Final Paper
INTRODUCTION
“Today’s social media has undeniably transformed our means of communication, created new opportunities for brands and universities and even brought personality back into a digital world” (Willis 4). Through the recent years, technology advances have shaped the way we view and use social media. From texting on smart phones, internet platforms, smart cars and homes, technology is making it easier and more accessible to explore new possibilities. Some argue that this will make society lazy and unintelligent, I disagree. We our expanding our knowledge and the way we learn, pushing boundaries farther, and it is only the beginning. The new wave of technology and social media is expanding our world for the better.
DISCUSSION
Social media and technology are providing different ways to share new information with its users. People have all the information they wish to learn right at their fingertips. In her article, Judith Newman describes her son’s enlightening interactions with Apple’s voice automated system, Siri. “Gus had never noticed Siri before, but when he discovered there was someone who would not just find information on his various obsessions (trains, planes, buses, escalators and, of course, anything related to weather) but semi-discuss these subjects tirelessly, he was hooked” (Newman 1018-1019). Not only can technology educate us on our surrounding fascinations, but social media can provide insight to what lifestyles are like in other cultures
Social media is a game changing invention but it has come with a hefty amount of backlash. When I was younger I didn’t have a phone and social media was nothing compared to how it is now present day. It’s astonishing just how far the internet and social media have come. Not just when it comes to how advanced or how widespread they’ve become, what shocks me is just how influential social media has become. It’s almost borderline unsettling how much humans as a whole rely and depend on social media for nearly everything they know or want to discover. Social media has become not only a way to locate others and communicate with others but a way for people to learn and stay informed and aware of what goes on outside the doors of their cozy little nook. Looking back to my childhood days, I recall lounging on the couch with my mother in the morning watching news on the television but now that has become a distant memory if I need news today, I get it from social media on my cell phone. The poor television in the living room has become obsolete from lack of use because of a boost in social media's involvement with news and correct political issues.
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.
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.
Since the beginning of the Internet, people have become indulged with its many functions, from making advanced programs to learning how to do new projects to social media. Social media has evolved over the years since the late 1990s and, ultimately, people have incorporated it into their lives. It is the modern way for people to connect and communicate with anyone 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.
Technology as a whole has changed the way we live our everyday lives in numerous ways. We now have the opportunity to do many things with a touch of a button, to name a few, starting our cars, tying our shoes, or accessing the world of social media. The single piece of technology that has impacted most of us today is the cellular phone, which leads us to the wonders of the Internet. In today’s society there is a plethora of troubles we face, what comforts most of us and makes our lives a little easier is the world of social media. Social media sites like Facebook, Snapchat, Tinder, Twitter, and countless other websites can help us feel connected with the world and/or our surroundings. To most people social media might
With a rapid increase in technology came the rise of social media. Social media is a used every day with many different platforms to reach a many demographics. The culture of our society is being shaped by these social platforms with news at anyone’s fingertips. This paper explores if social media has made an effect on our society and if it has become a part of our culture
A main problem with technology is the increase in bullying that comes with it. When kids are bullied at school or while at sports, they should be able to come home feeling safe and as if they have escaped their tormentors; however, almost every kid has a phone or some kind of device and social media that bullies are able to use to taunt the kids while they are at home as well. It is also easier to get more kids involved in bullying because people are more likely to say things online that they would not say in person. The increase in cyber-bullying has also led to an increase in teen suicides. These problems go back to the fact that it is so much easier for people to say things while they are comfortable sitting behind a screen. When kids do not have an escape, they never have a break from the constant bullying and hate and most likely will not tell an adult or parent about it. Kids, and even high schoolers, tend to keep to themselves when they are bullied because it is embarrassing to tell someone about and they are uncomfortable with the situation.
The use of computers can enhance student learning in the long-established curriculum and basic skills area. The incorporation of computers with traditional instruction produces higher academic achievement in a variety of subject areas than doe’s traditional instruction alone. Students learn more quickly and with greater retention when learning with the aid of computers. Students like learning with computers, and their attitudes toward learning and school are positively affected by computer use. The use of computers appears most promising for low achieving and at-risk students. Effective and adequate teacher training is an integral element of successful learning programs based on or assisted by technology.
