The Power of Social Networking

   The PBS video Growing up Online raised some important issues regarding kids who essentially live their lives primarily on the internet. Mainly used and controlled by teenagers, the internet allows kids to create certain desired elements of themselves that wouldn't be seen in real life. For example, Jessica Hunter was a shy 14-year old who was picked on in school. But once she discovered she could create a different person just by posting pictures of herself online and changing her name, she did so, in hopes of representing herself as prettier, and indeed, she became known in many circles as the beautiful Gothic model. But the video also pointed out the concerns parents have in allowing their kids the freedom and independence given by online activity. It blocks out parents to the extent where they have no idea what their kids are up to, and presents concerns regarding their kids' safety: who their kids are talking to, with whom they share information, even who can view their information without the consent of the first party. Because of the numerous unknowns within an internet environment, it is impossible to be sure whether kids are safe online.

   This issue sheds light on Talbot's article How Obama Really Did It because it illuminates the immense amount of success had by Obama, by simply putting himself out there and presenting himself a certain way. He gained supporters even before his official campaigning began. While the kids in the video presented themselves in a certain manner to gain popularity and friends, Obama's did the same thing through his social networking site. It gave him a leg up, bringing people into his site and raising money, and putting him in front of Clinton months before the presidential elections were underway. He established connections which allowed Obama to push his way through the gates of social networking. With the usage of texting, YouTube, and other multimedia devices, his popularity soared, even before Clinton could get her foot in the door. The power of the internet and modern technology allows people to access information quickly and efficiently, and Obama used these tactics to win his way into presidency.

   While these two instances describe tactics for internet users, and how they encourage others to view them in a desired manner, the article Mind Control and the Internet discusses the internet's ability to repair, verses enhance one's personality and skills. Although Michael Chorost needed a brain-computer interface that allowed him to hear as others do, fixing an impairment, he suggested that people in general use technology, even when it's not a necessity, even simply for the pleasure of enhancing their experience on the internet. According to Chorost, this would imply that without the enhancements of the internet, people would become impaired because of their reliance on the internet to help them live. Sara, in Growing up Online, used the internet to repair her seemingly imperfect image. At the same time, however, this can be seen as an enhancement because it was not necessary for Sara to go online in order to live her life like a normal human being. she wasn't missing an eye, or an ear; she was just lacking confidence. Once people start relying on the internet for the most minute situations, enhancing their image or the way they live, their life becomes unbearable, even unlivable, without it.

   Ultimately, the internet and technological advances can save lives, or it can ruin lives. To find a balance in reliability on internet, and realizing when to break away, is not clear-cut. While growing up online can be advantageous at times, people must always return to reality, a situation where the internet can no longer intervene.