Among the panel's speakers were Robin Stone (Editor-in-Chief, Essence.com), Hans Hageman (Executive Director, East Harlem School at Exodus House), Joan M, Femwick (National Director, AT&T Learning Network), Omar Wasow (Executive Director, BlackPlanet.com; Internet Analyst, MSNBC, WNBC), and myself (Student, Journalist forŠyou guessed it, HarlemLive.org). Held at the renowned Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ, the discussion focused on the noticeably fractured technological gap between the "new tech savvy" generation and a more seasoned cohort of baby boomers who just can't seem to catch the hang of those pesky "i.m." boxes. While obviously, there exists a population of mature adults who are just as comfortable, if not more comfortable with the internet than many of today's adolescents, there still remains the fact that an overwhelming number of parents feel left in the dust of www.net-illiteracy,leading to feelings of frustration and incompetence. Through an open discussion of the very issues that introduce these sorts of predicaments, problems are solved as new compromises are created, leaving everyone just a bit more satisfied than they arrived.

As the audience filled with parents and children alike, Brenda Blackmon, UPN Channel 9news anchor, introduced the panelists to the podium,each of us offering the audience a varied perspective on bridging the techno gap between a variance of generations. The first presenter was Robin Stone, speaking on her role as the mother of a tech savvy child, along with her methods for keeping abreast of the latest technology as both a parent and Editor-in-Chief of Essence.com. She also touched on the importance of an open medium for communication. As opposed to seeing your child on "that thing" or "that internet", Ms. Stone emphasized the need to get involved with what your child is doing, even daring to take a moment out of schedule to self-navigate yourself around what may be viewed as the "oh no, anything but that" zone. Physically getting involved in the recognition of what exactly your child is doing without coming across as overbearing or abrasive works wonders.

 

Joan Fenwick spoke on the behalf of AT&T, commenting on their efforts to contribute technological support systems to parents, educators,and schools. At the conclusion of Ms. Fenwick's presentation, I approached the pendulum, and as the lone minor in the entirety of the panel, I spoke from the perspective of a young person involved in all of this "Techno Gap" controversy. By a show of hands, I noticed throughout the crowd the ostensible variation in casual Internet comfort. While a decent mixture of hands displayed a prior use of E-mail, the second I mentioned anything about "i.m."s (instant messages), "buddy lists" or bits of net lingo like "lol" (laugh out loud), the response changed dramatically.

While the younger division of the crowd waved their hands smugly into the air, presumably pleased with their expertise in the matter, their parents sat nearby, hands down, decorated with facial expressions on the verge of bewilderment. The kids were obviously avid users of the Internet, so I recommended a compromise. Drawing back on my experience as a journalist here at HarlemLive, I proposed the idea of using the Internet to your advantage. As opposed to aimlessly trekking through the Internet in attempts to either procrastinate or simply kill time, I suggested using that interest and energy for expression through a productive outlet. Combine interests to bring the best out of both worlds. If you're into the Internet, and enjoy writing, why not become an online journalist? Web designer? Online photographer? The list goes on. The Internet has what seems like an almost unlimited supply of information and networks. You can easily spend the same time that you would for "chatting" to search through the Internet for a creative outlet near you. When children get involved in creatively constructive projects, parents tend to become more involved as a communication medium is created. Now the parent and child have something common to relate to--photography for example, as opposed to young peer conversations that mom or dad can only be but so involved in. Parents can suggest these sorts of things to their children. If you're a parent, take heed to your child's interests. If they're on the Internet for so much of their time, wouldn't you prefer that they do something productive?

Omar Wasow was the last to speak, giving pointers to parents on how to use technology to communicate with their children. Mr. Wasow discussed the latest trends of technology i.e. 2-way pagers, cell phones, etc., drawing on the fact that parents don't have to necessarily be left out in the dust when it comes to being techno savvy. Mr. Wasow pointed out the benefits of using the Internet by touching on the usefulness of technology at work, school, or home. He also mentioned the pitfalls that come along with the wonder of the Internet, proposing different kinds of software that can help parents protect their children when they log on. In support of my constructive/productive approach, Mr. Wasow spoke about the usefulness of including a sense of direction in Internet use. Referring to HarlemLive as a perfect example of a creative online outlet for young people, Omar reiterated the point of using the Internet as a channel for learning, growth, and productivity.