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 think the parents of the children that were apart of the initial launching were so excited to be able to have connectivity around the world and information at their finger tips were like a baby experiencing grass for the first time. This group was maybe somewhat cautious in their exploration of the unknown, explored information and didn't think of this as a place to “live” and communicate. Today the online world is the only place that some people/children feel as if they can truly connect with someone as their “true” self. Social media has created a venue for children to pursue interests that a parent may not approve us however unless they get caught they can dive deep. Children know how to provide false identities to can access to a world with limitless avenues and that is terrifying for a parent. Even children who grow up in homes where communication is open and engaging feel the pressures of wanting their own identify and place to voice their opinion without parental restrictions or consequences. Our kids are given smart phones and the ability to snap a picture and put it out there for anyone and everyone to see; there is no such thing as privacy. Children are smart and will partner with friends who know how to get around the privacy parental controls and go about their way; how do we contain an entity with no boundaries outside of pulling the plug. My biggest wonder is who guards or owns the switch?
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.
I think the student said it plain and simple; you can’t stop the students from accessing these online “cheats”. I think we need to be proactive and teach our kids as soon as we expect them to research and create reports on how to cite other people’s work and show them the respect for their knowledge and not taking the credit ourselves. I know that it was not ever taught to me how to cite other people’s work or if it was it never took. I knew that if I were to copy another person’s work it was cheating and I could have major consequences for my choices; and honestly I was the person writing papers for others and getting paid for it in High School because I liked writing and it made me feel connected to all types of people. I am grateful for the online resources and programs to assist teachers today to detect plagiarism and stealing other people’s work however we cannot control a students character and integrity; what we can do it teach them integrity and the beauty in written work and hopefully be able to combine technology and literacy in a way that both methods are honored and implemented. I hope that as I get into a classroom that I am able to be open to a student’s way of forming their opinion’s and yet allow them to refer to other’s work as long as it is cited. Do I see it as cheating if not, absolutely, however I intend of using those moments as ways to further educate and provide opportunity rather than punitive action.
3.) In your opinion, should he feel guilty? Why or why not?
I do think he should feel guilty because he is taking credit for other people’s work and missing out on a literary experience by actually reading the books. I related to this student so much but without the technology piece involved; I did not enjoy reading and would take every short cut possible in obtaining information about the book instead of taking the time to read it. I always felt guilty however I just drove past that guilt and focused on what I wanted to do at the time. I love reading today and have a whole list of reads I should have read back in my high school days that I incorporate into my life and I think wow would I have gotten this back then? Kids know right and wrong just as I did back in my younger years however there is so much more accessibility today than ever.
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?
In my opinion our world idolizes the wrong thing and for me anything that takes away from the only person we should be worshipping is our Creator. Again, that looks very different in cultures and person to person however George Clooney only has a bigger bank account and house than I do and is doing a job that he hopefully loves. I enjoy watching him on the big screen however I do not view him or any other “celebrity” over myself as a human being. I consider people battling illness and still helping others celebrities but we don’t hear about them in our news every morning, just the really BIG ones. Youtube can make anyone and everyone a celebrity depending upon who is putting you or them upon the pedestal. Our values are tarnish, ripped and totally distorted because if what is being said is true then no one is their real self in person and can only freely be themselves on line. How sad that we have let technology invade our morals and values and convince our youths that this is the main place that they should share themselves. I journal, I create and I do have my own personal space on my computer however I don’t feel as if I don’t communicate these same feelings with my husband, family and friends; and I certainly have no need or desire to share it with the world. Even if the internet was not available we would still idolize someone or something; it just might take longer for it to travel the lines of communication. We have children idolizing eating disorders and finding others online that share the same passion and it continues to thrive and grow; the disease is what I mean. I think if a person/child creates a blog or website and displays their creativity and thoughts its great; however the moment anyone feels as if they would need to hide it from anyone that is where red flags go up for me. I believe the fact that Autumn felt the need to dress sexually and post provocative pictures online (regardless if they were “less revealing” that what she has seen should have told her to stop. Today people don’t think long term they want the quick fix, quick feel good moment and unfortunately they forget this stuff will be out there forever, I guess that’s the point to them…..right?
5.) 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).
With the expectation of our children bringing their own devices to school and the ability for anyone to take a video or picture without you knowing is just alarming and frustrating as a parent and can devastate a child no matter the age. Parents are not digital natives however we need to be in tune with what is going on in our schools and our children’s social circles whether that be linking to them on social sites which means that we open ourselves up for their viewing. Samantha Milan was being bullied face to face at school and then the person took a picture of her and posted it on Instagram with a nasty title and it’s out there and she could do nothing about it. The humiliation and pain she felt is horrible and it can’t be taken back, ever! I think a key line in this video/article is that children are saying, “I was just kidding.” I hear that a lot from my own son who says he is just kidding/teasing when I know he isn’t; we are so quick to be cruel or hurtful that we don’t stop and think before we speak and even worse now click a picture or video and post.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/watch-out-cyber-bullies-kids-have-new-tools-to-fight-back/
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 at their house." In her quote, this teen is describing Suler’s disinhibition effects. Which one do you think it is, and why?
I would classify this as dissociative imagination because she is seeing it as just a game and would never do such a thing in real life. Even though anonymity was not apart of the scenario above the girl still viewed it as the online life and not real life even though the boys she flirts with may see it otherwise.
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?
I have thought many of times to just let it all go and live without any technology and then realized that would be rather foolish because that is not the world we live in today. However I do have the ability to say no to social media, gaming and time spent on the computer and on line. It is not a problem for me as I enjoy the outdoors and many other activities however I did not grow up with this being a tool for enjoyment or care taking as many children today.
Do you think it would be easy or difficult for you personally? I don’t think it would be as hard as I think it would. We have a lake house that does not have connectivity with cell phones and when I am there it is magical. Our whole family connects in silence, in games, in hikes and many more activities. Technology is not a problem when we are there because it is crippled and yet when we drive back to home as soon as we are “in range” we all plug back in….it’s sad.
What would you enjoy or dislike about disconnecting? What I would enjoy is the closeness it brings to our family when sounds are going off for messages, the phone is not ringing and the thought of what did I miss in a post would be gone. My children have such a huge void if they cannot see what their friends are posting on Instagram; I have to constantly ask is this life changing? I am blessed because at this time my son is in middle school and I have yet to lose him to his room for hours on end; I can only hope that how we interact with him has taken root and he doesn’t want to shut us out. I know it will come to some degree at some point however we are all open with our phones, tablets and messaging that we do not hide. What I would not like by disconnecting is being able to have access to someone in case of an emergency or be able to truly locate where my family is by click of the button. Yes it is quite “Big Brother” monitoring however when you have had your husband experience two life threatening accidents the anxiety of not knowing can be crippling.
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