The chapter discussed how families differ in their approaches to media usage and negotiation of access. It provided an example of a 12-year-old girl, Trudy, whose friend Amanda had violated an agreement with her mother regarding posting identifiable photos online. While Trudy felt uncomfortable getting involved, her mother suggested she address it with Amanda. The chapter also noted that parents often reward children with media like iPods for good behavior. Overall, the chapter showed that each family navigates technology differently based on their relationships and beliefs.

1. Chapter 4: Families
Brittany Landry

2. About the chapter
• Chapter 4, titled "Families", talked a lot about
family dynamics and how each family differs in
their social relationships, as well as their
media usage. It discussed how some families
go about negotiating media access in different
ways than others.

3. A twelve-year-old’s viewpoint
• The chapter began with an encounter the author had with a
twelve-year-old girl name Trudy. She had been interviewed
by the author, and at that time, her and her friends had
become interested in MySpace.

4. • At the time of the interview, Trudy's mom
informed the interviewer that a deal was made
between her daughter Trudy's friend Amanda and
her mother that "she agreed to use unidentifiable
pictures or images." Having found that Amanda
had violated this by possessing a “tagged” picture
of herself, Trudy’s mother suggested that Trudy
take it upon herself to delete or change the photo
to respect the deal that Amanda and her mother
made. Trudy became irritated with her mother’s
suggestion as she felt it was an invasion to her
friend’s privacy.

5. Technology as a reward
• Horst talked about how parents are essentially
“in control” of their child’s media use
• However, it is not uncommon for parents to
reward their child with a certain media item
(i.e. a report card may result in an iPod)

6. “Parents, the guardians of the home and family, take seriously their role as
guides and regulators of their children’s participation in this new media
ecology. Just as young people engage with new media based on friendship
driven and interest-driven genres of participation, parents and adults’
attitudes toward new media reflect their own motivations and beliefs about
parenting as well as their personal histories and interests in media. Indeed,
parents often frame their purchase of new media in relation to the
educational goals and broader aspirations they hold for their children. From
this vantage point, computers, video cameras, and digital cameras as well as
related software, education, and training become meaningful to many
families because they represent an investment in their child’s future, one
that they hope will ensure their children’s success in education, work, and
income generation.” (pg. 150)

7. Conclusion
• After reading “Families”, I’ve
learned that even in the
technology and media world,
each individual family functions
differently. As a result of this,
media usage and consumption is
a direct reflection of how a
certain household operates.
Parents differ in their take on
technology. Some may allow
their 4th grader to create a
Facebook account under the
condition that they know the
child’s password and can “check
in” at any time, or some may not
be as informed as far as the
danger of social networking sites
and therefore not inform their
child of the risks involved.

8. • In the end, what it comes
down to is just being
informed. Being
informed as a media and
technology user is
probably the most
important thing that we
can do. Continue to ask
questions when needed,
and be aware of the risks.
That way, everybody will
be able to benefit and
safely use what is out
there for them in the
world of social media.

9. Works Cited
• http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/full_pdfs/hanging
_out.pdf
• http://www.kidsandfamilytv.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/05/Internet-Kids.jpg
• http://www.savagechickens.com/images/chicken
space.jpg
• http://www.ideaover10.com/images/Social-
Media-Sites_jpg.png
• http://browser.iyogi.com/files/2012/02/Club-
TUKI-Browser.png