Over the course of watching Digital Nation, a documentary written and produced by Frontline, I found myself considering the effects that the Internet has had on society since it’s boom in the early 2000’s. At least, I was considering it through the lens of those who do not identify as Digital Natives, like myself. I found the points regarding the effects that the Internet has had on the multiple aspects of life to be understandable when I considered things from a Digital Immigrant’s prospective. To those who remember a time prior to the internet and smart phones, I can see how the current tempo of life in harmony with the internet can seem impersonal and intimidating, especially in regard to how it’s changing the state of education and media. Even so, after considering all the points the documentary had to offer, such as lower grades, mental health, social activity, a general decrease in mental capacity, and attention spans (Dretzin & Rushkoff, 2010), I can’t help but feel as though the internet isn’t necessarily the issue, more so just a new means of scapegoating an age old problem. The extremities of internet immersion to the point of sacrificing one’s physical and mental health, is not the norm and can be avoided through moderation. If anything, it seems as though the resistance of technology in places like classrooms is the deciding factor in plummeting grades.
