Child of the Internet.

I have a strange relationship with the internet-- one I don't think anyone before me will have been able to have. I was born in 2001. My parents both work in tech, and so it was taught to me from a young age. I was using computers when I was 2.

I went from a "normal" school to a virtual school in 2nd grade. I loved it. I hate big crowds and I was bored for most of my time in the classroom. Virtual school offered me flexibility-- if I finished with my assignments at 10am, then I could be done for the day. No problem. I loved the independence.

My parents recognized that I was lonely. I had my siblings-- who even when I went to "normal" school I preferred to play with over other kids my age, but a connection with peers outside of the family is essential to a child. I tried all kinds of things: Boy Scouts, acting, improv, and more. Nothing quite fit. I'm awkward with people... and the people around me weren't like me. I longed for a connection.

I eventually got online to look for friends. I found them. I found friends... very good friends. Many of them, too! I have several online friends I've known for over 4.5 years! I'm not an idiot, though. I was raised with tech. I was raised to be careful. Despite knowing them for so long, they still don't know my last name. They don't know the town I live in. They didn't know my real first name for years. I went by an alias.

I'm a "Child of the Internet." I've had my schooling, my friendships, and pretty much all of my other entertainment on the internet. I've heard many people say it before, but I truly believe that I am one of the true first ones. The fact that my schooling and friendships and everything has been on the internet is astounding. If I was born... 2 years earlier, it wouldn't have been technologically possible.

I see so many people discuss the internet as being one of the greatest/worst things to ever happen in history. I think this is wrong. It's just another thing. It's another aspect of life. People are melodramatic about it all. I love the internet and my life would be very different without it. I think it will be around in some form forever unless humanity goes extinct.

I'm not sure on my thoughts on it all. I should probably think more deeply about this before I put it out onto the internet, but oh well. I just love the fact that I am truly a "Child of the Internet." I am now an adult, as of last month. I can truly say I was raised on the internet! Isn't that wonderful?

It is also scary, I must admit. There is a lot of bad things on here, isn't there? Many things that are dangerous and unnatural and not fit for humans, especially children, to see. A single mistake can cause major problems... life-threatening problems.

These never bothered me, though. I've always been very safe and smart about what I put onto the internet and how that all works. I think this is partially because of the fact that I am... well you know what I'm about to say-- a "Child of the Internet."