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The Not-So-Secret Life of Every Teen: A Facebook and MySpace Story

From: WAMU
Length: 00:04:46

An examination of today's social networking phenomenon. Read the full description.

Default-piece-image-2 They're called the MySpace generation because young people are using social networking sites such as MySpace for just about everything: keeping in touch with friends, checking out future roommates, and sharing photos and music. But recent news reports about the possible dangers of being listed on MySpace and Facebook are raising fears about online safety. As Youth Voices Reporter Lexi Ramage discovered, those fears have not stopped the rapid growth of the social networking phenomenon.

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Piece Description

They're called the MySpace generation because young people are using social networking sites such as MySpace for just about everything: keeping in touch with friends, checking out future roommates, and sharing photos and music. But recent news reports about the possible dangers of being listed on MySpace and Facebook are raising fears about online safety. As Youth Voices Reporter Lexi Ramage discovered, those fears have not stopped the rapid growth of the social networking phenomenon.

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Review of The Not-So-Secret Life of Every Teen: A Facebook and MySpace Story

A user of Myspace myself, and, coincidentally, a teenager, I was very curious to hear what this story was about.

Websites such as Myspace and Facebook are very controversial, and so I was pleased at how the artist touched on how the media plays a large role in how parents view the issue, with the news clips at the beginning.

The interviewees were also well chosen. First, you hear Amanda Lynhart(sp?), an expert of the subject, who gives a basic overview of what social networking websites are about.

Then, after another interview with a young girl who uses said websites, the whole thing is wrapped up nicely with stories of all the good things people have done by using them.

However, the presentation of the story was a bit dry; and I don't imagine it would be particularly engaging if you didn't know very much about the Internet.

This is one of those rare stories that explains its points perfectly, and doesn't leave you at the end thinking, 'but what about...?'. I felt that piece was overall quite well done; the sound was great, and it had a very professional feel to it.

Broadcast History

NPR's Morning Edition, Sept. 07

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