O noes Intarnets!!!

[tikistitch]

'Mental risk' of Facebook teens

Social networking sites may be harmful, an expert says

Just one expert? Why not a panel of experts? Gy.

Children growing up alongside the rise of social networking websites may have a "potentially dangerous" view of the world, says a leading psychiatrist.

Dr Himanshu Tyagi said sites such as Facebook and MySpace may be harmful.

He told the Royal College of Psychiatrists annual meeting people with active online identities might place less value on their real lives.

Dunno about Dr. Tyagi's qualifications to make sweeping generalizations on the matter. (We've googled him to try to find other evidence that he is indeed a "leading psychiatrist," and found no references other than the current news item, which does seem to have been widely disseminated.) However. Even though tiki is Ancient, we do actually recall being a teen. And, our so-called "real life" as such. We would've been really really REALLY grateful for an outlet - even a semi-stupid one - like Facebook.

Also: teens didn't need Facebook to become stupid. Teens have always been stupid.

Comments

[avalonjones.livejournal.com]

Even though I said mean things about Facebook/MySpace yesterday, I am here to say now that it's great for people who are somewhat socially maladept; it makes it easier to make contact with people who share your interests (and I'm fresh from a similar discussion on another friend's LJ on pretty much the same topic). I have lots of internet friends, and I'd be way more isolated than I already am without 'em.

[annlarimer.livejournal.com]

He reminds me of the 'expert' ABC hired to improve their Saturday morning cartoons. Among other things, he made them get rid of Janine from Ghostbusters' pointy glasses, because their angularity would frighten children.

[typicalfemale.livejournal.com]

I remember we got our first computer in 1995 when I was twelve, and once we had AOL when I was 13/14 and I went on message boards and chat I actually felt self-confidence for the first time in a long time. In a teenage life full of thoughts that appearance matters, I could actually talk without anyone seeing my (then acne-ridden and chubby) face and it made me happy. Of course, now the whole "let me show you my sexy boh-day!" picture thing on myspace/facebook sort of defuncts that but it doesn't change the fact that the net is a great outlet especially for teens who don't "fit in." I don't think that for any reason it made my "real life" feel less valuable, if anything going into chat rooms and onto message boards and finding people who shared my interests made me feel like less of a loner. I definitely don't agree with the study.