Growing Up Online or The Internet is Serious Business

The internet, one of the greatest tools at our our disposal, is serious business. However, when it ends up in the hands of the nations youth, bad things can and often do happen. Most of this has occurred with the dawn of social networks such as facebook, or myspace. These offer young adults access to a new level of selective anonymity. They do things they normally wouldn't do, act in a manner they normally wouldn't act, and make generally more irresponsible decisions because they believe that just because this all takes place on the computer they're safe.

Kids may use it as an escape from authority, where they can make their own decisions. But this is exactly the stage where outside forces can influence them. Advertising agencies are disguising their propaganda through targeted advertisement based on interests documented on facebook or product-heavy games. The first notable appearance of these games I can remember is candystand.com. It consisted of dozens of flash-based games all covered in sponsorship such as life-savers or other candies.
This is only the beginning as we see major players jump into the "advergaming" business with companies such as Disney with their own Massively Multiplayer Online Games such as "Toontown Online" or "Pirates of the Carribean Online".

So now, while the youth adventure into the internet looking for independence, advertising is keeping one step ahead to capitalize the youthful inexperience.