Internet+Use+on+iCarly+-+Caitlin+Gainsborg

__Analysis: Common Sense Media__: After searching iCarly on the Common Sense Media website, there were a few things that I found interesting. Firstly, under the “What Parents Need to Know” section, they point out that iCarly raises some issues about cyberbullying “since the characters sometimes use their broadcasts to rant about other people” (Common Sense Media). Under that, they go into detail about the ways in which parents can approach their kids to talk about internet safety. Then, while reading through the parent reviews, I found two specific reviews in which parents spoke out about the lack of internet safety precautions shown on iCarly. One reviewer said, “No parental supervision is apparent, kids are broadcasting onto the Internet and there are no safety precautions being taken” (Common Sense Media). Another reviewer mentions the pilot episode specifically, saying “I cannot be more disappointed with the pilot due to the use of real names, friends, and showing the residence and the inept doorman on the internet. This is an open invitation to stalkers...not safe internet practices for children. To suggest this opens discussion assumes that parents watch with children” (Common Sense Media). Not only does the second reviewer berate the show itself, but also Common Sense Media and other websites that portray iCarly as a show which helps to promote discuss amongst parents and their children about internet safety. The last part of the review, where it says “to suggest this opens discussion assumes that parents watch with their children” really made me think about the whole “iCarly promotes discussion” thing in a new way. She’s right, how many parents actually sit and watch iCarly with their kids? To say that this show opens up a forum for discussion assumes that 8-12 year old kids make a conscious decision to confront their parents about internet safety. I highly doubt that the kids who watch this program immediately run to their parent or guardian after an episode and say “I want to learn about safe internet practices now”.

__Analysis of // Business Wire // press release__: According to a // Business Wire // press release published on March 28, 2011, Common Sense Media is partnering with Nickelodeon on a campaign designed to “provide kids with tools to help them practice responsible digital behavior” (Business Wire). This initiative will include a website that promotes Common Sense Media’s “Rules of the Road” – advice that helps kids practice responsible online behavior. There will also be PSA’s featuring iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove and Nathan Kress, who will share tips from Common Sense Media about avoiding and reporting cyberbullying. Executive vice president of public affairs for the Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group, Marva Smalls, says “ Kids are interacting with digital media every day. It is second nature to them and an important part of their lives. Nickelodeon provides kids with information to help them have engaging, entertaining and healthy experiences online. By partnering with Common Sense, we will help young people simplify and improve their digital communications (Business Wire).” At Nick.com, The Big Help Experience will feature videos, lessons, anti-bullying quizzes, and other interactive material for kids. To promote this campaign, Nick.com is giving out digital rewards to the avatars of children who participate. For the parents, there will also be a discussion board and “Rules of the Road” section. The interactive website – with PSA’s – launched on March 28th.

__iCarly PSA__: I found a clip on the Nickelodeon website which featured the iCarly cast – Sam, Carly and Freddy – talking about cyberbullying. The clip starts off with Freddy telling Sam and Carly that he is being threatened online by a girl at school. He asks the girls what he should do to stop the cyberbullying, prompting Carly to rattle off safety rules for kids to follow to prevent cyberbullying. At the end, Carly tells the audience to go to NetSmartz.org if they want more information about cyberbullying. cleverstocks

__The Big Help “Digital Citizenship Hub”__: The website created by Nickelodeon and Common Sense Media is definitely “kid friendly”. There are a lot of bright, inviting colors and bold text that is easy to read. The first thing that you see when you visit the site is the “10 Rules of the Road”. I thought that, for the most part, these rules were pretty straight forward and could be beneficial to kids. Some of those rules include guard your privacy, think before you post, and assume everyone is watching (Digital Citizen Hub). There are pictures with featuring children interacting with different forms of digital media, which I believe makes the website feel more welcoming to kids. It’s also easy to find the videos featuring tips about internet safety. I found it interesting that the one and only celebrity PSA on the homepage features Miranda Cosgrove of [|iCarly]. They have links that lead you right into a message board or you can be redirected to commonsensemedia.org. I tried to take one of the quizzes to see what it was like, but you have to download the newest version of flash player to do that, which I think could be a setback for those kids who aren’t allowed to download things like that to their computer. I think the “digital reward” idea is great because it gets kids actively involved with the website and makes it fun for them. The one thing that wasn’t easy to find was the section where parents can go to get information and post on blogs.

__Final Statement__:  I find it interesting that iCarly and Nickelodeon are doing all of these great things to promote internet safety // outside // of the show. While I applaud their effort, they should be doing more on the actually program with cyberbullying and the dangers of the internet. If you didn’t go to the Nickelodeon website, you wouldn’t even know that the network is doing things to combat cyberbullying at all. I think that there needs to be a way to promote digital responsibility through the show so that kids who watch the program are getting the information in a way that is more subtle.

sources:

"Cyberbullying". //iCarly.// Nickelodeon. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. [|cleverstocks].

Common Sense Media. //Common Sense Media Partners with Nickelodeons the Big Help on Digital Citizenship and Anti-Bullying Campaign. Business Wire.// 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. [].

"Digital Citizenship Hub". //The Big Help.// Common Sense Media. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. [].

"ICarly". //Common Sense Media//. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. [].