Media File Sharing

Raise your hand if you have downloaded songs off of an illegal site! . . . . .

Most of us can say that we have illegally downloaded songs of sites like Limewire. I can say that I have done this before . . . . Unfortunately.

Taking music off of these types of sites is illegal! Media file sharing is becoming more and more popular every day and music artists are loosing billions of dollars. I did not think much of this topic until I had to do a debate on how media file sharing of music files is unethical.

When you think about it, it is just like stealing money out of an artist's pocket. You just don't have to stalk them down first. Illegally downloading songs off the internet is only increasing the price of CDs in stores. People need to stop this felony so we can get back to buying CDs at a decent price.

The Internet & Movies

Why go to the movies when you can sit at your computer desk at home?

Many people have been introduced to Netflix recently. You do not have to leave your home to have a family movie night or go on that romantic date. The internet has provided the access and ability to watching new movies online at the click of a mouse. You do not even have to watch them on your computer screen if you can hook up your computer to the TV. This is starting to cut the thrill of going to the movies anymore. Prices for movies are raising and Netflix may be starting to sound like a great idea to any average spender in today's society. Going to the movies may soon become a fad of the past if the internet can take this far. Leave your $10.50 at home and put your popcorn cooking skills to the test (yay for microwaves!)

Twitter?

Once again, I'm talking about my mother and technology!

My mom got a twitter and asked me to get one too so we could keep in touch through it while I'm away at school. I agreed to creating a Twitter site and began exploring the world of Twitter.

As I finished creating my page, I finally realized what exactly a Twitter was. I understood that it was basically like the Facebook update status at the top of the page. I always complain that Facebook is full of too much junk and I wish that there was a way to have it less cluttered. I did not like the fact that Twitter was so simple though either. I am stuck between simplicity and complexity and I need a happy medium!!

Children and the Media

Is it okay for a 7 year old to have a cell phone? . . . . . .

I think I see more kids running around with cell phones texting away than I feel like I should. It looks like all they do with their time is text until their fingers blister. I do not understand what all of the young texters have to talk about after they have seen their friends all day at school. I think they could write books of their conversations, based on how much they text and talk on the phone.

I did not recieve my first cell phone until the end of my freshman year of high school. I was always waiting around for someone who forgot to pick me up or hitching a ride with a teacher. My parents decided that it was probably a good idea for me to get a cell phone so I did not have to wait around without knowing what was going on.

I had a reason to get a phone. I do not understand why children have a reason to get a cell phone, "because it is cool." This is definately shaping children today though. Kids are being brought up totally surrounded with technology. They are becoming dependent on it.

Presidents & Facebook/Blogs

Obama has a Facebook, you should too!!

President Barrack Obama used Facebook and blogs during his election campaign to rack in the votes! I thought that this was a great idea for a politician to partake in. Young people are the main target for voting and they seem to be online the most, so it just makes sense. This shows the people that a President can relate to you. Even if he was not in charge of his own Facebook site, this is still a great idea. This spread the word out to several voters and kept supporteres updated on wherabouts of Obama and his campaign. The internet is the new media, so why not use it?

The Internet is for Porn --Avenue Q

Unfortunately, many people feel this way!

Children can go online after school and pop up a porno website if they really do please. Many people believe that there should be stricter access to viewing porn over the internet, so children cannot view obscenities. Others argue that children should not have a censored life and feel that they can view whatever they want. I do not agree with this second idea. There is a right time for children to learn certain things and using porn should not be one of them while they are children.

Setting an age limit on sites is not enough. Children can lie about there age and still view the sight. I feel that there should most definately be a way to provide a stricter entry into pornographic websites. Children should not be meddling into this at such a young age.!!!

Family Facebook

My mom recently got a Facebook site . . . . SURPRISE!

I went through my entire sight looking for things that my mother would not want to read or see about me, and really I found hardly anything. I was still worried about what she would think of me after finding out more about myself from Facebook.

My question is: should parents be able to access their child's Facebook through their own sight?

Many parents feel that their child would be much safer without a Facebook; there are people out there online who children should not come in contact with. People argue that there are plenty of privacy settings to keep away predators, but if a child wants to be friends with a stranger, they can.

Is allowing parents to access their child's sight a disruption of privacy? Many parents may feel that this is just a safety precaution, not a lack of privacy. I do not know how I feel about this; if this would be a good or bad idea. What do you think?