Part 1: Internet in the Home (Living Their Lives Essentially Online)
1.1. What is your initial reaction to the program? What did you like or dislike about it?
My initial reaction to this program is that it all seems to be exaggerated. In the beginning it is talking about what the program entails. All the examples of the risks of the Internet and being online are very extreme and they only show the very negative side of being online. What I mostly disliked about the program is that it sounds like it represents every young person that is online (The program shows young children and teenagers, implicating that everybody is like that online.). It does not show an objective view of children online. What I did like about the program is that, although I think it exaggerates, it does bring more awareness to the parents and children about the possible risks of being online.
1.2. At home, how often are you online? At school, how often are you online? What percentage of the time do you think you spend: Doing homework? Chatting with friends? Updating your profile? Playing games? Surfing/looking up stuff you’re interested in? Downloading music? Uploading/downloading videos?
At home,on average I am about two hours a day online. At school however, I am almost never online. The only way that I would be online is for checking my e-mails during lunch. Every weekday, I spend about 35% on my homework, 20% chatting with friends ( this number has increased since I live in Japan, since I am far away from my friends, my dad and the rest of my family.), 5% updating my profile, 10% playing games, 30% surfing or looking up the stuff that I am interested in. I spend no time on downloading music or videos. This is because I do not have downloading programs on my computer and because my siblings (older brother and my sister) do this for me.
1.3. 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. Why do you think the number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their children has decreased?
I think parents have become more aware of the possible dangers. This is mainly due to the excessive news coverage, media attention and more cases of online predators or other things actually happening. Also, parents may have altered their opinion about the Internet because their children might spend too much time on the Internet, and no time on schoolwork. Internet can be an enormous distraction leaving less or no time for schoolwork. Another reason might be that children may have become too dependent on the Internet and they might not be willing to leave the house. Their behavior might become anti-social as they are spending their time in front of a computer.
1.4. In the opening of the program, we see boys gathering to collaboratively play a military style videogame. What characteristics of a computer make it different from other media in the home, such as television, stereo/radio, magazines and books? How do these characteristics influence:
How the computer is used in the home?
Although you are sitting alone in front of the computer, you are still able to interact with friends and others. Instead of socializing with your family, you will be in front of a computer and still feeling like you are being social.
Who uses the computer?
Mostly young people will use the computer, since their friends are online (as said in the program: 90% of the teenagers are online). Parents will not use the computer as much since they (most likely) do not have as many friends online.
Where the computer is placed?
Often the computer will be placed in the teenager’s bedroom. This is because of three reasons: -Parents may not want the noise or the mess (with all the cables) of a computer in their living room -The child would want the computer in his room to increase his or her privacy. When the computer is located in his or her room, there is no possibility of the parent watching. -With the computer in his or her room, the teenager will be able to access the computer easier.
How much the computer is used?
The computer will be used very often because it is a way of teenagers talking to their friends. Since they can talk to each other all night, the amount of computer usage will increase. Also, while doing their homework on a computer, at the same time they might be online. This might distract them from their work, which increases the amount of time they spend on the computer. Besides talking to friends online, teenagers can do almost everything on the computer; play games, watch movies, listen to music, etc. Therefore a teenager might spend almost all evening on the computer.
1.5. In the introduction to the program, the narrator says: “This is Morris County, N.J., but it could be anywhere in America. Here, like in the rest of the country, some 90 percent of teenagers are online, a number that’s still growing.” From what you saw in the film, is Morris County indicative of a typical American community? Why or why not? Is it like your community?
I think this film represents a typical American community since it shows children at school, at home and in a community centre. These are the places children spend most of their time. Also, we got to see all sorts of students and from all ages. The program interviewed many different people with a variety of opinions, reflecting a broad perspective on computer and Internet usage. The vision that is created of the community is pretty much the same as my own community. Almost every teenager uses Internet and is online on a daily basis. In the film they state clearly that being online is part of everyday life. For the community that I live in, this is also true. The only part that was different from the typical American community and my own community is that in mine there is no community centre. But apart from this, the descriptions of both communities are very much alike.
