Can Technology Keep Tweens Safe?

The increase in use of the internet and technology has led many parents to become naïve in their safety concerns for their tweens.  Tweens now have multiple avenues when it comes to meeting people because they can meet people both in person and online.    The people met online cannot be seen and can often misrepresent themselves which at times can lead to dangerous situations.  Tweens are spending more and more of their free time online and many parents may feel like this is a safer environment for them because they are at home. 

I believe this has led many parents to become more lenient on having talks about strangers and the proper precautions to take when meeting a new person either in person or online.  Instead, they would rather try to further use technology to track where their kids are or install cameras to see what they are doing.  Goodstein points out this phenomenon when she mentions that parents are now purchasing cell phones with GPS tracking (Goodstein, 2007, p.107).  She further goes on to say that parent’s are equipping their tweens with cell phones because they feel they are safer (Goodstein, 2007, p.107).  I think the increase in the use of technology has given parents a false sense of security when it comes to their children.  They no longer talk to them about things, but rather buy devices that track what they are doing.  What good does a GPS device do if your child is at a safe location but there with a stranger or drinking or doing something else that they shouldn’t be doing?  I believe one of the most essential things parents can do to keep their tweens and teens safe is keeping the avenues of communication open.  If parents are able to talk to their tweens and in turn tweens feel comfortable talking to their parents then they will have a better relationship, and be more likely to follow rules and stay out of trouble.  Technology can be used as a way to keep tweens safe, but should not be the sole way that parents pursue this.

Goodstein, A. (2007). Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online. New York: St Martin’s Griffin.

And Technology Continues...

Technology continues to bring more and more advances to the way we do things.  People are always trying to find new ways to appeal to people to make things more interesting or done easier.  Much research has shown the large amount of purchasing power that tweens hold so it isn’t surprising to see that many new technological advances are directed at tweens.

The new social book application developed for the ipad is specifically aimed at reluctant readers.  It combines features from social media sites, which are extremely popular now, with reading to try to push more tweens toward reading.  The application allows individuals to share favorite passages from their readings, can be linked to applications such as Facebook and Twitter, and also allows sharing of new books purchases which allows others to see what you are reading.

I think this application could be really good for those that want to be more social with their reading.  It can be a good way for tweens to collaborate and discuss what they are reading, which in turn can lead to critical thinking.  Some tweens just aren’t that into reading but combining it with social media may really help them read more.  The author of the article is skeptical and believes that many tweens enjoy the solitude of the reading experience.  I think this is just one of many new ways technology is being developed to make a profit, but at the same time try to appeal to a certain niche of tweens. This application isn’t for everyone but for those that are very social if may just be the right thing to start them on the reading track.

Social Books: A Boon For Teen Readers — Or A Bit Too Much Noise?

Best Friends???

A Best Friend? You Must Be Kidding is a really interesting article.  I haven’t heard anything about educators and other professionals trying to dissuade kids from having best friends until I came upon this article.  Growing up from preschool onward I always had a best friend.  We were as close as friends could be and I loved the connection that we shared.  When we were younger we would hang out at recess, and as we got older we played on the same sports teams and we were always at each other’s house.  I really enjoyed knowing that there was one person there that I could count on and would listen when I was having problems.  I definitely believe that learning how to have a close relationship like that early in life has helped me develop more of those relationships later in life.  So after saying that at first glance I thought I was going to completely disagree with the reasoning presented in this article.  The main reasoning educators give for the move away from best friends is they are doing so to try to prevent exclusion and bullying (Stout, 2010).  They believe that more bullying is likely to take place if two people have a close bond because it will lead to cliques and there will always be someone that is left out and therefore picked on.  They want to encourage children to be friends with everyone but not to be really good friends with anyone.  I can see this point of view but I don’t complete agree with it.  I don’t think having a best friend necessarily leads to more bullying and exclusion.  I believe the benefits of having a close friend greatly outweigh the disadvantages mentioned in this article.  I agree with the psychologists reasoning in the article which states this type of encouragement can lead to superficial friendships which will greatly hinder the relationships children and tweens will develop later in life (Stout, 2010).  Close relationships have been shown to increase self esteem and confidence and also help develop relationship building skills later in life and this is exactly the type of things we want our children to have.  I think schools should encourage close relationships because of all the benefits that they bring.  Children can have these types of relationships without excluding or bullying others.

A Best Friend? You Must Be Kidding

Media Messages

Today’s tweens are receiving a wide variety of messages via the media.  Companies like Disney and Nickelodeon have taken over a large segment of the demographic with their TV series and made for TV movies.  A large portion of both TV and websites specifically for tweens seem to be sending an overwhelmingly positive message.  It’s almost as if they want tweens to believe that life is always going to be full of sunshine and blue skies.  I believe that it creates a huge misconception with tweens.  It’s almost as if the media wants tweens to live in a bubble where they will be protected from all the dangers and hard things in life.  How are tweens suppose to learn and grow if they don’t experience the good with the bad? 

I think another thing the media does is send a large sense of empowerment to tweens.  They make them believe if they really believe in something and work hard at it then it will happen.  I think this is a great message to send young adults, but it isn’t realistic.  There are situations where tweens can make a difference through hard work and perseverance, but there are also many cases where the opposite happens.  If tweens aren’t aware of the possible negative aspects of life then they will be unprepared for the future and will have unrealistic expectations.  Both Disney and Nickelodeon have numerous examples of ordinary tweens that have made it big which may make the majority of tweens feel that this is normal and expected when in fact it is very unlikely to happen. 

I think sending both positive and empowering messages to tweens is important and beneficial but I also think it’s important for them to receive more realistic messages as well.  This will allow them to move from their bubble of security into experiencing more real life situations.

Social Networking in Tweens

In the last few years social networking sites like Facebook have really exploded, especially with tweens and teens.  Most of the sites are a type of community where tweens can go to meet and chat with their friends.  They can also use the sites to support political and environmental causes, post how they are feeling or what they are doing, communicate with friends, meet new people and share pictures or videos of what is going on in their lives (Goodstein, 2007, p.60). 

I think one reason why they have become so popular with tweens is that they are a way for those that are not as comfortable with face-to-face and group interactions to be more outspoken.  They are a forum where tweens can gain confidence through joining social groups and gaining friends.  They can also be a great way to keep in touch with friends that have moved away or ones from prior schools, church groups or athletic teams. 

I can completely understand why tweens love social networking sites because I also feel the same way and I am twenty-seven.  They are a way for me to express myself and share what is going on in my life in a quick and easy way.  I hate to admit the amount of times I check Facebook a day but it is a way for me to stay up to date with what is going on with my friends.  I love the sharing aspect and how easy it is to communicate with others through things that they post.  I think social networking sites are great way for tweens to stay connected with their friends, learn to interact with others, and share their feelings and thoughts.

Goodstein, A. (2007). Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online. New York: St Martin’s Griffin.