Teenagers and the Internet

[aeolium]

I thought this was a good article about a potentially interesting documentary film on teenagers' relationship with the internet:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/08/beeban-kidron-inreallife-interview-teenagers?guni=Keyword:news-grid%20main-2%20(New%20Review)%20Pickable%20with%20editable%20override:Pickable%20with%20editable%20override:Position1

It seems as though the film could be an honest and serious investigation of the issues, especially around social media. It certainly makes me think it must be tough being young now, even without considering problems like the recession, school exam pressure, lack of jobs etc.

[french frank]

Yes, very good article. Sobering that what was supposed to liberate and be beneficial leads to a fom of slavery - and young people become both addicted and aware of that addiction and want to get free of it.

And how do you set social rules when a situation is already out of control?

[DracoM]

Stable empty > horse bolted yonks ago. I agree.

[Resurrection Man]

But doesn't the boys comment of 'Porn' say more about today's society and abrogation of responsibility (especially by some parents) ?

We have a family in our village. Three children...aged 2, 4 and 6.....they are feral. We have seen the six-year old boy pummelling quite hard his four-year old sister who was cowering from him. He knows he is doing wrong as he stopped as soon as he saw us looking at him. So where is the mother in all this?

[amateur51]

Yes, very good article. Sobering that what was supposed to liberate and be beneficial leads to a fom of slavery - and young people become both addicted and aware of that addiction and want to get free of it.

And how do you set social rules when a situation is already out of control?

Well we were told a while back that Louise Casey was going to sort it all out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23158680

and a response

http://www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=16558

Complicated problems.

[aeolium]

But doesn't the boys comment of 'Porn' say more about today's society and abrogation of responsibility (especially by some parents) ?

I think the thrust of Kidron's argument was that she saw it particularly as an abrogation of responsibility by governments and the huge internet companies, particularly on issues such as child pornography and internet abuse. But more generally she was looking at pervasive influences not merely affecting problem families but all families or at least all teenagers. It is impossible surely for parents to monitor their children accessing pornography or for instance pick up on bullying on twitter or Facebook when this access can be completely private on a mobile phone anywhere.

[Resurrection Man]

..... It is impossible surely for parents to monitor their children accessing pornography or for instance pick up on bullying on twitter or Facebook when this access can be completely private on a mobile phone anywhere.

From a technical standpoint there are certainly parental controls on browsers on computers and I am guessing that these would also be available on iPads and smartphones. Of course, a smart techie teenager will be able to circumvent them using proxy servers but then again I do know that it is possible to have a computer setup so that only specific sites are allowed...not ideal, I agree.

But if parents took their responsibility seriously then the teenager would understand the boundaries perhaps or at least the broader implications.

[french frank]

But if parents took their responsibility seriously then the teenager would understand the boundaries perhaps or at least the broader implications.

It might also be open encouragement to Go Seek.

[amateur51]

But if parents took their responsibility seriously then the teenager would understand the boundaries perhaps or at least the broader implications.

Winnicott's and Bettelheim's development of the concept of the 'good enough' mother/parent applies, I think.

[Resurrection Man]

Winnicott's and Bettelheim's development of the concept of the 'good enough' mother/parent applies, I think.

Is that the same as the good old 'Ostrich school of Parenting' ?

[MrGongGong]

From a technical standpoint there are certainly parental controls on browsers on computers and I am guessing that these would also be available on iPads and smartphones.

Those would be the ones that don't let you look at the National Gallery Website
The BBC (the word ESSEX is there) and so on...........

What people need is a greater level of self awareness NOT more rules.....

though the idea that somehow "modern" teenagers are all an out of control rabble of feral thugs really is a myth.

You don't need Proxy servers etc, in many instances all you need to do (as i've been shown by teenagers) is to change the default language ! maybe the fact that the only way to access violent and sexual material on the net is to use another language will be a boost to the apparent shoddy level of language teaching in UK schools ?

[amateur51]

Is that the same as the good old 'Ostrich school of Parenting' ?

I'll ignore that in the cause of peace & harmony

[french frank]

though the idea that somehow "modern" teenagers are all an out of control rabble of feral thugs really is a myth.

I don't think that's what the quoted article was suggesting, nor what anyone here has said. But it does raise some interesting social questions.

[amateur51]

I don't think that's what the quoted article was suggesting, nor what anyone here has said.

Message #4 on feral children?

[eighthobstruction]

>>>"What people need is a greater level of self awareness NOT more rules..... " GG<<<

....I've thought that for sometime, and I believe it should be 'taught' in some manner....how that would be done I've no idea, but I think it is important....and by 'a greater level of self awareness', I do not mean self confidence in essence or self importance....more how to fit in or rub along with other while having interests and ambitions....citizenship....( sorry that's a bit vague)