1.6. Documentary programs, because they depict real people and real issues, are often framed as “the truth.” But documentary producers make decisions about how to tell a story just like producers of other media messages. Remember to take a step back and think about the decisions the producers made. Some questions to consider:
Who produced this film?
This film was produced by PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service. ‘PBS is a media enterprise that serves 356 public noncommercial television stations and reaches nearly 73 million people each week through on-air and online content.’ Since this film was made by a company that needs to attract viewers, there is a big possibility that some of the facts or stories within the film are exaggerated or twisted in some way to be able to make an interesting, appealing documentary.
Why did they produce it?
The main reason to produce this film was to create more public awareness. This topic became interesting for PBS because the issues of being online and predators on the Internet were starting to get a lot of attention in the media. So for PBS this was an ideal opportunity to attract viewers as it was a recent topic. In America there is a wide culture of parent involvement. The fear of predators appears to be pretty big there so by making a film about it, PBS assured itself of viewers.
Who is the target audience, and what techniques are used to appeal to that audience?
The main target audience for this film is the parents. This film is a way of alerting them of the dangers and possible threats that the Internet and being online might cause. By interviewing other parents that talk about their own experiences, Frontline is trying to create a connection to the viewers. Since both speaker and listener are parents, and therefore in somewhat the same situation, it is easier for the audience to relate to the subject. Also, they use videos and pictures that they found on things like Facebook, depicting the extreme ways some teenagers use Facebook to post somewhat inappropriate pictures. Frontline has also interviewed the author of the book ‘MySpace Unraveled’ and a woman who has a PhD Digital Youth Project UC from Berkeley. Since both of them seem to have much experience with the subject, the audience might take their word for it. But since the program is made to portray the negative effects of being online, what they are telling might be only part of the bigger picture.
Whose voices do we hear in the program; that is, who is portrayed, and what are their stories? Whose voices are left out – who do we hear less of or not at all?
We mostly hear parents and children that have an extreme online usage. The parents that are interviewed have all children that spend almost all their time online. Almost every parent that speaks is saying that their child does not realise the online dangers. The children that are being interviewed in the program all say that they know the dangers online and that they do not want their parents keeping an eye on them. But although they say they know the dangers, they all seem to have an extreme online usage. Who we do not hear in the program are parents who have no problems with their child using the Internet since they know he or she is using the Internet appropriately. Mostly the positive views of online usage have been left out.
What questions did the producers leave unasked? If you could interview one of the people featured in the documentary, what would you ask?
I would ask questions that put this issue into perspective. The program only shows a very negative side of online usage so by asking questions that help put it in perspective; I would try to create a balanced view. I might ask questions like: How big is the actual danger of an online predator? In percentage, how many of the teenagers online have actually had a potentially dangerous predator? And how many took the right action, e.g. tell their parents, block the person, etc … Are the most predators on Facebook, MySpace or another social networking site?
My initial reaction to the program was that it was centered in the American schools too much. At first, it made me think that the world was not on the same standards as the teenagers in the US behave and the video should stop demonstrating that. Because it had the effect that for example we, teens in Japan, did what was filmed.
However, later it made me realize that because the video was too focused on almost identical local communities, it clearly showed the vast variety of the activities the teens did, even though brought up in the same community. Therefore it showed how people in the world can be different to perceive information, to identify and to express themselves.
I am mostly online at home, for reasons of entertainment and because it is unsupervised, comfortable environment. At school, the sites we go to are essentially all academic or related to the activity being done during that class or between intervals of classes. An there is no need to be doing anything else online other than learning for the subjects, because that time is allotted for that specific reason. I could go do whatever I wished when I was at home. I would do some hours, about 60% of my internet activity, of homework, then if not late, chat with my friends, and check on the updates on friends, then lastly if really bored look for about an hour through, various media sites and forums.
I think, it is because the amount of information about the abuses of the internet which are being delivered to the parents had increased, like this video, there are a lot of articles and news reports about various illegal and unsuitable activities on the internet that parents come to know. The popularity of the case must have triggered the national and universal interest in them, as the number of abusive incidents increase and the altitude of the harm being done are multiplied.
