Cognitive Surplus

The Internet has been changing the world since it is created. As a part of new media, social media is a fundamental shift in the way we communicate. It has been helped to create a digital global village that 26% of the world’s population is using social media and the number is keep increasing. (Qualman, 2013) This essay will attempt to discuss how has the social media changed the public sphere, mainly focus on the improvement of public participation, social relations and information dissemination. Also Mainland China is taken as an example to show that social media enabling democracy in a developing country. Social media is also being used in good ways to spread information. There are some disadvantages to be analyzed, too. The issues like lack of privacy, social media violence and social media out of control will be discussed in this essay.

In this modern age, the majority of society has adapted to social media and the newest technology to fit around our lives. Technology provides tools that are imperative to the making and the use of other tools. It is a tool in itself. Technology is changing rapidly; so rapidly, in fact, there can be cultural gaps between generations. The construction of social media has enabled access to innovative phenomenon, broken barriers, changed our perspectives on ideas, and has even opened doors to new opportunities.

Bill Gates, a professional business man once stated, “The PC has improved the world in just about every area you can think of. Amazing development in communications, collaboration and efficiencies. New kinds of entertainment and social media. Access to information and the ability to give a voice to people who would never have been heard.” People are connected now more than ever through social media. Social media today gives people a positive impact through social interactions because it allows people to interact, gain knowledge, and meet the needs of people that their reality is not given them or that are not able to be fulfill in their daily lives. As a culture, technology provides people with endless

Our society has evolved very much over time. The technology, has impacted it greatly. With technology in our lives, we find ourselves ‘glued’ to our electronics. Now, the question is, what does social media provide us? In Wu’s article, he states, “The devices we use change the way we live much faster than any contest among genes.” Meaning, we rely on these devices to make us happy, and resort to them when we are bored. Similarly, in Castells article, he says, “Media often report that intense use of the Internet increases the risk of isolation, alienation, and withdrawal from society.” However, the article also says that social media has actually “increased sociability, civic engagement, and the intensity of family and friendship relationships, in all cultures.” Answering the question, we actually get something out of using social media. We are allowed to communicate with

Technology has made communication easier by connecting people globally through social media. However, with a constant barrage of attention, people find it necessary to always be connected. Humans are social creatures that crave attention and praise. With technological development,

Today, it is very easy to obtain information of any kind. Thanks to the convergence and development of technology. “The Internet”, which today is one of the easiest ways to obtain quick information without allot of effort. There are millions of people from around the world that use the Internet as a tool to communicate, search, and find information on about any topic imaginable. (Aynur, Nejat, 2015). In this Essay on Social Media, we will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of easily obtainable information, the advantages and disadvantages of social media, and importantly how knowing of these things can alter how a person might use social media, as well as the credibility issues that arise from the information on

Is the internet revolutionary? In a review of Clay Shirky’s Cognitive Surplus, George Russell argues everything but the internet being revolutionary. Shirky claims that the internet is revolutionary because it provides people with a way to be productive in society by creating and sharing content in a convenient and simple manner. Russell’s claims are that the internet is in no way radical and has not changed the way people do things but is just another platform for corporations to, “fight for eyes and eventually wallets.” Russell’s claims and Shirky’s claims differ completely, and I tend to agree more with Russell’s claim in saying the internet is not revolutionary for the simple fact it is not. The internet has tied seamlessly into people’s

With the proliferation of technologies, especially the Internet, social networking has become ubiquitous in the modern world. Social networking tools like Facebook, Twitter, etc. are the impetus that is ever facilitating rapid creation and exchange of ideas to promote and aid communication. Humans interact by being social, therefore sociology analyses the changes in the social trend. Understanding the sociological perspective on the effects of social media, we find that the social aspect has changed. Comparing the past and present status of our society, it is obvious that there has been a transformation which all points towards the evolution of social media. Social media has changed our culture and has impacted on the way people meet, interact and share ideas; it has changed the perception of how people should communicate with the society. Social interactions have been defined to be an exchange among individuals with the aim of strengthening the society. Social interaction is building block in every society when people meet and interact; they define rules, systems, and institutions in which they will live by. On the other hand, social media is known as a platform that allows people to network and socialize through applications and websites that have been innovated. Though social media could be used as a useful tool to communicate with friends, family and even with people you do not know, however, researchers show that social media is absolutely harming human's skills to have

