The danah boyd article called “Identity Production in a Networked Culture: Why Youth Heart MySpace” was definitely something I could relate to. After all, at one time, I did have a MySpace account. MySpace started as a social networking site for new bands and young people who needed a place to “hang out”. I was pretty young when I got a MySpace. I want to say I was a freshman in high school. I have long since deactivated my account and for one reason: my parents. Actually that’s not true, there was a multitude of reasons but none of them actually drew me away from the site until my parents stepped in. boyd’s article talks a lot about how MySpace (and other social networks like it) become this place where people define themselves and she mentions a lot of good things. However, she does mention how it is hard for parents to relinquish control of their children’s internet lives and that “this dynamic most often destroys the most important value in the child/parents relationship: trust” (6). I totally agree with that statement and a living example of it.
My parents were always pretty trustworthy of me until my Jr. year of high school when someone let them see my MySpace. Now being the oldest, I usually got it pretty hard and since my sister’s didn’t have MySpace accounts, there was no way for them to understand what MySpace was really about. They found some things they didn’t like and made me not go on my account anymore. But I did. And they found out. And finally they made me shut it down. They didn’t trust that I would make good choices over the internet about what I posted and who I became friends with. They didn’t like the type of person I was online or the type of person that I was becoming due to MySpace. Up until last summer, I wasn’t involved in any type of social network. I know it sounds weird but I felt like I was missing out on something. Soon a lot of my friends had Facebook’s and were sharing photos and I couldn’t do that. I eventually convinced my parents to let me get one in order to stay in touch with high school friends when I went to college. I am older now and understand the dangers of the Internet and am very careful what I say and post. Also, I really look at who I friend and who can see my profile. I really hope I never violate my parents trust again. I do believe that they need to let go because I am an adult and can make decisions by myself. I also understand their concern however. I don’t like MySpace because I say that it “ruined my life” for a short period of time (to be dramatic). However, I think it was actually myself and not the site that was the source of issue. At one time MySpace was a great thing but there are dangers to it. So be careful what you put on there.
1 comment:
Amy, I don't know what to say about your blog. I thought it was good but I'm not sure I agree. I don't know the whole story to what you were doing on Myspace and why your parents were so against it. It's hard to assume what you were doing because I don't want to judge but it seems like you were just too young to handle social networks?! I don't want to offend you, I'm not trying to be mean but I'm just having a hard time understanding why your parents didn't trust you and you feel that Myspace "ruined your life" because its seems a bit odd. However, I'm glad you feel more comfortable and are more cautious with your social networking accounts now because there truly are so many positive things that can come from it. Having more friends than someone else isn't necessarily a good thing (and won't make you more popular), but what you do and how you handle Myspace or Facebook can really be a lot of fun Anyway, good blog.
Post a Comment