Adolescent Interview

For my adolescent interview I took the opportunity to interview my 14 year old brother, Bailey.

I used technology to conduct the interview using the interface of “facetime”.

During my interview I was surprised to find out that he uses a lot of technologies and social networks throughout every day.

Technologies he uses that were discussed consisted of television for entertainment, a gaming console called PS4 to play video games as well as converse with his friends. He uses an IPhone for communication and his social networking. Social networks he uses include Instagram, Facebook. Twitter, and iFunny. He also mentioned that he uses the computer to Skype and to watch YouTube videos.

I learned how much social networking this 14 year old does. My childhood growing up was very different from Bailey’s. I was surprised to find out how little my parents regulate his social networking usage. When I was growing up the only communication I had with my friends was the telephone or AIM in which I had to use dial up to talked to them.

Cyber bullying was a big highlight of our conversation. I asked Bailey if he has ever witnessed cyber bullying and he said he has on several occasions. He has been a victim and so have several of his friends. This was very upsetting to me as a sister. I asked him when it came to these incidents how they were handled and he informed me that the bullying that happened to him was reported to my mother and the ones involving his friends he intervened with the intention to stand up for them. Cyber bullying has always been something that I am extremely offended by and always have been because I just don’t understand the ignorance around it. Years ago I was introduced to a story about a girl named Amanda Todd who shared her story of bullying on YouTube which eventually lead to her suicide. I told Bailey to look her up and the night after our interview he posted this video on his Facebook for all to see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80RqEf56Ix4&sns=fb

My biggest take away from the interview is just how much our world has changed and how much it involves technology.  Kids are introduced to these medias at such a young age and the dependency has grown.