Growing Up Online: A PBS Special

If I were to describe the internet in one word, I would call it limitless. The internet has limitless possibilities. However, among those limitless possibilities dwell limitless danger. People like to think of the internet as medium without consequence, a space within which they can express themselves freely. Individuals who may not have the best social lives in real life may have amazing personas on the internet that give them happiness and a sense of belonging. The aforementioned statement is exemplified very clearly by the girl who enjoyed modeling for her viewers online. You can find almost anything you can imagine on the internet. It creates fads and movements. There have been countless widespread fads birthed thanks to the internet such as, Planking, Harlem Shaking, Gangnam Styling, and the list goes on. In terms of a movement, the hacktivism of Anonymous comes to mind. Anonymous was a group of hacktivists whose origins could be traced back to 4chan. The internet is a part of our everyday life. Could you imagine a day without using internet in this day and age? The internet can be a dangerous place, especially for our inexperienced youth. Sites like craigslist are full of predators that are waiting to pounce on oblivious prey. There is simply too much to say about the internet and the topics addressed in the PBS presentation. However, before I go I would like to make one final point. I personally am among the small group of individuals that take the internet seriously. I do not misrepresent myself online, what you see online is what you get in real life and that is something I take pride in.