Friends Like Me

Friends Like Me is a documentary project that features interviews with children and adolescents who share their experiences of what it is like to grow up in complex online communities using social media. In 2013, I began filming children of different ages (to compare experiences) as well as filming a group of children, periodically, at different stages of their lives to see how their views and experiences would change over time. These young voices often challenge the stereotypes of illiterate, naive, screen addicts and, instead, offer us a glimpse into the lives of a generation who are growing up deeply, emotionally invested in media as a form of self-expression and engagement. This project aims to address a gap in communication between children and adults and to offer media resources that can facilitate a more nuanced discussion about the experiences young people are having as they grow up in today’s media saturated culture.