Computer use at home could be individual needs like studies or job requirements. But the above use of the computers, changes the characteristic of the computer, by making computers not a mere tool to complete a task, but makes the computer the task.
In the same sense, the computers can be used by anyone with any interest and background, to achieve what they want. Little earlier in the time era, when the spread of machines had only started, only adults and educated about the computer mechanics could use the computer. Now, the opportunity lies to anyone who can connect a computer with internet, the rest is self learned.
The computer can be shifted from a monitored area, it could be moved anywhere where Wi-Fi or LAN wires are available, this increases the accessibility but also defines the computer as something that could be brought anywhere with us, making it essential pieces of our lives.
The computer will be used as long as the party continues. It is in the players’ freedom when to turn the computer off and on. And in this case it is not going to be turned off until they turn OFF. There is no rule against how many hours a person can use computer, even though various cases predict the health issues, health issues are not the concern to this players. It is possible that their body has to accustom to the lifestyles with computers.
It not like my community, because, in my eyes, my community- the friends, the school , the family network- is not in that greater use of the internet. I know friends who are online whenever they are at home, but their lives also concentrate on the relationship they make with people personally not through machine. My view could be very limited as my friends are the same to assume personal and physical contact with people are more important. And despite some similarity on the use of MySpace and Facebook by the people in my community, I can’t equate it with what I saw in the film, because the film seems too exaggerated and foreign, too. It could be a typical American Community because it says ‘like in the rest of the country’. And in my opinion it is, because Americans are very connected and resourceful nation, who share more the same culture and same way of communication, the kinds of behavior on the film could be the more distributed and common.
Who produced this film? The producers of the film are Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio. They are both acclaimed editors, producers, and writers with social documentaries and films.
Rachel Dretzin tries to assemble people both ‘native’ and ‘immigrant’ to the internet. Meaning that the age group was varied as much as possible to suit the point of views of many people of different social standings. But the target audience seemed to be more to the parents and adults. Therefore it appeals to the risk of the children and raises the sense of threat and responsibility in parents and adults when concerned with adolescents online. Several techniques are the reports of the criminals and abuses, interviews with educators with a cautious feelings towards the internet, and shows the side of the children who are experiencing their freedom on the internet without parental supervision, all the more working to raise the alert radar.
The video reinforces the view of parents of the kids featured in the film, and the educators and researchers who mainly grew up without internet, are shown are more predominant in showing their opinions. These interviews with educators seems to send out a message that internet revolution has transformed the parent and child relationship to the status where it is very negative. The voices of the criminals on the internet and why they do it is completely left out- their justification and method of conducting abuses could be a great indication as to what the online society is like. The less represented voice is of the children who are responsible and aware of the actions of the internet, there should be more representation that teenagers are more and more aware of the dangers of the internet and privacy than some adults are.
The question at the end of the video is that is growing up online a bad influence on the children? How are the children who grow online able to adapt to the society of rapid growth and change? I would as the teenagers what kind of life professions and life styles they would lead when it is their time to become independent and live their own life separately.
Welcome to your classroom blog for G12 ITGS. This is a place where you will find information, questions, and assignments etc. that are relevant to our course. If you have any questions, please be sure to ask me!
2 comments:
Margot Leysen Grade 12
Part 1: Internet in the Home (Living Their Lives Essentially Online)
1.1. What is your initial reaction to the program? What did you like or dislike about it?
My initial reaction to this program is that it all seems to be exaggerated. In the beginning it is talking about what the program entails. All the examples of the risks of the Internet and being online are very extreme and they only show the very negative side of being online. What I mostly disliked about the program is that it sounds like it represents every young person that is online (The program shows young children and teenagers, implicating that everybody is like that online.). It does not show an objective view of children online. What I did like about the program is that, although I think it exaggerates, it does bring more awareness to the parents and children about the possible risks of being online.
1.2. At home, how often are you online? At school, how often are you online? What percentage of the time do you think you spend: Doing homework? Chatting with friends? Updating your profile? Playing games? Surfing/looking up stuff you’re interested in? Downloading music? Uploading/downloading videos?
