The NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene announced a new program for teenagers who have problems with depression, drugs and violence. They have outfitted a MySpace page for young people to visit, complete with three fictional composite teens. Kyle, Stephanie and Nicole have their own blogs and vlogs that teens can subscribe to and follow their stories. Additional characters will be unveiled in the next few weeks. There are also links and phone numbers to LIFENET. As of this writing, the fake teens have 118 friends.
While teens should be careful about personal information they put online, this kind of public service is vaguely reminiscent of the The NYC Health Department's classic 1990's bilingual comic strip, Decision, that graced the subways. Remember when Marisol refused sex with Julio because he wouldn't wear a condom? "I love you, but not enough to die for you!" Anita died and poor Raul was in that hospital. And then Rosa found out she was HIV positive but was scared to tell Julio. If they hauled that comic strip out today, would they even have health care? Or would ICE try to deport them even though they were citizens?
I can't imagine anything quite as depressing as signing on the be the friend of a fictional character.
Posted by: Mark H. | July 18, 2008 at 11:08 AM