We, as a society have been on a path of evolving in many ways. One of many is through technology and means of communication. Nicholas Carr’s article explained that we are so relaint with the web when it comes to looking for information. With cell phones becoming “smart phones” with apps that allow us to use websites created for socializing and sharing personal information, daily routines and current events. We have become somewhat internet reliant in many ways. There are many articles and studies on this very controversial topic. It is hard to ignore the facts and disagree with most but a lot of them also miss a bigger picture. The issue that always presents it-self is us becoming dumb or lazy minded as well as lonely and internet reliant which I believe all stems from self-control and self-awareness. On the other hand, we have Stephen Marche, where he explains if Facebook it’s self is making us lonely. He went on to explain more about Playboy model, Yvette Vickers who died and no one knew about it because she was alone when it happened. People eventually found out because she was still logged in on her computer. When thinking about this situation, it makes many readers realize that we, as a society we tend to put social media first and must rely on that for any news or information we seek.
Imagine living in the modern world without the convenience of social media and digital technology. We always hear that technology has changed the way people live by making peoples life easier and interesting. Scientist, engineers, etc. are always developing new technologies to make one’s life easier, social media and websites regularly update their applications increasing ease of use and becoming more users friendly. The creation and evolution of social media and digital technology has opened up new avenues for people to communicate, travel and obtain entertainment.
As the use of technology increases in today’s society the question occurs: would it be a benefit for children to use technology or will it be a detriment to them? Many people such as researchers, scientists, health professionals and economist have done numerous tests to see if economically technology has done anything to help or hurt children. While looking through the economic lens research shows that the use of technology by children could both help and hurt the economy. Common Sense Media, a non profit which studies the safe use of media for kids, says that the percentage of children under the age of eight with access to a smartphone or tablet has jumped from 52% to 75%, while the average daily time on devices has tripled from five to 15 minutes (2013).
I, like countless other children in recent years, grew up alongside technology from a young age. Video games and the internet became ingrained into my life and have absolutely shaped the person I am now. They are an integral part of who I am and how I have developed as a person over the course of my life. While I cannot say that it has only been a positive change, technology has influenced my goals, desires, and personality as I have grown.
Throughout history, the American worker has been known as hardworking. This is a notion so ubiquitous that even the 37th president of the United States, Richard Nixon, mentioned it in his speech “Address to the Nation on Labor Day.” Nixon proclaimed “that work ethic is why Americans are considered an industrious, purposeful people, and why a poor nation of 3 million people, over a course of two centuries, lifted itself into the position of the most powerful and respected leader of the free world today” (Nixon, 1971). However, because of technology, this notion of the American “work ethic” may be skewed in the United States. Due to technological advancement in a myriad of areas of blue and white-collar labor, many Americans may be at the risk of facing unemployment. Most manual-labor or blue- collar workers have a shallow level of education; meaning that their abilities and skills are restricted to specific jobs or tasks. Current and surging technology may have the capability of replacing many of these workers because they are able to complete the same tasks at a cheaper and more productive rate. More sophisticated types of technologies have also been able to perform certain professional tasks; these types of machines are mostly known as artificial intelligence (AI). Overall, the replacement of blue and white collar labor by technology has brought a negative impact on the culture of the U.S.
Most of us use social media to communicate with our family, friends and our loved once. Since almost all of my friends live 8000 mile away, I use Facebook, Instagram, and viber to keep in touch with them. Bur recently I started noticing it has become more than a means of communication. I start posting a picture and obsesses about how many likes I get, checking other peoples Facebook just to see if they have more friends than me, believing every post without questioning if it’s a fact and funny enough I start sending friend request for people I don’t even know. Christine Rosen, a senior editor of the New Atlantis and resident fellow at the Ethics and Public policy Center in Wessington, D.C. on “In the Beginning Was the World”, she wrote how technology is affecting the society’s critical reading ability. Peggy Orenstein, an author and a contributing writer for the New York Times, on “I Tweet, Therefore I Am” she talks about how social media is distracting as from fully live in the moment. Even though the development of technology have increased the quality of life, it also brought undeniable challenges to our society. The constant use of social media and internet has increase society attention-seeking, Distracted, and decries critical reading. The use of social media has increased dramatically throughout the years.
As humanity progresses, technology continues to develop and grow more complex. However, with every piece of advanced technology there are jobs and industries that are irreversibly affected. Examples of this are farming and manufacturing, where workers have been replaced by machinery creating large amounts of short term unemployment. However, these people eventually are filtered back into the economy, most finding new employment. It is known among economists that as technology is developed society will grow more prosperous and the economy will increase in size. Despite the fact that previous jumps in technology have not lead to mass unemployment, the rise in technologies, like artificial intelligence, make these concerns over technology taking jobs much more real. Entire industries like taxi driving, trucking and even some white-collar jobs will be replaced by technology. A study done in an academic journal estimates 47% of jobs in the USA are at risk of computerisation (Frey and Osborne, 2013). If these estimates come true, there will be massive amounts of unemployed people in the future which would have devastating effects on the economy.