At home,on average I am about two hours a day online. At school however, I am almost never online. The only way that I would be online is for checking my e-mails during lunch. Every weekday, I spend about 35% on my homework, 20% chatting with friends ( this number has increased since I live in Japan, since I am far away from my friends, my dad and the rest of my family.), 5% updating my profile, 10% playing games, 30% surfing or looking up the stuff that I am interested in. I spend no time on downloading music or videos. This is because I do not have downloading programs on my computer and because my siblings (older brother and my sister) do this for me.
1.3. 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. Why do you think the number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their children has decreased?
I think parents have become more aware of the possible dangers. This is mainly due to the excessive news coverage, media attention and more cases of online predators or other things actually happening. Also, parents may have altered their opinion about the Internet because their children might spend too much time on the Internet, and no time on schoolwork. Internet can be an enormous distraction leaving less or no time for schoolwork. Another reason might be that children may have become too dependent on the Internet and they might not be willing to leave the house. Their behavior might become anti-social as they are spending their time in front of a computer.
1.4. In the opening of the program, we see boys gathering to collaboratively play a military style videogame. What characteristics of a computer make it different from other media in the home, such as television, stereo/radio, magazines and books? How do these characteristics influence:
How the computer is used in the home?
Although you are sitting alone in front of the computer, you are still able to interact with friends and others. Instead of socializing with your family, you will be in front of a computer and still feeling like you are being social.
Who uses the computer?
Mostly young people will use the computer, since their friends are online (as said in the program: 90% of the teenagers are online). Parents will not use the computer as much since they (most likely) do not have as many friends online.
Where the computer is placed?
Often the computer will be placed in the teenager’s bedroom. This is because of three reasons:
-Parents may not want the noise or the mess (with all the cables) of a computer in their living room
-The child would want the computer in his room to increase his or her privacy. When the computer is located in his or her room, there is no possibility of the parent watching.
-With the computer in his or her room, the teenager will be able to access the computer easier.
How much the computer is used?
The computer will be used very often because it is a way of teenagers talking to their friends. Since they can talk to each other all night, the amount of computer usage will increase. Also, while doing their homework on a computer, at the same time they might be online. This might distract them from their work, which increases the amount of time they spend on the computer. Besides talking to friends online, teenagers can do almost everything on the computer; play games, watch movies, listen to music, etc. Therefore a teenager might spend almost all evening on the computer.
1.5. In the introduction to the program, the narrator says: “This is Morris County, N.J., but it could be anywhere in America. Here, like in the rest of the country, some 90 percent of teenagers are online, a number that’s still growing.” From what you saw in the film, is Morris County indicative of a typical American community? Why or why not? Is it like your community?
I think this film represents a typical American community since it shows children at school, at home and in a community centre. These are the places children spend most of their time. Also, we got to see all sorts of students and from all ages. The program interviewed many different people with a variety of opinions, reflecting a broad perspective on computer and Internet usage.
The vision that is created of the community is pretty much the same as my own community. Almost every teenager uses Internet and is online on a daily basis. In the film they state clearly that being online is part of everyday life. For the community that I live in, this is also true. The only part that was different from the typical American community and my own community is that in mine there is no community centre. But apart from this, the descriptions of both communities are very much alike.
1.6. Documentary programs, because they depict real people and real issues, are often framed as “the truth.” But documentary producers make decisions about how to tell a story just like producers of other media messages. Remember to take a step back and think about the decisions the producers made. Some questions to consider:
Who produced this film?
This film was produced by PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service. ‘PBS is a media enterprise that serves 356 public noncommercial television stations and reaches nearly 73 million people each week through on-air and online content.’ Since this film was made by a company that needs to attract viewers, there is a big possibility that some of the facts or stories within the film are exaggerated or twisted in some way to be able to make an interesting, appealing documentary.
Why did they produce it?
