# 18- Growing Up Online

For parents, the internet is...
a scary, dark, unknown place where anything can happen, or it's a revolution and a new way of life.
The parents in the film, Growing Up Online seemed to think that the internet is horrible and ruining their children's lives. Some parents went a little too far, like that one mom who found the pictures from the concert and told all the parents. (sorry that I can't think of the mom's name) She ruined the relationship between her son and her forever. But the one thing that I thought was good about that mom was that she monitored her chldren on the computer. By having the computer in the kitchen where everyone could see it, the kids were a little more careful on the computer.

      But parents have to trust their kids. Let us just have one chance and if we blow it by failing a class, or becoming obsessed with the internet,then take it away from us for a bit. There is software on the computers that allows you to set a time limit on the computer usage. Also, if you just look at the computer history, you can see exactly where your children were looking on the internet, how long,what time ect... so you can be sure we are not on inappropriate websites or stuff like that. Some parents are just way too over protective of their children. I can understand if you want us to be your little babies who don't even know how to turn the computer on, but times are changing! When we are in the workforce, we will be relying on the devices to stay intouch with work and just to be able TO work. We are not in the 1900's where we are writing stuff down. If we need to do something, we take out our Blackberries, Iphones or whatever and type it in there. Also, look in our schools! There is at least 2 Smartboards that I know of at our school and most of our assingnments are done on the computers at home and school. This is just the way our society is moving into the future and we can't stop it.

     Some parents think that the internet is the most amazing thing since sliced bread. Some parents spend more time on the divices, computers and internet more than their own kids. I can see that in some ways that is good, such as the parents can keep up with what the children are doing and keep up with the technology. But, when the PARENTS start ignoring the family and start acting like teenagers, there  may be a problem. What I mean by that is when the kids start saying to their moms and dads, "Okay, it's time to get off the computer." or "Seriouly? Put the Blackberry away!!!" then that's a little too far.

     So, this is just how I look at how the parents of our generation are looking at the internet. The scary thing is that if you asked the question, what do parents think of the internet? in 25 years, we will be saying how amazing it is and how we cannot live with out it. But by then, there would be a new technology like personal robots that can do anything. And then after everyone has a robot, the robots will take over the world. Well, that's technology for you. It's always changing the way people think.