Growing Up Online Video Reflection

The video “Growing Up Online” was very reveling as to how dependent adolescences are on technology.  The video showed many occasions where technology was interfering with how the children live.  Since the majority of technology is a way a socially staying close to their peers, it can intensify peer pressure that used to only be an issue in school.  For example, one girl was shown in the video who got support and encouragement to be anorexic from online friends and blogs.  She knew her diet was dangerous, but because she got support and had friends she continued her behavior.  Another example the video presented was a boy who ended up committing suicide because of cyber bullying.  Before technology, kids would have an escape from peer pressure and bullying threats in their homes.  But now, since children are connected to each other all the time through IM, Facebook, email, chat rooms, and texting, there is no end to the relentless abuse of bullies.  The effects of bullying intensified now that there is no end to the cruelty.  Teacher used to be able to monitor the halls and be on guard for bullying, but now so many of students social interactions are not spoken out loud or even at school at all.  Our children need to learn to protect themselves from the dangers of these social technologies.  In my classroom I want to make sure my students are educated on safe Internet use.  It is a wonderful resource and should not be mistreated.  Just like teachers stop harmful social interaction at school by supervising recess and passing time, we also need to protect the children when teachers cannot be present.  As the video showed, adolescence are increasing reliant on technology. If I want to educate my students to prepare them to succeed outside my classroom I must educate them on this vital component of their lives.  Internet safety is a priority in my classroom.