Ito's report examines the effect interactive media have on youth, and their rapidly changing identity in today's culture. Interviews and testimonies given by young people across many different demographics work to inform the audience of a generation of people learning, growing, and socializing in a world seemingly separate, foreign, and unfamiliar to the generations before it. A closer look tells us that not much has really changed regarding the basic needs of our youth to interact, create, and find a path. The change is in the space where these things occur. This new arena of digital technology seems to mirror generations of the past. The same elements present in youth culture of years ago are here as well, only the vehicle is different. The report examines how youth involvement with friendship, games, romance, family, mentors, interests, and talents shape their focus and path towards adulthood. Digital/interactive media thread these aspects of "growing up" together into a realm more navigatable (is that a word?) and accessable than ever before. This creates a new and previously unfathamable speed at which todays kids can realize their goals and potential, and continue to raise the bar in the future.

One concept that I found especially interesting is the idea that the realities of today's children are becoming exaggerated because of the exposure interactive media and social networking sites give to their social lives. Its interesting to see how personal profiles give young people a chance to organize and prioritize their friendships and interests from their bedrooms. The report shows us how the meaning of the word "friend" has changed. It is kind of refreshing to read about media "laying the groundwork for friendship." The report explains how some young people use social networking to move from acquaintance to friend online. Finding common ground, and keeping in touch becomes easier, and to me this could "lay the groundwork" for more accepting and friendlier generations to come. I enjoyed the connections made regarding dating in the digital age vs in generations before. Declaring ones "status" or disgarding pictures of an ex on a profile show the peculur way in which young people find it neccessary to have an audience to attain legitimacy in thier love lives. Could this audience be growing too large? In addition, the perminance of new technology is mentioned regarding this topic. Documentation of our lives can now seemingly be stored, copied, and shared forever. Spooooky. Especially in a time where our right to privacy is questionable. Will we even need backround checks in the future? A google search soon will certainly dig up enough dirt! The interconnectivity of digital technology represents a beautiful idea of progression towards a more unified world, but at the same time fires up my paranoia, reminding me that we are becoming easier and easier to watch, number, and control.

Much of the report details adult interaction in the youth digital culture. I enjoyed the duality between adults as mediators vs. mentors. I liked it because it shows how "geeking out" can diffuse the identity of adults as authoratarians, and bring generations together as people with common interests as opposed to just adults or kids. On the same topic, it is fun to read about how technologically advanced our youth are becoming. Children teaching their parents how to record, edit, game, and interact with the media reprents a revolution of sorts.

In response to the question about my major/plans/visions/goals/dreams, ect. and their relationship to Ito's case study:

One thing that comes to mind for our collective class project, and for my personal goals is that I feel drawn towards finding a way to both educate people about the destructive and dehumanizing aspects of our culture that use the media as a vehicle to conform, constrain, and capitalize, while finding a way to accept digital technology as something that can connect and create. Thus far the easiest way for me to analyze the media and technology is to begin with a cynical "avoid the brainwash" sort of mentality. Recently I've discovered that while this is an excellent way to generate critiques, there is another step. The next step is action, and this involves accepting the situation we have to work with. So, I've been toying with the idea of geering my research towards finding a way to learn and teach a way to battle the media imperialism demons with a fresh outlook on this rapidly changing technology that could be used to shift power from corporations to people. Ito's report represents this idea in the descriptions of our new empowerment to create and share art and music, and establish clubs and groups, and interact with an audience in a way we never could before.

When, Where, and How do you write?

For me writing is like excercising. It takes an incredible amount of force and determination to get started, and it never sounds like much fun, but once I start I can't stop, and when I'm done I've never felt better!!! I like to write by hand as opposed to typing. Outside is where I prefer to write. I love to write on the beach, or anywhere in nature, alone, and relaxed. One of my favorite things I've composed is the journal of my trip to Europe. I really like writing letters to my Mom, Dad, and friends.

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