Gaming And Second Life

As many of us know what a second life is and its possibilities, we also know the dangers. A interactive second life video game that allows us to do everything possible in reality such as, chat with friends, team up, join online community, create an avatar, Level/gain items for the avatar similar to going to college and getting a job, getting married and even to the point of having a kid/family. Games like this are so addictive that many kids give up their real lives for it. But kids are forced to do so because the gaming industry are corrputing these young minds that wants to explore and gain attention. they never realized that instead of corrupting the youth's minds, they can utilize these resources to provide help and educational skills to them. As discussed in the article, "Second Life Teches Life Lesson" from wired.com, universities and social help programs have been using this second life game to explore business talent and connection children who are in need for some help. But this whole idea of second life gaming, revolves around the fact that people are not judged for who they are, but they are judged for what they are online. In addition, there is no limits to their achievements online, thus the sky is the limit when it comes to kids looking for attention, interaction and mostly acceptance by their peers. This is why many kids tune out their reality and embrace fantasy, like the kids from "Growing Up Online" by Frontline. And as a parent, you are still unfamiliar with these fast pace changes, thus you choose to reject it or give up all control. Very few people will actually put in the works to figure out this social network and assimilate themselves into it, such as our president, Mr. Obama.

Obama's Social Media

Internet has more viewers than all other news and entertainment industry combined, this includes newspaper and T.V. But for years this massive attraction has gone unnoticed, until President Obama. President Obama is the first man to realize the potential of the internet and to utilize its powers to help him gain the votes of the young generation. He used social media websites such as youtube, hulu, blogs, facebook, myspace, forum, etc, to help spread his political campaign. Even though he wasnt as experienced as other candidates, he used all the famous website to portray to the young generation's that he was one of them. He appeared to be a member of the community and as soon as his campaign began he received massive support from this community. which is comparable to the social community the kids from Frontline: Growing Up Online is involved in. As he became more young and hipper to the youths, it also led to a social second life; It's almost like running for office both in reality and in fantasy, but in this era the fantasy can hold immense powers.

Frontline : Growing Up Online

Second Life and Social Community

The social trends of the internet has moved kids farther and farther away from the social haven's created by their parents. Kids have discovered the means of utilizing the power of the internet to portray and switch on multiple identities/persona's. Thus, allowing them to create and lead a second life in which there aren't anyone there to criticize them. Moreover, it allows the kids themselves to form a community of support similar to many gangs, and it is a addictive community. But as the internet era grows, more and more potential threats arise, such as cyberbullying and sexual predators. Thus, parents have started to become overly concern and protective of their child's safety. However, what they believe to be the correct measure of security they must show/use has pushed the kids into a danger zone in their social network, the possibilities of being extracted from their community. Therefore, pushing the kids to an extent of an un-trusting relationship with their parents and blocking out all grown ups from their cyber world. This retaliation to the parents has become a threat to parents who try to control their kids too much. These parents have manipulate/shape their kids life into a alternative life style they themselves had hoped for, and i don't think that its wrong. But with themselves still unable to move into the modern era and embrace changes how will you qualify to be there and help shape a prosperous life for them. In addition, parents should not undermine the childs intelligence to protect themselves, but learn to trust them and provide good guidance.