Like many things, the internet is both advantageous and a potential threat to all users. There is so much knowledge to obtain and things to learn and enjoy; the internet is a great resource to have at someones disposal. However, it can also, just as easily, be a dangerous and vindictive place to be apart of. The PBS presentation "Growing Up Online" does a good job of explaining the "revolution," as they put it, of online and the internet and how easily accessible it is. They describe how it has been used for leisure and entertainment but how it can also be a catastrophe for the lives of teenagers.
One of the more prevalent and positive examples is in the case of Jessica Hunter who was a shy teen that took on this alter ego of a goth model named Autumn. It was a sweet getaway for Jessica; she went from being friendless and being made fun of to this famous and exotic goth model on the internet. She loved being complimented and having this amazing personality. She even says "I didn't feel like myself and I liked it...I felt famous." She loved how the internet changed her life for the better. In the end, she was busted by her parents who immediately chastised her and made her stop the online life she was living. After some time, her parents changed their mind and allowed Jessica to live her alternate personality and it proved to be a good thing. Jessica was more social with her family and got recognized among peers which blossomed new friendships. Her parents saw her work as spawning creativity and the he is glad the internet is involved in her life.
The article goes on to speak of some of the worst case scenarios when it comes to internet exposure as well. One of the biggest fears is sexual predators; generally elderly men who use the internet to spy on teenagers and little kids in hopes of sexually assaulting them. There is also this fear, from parents mostly, that what is said on the internet will come back to haunt these teens later in life. The random or offensive things they say now can be used against them later if they were to apply to a job or something and it will ruin their chances later in life.One of the worst occurrences when it comes to the internet is the issue of cyber bullying, which is an all too real reality that people face. It is when someone is verbally abused and insulted over the internet, The PBS presentation talks about a boy named Ryan Halligan who was a victim of cyber-bullying. He was constantly made fun of in real life and turned to the internet to make himself feel better. Unfortunately, the pain never stopped and after being insulted online for months and months, he could not take it any longer. In October of 2003, Ryan Halligan hung himself in his home. His father felt that the internet amplified the hurt and pain his son was dealing with and ended up being the ultimate cause of his son's suicide.
This shows the darker and negative side of the internet, contrasting the positives of internet activity.
One important issue you bring up about the internet is that it never really leaves a person alone. Whatever someone does on the online seems to always stay on the internet which is why it is important to be careful about what you do and share. You bring up a good point on how things a person does can later haunt them when applying for a job. A person can get penalized for something they have done in their teenage years even though they are no longer a teenager. Kids need to realize the lasting effects of what they are doing on the computer. The things they post and discuss will never be fully erased so they need to be aware that they are only hurting themselves. They need to be mindful of what they saying and showing online so when they apply for a job their boss won’t hold them accountable for anything they might have done years ago.
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