Technology today is more relied upon than ever before. If one needs to call someone half way around the world, simply take out a cell phone and dial their number. Within thirty seconds, one can be speaking to that person just as if two people were conversing face-to-face. In the same manner, one has access to endless knowledge and resources by the pushing of a few buttons or the click of a mouse. The usage of social media today is becoming more prevalent than ever before because of the convenience it offers. This convenience includes being able to instantly know where a person is, what they are doing, and how they are feeling. All of these instances have one main commonality : technology. The interminable technological advances one has

People can display themselves outwardly in a certain manner although on the inside be completely different. A person’s attitude and behavior can influence each other; a person’s surrounds will also have an impact on how the person is. An example of this can be seen in a person committing a crime such as shoplifting, the person knows this is illegal and not moral but in the right situation the person may forget his or her moral upbringing and commit the crime any way. Influences on the individual can be overpowering, causing the person to behave or act in an attitude different from the person’s normal action and behavior. People tend to suffer from

One can appreciate the modern technology and how it simplified life, but fail to use it to the full extent. Throughout these past decades, technology has brought both advantages and disadvantages to the humankind. One of the disadvantages deals with government involvement, giving them the access to information and the power to make sure they have everything under control which leaves its users with limitation and undemocratic. The good news is this situation only leads to certain measure leaving the users with freedom. Freedom giving people a chance to express themselves, even though they fail to see the immunity they own. Democracy tends to be part of the technological system as well, most users use it to ensure democratization is all around the world by including its part of communication. Democratization theory is that Cyberspace provides a various amount of internet sources for people to access, whether it is to communicate or share moments with one another. “Democracy in Cyberspace: What Technology Can and Cannot Do for Us,” is a text written by Ian Bremmer, sharing evidence-based information sources that point out the real deal of internet and it’s reflection towards its users. One’s experience of freedom is determined by the amount that is given to them, including their dependence on one another, as well as, providing the chance to define technologist’s neutrality. Advanced developments have occurred a lot throughout these years for the sake of technology.

Social Media is an important communication tool via a series of Websites and Applications used by millions of people which facilitates the creation and the sharing of content and information, which allows people to develop contacts and relationships to connect with each other efficiently through modern technology such as computers and mobile phones to fulfil people’s social needs. The “Social,” in Social Media refers to interacting with other people through sharing and receiving information and the “Media,” refers to the instrument of communication e.g. phone. Social Media is important since it has connected millions of people and Social Media is one of the dominant ways we communicate with each other. As of 2017 over 2.8 billion people use Social Media worldwide. It is hard to remember communication prior to the emergence of social media.

Social media is a controversy topic in today’s society. Some people think that social media destroys human interaction and real life human relationships. While others think that social media is a bless to humanity. Social media makes human interaction much more convenient and much faster than real life human interaction, it makes globalization a reality, it gives a chance for introverted people to express themselves, and it also benefit develop international relationships whether its business or social.

With the development of the Web 2.0 which made Internet participative, the Internet users are now capable of expressing themselves, interacting, and giving their opinion onto everything (products, services, brands, companies, cultural property) and on everybody, via multiple platforms on Internet. To criticize a restaurant on Cityvox, to note a seller on eBay, to denounce the actions of a brand or a company via a viral video on YouTube, to support a candidate for an election, to

The label, “Social Media”, is due to its ability to encourage people to be more social and communicative through the internet. Yet, it is now known that the name might not live up to its expectation. With less face-to-face interaction, relationships and communication skills are being sacrificed. Although one may have one thousand