Reflection Paper On Technology

Social media, Facebook specifically, has become one of the most successful forms of websites on the Internet. According to Facebook Company statistics (Info, 2016) there are over 1.65 billion monthly active users as of March 31, 2016. Additionally there are 1.09 billion daily active users for

Executives today operating in large corporations know just how tough it is to get away from network tools like Yammer, SharePoint, etc. Such instruments are currently used in a regular base to cooperate communication, entertain groups, and trace gatherings. Found in an article, social media entrepreneur and political organizer Jeremy Heimans said, “ Social media helps all institutions become transparent and engage in a more participatory dialogue with the stakeholders. Social media and technology have helped political organizations, providing a more democratic mechanism to get people involved” (429Magazine).

Society’s dependence on a vast array of information and communication technology has not only changed the way we communicate but has also reinvented social activism. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and forum websites like Reddit has given digital activism more potential than ever before to create real change. Whether the activism pertains to political, social or economic changes–digital technology allows individuals working collectively to achieve a common purpose with more ease in their pursuit of change.

Facebook was launched on February 4, 2004 by nineteen year old named Mark Zuckerberg (Carlson). In 2010 it became one of the most popular websites in the world, visited by over 400 million people per month. The sudden popularity of Facebook was so extraordinary, that a movie called “The Social Network” came out telling the story of its development (The Social Network). This site created an innovative way for its users to exchange messages, post status updates, post photos, and join common interest groups. In addition to that users can like and comment on

The term “social media” refers to the wide range of Internet-based and mobile services that allow users to participate in online exchanges, contribute user-created content, or join online communities (Dewing). It has become common today to use applications such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to express and share your thoughts, opinions, and common interest. In Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted, writer Malcolm Gladwell touches upon the issues of social media’s role in activism vs. the traditional way of becoming a true activist Many of us today use these social networks for its beneficial approach to attract users and acquaintances to support their cause or

With the increase in use technology and social media, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a relevant article to today: “Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted”. After reading Gladwell’s article, I found myself agreeing to his ideas that social networks, although convenient in spreading information and raising awareness, are ineffective in creating the bond and community necessary to make a change or a big impact in society.

In the article “Is Technology Neutral,” Whelchel discusses whether or not technology is morally neutral. Towards the beginning of the article, Whelchel briefly mentions two viewpoints on this question, a viewpoint from Melvin Kranzberg and a viewpoint from Arnold Pacey. These viewpoints seem to coincide with the common-sense view and the strong view perspectives of the neutrality of technology. It is evident that these two arguments of the neutrality of technology are vastly different, but there does not seem to be a clear-cut answer on which of these viewpoints can be used as the ultimate answer to the question of whether or not technology is neutral.

The reason of the success of the organization is also due to the presence of the social media Facebook and its personalized App to provide support at one’s fingertips.

Social media has changed how social activism is done by “making it easier for the powerless to collaborate, coordinate, and give voice to their concerns” (Gladwell 68). However, this does not mean that social media has changed what a successful social activism has always required. There has been a common misbelief that when a social campaign “go viral” on the internet, it means a successful social activism. Social media can be used as a tool for the organization and the communication of real activists, but not an effective tool for starting a social change by convincing people on the internet to become real activists and take real-life action.

With instantaneous, ease of access to large online communities, members of society have the opportunity to communicate with, and assemble large groups. The creation of these groups would, in most cases, be impossible to congregate without social media. Additionally, online communities have proven advantageous in motivating bystanders. All popular social media hubs, such as Facebook and Twitter, have made it as simply as the click of a button to spread information. As far as political and social impact goes - the larger the group, the more efficient and likely the goal will be achieved, shown with the Ferguson protest. The extensive use, and ease of use of social media has significantly increased political participation in society.

As technology develops rapidly in the modern society, the broad social influence it brings is also widely discussed, especially about its effects on social change. In the past, social movements were raised without the help of technology, specifically without social media, whereas social media has recently played a non-ignorable role. The connection between social media and social activisms concerned, here come some different voices. Few people maintain that social media now has no practical influence on social change, while others hold the opposite view, thinking social media is already a crucial factor in it. Personally speaking, I agree with the second kind of view: it is true that social media is not able to create social movements by itself in today’s world, but it plays an important and essential part in making real social change.

Most of the time when I am writing a paper, I do not have a choice on what I am writing. But when I do get to choose my topic, then I can write about something that I enjoy and feel passionate about. In my experience with writing, I have chosen many topics. But most of them I probably did not enjoy writing about that particular topic. There are very few papers that I have written where I really enjoyed writing. But the paper that I am going to talk about was different for me because I wanted people to understand my point of view on the subject. And so, I felt compelled to write about the topic that I chose for this particular essay that I wrote in 9th grade. It is about technology, and its role and effect on society.

My older brother, Jack, always excelled at any and all tasks that required a strong sense of reason. Despite his giftedness, Jack never worked well in any group, or even acclimated socially with many other kids. He wasn’t concerned with communicating his ideas to his peers, couldn’t make the effort to consider his words’ effects on other kids, and he was prone to angry outbursts when he didn’t get his way. While most other children grew out of these phases, Jack continues to exhibit these qualities even today at 23.

Since the beginning of the semester, my writing has changed and evolved to accommodate and sustain longer essays. With longer essays, there is more room for in-depth analysis. Further analyzing a topic has led me to findings that I did not know existed. As I continue to write, I uncover addition and superior methods to approach my writing to the benefit of me and therefore, my audience. Throughout the semester, I have incorporated techniques to further my narrative throughout my writing.

Social media has influenced the growth of social capital as it provides a thriving environment for creating and maintaining networks as opposed to civic clubs and volunteer organizations. Through social capital creation of human capital has been enabled as it is able to engage and sustain effective communities and identifies closure – collective observance of social norms that