Facebook: Good or Bad?

People all around the world view the social network, Facebook, very differently. Some people think it is an awesome thing, while others think it is a serious invasion of privacy and young kids should not be exposed to something so invasive. Personally, I can see where both sides come into play.

When it comes to an invasion of privacy, I remember reading in our book a story about an African American male who applied to Harvard and was accepted, only later to be denied because of suspicion of being involved in gang activity on his Facebook page. I think this is a sad incident because I do not think it is right to judge a person by what is on their Facebook page, but at the same time, I think he should be held responsible for the things he posts on the Internet for the whole world to see.

On the positive side of Facebook, it is a place for people to stay connected even though they can be miles away from each other. I have experienced this personally. About 3 years ago, my best friend had to move across the country to Seattle because of her dad's work. Facebook has allowed her and I to remain close and communicate and share experiences just like before she moved away. I believe Facebook can be positive and negative, it just depends on the personal experiences you have had.

Dora the Explorer: Educational Programming for Children

    Now that we are focusing on children and children's cartoons and television shows, I agree that Dora the Explorer is a very progressive cartoon. Dora, the main character, is hispanic and a woman. This could have been scary for producers because they weren't sure how children would react to this new cartoon. In fact, children and their parents accepted Dora with open arms. During every episode she asks the viewers at home to participate with her and she has a mission every episode and that is to find something or help somebody. Since she is of hispanic origin, she also teaches the viewers at home some spanish in all her shows. She starts them out with single words or phrases, nothing too extreme.

    Also, Dora is very positive. She is so exuberant and excited to help people that her attitude is infectous and you can't help but like her. She can't even hold a grudge against Swiper, a fox who steals things from her constantly. That shows great character on her part, that she is willing to see the good in people and not focus on the negatives. Dora also value her family and tries to introduce a little bit of her culture to the viewers at home. I believe that Dora the Explorer is such an accepted cartoon because of the different elements it brings to the table. She's kind, ethnic, educational, and she is just different from all other cartoons out there. It's refreshing and I believe that all kids should watch her because I think it's a great experience and they will learn life lessons and accepted behavior. Here is a video where she helps a baby fox and introduces some Spanish words: