By Michael Torrice
The written by teens and for teens web site, generation-Y.com, is
a wonderful site that encourages teen involvement in thinking about
issues that concern them and their peers. Set-up in a newspaper format,
the main page lists the several departments in which teens write articles.
Since the site is developed and produced by an alternative school
district in Amarillo, Texas, some of the news pertains to events occurring
in the local community. Besides the news content, the site also contains
links to useful teen links. From student resources to links to American
colleges, the site tries to provide helpful sources of information
for teens (unfortunately many links are dead or need updating). What
is most interesting is the editorial section of the site. In this
section of the site, teens can write columns expressing their positions
on issues that concern them.
Generation-Y has great potential for content, but it lacks any real
multi-media content. Such an outlet for teens could be used to create
a for-teen-by-teen media content that is seriously lacking on the
web. The Internet is filled with sites made by adults but marketed
to teens. But who better to offer what teens want in media, but teens
themselves? This media needn't be just solely for entertainment purposes,
students could also produce media that comments on the major issues
of the day. With this addition of media content, generation-Y could
draw a greater audience to what makes the site truly exciting, its
ability to broadcast the ideas of teenagers to the world. The ability
for teenagers to express their ideas to peers is vital to their development.
Some articles respond to previous articles showing a sort of active
conversation about issues. Teens are often left to feel like their
voices are not heard in society and in the discussion of ideas. Such
a resource allows them to become active in debates and reinforces
the idea that all voices are needed to be heard in a free society.