Introduction: Life Online

Can you imagine a world without cell phones or the Internet? Today, the average teen sends more than 1,700 texts per month. Nearly 90 percent of young Americans are connected to the Internet, and many spend hours online every day. The number of social network subscribers now exceeds the population of most countries.

It's clear that digital technology is revolutionizing the way we connect to one another, making it faster and easier than ever. This can affect not only what we say and how we say it, but also who hears the message and how they respond to it. Take a look at life online in this activity.

Before you begin, type in your name.

Next: Your Own Piece of the Internet

If you use online social networks, you're not alone. That's the whole point, right? Even if you're stuck at home for the night, you can still connect with friends, find out what happened when you weren't there, share photos and music, and maybe show a side of your personality that you normally keep hidden.

Watch this video to see what several teens had to say about why they use sites like MySpace and Facebook. As you watch, compare their ideas with your own.

Then use the space below to log your responses to these questions.

• Do you use social networking sites to stay connected to friends? Why or why not?
• What do you like, or dislike, about the idea of having your own space on the Internet?
• Do you think you use social media differently from how your friends or the people in the video use it? Explain your answer.

Click "save notes" before moving on to the next page.

Next: Too Wired?

The great thing about the Internet and cell phone technology is that it's available all the time, 24/7. At home, at the store, on vacation, you can be as connected as you want to be. But is there a downside to being connected all the time? Can there be too much of a good thing?

In this video, 17-year-old Greg describes his desire to stay connected to his friends at all times. Can you relate to Greg's reliance on technology, or do you think it's extreme? Watch the video and see what you think.

Now post your responses to these questions in the space below.

• How much time per day do you connect to friends through technology?
• Do you think your friends and other teens spend more time or less time online than you do?
• Would you spend more time connected if school or your parents allowed it? Doing what?
• Do you ever feel that you're missing out on doing other things because you're spending so much time connected? Explain.

Click "save notes" before moving on to the next page.

Next: Online vs. Face to Face

Social networking sites make it incredibly easy to share your thoughts and aspects of your personality with others. You can post a picture, an idea, a rant, or a comment on someone else's page. This can be a good thing; what better way to reach all of your contacts at one time? But with this convenience comes the potential for saying something you might regret later, for oversharing, or for making public something that should be private.

This video tells the dramatic story of a confrontation that began on the pages of MySpace and escalated into a physical fight for all to see. Watch the video and think about why this might have happened and what the girls might have done to prevent it.

Then, post your answers to these questions in the space below.

• Have you ever posted something online that you later regretted?
• Are there things you might say or do online that you probably wouldn't say or do in person? Explain.
• Why do you think people sometimes behave differently online than they do in person? What effect do you think this might have on relationships?

Click "save notes" before moving on to the next page.

Next: The "Real" You

Of course, there are many positive aspects of online communication. Some people find it easier to be themselves online, or to express a side of their personality that they don't often show. The Internet is a place where you can go beyond who your classmates or parents think you are, and show the "real" you.

This video shows how a powerful and long-lasting friendship developed online. Watch the video and think about your online identity and how it compares to the everyday you.

Then, post your responses to these questions in the space below.

• Do you communicate differently online than you do in person? Explain.
• Do you feel that you can be more "yourself" online? Explain why or why not.
• Do you have friends online that you don't spend much time with in face-to-face relationships? If so, how are these relationships different from "offline" friendships?

Click "save notes" before moving on to the next page.

Next: Crossing the Line

Unfortunately, while some people turn to social networks as an outlet—an opportunity to open up and be themselves—others are looking for targets. There are bullies online just as there are bullies in school hallways and locker rooms. Instead of the physical weaknesses that some bullies look for, cyberbullies target emotional vulnerability.

This video tells the story of Ryan Halligan, who was tormented both at school and online, and who eventually took his own life. Watch the video and think about how Ryan might have been affected by the taunting he endured.

Then, answer these questions in the space below.

• What do you think Ryan's fellow students might have done if they had known that his bullying might lead to his suicide?
• What do you think you would do if you observed someone being bullied or manipulated online? Would your reaction be different if you observed the same thing in person? Explain.

Click "save notes" before moving on to the next page.

Next: Drawing Your Own Line

Using online and mobile technology may allow you to do things you wouldn't do face to face. But does the fact that you can do something online mean that you should? Here's a chance to think about a number of different online behaviors. Your task is to decide which ones you're okay with, and which ones you feel are "over the line."

Click "View" on the left to begin the activity. Be sure to print your notes before you exit the activity. Your notes will not be saved.

Next: Your Personal Contract

You have explored several different aspects of online communication and have thought about where you stand on certain behaviors.

Now, print out your notes. (After you print your notes, they will be erased, so make sure you are finished before you print.)

Now, compare your notes with some of your classmates. In a small group, talk about how you each responded to the questions that followed each video. Compare your positions on the online behaviors in the previous exercise, and discuss why you put them where you did.

Based on your discussion, make any changes you want to your "Where I Draw the Line" chart. There is also space on the printout for you to explain some of the reasons behind your choices. You may want to keep this chart handy, as a sort of personal contract describing how you would like to behave online going forward and to help with your final report or presentation.

Next: Sharing Your Ideas

You may spend a lot of time communicating with friends through email, text messaging, or social networking sites. So what do you think of life online? What's good about it? What's bad? Is it safe? What are the risks? Where do you draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior?

For your final assignment, you will create a presentation of your ideas about online communication. You may choose a particular topic that interests you or that came up in the videos you watched, or your teacher may have some suggestions for how to focus your presentation.

Before you get started, check with your teacher to find out if you will be working individually, in pairs, or in small groups to develop your presentation. Your teacher can also give you options for your presentation. For example, you might create a video, a podcast, a PowerPoint presentation, or a poster, or you might write an essay.

In the end, you'll have the opportunity to share your presentation with your classmates and to see their projects as well.