Growing Up Online Michelle Krueger

I agree with regards to the video Growing up on line produced and directed by Rachel Dretzin. This video discuss the advantages and disadvantages of children’s having open access to internet and the problems it has caused at home, school, social media as well as ing. Whilst everyone is entitle to their opinions, I feel strongly agree with the negative consequences. I would therefore like to explain in more details the arguments about this video.

As I mentioned before, the open access to internet for children’s has brought some negative consequences. First, at home we see how children’s lock their selves in the room to use the computer and most of the times when parents walk into the room they want to change their screen or hide what there are doing. The reason behind this is because they had found a different world where they can be and act in a way that they wouldn’t in front of their parents and their friends. They find people who they can’t talk to about eating disorders, sex preferences, family problems, among other topics without been judge. They also feel more free and outgoing on the internet. This are negative reactions and consequences because we should be able to talk to our parents or someone close to us every time that we need to. We will get better advice from someone that is part of our life’s and care for us rather than form a stranger. Second, internet at school has distract them from concentrate on the topics that they have to learn. While the teachers are talking and going over the class the children’s are searching for websites that are not related to the topic. They are going to my space, Facebook, sites that are probably not allow at home and also they might be playing games while in class. Even though is the teacher’s responsibilities to supervise them and make sure they stay focus in class, it is very hard to be able to do so. The time is limited and they can’t spend the time that is to teach to instead, be checking what they are doing. In the same way that you have some students who wants to play around, we have other ones that wants to learn and it is not fair for them not to have a full class of learning. Third, the internet in social media has caused a lot of postings and fights that it would have not happen if we have control over. Children’s now post any kind of comments, pictures, videos, etc. that brings different opinions and they can be very judgmental from others. This is how you can create fights over because some of them gets offended by the postings and especially if we are referring to any of them. This could also be another way of being someone different because they are acting behind the cameras and not in front of them. Last, we have the bulling and the suicide that this has brought. This is to me a very sad topic because I have my family and I don’t know what I would do if this happens to me. This relate a little with my first reference of internet at home. They feel free to talk to some else about their problems instead of going to their parents for help. Bulling is been a very strong issue for years now and we need to try our best as individuals to stop this from continue in the next generations. The internet has given access to them to go to different sites to talk to people about this and unfortunately to get the wrong advise. This has push them to search for different ways to commit suicide and the worst part is that you can find this on the internet.

In conclusion I would like to say that even I am agree with the negative consequences that the internet had bring to children’s, we have to recognize that our world today and in the future depends a lot on the internet. We as a family, teachers, friends, etc. are the ones that need to help them and teach them how use this amazing tool for our benefit. We have to show them support and trust so they can feel free to come to us for any problems.

References Growing Up Online Airdate: Jan. 22, 2008. PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio. WRITTEN BY Rachel Dretzin.