Growing Up Online

Tonight I watched a Frontline documentary called "Growing Up Online." It was about the internet, and how it has been such a big part of our lives growing up. It was both fascinating and alarming learning how the internet has affected me and my generation. 

Ever since I was in fourth grade, the internet has been a part of my life. It started with aol instant messenger, went to journaling on xanga, to myspace, to facebook, and now to twitter. Nine years of me being a part of the online world, nine years of me being susceptible to stalkers and bullies. However, it did not change that fact I still got online.

This documentary truly opened my eyes to seeing the different threats and issues out there when it comes to adolescents being on the internet. For one, communication skills have deteriorated over the years. Kids now do not know what to do without their cell phones, and have trouble having a face-to-face conversation. There are predators and stalkers online, lurking in chatrooms, waiting to find their next victim. Finally, cyber bullying has contributed to many school suspensions, and unfortunately suicides. 

I'm not saying parents should have a panic attack and find out all of their kid's passwords, and lock the computers up. What I'm saying is parents need to educate their kids more about the dangers of the internet, without making them feel like they are constantly breathing down their necks. We live in a day and age that the internet and social media isn't going away. We are going to have to learn how to deal and live with it, regardless of the dangers and threats out there.