Dr. Jonathan Goldberg speaks about how boys use technology to communicate and connect.

1. Virtual Friendships : HOW BOYS USE TECHNOLOGY TO COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT The Fessenden School February 24, 2009

2. Internet Initiated by an MIT professor as a way of linking defense satellites post-Sputnik but did not gain a public face until 1990 with the advent of the World Wide Web (WWW). Estimated 1.5 billion users as of January 2009 Cell Phones The first generation (1G) device was launched by Motorola in the United States. Presently, the third generation (3G) is being sold with faster data transfer rates 14.4 mbit/s and a full range of multimedia services, including music, video, and Wi-Fi Text Messaging Originally developed for the hearing impaired, texting is currently the most popular form of communication for school-aged children. According to the Pew Internet and American Life project survey, 82% of children ages 13-22 text message regularly Doom Released The grandfather of every MMPORG to come, Doom was the first ultra-violent, first-person shooter with a 3D interface. The goal was to kill alien creatures using an assortment of weaponry. Distributed as shareware, it was downloaded 10 million times in two years. Became controversial following the shootings at Columbine The Evolution of Communication 1969 1983 ddd 1993 ddd 1993

3. “ Smart” Phones Bellsouth releases Simon, the first cell phone with integrated address book, calendar, e-mail ability, and games. The first true camera phone is released in 1997, ushering in a new age of journalism as well as voyeurism. A new bill introduced to congress just 3 weeks ago would require all camera phones to make clicking noises AOL Instant Messenger The first massively successful commercial software for peer-to-peer communication and file sharing in real time. Introduces children to a new way of speaking through the adoption of emoticons and slang (e.g., LMAO). Anonymous screen names contribute to first known incidences of cyberbullying EverQuest Released Also known as EverCrack because of its potential for addiction, this is the first true MMORPG wherein participants are immersed in an alternative universe populated by characters, or toons of their own creation. These characters interact in real-time and the game is a social experience. Ushered in WOW, Runescape, and even Club Penguin The Evolution of Communication Google Introduction of the most used search engine on the planet. Designed to be easy enough for children to use, it greatly changed the accessibility of information and made the internet more “friendly.” “Google-it” has become a part of most children’s and adults’ lexicon. Cyberstalking increases. 1993 1996 ddd 1997 ddd 1999

4. Social Networking Sites Beginning with Friendster, these websites allow adults and children alike to easily socialize with friends and become “content creators,” sharing personal profiles consisting of pictures, music, videos and writings. The most popular social networking site for children is presently Facebook with roughly 55% of 14-17 year-olds claiming membership YouTube A video sharing website where users can upload, view, and share movies. With its friendly interface, YouTube has made it possible for anyone who can use a computer to post a video that millions of people can watch within a few minutes. This has made it a kid’s favorite. Purchased by Google in 2006 for 1.6 billion First Cyberbullying Trial in US In November of 2008, the prosecution began its case against a mother and daughter who posed as an attractive male teenager on MySpace to taunt another girl in the daughter’s class. The 13-year-old girl hanged herself. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, approximately 43% of children ages 13-17 have experienced cyberbullying The Evolution of Communication To Catch a Predator Airs A reality television show that focused on undercover sting operations to catch sexual predators who used the internet for meeting-up with underage children. Viewed by approximately 7 million people, it increases national fears of predatory behavior on the internet. Recent empirical research suggests that cyberbullying is a far more serious issue 2002 2004 ddd 2005 ddd 2008 New York Times, January 13, 2009 “ Report Finds Online Threat to Children Overblown ”

9. What are they doing online? (79%) N = 179 Indicate whether you use the internet for the following activities: (91%) (83%) (78%) (73%) (45%) (8%) (22%) Children reported spending an average of 2.8 hours on the internet per day

12. What are they doing online? (2%) N = 179 Which of these social networking sites do you currently belong to? (69%) (49%) (22%) (8%) (2%) (2%) (16%) “ Other” social networking sites included CyWorld, DeviantArt, Meebo, and Gamebattles.com

17. Online Gaming 17 Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMPORG): Other popular MMPORG games included Halo, Call of Duty, Fallout 3, and Oblivion

20. Playing favorites (59%) N = 179 If you could pick only one of these to keep, which would it be? (13%) (10%) (10%) (5%) (3%) “ Other” indispensables included laptops, iPods, friends, and having a life

21. Straight From the Horse’s Mouth: If you could communicate anything to your parents about your use of these technologies, what would it be? “ The internet is safe as long as you exercise responsibility when using it. Restricting access when it is misused is one thing, but restricting access out of fear that it will be misused doesn’t solve anything” – Ninth grade, day student “ It isn’t as bad as everyone says it is. It can be unsafe in some cases, but no one that I know uses it in a really dumb way. THINGS ARE DIFFERENT. They are just going to have to accept that it is a different time. We aren’t growing up when they were. It’s the way we are. Stop trying to monitor it or we will never learn for ourselves” – Eighth grade, day student “ Tell them the truth. Personally, all I do is listen to music on iTunes and email. Play games sometimes. Bad things do come up, though. Inappropriate pictures, bad words, and wrong information. The internet is used for good and also bad things” – Seventh grade, 7-day boarder

22. Straight From the Horse’s Mouth: If you could communicate anything to your parents about your use of these technologies, what would it be? “ Don’t worry. Facebook, online games, and IM are safe. I am a teenager, not a baby anymore” – Eighth grade, 7-day boarder “ I think that our parents should know that the internet can be dangerous. But boys at Fessenden are very good with the internet and hopefully don’t abuse it” – Eighth grade, 5-day boarder “ If you’re worried about me playing shooters, it’s EDUCATIONAL about WWII. Also dad introduced me to Facebook, that’s OK, and dad uses the PSP, not me. And I don’t use my cell that often. It’s mom that I’m worried about. She uses it like 7 hours a day!” – Seventh grade, day student “ I would want my parents to know that I am responsible enough to use the internet without people monitoring me” – Eighth grade, day student

23. Straight From the Horse’s Mouth: If you could communicate anything to your parents about your use of these technologies, what would it be? “ Everything is fine. Trust me. I’m not a naïve idiot. I don’t meet with strangers or talk to them. Stay out of my life.” – Eighth grade, day student “ Most parents know less about technology than their kids. If teenagers say that they know what they are doing, they know what they are doing. The internet is a way of sharing information. If adults say that the internet should not be used to share information that might be personal, this does not make sense.” – Ninth grade, day student “ Your kids know how to cover their tracks and how to take care of themselves. Don’t butt in!!!! We are better at this than you are.” – Ninth grade, 5-day boarder “ You can no longer control how we use computers. We have some sense. The internet is everywhere. If one uses it with sense it is not dangerous at all. – Ninth grade, 7-day boarder

24. Straight From the Horse’s Mouth: If you could communicate anything to your parents about your use of these technologies, what would it be? “ Those who know what they are doing via the internet are more safe than you think. You’d be surprised at the number of people who use the internet wisely. Once one knows the facts they are good to go. A generation should not be restricted by the majority. All will learn in time, it’s just that some learn slower” – Seventh grade, day student “ I have no problem with the usage of internet because I only use it for contacting with my friends who I cannot see physically. Therefore, it is okay to use Cyworld to contact and keep in touch with my Korean friends” – Eighth grade, 7-day boarder “ I am using it properly. I like the freedom to talk to my friends. I already go to an all-boy’s school and if you took away my privileges to talk to kids and girls my age that’s not fair. IM and texting is the only way I can talk to them” – Eighth grade, day student