Sherry Turgle Alone Together

Social media has become a major part of life, but the controversy is, whether it has a positive or negative impact on society. As this topic is timely relevant, there has been many research and studies, as well as people have formed various opinions about it. Some people see it as a form of entertainment, a medium that allows rapid communication, and a virtual place where they can share the best moments of their lives. Others argue that it is toxic, distracting, and “a disease that seems to have infected [the] entire generation and the subsequent generations” (Nestor, 2016, para 1). Nonetheless, a wide variety of individuals, from children, adolescents, and adults are attracted to it. Although it can be a valuable tool, it is extremely

In Melissa Healy’s article, published on May 18, 2010, Los Angeles Times, “Teenage Social Media Butterflies May Not Be Such a Bad Idea,” she argues that social media and their social skills may not be such a catastrophe after all and that teenagers who use social media are psychologically healthiest. Healy supports this claim by first describing how, according to the research found by Amori Yee Mikami, social networking sites are mostly used to, not to converse with strangers online, but to interact with friends they already know and said, “So people of well-adjusted teens may have little to worry about regarding the way their children behave when using social media. It’s likely to be similarly positive behavior.” Then, she makes a connection

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

Social media has been known to help students develop important knowledge and social skills. “At first glance this may seem like a waste of time; however it also helps students to develop important knowledge and social skills, and be active citizens who create and share content.” (Chen 3). The more time teens spend on social media the more they become aware of their own social side and how to interact with others, especially their peers. “Some types of social media has beneficial effects, like helping adolescents establish some sense of identity and build networking skills” (Riley Davis). Too much time being spent on social media can also exploit teens to some harsh realities that they’ve probably never experienced in their lives before.

Hilary Stout’s a writer of The New York Times is expressing her opinions on how social media affects teenagers by not getting experience and develop empathy for others, understand different emotions, and recognizing others facial expressions and body language in her article “Antisocial Networking?”. In my opinion Stout's argument is wrong because teens today have more experiences on social media because it is an easy and powerful way to connect with people.

Social media is the way teens network. It includes applications such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where individuals can connect, share photographs, and like others posts or images. These applications can be accessed through electronic devices such as iPads, phones, computers, etc. It is known to educate, engage, and impact individuals and their environment. The most well-known theory is that an individual can control what he/she sees, considers, or feels about a topic. To some degree this is valid. Nevertheless, does teenagers know that social media influence them in some way? Social networking is harming to a teens growth as it boosts their online identities, separates them from the universe of social connection, occupies their attention from television, and it also affects relationships. The 21st century has seen the internet change into a device that has made communication less severe and handier. This change occurred rapidly with thoughts of social networks that would allow the association of individuals in various nations. Teenagers, being the principle players of the online networks, has been caught *up in the blend of social networking as they have developed into a period where innovation has reformed the way individuals approach their day by day routines. However, because of the extreme measure of time spent on these sites, they are left to result in pessimistic consequences for their advancement.

A concerned expression emerges upon her face as the constant beeping and buzzing from the neighboring room drifts into her ears. Knowing her obligation as a parent, she rises from her bed and heads toward the room of the noises. When she enters the room, she finds herself facing a disaster; his head is tilted forward, his eyes are fixed on the screen of his iPhone, his fingers are moving rapidly, and all of his attention is wrapped around nothing else but the activity he’s doing on his iPhone. The disaster that appears before her is the teenager of modern day. In the article, “Antisocial Networking?,” the author, Hilary Stout, claims that social media is inimical to adolescents due to the fact that youngsters who use it become less interested

Imagine a typical teenager; eyes staring at the bright, white screen, fingers moving everywhere from corner to corner and from top to the bottom, scrolling down the page to text a friend, while “liking” posts and sharing photos, all the while not knowing that the brain is negatively changing. Most teenagers think social media is a place that empowers them to make and share content, but they do not realize that it can cause them harm or become an addiction. Hilary Stout, a Los Angeles Times writer, who wrote “Antisocial Networking?,” opposes to social media. Teens who use social media on a daily basis overuse and rely on social media, so their brains are being rewired resulting in less empathy for others, the inability to understand different

Many have been researching the various problematic assumptions and ideas of youth and the social media, but few have actually been able to prove that youth and technology could be helpful or harmful. S. Craig Watkins and Danah Boyd have accomplished the task of studying youth and social media, and have come to the conclusion that social media has given youth a different perspective on life. In The Young and the Digital article, we see many believe that technology has been shaping our kids. The question remains, whether the social media such as MySpace and Facebook are affecting the way teens ' and young people view racial classes?

In Sherry Turkle’s Alone Together, technology is viewed from a different perspective. Turkle claims that technology creates differences in human interaction, therefore it changes how one lives his or her life. Technology has not only altered the way humans interact but also the way humans think, behave and value authenticity. To change one’s perspective, one should use technology for necessary purposes instead of passing time purposes. Technology is an essential part of one’s life, however it can’t always fulfill desires in life.

In ‘8 Frightening Ways Social Media Is Molding Us’ Anne Grey Smith writes, ‘…it seems these devises are causing a lot more damage than simply brainwashing and making us speak their alienating language.’ I agree with most of her eight explanations but none more so than the fact that social media is wasting our time, destroying face-to-face conversation and most of all, diminishing our self-worth.

Though the investigations of my PIP, I have learnt an incredible amount of new information. In the beginning my idea about FGM was generalised, and totally different to my understanding of FGM now, as it has grown extensively.

Throughout recent years, social media has expanded exponentially. Following this expansion came several conductions of studies focusing on its impact, growth, and effects on the human body and mind. The topics that sparked my interests were primarily its effects and impact. The growing issue was (and still is) that millennials, or young people from today ranging from ages 15-25, seem to be hooked on their smart devices 24/7, connected to a virtual world and disconnected from the real one. Although social media has many positive impacts, such as staying in touch with relatives and old friends, it also has many negative impacts.

Social media has become prominent parts of life for many young people today. Most people engage with social media without stopping to think what the effects are on our lives, whether positive or negative. Are we as a society becoming more concerned with Facebook "friends" than we are with the people we interact with face-to-face in our daily lives? What will the longterm effects of today 's social media use be? There are many positive aspects, but there are equally as many dangers that come with the use of sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google +, Tumblr, Instagram, gaming sites, and blogs. Social media has both negative and positive effects on society, it is up to the user to decide what impact they want to make. In order to make the right choices, we must dig in and research this topic thoroughly.

Can you imagine living in a world with no social media or smartphone? No instagram, twitter, facebook or snapchat? Believe it or not, that world existed before us millennials did. According to an article found on the Pew Research Center.com, entitled “The Demographics of Social Media Users”, the amount of Facebook users is “72% of adult internet users [and] 62% of entire adult population.” Facebook along with other media outlets have easily become the norm for young adults and older adults in today’s society. The rapid growth of accessibility to social media networking was made possible from the creation and use of smart phones. The combination of social media sites and smart phone users has single handedly eliminated the need for human interactions, but also has provided a repertoire of information at our fingertips. I will discuss the following: the history of Facebook and its impact, the creation of the iPhone and its development of social media apps like Instagram, and the effects of cyberbullying. The purpose of this essay is to explore the productive qualities and destructive qualities that various social media outlets have presented to our generation.