The main reason to produce this film was to create more public awareness. This topic became interesting for PBS because the issues of being online and predators on the Internet were starting to get a lot of attention in the media. So for PBS this was an ideal opportunity to attract viewers as it was a recent topic. In America there is a wide culture of parent involvement. The fear of predators appears to be pretty big there so by making a film about it, PBS assured itself of viewers.
Who is the target audience, and what techniques are used to appeal to that audience?
The main target audience for this film is the parents. This film is a way of alerting them of the dangers and possible threats that the Internet and being online might cause. By interviewing other parents that talk about their own experiences, Frontline is trying to create a connection to the viewers. Since both speaker and listener are parents, and therefore in somewhat the same situation, it is easier for the audience to relate to the subject. Also, they use videos and pictures that they found on things like Facebook, depicting the extreme ways some teenagers use Facebook to post somewhat inappropriate pictures. Frontline has also interviewed the author of the book ‘MySpace Unraveled’ and a woman who has a PhD Digital Youth Project UC from Berkeley. Since both of them seem to have much experience with the subject, the audience might take their word for it. But since the program is made to portray the negative effects of being online, what they are telling might be only part of the bigger picture.
Whose voices do we hear in the program; that is, who is portrayed, and what are their stories? Whose voices are left out – who do we hear less of or not at all?
We mostly hear parents and children that have an extreme online usage. The parents that are interviewed have all children that spend almost all their time online. Almost every parent that speaks is saying that their child does not realise the online dangers. The children that are being interviewed in the program all say that they know the dangers online and that they do not want their parents keeping an eye on them. But although they say they know the dangers, they all seem to have an extreme online usage. Who we do not hear in the program are parents who have no problems with their child using the Internet since they know he or she is using the Internet appropriately. Mostly the positive views of online usage have been left out.
What questions did the producers leave unasked? If you could interview one of the people featured in the documentary, what would you ask?
I would ask questions that put this issue into perspective. The program only shows a very negative side of online usage so by asking questions that help put it in perspective; I would try to create a balanced view. I might ask questions like:
How big is the actual danger of an online predator?
In percentage, how many of the teenagers online have actually had a potentially dangerous predator? And how many took the right action, e.g. tell their parents, block the person, etc …
Are the most predators on Facebook, MySpace or another social networking site?
Emi Uranbileg- Grade 12
Part 1: Internet in the Home (Living Their Lives Essentially Online)
1.1. What is your initial reaction to the program? What did you like or dislike about it?
My initial reaction to the program was that it was centered in the American schools too much. At first, it made me think that the world was not on the same standards as the teenagers in the US behave and the video should stop demonstrating that. Because it had the effect that for example we, teens in Japan, did what was filmed.
However, later it made me realize that because the video was too focused on almost identical local communities, it clearly showed the vast variety of the activities the teens did, even though brought up in the same community. Therefore it showed how people in the world can be different to perceive information, to identify and to express themselves.
1.2. At home, how often are you online? At school, how often are you online? What percentage of the time do you think you spend: Doing homework? Chatting with friends? Updating your profile? Playing games? Surfing/looking up stuff you’re interested in? Downloading music? Uploading/downloading videos?
I am mostly online at home, for reasons of entertainment and because it is unsupervised, comfortable environment. At school, the sites we go to are essentially all academic or related to the activity being done during that class or between intervals of classes. An there is no need to be doing anything else online other than learning for the subjects, because that time is allotted for that specific reason. I could go do whatever I wished when I was at home. I would do some hours, about 60% of my internet activity, of homework, then if not late, chat with my friends, and check on the updates on friends, then lastly if really bored look for about an hour through, various media sites and forums.
1.3. 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. Why do you think the number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their children has decreased?
I think, it is because the amount of information about the abuses of the internet which are being delivered to the parents had increased, like this video, there are a lot of articles and news reports about various illegal and unsuitable activities on the internet that parents come to know. The popularity of the case must have triggered the national and universal interest in them, as the number of abusive incidents increase and the altitude of the harm being done are multiplied.
1.4. In the opening of the program, we see boys gathering to collaboratively play a military style videogame. What characteristics of a computer make it different from other media in the home, such as television, stereo/radio, magazines and books? How do these characteristics influence:
How the computer is used in the home?
