Connected vs. Disconnected

The Usefulness of Media for Youth

Media present many uses for Youth. One can talk on the phone, search the internet for homework, listen to a radio show in another city, or even watch their favorite show and fast forward through the commercials. Some can be beneficial and considered Helps, while others can be counterproductive and considered Hurts.  This week my partner and I are discussing the helps and hurts of media in connecting or disconnecting youth. Check out our thoughts and let us know what you think!! #CommentsWelcomed

Hurt = Social Skills in Interpersonal Communication

It seems so much easier to just send a text to someone about something as simple as the logistics of a meeting or a short "thinking of you" note. There's no need to interrupt someone's day for that, but what about a first date request or a breakup? Digital Communication is so prevalent that many youth prefer to use it more than they want to talk. It may be a convenient connection, but the practice has the effect of disconnecting youth from others. Texting and instant messaging are not good replacements for good old fashioned face to face communicating. (While I can't believe I called something old fashioned, I must say that in this case, I prefer to be.) Humans are naturally social creatures. Check out the articles below and let me know where you stand:

http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones/Chapter-2/Texting-compared-with-talking.aspx?r=1

http://www.iammodern.com/talk-twitter-to-me.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20002917-93.html

Help = Community Awareness and Activism

Youth today seem to be more politically and socially aware of what's going on around the globe than youth from previous generations. Media plays a big part in keeping us aware of the struggle of others. It helps foster a connectedness among its audience. Voting-aged American youth are actually turning out to vote more, and studies show that youth are doing more charitable giving and volunteering than in years passed. Check out the articles in the links below for more information on youth awareness:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3586063.stm

http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/c0176406e16aa6f48825745e006b0a85/2933364bfe2c2ba18825770d00757546!OpenDocument

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090813142420.htm

Disconnected or Connected: YOUTH

In this blog, My partner Kendra Wright and I-LaToya Hentz will discuss how Media Disconnects and Connects with the youth in today's society.  We will both give two separate examples of how Media actually helps and hurt today's youth.

PORTRAYALS OF PERFECTION

Some of the first images of cartoons and in coloring books feature "Barbie and Ken" and "The Disney Princesses".  The media paints a picture of perfection that children start to notice at a very young age.  This has been proven in numerous studies when young girls were presented with serveral dolls and each girl---no matter what race----chose BARBIE!  So, apparently they view Barbie as being prettier than the other dolls.  This is a huge problem for girls who dont look like Barbie.  Many little girls grow up wanting to look like the Disney princesses or Barbie.  And once they grow out of childhood, the media portrayals of Beyonce, Miss America, Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry are the images that are connected with beauty.  The facial features, skin tones, hair lengths, and body types are all similar and represent Beauty.  Girls that are full figured and dark may take offense or wonder why they're not as pretty as those girls.  And the journey begins, Girls strive for the media images of perfections on a daily basis.  Adding hair extensions, trying to stay fit by exercising, plastic surgery, and diet supplements are just a few examples of the things females may do to try to change their look.  

STAYING CONNECTED

Unlike our grandparents and parents, youth are able to interact with each other no matter where they are located.  Social media has enabled the youth to stay connected through text, twitter, facebook, youtube, chatrooms and skype.  No one is further than hands reach of the nearest computer or cell phone. 

youth LIVE online

This week we looked at local media or real happenings among youth. Jackson youth are really into almost every form of media -- as long as it's digital. It is as if all forms of media converge online for youth!

I, LH, will discuss how the Internet and Radio effect the youth in the local community.  Before the internet was such a big deal, the youth in our area used to engage in outdoor activities, television shows and family events for entertainment.  The Internet has stolen the youth in today’s sociey.  It has left the world in SHOCK. 
It is so powerful that television, newspapers and radio have all made their different forms of media available on the internet.  WHY? Because the youth not only use the world wide web for social networking but also for reading, researching, receiving news and listening to their favorite music selections.  The internet has totally taken over today’s youth with Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Youtube, and the ability to watch the news or listen to the radio whenever one wants. 
The INTERNET has evolved into Every form of media and source of entertainment needed and therefore the youth are using it to their maximum capacities.  While the internet can be credited for providing information to the youth whenever they need it and allowing them to communicate with others on a business or personal level; it has also been blamed for hindering the youth from having any in person social skills.  Most youth will watch something on TV or hear something on the radio and instead of talking about it in person or even over the phone, they would rather chat online, send a text or an email.   Example: Posting a status after watching Basketball Wives on twitter that says---- "Basketball Wives are so messy.... and whats up with Everlyn's hair?" 



I, KW, am contributing on two of the four media formats, Television/Cinema and Print (Newspaper, Books, and Magazines). As we have discussed in previous blogs, youth are heavily influenced and socialized by celebrities. In addition to being able to "follow" their idols on twitter, Jackson area youth never have to miss a beat, and it seems they never do.

Youth are particularly interested in reality TV and online news as evidenced by social media. The content of some youth's facebook and twitter accounts are dominated by references to television and celebrity news and gossip. In recent interviews, at least two Miss Mississippi candidates and a University of Mississippi cheerleader all admit that their guilty pleasures are reality TV and music video stations. The cheerleader also indicated that one of the three things she would take to a desert island is an ipod.

Many TV shows, especially reality shows on popular sites like MTV and VH1 are posted online. Youth can go online to download and/or watch movies too. There is no need to wait until the next airing. Youth have the television on their computers and cell phones. So, immediately following a great (or terrible) show, check fb if you're interested in youth comments and opinions!

There are several different types of radio----talk, news and music.  Most youth listen to the radio to hear the latest music.  Music speaks to everyone differently but ultimately it is a form of entertainment.  Most youth listen to ipods and Mp3 players with all their favorite music all downloaded.  In todays society, radio is very similar to newspaper.  Youth dont actually listen to the radio unless its online.  Therefore radio stations have been forced to create links where you can listen online 24 hours a day. 



The blog, Decline of Print Media, has great coverage on the decreased use of print media. While youth may not read the newspaper, they do get news online. The Jackson Free Press' youth blog is a great example of this. Youth post and repost news of interest as well as their personal opinions. Sites like Media Takeout have taken the place of the National Enquirer (remember that?) with its posts of a "maybe-not-true" nature. The same may be true for books and magazines.

One area youth stated that she needs a kindle in order to read. She said she cannot read "regular" books. This suggests that youth that have had access to technology for the majority of their life may be more inclined to use these forms for better comprehension than traditional forms. Finally, online magazines are taking on the form of blogs in order to gain readers who live online. In some places Radio One stations are linking to online mags to handle the news on their sites and increase hits. Check out http://www.radio-one.com/ for great examples.

So tell me, do you LIVE online?