PBT Grade 8: “Love and Friendship” MiniMini

Anchor Source: News Report Social Media Affecting Teens' Concepts Of Friendship, Intimacy Huffington Post Canada-by Christian Cotroneo-Feb 24, 2014 Social media is affecting the way kids look at friendship and intimacy, according to researchers. The typical teenager has 300 Facebook friends and 79 Twitter followers, the Pew Internet and American Life project found in its report. And some have many more. The 2013 study also says the norms around privacy are changing, and the majority of teens post photos and personal information about themselves for all their on-line contacts to see. More recent survey data released last week by the Canadian non-profit digital literacy group MediaSmarts shows Canadian youth do take some steps to protect their privacy - for example, by not posting their contact information on social media. The research contributes to an emerging picture of how teens' ideas about friendship and intimacy have been altered by their immersion in the on-line world, says Patricia Greenfield, a UCLA developmental psychologist and the director of the Children's Digital Media Los Angeles. In her own research, Greenfield has found that young people feel socially supported by having large networks of on-line friends, and these are not necessarily friends they ever see face-to-face. "We found in our study that students are not getting a sense of social support from being on the phone. They're getting social support through bigger networks and having a sense that their audience is large." The result is a decline in intimate friendships, Greenfield says. Instead, many young people now derive personal support and affirmation from "likes" and feedback to their postings. "The whole idea behind intimacy is self-disclosure. Now they're doing self-disclosure to an audience of hundreds." Other research at UCLA shows that texting is the teens' preferred mode of communication with their friends, which makes them feel less connected and bonded than face-to-face communication. Graduate student Lauren Sherman studied various forms of communication between pairs of friends. She found the closer the experience was to in-person conversation, the more emotionally connected the friends felt. For example, video chat rated higher than a phone call, but the phone created a closer connection than texting. "I don't think digital communication in itself is a bad thing," said Sherman, "but if we're losing out on opportunities to connect with people as well as we can, that's a problem." Studies have estimated teens typically send more than 3,000 texts a month. Greenfield says that indicates kids are opting for efficiency of connection over intimacy.

Support Source: Song "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers Sometimes in our lives We all have pain, we all have sorrow But if we are wise We know that there's always tomorrow Lean on me when you're not strong And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on Please, swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill those of your needs That you won't let show You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you'll understand We all need somebody to lean on Lean on me when you're not strong And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you'll understand We all need somebody to lean on If there is a load You have to bear that you can't carry I'm right up the road, I'll share your load If you just call me Call me (If you need a friend) Call me (Call me uh-huh) Call me (When you need a friend) Call me (If you ever need a friend)

Essay Prompt: Argument According to the article, social media and text messaging are jeopardizing intimate friendships. Analyze the article to prove this claim and use Bill Wither’s song for support. *You may wish to refer to our unit-long discussions on the different types of love.

Writing Checklist When constructing your argument essay, be sure to refer to the anchor source in your essay. use the song to support your essay. properly cite each reference used within your essay. organize your essay in a logical structure that is easy to follow. o Include an introduction and a conclusion. o Include a counterclaim and refutation. Share your document with me when you are finished. o Name it X_L&F_FBEssay_YourName  X is your period number