2010 newspaper articles

New Media

As Bentley (1997) stated; “New media has changed the relationship between producers and audiences…it is no longer useful to refer to these terms as anyone can be a producer and reach a mass audience.”

Prior to the internet/new media youth did not have a platform to represent themselves, however the portrayal of youth by youth has done little to dispel the theories of Hall, Osgerby and Hebdige. Classic examples include:

 Facebook being use to ‘advertise’ ‘Skins’ style house parties that quickly get out of hand…

Telegraph (September 2012) Martin Evans said; “the well behaved teenage gather descended in chaos as a large number of uninvited guests turned up”

Other examples of negative portrayal of youth include:

Cyber bulling:

BBC (2012) a young teacher said; “Abuse by students of Twitter and Facebook left her physically ill and on medication.”

Telegraph (May 2012); “Internet bullies impersonate dead teenager and Facebooked a message to grieving mother.”

Daily Mail (Sept 2011); “Internet troll who posted vile abuse on Facebook memorial sites dedicated to dead children was jailed yesterday.”

Cyber fraud – making up fake people on dating/Facebook to psychologically damage others;

In the UK the Mirror online (2011) reported; “cyber bullies created boyfriend then killed him…bullies arrested.”

However, in the USA the outcome of a similar case was not as positive…

Good Morning America (2007) revealed the story of a mother of a former friend of a 13-year-girl created a ficticious male profile in order to gain the trust of the girl in order to learn what she was saying about her daughter. They became friends then the ‘guy’ sent cruel messages “slut” “fat” the stress cause the girl to hang herself.

Youths posting inappropriate images/comments that lead to loss of jobs:

Daily Mail (Feb 2009) Andrew Levy; “Teenage office worker sacked for moaning on Facebook about her ‘total boring job’”

Online suicide

Defamatory attacks on public figures using Twitter (E.g. Tom Daley rant – youth being vile to youth), Mail Online (July 2012) “17-year-old arrested in Weymouth after malicious Tweets were sent to the Olympic diver Tom Daley.” User Rilyy69 said; “You have let your dad down I hope you know that.” After receiving a taste of his own medicine Rilyy69 Tweeted an apology to Daley; “I’m sorry mate I just wanted you to win because it is the Olympics. I’m sorry except my apology I don’t want to be hated.” On a positive Daley did not respond negatively – showing youth can represent themselves positively online – it is in fact older journalists who always highlight the negative BUT it cannot be deny from my own experience that youth are not proving the critics wrong because Facebook, Twitter and Tumbler are full of inappropriate posts that construct a negative image of youth.

Youth riot – David Cameron wanted to ban Facebook/MySpace/Twitter after online posts fueled the riots.

2000-2010: The Guardian (August 2011) Michel Fize speaking on the cause of the youth riots said the older generation are to blame for the breakdown in youth behavior; “Youth have been tricked and betrayed we tell them to get a qualification but the qualifications are worth nothing.”

Daily Mail (2011) Anthony Daniels stated; “British youths are the most unpleasant in the world.”