Looking at my handout and I saw something about an article reflection in wk 10. I'm doing it now because I reckon I'll be too busy to do it then.
So anyway I found this article that is quite farcical but not deliberately. It's on everyones favorite topic; Teens and the internet! Inspired and intrigued by last weeks readings on internet friendly child safety and what have you I sought out an article relevant to such a topic. That's when I found this cracker.
You know the old saying, "everything should be taken with a grain of salt"? Well with this article should be taken with a cup.
There is no doubt in my mind that this article is hopelessly and grossly biased, blatantly revealing this in the 3rd last paragraph ("Despite the seemingly clear association..."). They are stating their opinion despite the 'study'?! Which, by the way was conducted in CHINA very different place to AMERICA where this site is based. This article talks of social isolation. It does not however, mention time that may have been spent conversing with others online. Are online friends to be disregarded entirely? Facebook, online RPG, skype, email etc. Were these taken into account? The internet is leading to increased social globalisation. You can now easily keep in touch with a friend or colleague in another continent. But no. Don't be silly. This article isn't concerned with such frivolous ideas like benefits (seriously though, no recognition for ANY benefits of the internet in general at all).
"Prolonged internet use to be linked to obesity, social isolation, skipping meals, sleeping problems, and developing depression and stress." You know what else is linked to this? Being an adolescent. Hormones, peer pressure, Identity crisis are all part of being young. Talk about umbrella prognosis.
Okay this bit made me giggle something chronic: "According to the results, the common profile for a heavy internet user was a non-religious male studying engineering...". This is amusing to me for two reasons, 1. It is outrageously specific and 2. I go to UWA. I know a multitude of these engineering guys and they are not 'addicted' to the internet... I suppose the second half "...whose parents did not pursue higher education" is another point to consider but it also further solidifies my first point.
Oh and by the way; parents? It's your fault. Uh, well yeah you (somehow) should be stopping this and be getting your children off the internet. This article was written to "Mom and Dad America". Aiming straight at the parents telling them how to 'encourage; their children to 'log off'. Of course the article doesn't mention if all the students were staying with their parents at the time of the survey so how they can relate this to being the fault of the parent when the parent may not be present is beyond me...
Their final words of wisdom are "Fortunately, internet addiction can be prevented" (which only really reminds me of "only YOU can prevent forest fires") as if this whole 'study' (in CHINA remember..) meant that every child ever on the internet for any amount of time is addicted and you can stop this! Thanks for not trying to to strike unfounded and overblown fear into my heart about the safety of my child article! :D... Oh wait-- :S
I understand the intention of the article but i believe the elocution was misinformed, fear-mongering and dumbed down. I googled "teens and internet" and this was one of the first articles to pop up. It makes me cringe thinking that such a bland and bias article is 'informing' parents about the dangers of the Web. I thought we were supposed to be protecting our children from nonsense on the internet. Looks like we have to look out for the adults too.
Em.
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