Educational Media Reviews Online

The documentary film, InRealLife, “examines how children are adapting to the technological world we live in, and how open connectivity and constant exposure to the online world can have alienating and addictive side effects—especially on our youngest minds.” This summary quotation on the container accurately describes the film which layers interviews with teenagers on their use of technology and commentary from authors, researchers, and psychologists who are considered “luminaries from the technosphere.” This commentary questions, analyzes, provides facts, and places in context the effect of technology on our behavior and attitudes especially in teenagers.

The youth interviews take place in England and share several scenarios that allow selected male teenagers to show views of pornographic websites and their reactions while another male teenager tells his story of finding his true male love online as the viewer watches the online interaction and their first meeting. The film also follows teenagers who are excited to be subscribed to blogs or websites, showing their behavior as they are able to meet the host and follow him wherever he goes without any thought. And then there is the poignant description by a female young adult who relates tearfully the theft of her cell phone and her need to retrieve the phone at any cost as she follows the thieves into a deserted park where she is violated. Another young adult describes his need to always return to the computer whenever he is away too long but rather than understand this may be addiction, reasons that he is interested in the routine of working on the computer.

As we view the teenagers and their technology world, rap music and fast paced images flash across the screen. But always the commentary helps refocus and share important facts that can be stunning. “40 % of teenagers spend more time with their friends online than in real life.” “We look at our phones an average 150-200 times a day.” “90% of the world’s data has been created in the last two years.” There is also information on the major technology companies in Silicon Valley although the companies declined to be interviewed; historical information about the development of the Internet; and a technical discussion and illustration of the massive cable and optical fibers that are stored in major cities to create the networks that we use every day. Psychiatrist Dr. Norman Doidge reveals that companies develop video games that children can’t stop playing and expresses concern that anything that evades facing normal teen anxiety is not good.

InReal Life is stunning, provocative, informative and instructive. While it may ask more questions than it answers, it begins a necessary conversation and approaches the reality with candor and facts. There are web links for advice about internet safety. The film also includes previews for Girl Model and Surviving Progress at the beginning of the video. Recommended for instructive and informative commentary but viewer discretion advised for some graphic images displayed that teenagers in the film watched frequently.