What issues are raised in the PBS video "Growing Up Online"?

In the PBS video "Growing Up Online," FRONTLINE raises several key issues regarding social media and its effect on youth today. One of these issues refers to the violation of privacy of pre-teens and teenagers as they increasingly post personal information online. FRONTLINE also discusses the potential threat of "online predators" who may target younger people over the Internet through chatrooms and other online outlets. Cyberbullying also poses a threat to kids and teens online. Lastly, FRONTLINE brings up the issue of the over-sharing of information, stating that through social media, "kids with eating disorders share tips about staying thin, and depressed kids can share information about the best ways to commit suicide."

How did social media affect Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign?

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama utilized social networking effectively as a major campaign strategy. Interacting with his supporters on Twitter and Facebook, Obama was able to reach out to the younger demographic that helped to secure him his office. While these techniques may seem like common sense today, back in 2007, when Barack Obama declared he was running for president, these methods were practically unheard of. Use of Twitter was not widespread and the iPhone was still yet to be announced. Therefore, social media affected Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign positively, giving him a boost in the polls and allowing him to interact with a demographic never before reached.

What are the pros and cons of social networking?

Pros
The pros of social networking include fast media-sharing, which can mean a variety of things; one may rapidly spread news, photos, brief status-updates, and locations with just a few simple clicks of a button or touches of a screen. For example, if there is an emergency is one area, areas around that place can be notified using social media faster than it would take someone to physically alarm that region. 

Cons
The cons of social networking can include many negatives, however. The younger generation is quickly becoming dependent and even addicted to social networks. Without online access, some experience a feeling of disconnection; moreover, one may forget how to find information without utilizing the Internet.

What are some trends of social networking?

The use of mobile smartphones to access social media remains a popular trend within the realm of social networking. Cellular devices such as iPhones, BlackBerrys, Android-operated smartphones, and Windows-operated smartphones seem to be the main contenders on the smartphone battlefield. Each has its own unique operating system (OS) that enable them to access the Internet; furthermore, these cell phones run applications that have streamlined popular social media so that they may be easily accessed via smartphone.

What is social networking?

If you ask any teenager, he or she may define social networking as a variety of websites, like Twitter or Facebook. Social networking refers to the use of a dedicated Web site to communicate informally with other members of the site, by posting messages, photographs, etc. Nowadays, such media continues to redefine the way people of the world connect to one another; moreover, social networking sites have shaped our generation, making us almost entirely dependent on the Internet.