U2-#3 - Table Discussions/Answer Questions

Directions:

• Discuss 3.1 through 3.3 with your table mates.
• Own your own - Answer and think about 3.4, in this Canvas assignment.

Today, kids "hang out" and talk with friends in virtual spaces through instant messaging, text

messaging, chat rooms and social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook.

3.1. One teen describes MySpace and Facebook as fun because they are "a section of the

Internet that’s your own." How is a profile -- an online space -- similar to and different

from other parts of the world that are your own, like your bedroom, school locker or diary?

3.2. As shown in the program, social networking sites can be used as a way to "talk junk,"

insult others or hash out conflicts. Is fighting online a relatively safe way to express

negative emotions in responding to others (without having to deal with them face to

face)? Or does online fighting do more harm than good?

3.3. The program describes social networking sites as places where kids post pictures,

accumulate friends, post messages to others and describe themselves. What other kinds

of things do teens and young adults do on social networking sites that aren’t mentioned?

3.4. Girls describe how online name calling among different groups escalated to physical

violence between girls in a school cafeteria. The event was videotaped by students and

posted to YouTube. From the list below, choose three of the following groups. Explain the

similarities  and differences  in how the fight video would function for each group -- and

how these groups might perceive the video.

•  The girls who were fighting in the video

•  The person who filmed it and uploaded it

•  Other students in the school

•  Teachers and administrators at the school

•  Parents of the girls who were fighting

•  Parents of students who were in the cafeteria at the time

•  Law enforcement in the community

•  Teens who viewed the video online -- but are from a different school or area

• MTV market researchers

• YouTube's advertising sales department

• A high school student in China who will soon be an exchange student in a U.S. high

school