pulls out a phone you know they are either texting or checking their facebook on the net through their phone. I won't lie, I do the same exact thing. But we don't realize until we get home that we missed out on something important on class notes and now we have to suffer for it. Teenagers don't really know what happens on the net. Identity is a huge problem for teenagers. They publicize their pictures and have no idea who they are going to if the person is a complete stranger. "If it's on the net, it's open for everyone. There are no secrets" One statement a mom of four said which I believe is completely true. Teenagers want to keep their private lives fro the Internet away from their parents. "What do your parents know?" ANSWER: "NOTHING." Networking is a real risk factor. Parents should watch what their kids are doing but to an extent. I mean teenagers do need their privacy but also should be aware of what they are doing can be harmful to the outside world.
Obama Campeign: How Obama Did It:
Social Networking is so popular that it even helped President Obama in his election campaign to raise money. The people created many social networking sites for Obama and i feel as if it helped him a lot throughout his election. It was a good way to get out to the public individually. The public follow up on these social networking sites which leads to more people liking the Obama Administration. The whole point of these networking sites for Obama was to raise money and make Obama on top which was a really brilliant idea. For this type of usage for the internet seems as a really good idea as opposed to the way the teenagers go about using the internet as a social tool for the wrong ideas.
Second Life:
On the other hand students use Ssecond Llife to explore the virtual world. It's a place to be someone you want to be and explore the life you want. It's education and used for business purposes unlike the other social network places we've heard about. It puts the users into a different place where they want to be. Being in Second Life makes you think what the real world really is about and how to explore also what to expect.
You've pointed out a lot of social observations that I completely agree with. Social networking is practically everywhere now and you're right - completely unavoidable.
ReplyDeleteObama did use social networking to a full advantage as part of his campaign strategy. Is he the first? No. But was it effective? Yes. He raised a lot of money this way. Previous candidates have tried social networking, but not to the level that Obama took it. He raised so much money...
Social Life is a great way of easing traumatized kids into participating in real life social situations.. but don't you think it has negative effects too?
I disagree with your statement, "without computers and Internet usage there would be no fun for a teenager." I don't think that teenagers use these things for fun but as a way to occupy their time, and stay connected with everyone who is on the other end of their computers. Not that is is so much as "fun". I think it would just make it harder for teens to communicate, we would have to confront everyone either in person or on the phone. People who do this online don't need to respond right away, they can easily see what one said and ignore them, or sign off. It's much easier to do that than hang up on someone or walk away. I also feel that their would be more socialization going on in schools and/or class, instead of one texting their friends from wherever they would be making new friends with the people around them, and get out of their "little bubbles". However I do find the internet and things such as aim and facebook help socializing a little bit, because instead of being on the phone with one person you can type to a list people who happen to be online as the same time as you. I feel it is the parents job to go look up their childs facebook and see what they are doing. The child is most of the time not going to tell the parent. This lets the parent see what the child is saying, who they're talking with and what pictures they are posting. And if theyre is something wrong with one of those the parent would notice and should bring it up to the child and explain why something isn't such a good idea.
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