Society Should Drive Media, Not The Other Way Around

Most people would argue that social media has a negative effect on our society, but Josh Rose, "a chief creative officer at Webster Shandwick," believes otherwise. (173) Josh Rose's essay, How Social Media is Having a Positive Impact on Our Culture, was featured on the online source Mashable.com on February 23, 2011. Rose uses his speech to argue the reasons why social media is beneficial, mainly focusing on how it connects us together; however, Rose doesn't give much credibility or opposition. Instead, he states points from his own personal experience and beliefs with lack of fluidity.

My first argument is that, ‘kids today are spending more time inside looking at devices and using social media as a source of entertainment.’ At the young age of 17 I have realised how much my cell phone and other social media’s result to me wasting a day. I have tried to reduce my use and time I spend looking at my screen and have picked up the importance of staying healthy and keeping active; this being scientifically proven as an outcome of a longer and much healthier lifestyle- especially for the future of our generation. However, this is something that simply cannot be maintained by staying indoors all day which quite frankly these days you will find, is more common for children than going down to the local field for a fun game of touch or soccer with a

Ever since the integration of technology and social media, we have changed as a society in how we interact, make conversation, and go about our daily lives. In the novel Feed, by M.T Anderson, the possible consequences of our dependence on technology and social media are highlighted through experiences between several teenagers in the future. They all live in a world that is the equivalent of a hyped up social media, which has taken over the way we interact with people. It becomes evident that M.T Anderson does not view our generation with applause, rather with disdain and pessimism for what we are doing to affect our future generations socially, politically, and economically. From the beginning of the novel, the reader

According to Twenge, the number of teens that go out with their friends has decreased by 40 percent compared to earlier generations. Twenge compares iGens to different generations such as Gen X (born between 1965 and early 1984), baby boomers (1946-1964) and Millennials (born around 1982-2002). Twenge emphasizes on the time teenagers spend on their phones. Social media plays a huge role in this. In accordance to Twenge, different forms of social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are what teenagers spend more time on. According to Twenge, the more time teens spend on smartphones the greater they are at risk for suicide, depression, and loneliness. Twenge also explains how teens are not receiving an adequate amount of sleep, many teens now sleep less than seven hours. Twenge concludes the article by sharing her own experience with her children and technology, she recommends parents to limit the time their children spend on phones. (59-65)

In 2011, New York Times executive editor, Bill Keller, wrote an article entitled, “The Twitter Trap” in which he uses the social media site to discuss its’ impact on society, and the negative ramifications. The article attempts to illustrate the potential dangers of social media on relationships, the functioning of the brain, as well as the education and intelligence of current and future generations. He claims that social media can be dangerous because “innovation comes at a price” and Keller’s concern is that “the price is a piece of ourselves”, which becomes the basis of his argument throughout the article (Keller). Keller’s is directing his article, and consequently his argument towards the New York Times readership, and even more specifically those who are parents of children on social media, as well as general Twitter and social media users.

Traditional media was a one-way street limiting the ability to give any thought on the issues at hand. Social media, however, offers a two-way street effect that enables the user the ability to communicate. Social media is a great tool for both keeping in touch with family and friends, as well as staying up to date on current affairs worldwide. Social media and networking sites have become popular these days and people of all ages, denominations, color and creed are meeting online to interact at social media websites.

The use of technology has catalyzed society into an era that is increasingly interconnected yet impersonal at the same time. Despite technology’s endless list of assets, many fail to acknowledge its shortcomings when mentioning what is lost as a result of using it. Although in “Great to Watch” by Maggie Nelson, she is not afraid to share her skepticism of technology, as well as the role it plays in desensitizing individuals on a day-to-day basis. The internet is an invaluable resource to many because it is a public domain for sharing ideas, opinions, and knowledge that any and everyone can have access to. In a sense, it does not restrict what someone may see or do, and this can either be a good thing or a bad thing. The booming use of new media

“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how we do it” (Qualman, n.d). According to Merrain Webster 1828, “social media is form of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messaging, and other online (such as video). Technology has involved into something that everyone can utilize effectively just by the swipe of finger or by pressing a single button. We don’t have to go the post office for hand written letter from families and friends abroad, but we can get them through simply opening a chat box online. However, social media has become the addiction to many young people today and even adults alike. We eat with your phones. We study and communicate with others on your various devices. We even go into the bathroom with our devices to ensure that we don’t miss a tweet, recent Instagram post or a WhatsApp message.

