Weekly NDM Story : 'Beeban Kidron: 'We need to talk about teenagers and the internet'.

The Guardian

Beeban Kidron: 'We need to talk about teenagers and the internet'

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/08/beeban-kidron-inreallife-interview-teenagers

The article above focuses on Beeban Kidron who reveals how influential the internet is on individuals and the impact it has. To investigate this, she filmed and interviewed teenagers about their opinion on the internet and what they use it for. For example, she interviewed an 15 year old boy called Ryan and asked him, what is the best thing about the internet. He responded by stating it is porn without any hesitation, which could suggest that he is not shy about talking about sex. Additionally, Ryan reveals that he views women differently, as a result of watching porn, and therefore he find it hard finding a girlfriend as to him they do not match to the expectations of the females presented online. This highlights that the internet has had a negative effect on Ryan as he admits he is addicted to porn, therefore as a result, he objectifies women and find it hard to connect to them. Furthermore, Kindron investigates more horrific and life changing situations which teenagers have faced based on their addiction to the internet including access on their smart phones. For instance, a girl who did not want to reveal her identity revealed to Kindron that she allowed herself to be sexually assaulted in order for a gang of boys to give back her Black berry. This clearly highlights to the readers the impact new media (I phones, BlackBerry Smart Phone) have on teenagers as they can the internet through their phones as well. Whereas, a teenager committed suicide after being threatening in a chat room and another teenager who reveals his long distance romance between to gay 15 year olds. Additionally, Kidron interviewed a teenager who lost is place at Oxford University due to his online addiction. Moreover, she questions the internet and the freedom of it: "The thing I have come to find astonishing is that people from all political sides routinely say that the internet has to be the model of free speech and freedom. I wonder where else the level of freedom these kids are faced with exists? Why on the internet and only on the internet?" This could show the new technology is taking over young generation life. Kindron also reveals who some teenagers have developed eating disorders due to people posting up pictures of how happy they are with their appearance which makes other females feel insecure. 

Key facts/quotes/dates/statistical information

• "The ubiquity of porn has led to the 'pornification' of society as a whole. The fact that what used to be called soft porn is now called advertising is very problematic for young women."

• "I think my biggest fear," she says, "was that people would see these five kids as 'kids with an issue'. But actually there is a generation of children affected in different ways

• "She had been struck, in talking to the children she met, that they had no idea at all how the internet actually functioned"

Personally, after reading this article, I believe that the internet does have a powerful influence and impact on teenagers. From watching the trailer to Kidron documentary which focuses on the stories she investigated in her interview clearly highlights that all of the teenagers have been negatively affected by the internet. As a result, this has caused them to go through life changing and horrific situation which conveys that the internet has taking over their life. As readers, we could infer that the internet is a powerful source in the young generation lives as the teenagers she has interviewed are all addicted to the internet, whether accessing it on their smartphones or computers. This may highlight that traditional media such as books, newspaper, and radio are in decline and new technology such as tablets; internet, pad etc are taking over the world as teenagers can now communicate with new people online instead of meeting with them.