Skip to main content

Growing Up Online



I recently saw a great episode of Frontline called "Growing Up Online". To me, this is the natural extension of Jeremy Del Rio's "Mook's, Midriffs, Myspace and More" teaching. In the episode the narrator states that this is the most significant generation gap since rock and roll in the 60's. I agree that many parents don't get how addictive and important their kids online profiles are and will become. As I've heard some of the experts say lately, the next wave, even greater than the social networking sites, will be virtual reality sites like Second Life where people can create an existence of their own design. Even Silicon Valley giants like Sun Microsystems have begun using Second Life for video conferencing. This shows the importance and usefulness of this type of program. 

Sites like this blog are already passe to young people. They've left this form of expression to us old folks! 

If you have kids, they certainly know about and most likely are using Myspace and Facebook. Over 90% of kids are online, and the number is growing. There is no way around it. So, the question is, how, as parents (and concerned people, youth workers and pastors) are we to act? We have to find ways to be both police and encouragers. There are many good things about a life online, but as with anything - there are many perils. We have to find a way to provide boundaries without being obtrusive. Samuel is only 12 right now - so I know I have a lot to learn. 

I look at the time I spend online (i.e. this blog). Between his online account with Playstation and his website my son is starting to rival my time online. I have to think strategically, knowing the times we live in.

Watch the episode - and please post your thoughts....

Like they used to say on TV (remember that??) - It's now 12:30 in East Palo Alto, do you know what your kids are posting online? Quite chilling!

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

YWAMers Praised for Faith and Leadership

The Denver Post reports on the memorial service at the Denver YWAM base: "We're going to celebrate a life, we're not accentuating a death," said Faith Bible Chapel pastor George Morrison, in opening a memorial service today for two people killed at a missionary training school in Arvada . The service is called "A Celebration of Life for Tiffany and Philip." Philip Crouse and Tiffany Johnson died Sunday when a gunman opened fire at the school's dormitory. Youth With a Mission director Peter Warren said today both Crouse and Johnson embodied the spirit of the group. First the service focused on Crouse . "Phil gave his life to Jesus Christ and was never the same again," said Zach, a friend of Johnson's who met him years ago at a youth ministry in Alaska. At the time, Crouse was tough and wouldn't let people get close to him. "Over the years, Phil became a humble, teachable, sweet guy" who was able to reach kids with rough e...
Post a Comment
Read more

Samuel Liotti TV Interview about Obama's Nomination

Check this out this link! Samuel, his best friend Malik and other students at East Palo Alto Academy were interviewed on TV  where they were asked about their views on Obama.  The students has some interesting and revealing comments. With all the politics, it may be easy for some to overlook the significance and importance of the first truly viable African-American candidate for president. Obama's nomination to especially many young people in our community speaks volumes about who they are and what they can become. This is an exciting and important time in our history.  Please join me in praying for both our candidates, but especially Obama. I've felt impressed that I should pray specifically for his safety during the next months.  Follow the link and check out the interview! What about you? How significant do you feel is Obama's nomination?
4 comments
Read more

Book: White Man's Burden - thoughts for Labor Day Weekend

I'm reading a fascinating book that has some of the same themes that run through Bob Lupton's recent writing. It's called 'White Man's Burden" by William Easterly. (I get the feeling some of you have read this already.) You can find it here. The title of the book is somewhat unfortunate, it's meant to be sarcastic. There are some amazing points here, stuff NCUD and others at CCDA have been talking about for years. I encourage you to check it out - here's a couple of great excepts from the first chapter: "But I and many other like-minded people keep trying, not to abandon aid to the poor, but to make sure it reaches them. Rich countries have to address the second tragedy if they are going to make any progress on the first tragedy. Otherwise, the current wave of enthusiasm for addressing world poverty will repeat the cycle of its predecessors: idealism, high expectations, disappointing results, cynical backlash." "Let’s call the advocates...
2 comments
Read more