Since the invention of the Internet, people have become indulged with its copious functions, from making advanced programs to learning how to do new projects to social media. Social media has evolved over the years, from Friendster to Myspace to Facebook, since the late 1990s, and people have incorporated it into their lives. It is the modern way for people to connect and communicate with anyone and everyone across the globe. Plus, social media is everywhere; people utilize it when they are on the bus, at the checkout line, and even when they are using the restroom. In Peggy Orenstein’s “The Way We Live Now: I Tweet, Therefore I Am,” she propounds that social media has altered society. Social media has changed society’s priorities, characteristics, and mentality.

In “Enough about You”, Brian Williams, journalist and anchor states that Americans became selfish and not interested in anything that does not involve them due to the use of the social media. He believes people will not be informed about crucial events around the world, because they will only read about things they care about: “with the ability to tailor our media consumption today to only those sources that reflect our already held view, we may be missing out on alternative perspectives ‘that citizens in an informed democracy need to know” (472). I believe Williams makes valuable points about negative influence of social media. However, in my opinion, this new technology platform has many positive aspects as well and I would like to describe them both in my essay.

Preview of Speech: Social media plays a huge role in our society, and it’s not a good thing. To understand its impact, we have to know a few things that come

The written word,now a weapon, is now digitized and feed through media. “A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon.” (Bradbury 58). Not only have books become a media revolution so has social interaction. Social media allows for connections formerly unheard. “The problem, they say, is that we spend so much time maintaining superficial connections online that we aren’t dedicating enough time or effort to cultivating deeper real-life relationships.”(WSJ). This avenue of socialization allows for discretion of the true life and person of the poster. “And even worse, the human condition is beginning to devolve. We have become addicted to the vanity of social media unable to expose our lives to the world.”(Green). This media based socialization can overtake the lives of many. “When you add it all up, the average American spends more than 10 hours a day plugged into some form of media.”(Synder). Making the human race even more technology

In looking at the articles and video in this section of digital generation, I believe we are in fact more of a social culture because of social media, thus becoming more conscience human beings. However in becoming a “connected society” we risk a lot of individual torment that can separate us as our social lives can become more judgmental in the process. In all this section brought an interesting clarity to the age that we are and will continue to strive through in the

Since the introduction of Social Media in 1997, Social Media has redefined and radically changed communication and has become an important part of modern day communication. Social Media has made people much more connected to the rest of the world. Furthermore, Social Media has allowed people to interact and stay connected with each other regardless of where they are in the world. Social Media has also allowed people to share information and opinions to a wide audience. In a recent large-scale study conducted by Common Sense Media, Teens spend up to 9 hours consuming media. Social Media has changed how we share information and consume information.

Technology caused various of changes in this world. In the article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” the author Jean M. Twenge discuss how technology has caused a different effect on teen. “I called them iGen. Born between 1995 and 2012, members of this generation are growing up with smartphones...” Many teens now are dependent on texting then having a group conversation as compared to generations we can see the differences. The generation after 2012, which Twenge calls iGen, rely more on smartphones than earlier generation. iGen use of social media, like Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, began before they even started going to school. These kinds of uses have caused health issues, and teens are going out less to parks and using less outside resources. While it be safer that kids stay inside, they are more likely to go into depression. Smartphones have made teens less able to communicate, caused a higher risk to their health, and become too much in a iGens life.