Welcome to my social blog!

Over the past few weeks, I have grown to understand and appreciate the positives of social blogging. I have also discovered several areas that can be very stressful if not used carefully. It can be stressful for both the blogger, and the reader.  I have attempted to show what I see as both positive and negative aspects/effects of social media. I have discussed the positives such as communication, information, and entertainment. I have also discussed some negatives such as addictions, disorders, and abuses. I trust my blog will be informative, and will assist you in a better understanding of social media.

A response to "A Reunion with Boredom" by Charles Simic

In “A Reunion with Boredom,” Charles Simic (2014, p. 375) says, “Being temporarily unable to use the technology we’ve grown dependent on to inform ourselves about the rest of the world, communicate with others, and pass the time, is a reminder of our alarming dependence on them.” In this essay, Charles Simic is referring back to the aftermath of Hurricane Irene that caused a power outage lasting three days. Simic remembers the boredom he felt having no television, and how there was no lights or water due to the hurricane. He also goes on to mention how reading books was the cure to escape boredom.

It’s really sad how overly dependent we have become with social media in today’s world. For instance today, when we have a power outage, people no longer panic. Instead, they run to their closest vehicle, and plug in their charger for fear of missing out on a text message or rumors off of Facebook. We could have the worst storm occur in our own city, and still have the best media apps to keep us occupied. Whoa be to us if we were to ever lose our social media outlets.

 

 

Response to Tanner's blog

I agree with Tanner’s blog where he stated, “I feel similar in that it has turned into an inconvenience to read books anymore. There are so many other ways to retain information or get a story in the world today that books have become less popular.”  While it’s easier for many to use the internet, I still believe books are where education began, and still needs to be reinforced. I am reminded of our class assignments that required research. It was easier to plug in letters on a keyboard than to actually read the books. After spending forty hours a week on a computer at work, I prefer reading material in my hands where I can flip through the pages. However, I must agree books are being replaced by social media.

Texting And Driving

 

Texting and driving continues to be one of the main causes of car accidents today. Our phones have programmed us with the bad habit of taking them out to check our e-mail, to look at Facebook, and to see who just texted us while sitting behind the wheel. In many places, texting is illegal while driving, due to the many accidents that have occurred. We must learn to avoid the temptation of texting , and driving.

 

 

Nearby Friends

 

Facebook is launching a new opt-in feature called “Nearby Friends.” This feature allows your friends to know when you’re close-by, and also has the ability to show your exact location on a map. The main key to using this feature is you have to show yourself visible on Nearby Friends in order to see your friends’ proximity. This feature also carries the same privacy settings as your News Feed, allowing you to choose who you want to see your updates and whereabouts. Soon, when the Cloak app gets on board with Facebook, you will also be able to pick the friends you choose to be anti-social with.

 

#SMAD

 

We cannot deny that social media has taken over traditional media in the world today. While this technology has brought many advantages to our lives, it has also created difficulties. Social media anxiety disorder is when an individual allows social media to control their life, and it becomes more of an addiction that can become mentally problematic. Limited use of social media is helpful in avoiding this disorder.

Signs you might have Social Media Anxiety Disorder:

·         Leaving your phone at home, and leaving work to go get it.

·         Taking the phone to the bathroom with you.

·         Constantly checking the phone for new messages or missed calls.

·         Constantly checking to see how many likes you have on FB.

·         Having the phone next to you while you sleep.

·         Constantly checking for new “Tweets” and status updates.

 

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?" By Nicholas Carr

 

In Nicholas Carr’s essay, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?,” he claims that the internet is changing our way of thinking, and believes our minds are being influenced by advanced technologies. Carr claims that while enjoying the use of internet, he still struggles with staying focused on the books he reads. He also points out that he is not alone; his friends and acquaintances share the same struggles. He also mentions Scott Karp, a blogger who stopped reading books altogether because he felt the internet changed the way he was thinking. Carr also points to a five year study that suggested people on the internet were just skimming over articles, rarely returning to any of the sources previously viewed. He also pointed out how we are quicker to obey a clock, rather than listen to our own senses. Carr also mentioned how Friedrich Nietzsche’s style of writing changed once he started using a typewriter. In the end, Carr states his fear of us becoming “pancake people” spread wide and thin, due to all the information we have access to from the internet. Because of our dependence on computers, we are able to better our understanding of what’s going on in the world today, however, the more we rely on computers for our understanding, the more we run the risk of having our human understanding become artificial and mechanical.

On my Social Blog, I stated several similar points that Carr states in his essay. As he mentioned, social media is radically changing the thought patterns of people today. While it is readily available, there are several problems associated with its usage. Our own thinking has become molded by social media. Today, the vast majority of the world’s intelligence is a keystroke away. While this technology has been beneficial, it has also introduced us to new problems, such as cyber bullying, and game addictions. I believe social networking affects literally every area of our lives in one way or another.