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Paradigm Shift
Paradigm Shift
Not Quite Teenage Wasteland--In Defense of the Internet
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Hi, I'm a teenager--part of the so-called "Millenial" generation--and I am currently on the internet, like many other teens. I just checked my Facebook profile and posted something stupid on Twitter about my day today, and right now, I'm sharing my sometimes immature teenage views with the world on this blog.

According to Professor Mark Bauerlein, this is making me stupid. You can read about his views (and see them get debunked) at: http://iht.com/articles/2009/01/14/news/letter.1-407193.php and http://campusprogress.org/books/3468/dont-trust-anyone-over-30 .

Dr. Bauerlein claims that students have lost all ability to sit quietly and read because of the instant gratification of the internet. Apparently, we have no appreciation for art or culture or classics or learning, because we can just read whatever trash we find online. That because of the internet, I've been "dumbed down," and I'm at a higher risk to drop out of college.

Okay, so obviously I'm not exactly an unbiased onlooker, but this really, really, really bothers me. I am sick of hearing adults criticize our generation because of the internet, video games, or whatever other technology has just been invented, teenagers are stupid, immature, and self-centered.

First of all, and one of the main points I think Dr. Bauerlein fails to realize, is that the internet gives everyone a voice. This is imperative in a culture where free speech is being threatened all too much. Sure, the internet contains those "teen confessional" YouTube videos, angsty MySpace pages, and pointless Facebook applications, but it also lets the future filmmaker share his unique vision, a budding band promote their music, or a future reporter let everyone know about what's happening in her community.

This is especially imperative during the teen years, where so many adults are suspicious of anyone younger than 20 and censor their voices. Plus, some of the expression that the internet supports, if not promotes, is expression in such fields such as filmmaking, art and comics, and writing and journalism, that are extremely hard to break into offline. The internet lets teens (and everyone else) experiment--whether they make mistakes or become the next big thing.

Furthermore, the internet gives teens opportunities that were previously lost to them. After all, I found out about Dr. Bauerlein on the very internet he so demonizes. The internet is where I read the newspaper, research colleges I may one day go to, and even read classic books.

Sure, I may be unique in that regard, but the internet is giving "Millenials" many more opportunities than just those stodgy standbys. Take 2008's presidential election, where we elected the first African American president of the United States--thanks in part to the large amount of "Millenials" who turned up at the polls. So much for Dr. Bauerlein's claim that we are apathetic and uncaring!

Barack Obama's campaign was unprecedented and very different. After all, he knew how to make use of the web and reach teens. Not only was his campaign website interactive, ingenious, and well-designed, he had a presence on many teen hangouts--a YouTube channel with videos of his speeches, a Twitter feed, and multiple Facebook groups and pages.

Teenagerhood is a fragile time, where we are learning to discover ourselves and our potential. Throughout time, adults have criticized us teenagers for being too self-centered, too wrapped up in our own lives. Whether we are or not is not the issue. But it is clear that Dr. Bauerlein's "breakthrough" or whatever he believes his work to be is just an extension of that mindset.

The "Millenial" generation is simply moving through the phase of exploration and discovery. The only difference between the internet and the many other methods teens have used to create, communicate, and comprehend is that the internet gives "Millenials" the opportunity to invent for themselves. It's not that Twitter makes teens more self-centered, but it gives us an outlet to express the feelings and release the desires of teendom that have existed for ages. The internet is becoming ours. And I for one am not going to let Dr. Bauerlein take away this invaluable resource and precious gift.

January 14, 2009 | 11:53 PM Comments  0 comments

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