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Alicia Hamrick
Professor Alicia Bolton
ENG 101
11 March 2013
The Internet: Beauty or the Beast
Amy Goldwasser’s essay “What’s the Matter with Kids Today?”sheds light on the
dispute of today’s youth using the internet. As a women of the older generations, she herself, is a
little, as one would say, “dumb founded” with the internet and its capabilities. Yet, she is not one
whom is against its use as a form of communication or as a knowledgeable resource. Using
examples of statistical analyses from the National Endowment for the Arts and Common Corey
survey group, Goldwasser argues that there is not enough research to prove that the internet has a
negative impact on kids. She also speaks on the issue of kids using the internet for the means of
communication, allowing them to express their feelings as “honest documentarians” (Goldwasser
667). She goes on to say that one day one may win the Nobel Prize for writing and thank the
internet for making it possible (Goldwasser 669). Although I disagree with her idea of “trusting
our kids to communicate as they will online” (Goldwasser 669), I do agree with her beliefs that
the internet is not all bad, providingit’s used properly, and not as a “go to” for all of one’s
knowledgeable resources.
I disagree with Goldwasser’s claim that teens should be allowed to use the internet freely.
This is not logical thinking, because childrenwill come into contact with people and things they
should not while online. Whether it be inappropriate for their age or a child predator, there are
just somethings children do not need to see. As a parent, I know that my teenagers are going to
do as much as I let them get away with. I agreethat children should be able to explore

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theirsurroundings,because that is how they learn, but as adults, we are responsible for protecting
them from things that may harm them in anyway. In the February/ March 2008 issue of the
American Psychologist,it states that most internet-related sex crimes result frommen befriending
teenage girls between 13 to 15 years of age (Parks p.18). As a mother of six children, five of
which are girls, that is a scary thought to grasp. I have always tried to keep a close eye on my
eldest two daughters’ Facebook profiles and emails, knowing their passwords and following their
friends’ pages as well. I understand that I am not always going to be able to know 100% of
everything that my children are doing, whether it be online or even in school.As an involved
parent, I feel I have taught my children well enough to protect themselves from such incidents.
But as those protecting children get smarter, so do the predators. According to the Center for
Internet Addiction Recovery as of August 2009, “Statistics already show that 1 in 5 children are
approached by a cyber-predator making internet safety a number one parental priority” (Parks p.
22). For myself meaning the odds of one of my children being a cyber-predator’s target are too
high for comfort.
However, I do agree that today’s youth can increase their knowledge by using the
internet, because it is so easily accessible. As Goldwasser states, “97% of the teenagers in the
Common Core survey connected “I have a dream” with its speaker…” (Goldwasser 667).
Through the use of the internet and today’s technology children are learning so much more at
much younger ages. For instance, my four-year old daughter uses my E-Reader to play games
that are teaching her to read, write, solve puzzles, and identify new or uncommon things, all
while she is entertaining herself. It’s all about how the internet is used.Also, the internet is
providing teens a place to express their feelings whether it be about their personal life or about
the election of the next president.In addition to academic knowledge, access to the internet has

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also provided children with the knowledge of what’s going outside of their communities. They
are now learning the importance of what is going on in the world, not just what shows up in their
local newspapers or on the local news stations. I believe that is very important, considering that
we live in such a diverse world. As Goldwasser states, “Once we stop regarding the Internet as a
villain, stop presenting it as the enemy of history and literature and worldly knowledge, then our
teenagers have the potential to become the next great voices of America” (669).
I believe that could be the case for any teenager considering that the internet does not
discriminate against age, race, or sexuality. It provides a place for everyone to be equal and have
their voices heard.
Thus, with guidance and supervision teens and children can use the internet to stay
connected with friends and family, and also learn anything they want all with just a click of a
mouse. So with a little time and effort from adults the internet can be made and a safe and
enjoyable place for children of all ages.
Works Citied

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Goldwasser, Amy. “What’s the Matter with Kids Today?”The Norton Field Guide to Writing.
2nd
ed. Ed. Marilyn Moller. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2010. 666-669.
Print.
Parks, Peggy J. "Current Issues: Online Social Networking." Current Issues: Online Social
Networking. 2011: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 10 Mar 2013.