013. Paper Topic

I want to write my paper about the advertising industry on the internet. This includes the advertising industry's use of YouTube, Good AdSense, and other such internet tools. I can discuss the effects that such tools have on the success of businesses. The accessibility of mass media advertising for small businesses will be a key point in the paper.

012. Growing Up Online

While watching the first half of this documentary, all I could think about was whether or not my MySpace page looked as tacky as the ones shown in the film. Sadly, it probably was.

Aside from that, the documentary itself was very interesting. It’s strange to think about how each generation younger and younger kids are learning how to use a computer. When I was in grade school, the most I knew how to do was ply Zoombinis or Paws in Typing Town. Now my sister is on YouTube watching a slew of anime or Disney Channel shows. If she’s not on the computer, she’ll be watching the videos on her iPod.

I think about that mom who tried to get her children’s Facebook passwords. How can she honestly expect them to fork over that piece of information so easily? I understand that she’s trying to protect her kids online, but come on! Kids still want a realm where they can live free of their parents constant protection. I’m sure they generally know how to be safe online. There has to be some other motive for that mom to want their passwords.

Then there was the entire scene about the girls picking fights on MySpace. There was one girl who talked about how colleges can now see the videos on YouTube. Irresponsible behavior can affect one’s future now. With the internet, it’s impossible to sweep anything big under the rug. This is why I have to be careful online, especially if I want to be part of the Disney College Program next year. I also have to be careful because, as a youth group leader, I have to set a good example for the kids that I teach and am friends with on Facebook. I run the risk of getting kicked out if any crazy photos of me showed up drinking or something like that (good thing I don’t drink). Everyone is vulnerable online.

011. Bloggerrrs

Ah, yes. The 2008 presidential campaign between the technologically literal and the analog generation. First off, I'm going to say, "Well played, Obama." It's true when the author basically asserts that McCain lost the race because he resisted social media. Obama's utilization of Twitter, YouTube, and other new media outlets allowed him to connect more directly to the younger voters. The main targets drawn into this online political campaign were the voters who had just turned 18 in 2008. I remember a few of my classmates in my AP US History class talking about how they were going to vote for Obama. Needless to say, his online campaign obviously worked for the students of Hebron High School.

Honestly, why wouldn’t any politician want to invest his or her time in online campaigning? It’s a much cheaper medium to go by (it’s virtually free) and can reach millions across the globe. Better than spending millions on a traditional campaign that may or may not be as effective as using Twitter and YouTube.

As a closing note, I would like to point out that Barrack Obama has a Tumblr. That is all. (http://barackobama.tumblr.com/)

010. Baby, I Was Born This Way

I found it interesting that the introduction was written in a way that addresses those outside the Digital Natives group. It seems like something that my mom could understand. I am that daughter that shows up late at dinner and texts under the table…

The concept of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants is an interesting way of describing the technologically adept generation and the analog generation. I guess I was born a Digital Native? I’m not really quite sure. According to the article, the World Wide Web debuted on the year I was born. Even so, I still remembered the days where I didn’t have internet at home. All my family had was free dial-up from Netzero. I know what a tape cassette is, what a Walkman is, what a postage stamp is. Yet I’m still incredibly adept at using a computer. Am I a Digital Native or am I part of the transition generation?

Digital Immigrants in my family would definitely be my parents and everyone within their generation. My mom barely knows how to operate Yahoo! Mail much less the internet itself. However, she has a knack for finding and printing out online coupons. Actually, my dad isn’t as much of a Digital Immigrant. He understands computers very well, but then again, he works and my mom doesn’t so he’s required to be knowledgeable about these technologies. He has a lot more exposure to the digital realm than my mom does.

In terms of protecting kids online through laws, it’s a hard thing to do. There’s always going to be lines in censorship that can’t be crossed. Parents can’t always expect the law to protect the kids. Kids can develop their own judgment about right and wrong online. If your kids are smart, you don’t have to worry about them being sexually solicited because they’ll know how to ignore shady messages. Pornographic images? You have to trust your kids with that one. Unless they’re out looking for nude pictures, they’re going to have a hard time accidentally stumbling on such sites. If something happens, they can exit the site (unless they have their own secret agendas…).