Computer use at home could be individual needs like studies or job requirements. But the above use of the computers, changes the characteristic of the computer, by making computers not a mere tool to complete a task, but makes the computer the task.
Who uses the computer?
In the same sense, the computers can be used by anyone with any interest and background, to achieve what they want. Little earlier in the time era, when the spread of machines had only started, only adults and educated about the computer mechanics could use the computer. Now, the opportunity lies to anyone who can connect a computer with internet, the rest is self learned.
Where the computer is placed?
The computer can be shifted from a monitored area, it could be moved anywhere where Wi-Fi or LAN wires are available, this increases the accessibility but also defines the computer as something that could be brought anywhere with us, making it essential pieces of our lives.
How much the computer is used?
The computer will be used as long as the party continues. It is in the players’ freedom when to turn the computer off and on. And in this case it is not going to be turned off until they turn OFF. There is no rule against how many hours a person can use computer, even though various cases predict the health issues, health issues are not the concern to this players. It is possible that their body has to accustom to the lifestyles with computers.
1.5. In the introduction to the program, the narrator says: “This is Morris County, N.J., but it could be anywhere in America. Here, like in the rest of the country, some 90 percent of teenagers are online, a number that’s still growing.” From what you saw in the film, is Morris County indicative of a typical American community? Why or why not? Is it like your community?
It not like my community, because, in my eyes, my community- the friends, the school , the family network- is not in that greater use of the internet. I know friends who are online whenever they are at home, but their lives also concentrate on the relationship they make with people personally not through machine. My view could be very limited as my friends are the same to assume personal and physical contact with people are more important. And despite some similarity on the use of MySpace and Facebook by the people in my community, I can’t equate it with what I saw in the film, because the film seems too exaggerated and foreign, too.
It could be a typical American Community because it says ‘like in the rest of the country’. And in my opinion it is, because Americans are very connected and resourceful nation, who share more the same culture and same way of communication, the kinds of behavior on the film could be the more distributed and common.
1.6. Documentary programs, because they depict real people and real issues, are often framed as “the truth.” But documentary producers make decisions about how to tell a story just like producers of other media messages. Remember to take a step back and think about the decisions the producers made. Some questions to consider:
Who produced this film?
The producers of the film are Rachel Dretzin and John Maggio. They are both acclaimed editors, producers, and writers with social documentaries and films.
Why did they produce it?
Their main goal was to show the realities of the online activity and their misconceptions and risks (washingtonpost.com)
Who is the target audience, and what techniques are used to appeal to that audience?
Rachel Dretzin tries to assemble people both ‘native’ and ‘immigrant’ to the internet. Meaning that the age group was varied as much as possible to suit the point of views of many people of different social standings. But the target audience seemed to be more to the parents and adults. Therefore it appeals to the risk of the children and raises the sense of threat and responsibility in parents and adults when concerned with adolescents online. Several techniques are the reports of the criminals and abuses, interviews with educators with a cautious feelings towards the internet, and shows the side of the children who are experiencing their freedom on the internet without parental supervision, all the more working to raise the alert radar.
Whose voices do we hear in the program; that is, who is portrayed, and what are their stories? Whose voices are left out – who do we hear less of or not at all?
The video reinforces the view of parents of the kids featured in the film, and the educators and researchers who mainly grew up without internet, are shown are more predominant in showing their opinions. These interviews with educators seems to send out a message that internet revolution has transformed the parent and child relationship to the status where it is very negative. The voices of the criminals on the internet and why they do it is completely left out- their justification and method of conducting abuses could be a great indication as to what the online society is like. The less represented voice is of the children who are responsible and aware of the actions of the internet, there should be more representation that teenagers are more and more aware of the dangers of the internet and privacy than some adults are.
What questions did the producers leave unasked? If you could interview one of the people featured in the documentary, what would you ask?
The question at the end of the video is that is growing up online a bad influence on the children? How are the children who grow online able to adapt to the society of rapid growth and change? I would as the teenagers what kind of life professions and life styles they would lead when it is their time to become independent and live their own life separately.
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