There are just so many ways that technology has both benefits and consequences. One of the consequences is the distracting factor. For example, on the 101 freeway towards San Francisco, there is a huge electronic billboard. It flashes so many different colors and advertisements. At first when I saw it a couple years ago I thought it was cool and futuristic. But now that I think about it, I realize how distracting it must be for drivers. Every time I drive past it, I know I cannot look at it, but some people that I know are very distractible and the billboard could cause awful accidents. It seems a little bit ridiculous that businesses are so engrossed in/focused on advertising and selling their product, that they do not think realistically. They are not acknowledging the potentially dangerous consequences to their actions. Depending on how distractible the individual is, they are placing technology over human safety.
Another technologic distraction is texting. I know some people whom I care about dearly that text while they drive, even when others or I are sitting in the passenger seat. Even when I kindly ask the person to stop texting while they are driving and I am in the passenger seat, they do not stop. I not only find this rude because they are disregarding both my and others safety, but it is extremely dangerous. People have driven through red lights and gotten into fatal car accidents because they were so focused on texting. I have to admit that it takes a huge effort for me to ignore a text that I receive while driving. If I am driving by myself, I put my cell phone on the passenger seat so that it is within reach when I get out of the car. If I hear my cell phone buzz or see it light up with a new message, I feel an uncontrollable urge to read what the message says. Although I restrain myself (I remind myself what a bad idea it is to text and drive) it scares me how powerful technology has become over me. Obviously that one text message can wait for when I am parked, but sometimes I feel like it can’t. Now when I drive, I put my phone on silent and I flip it over so that I do not see if I have a new message until I am safely parked. But again, it freaks me out that I have to actively remind myself not to text while driving. I even had to think of a plan to prevent me from texting and driving. Just like the billboard situation, depending on the person, texting can potentially place technology over human safety. Both situations are placing humans lives in danger which is scary to think about.
As I said above, there are benefits to technology. One of those benefits is having a texting system in an emergency situation. For example, after the Virginia Tech massacre, the university put in a texting system. When a dangerous person, such as a shooter, is on campus, the school sends out a mass text to all the students and faculty. Thus, even those who are in class are warned of the potentially harmful person on campus and can barricade the door and get to safety. Many universities have put this in place, including Santa Clara University. I have to admit that after Virginia Tech, I was frightened as I was entering my first year in college. Thus, knowing this texting system was put in place was a relief to both my family and I. We know that if there is someone dangerous on campus, the news of a shooter on campus will get to me fast (thanks to technology) and I will be safe. The news would not be able to reach me this fast if it were not for technology, specifically texting.
It is so difficult to find a balance with all this technology, especially when we are amongst the beginning of it. I feel as time goes on and more technology is invented, humans will be able to get a better grasp on how to balance all this technology in a way that it is more beneficial than consequential. However, one can argue that more technology will just dig us into a deeper hole of consequences.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Social Networking and Privacy
I use facebook everyday. I do not use twitter or foursquare as I do not want to become “addicted” to more social networking sites. I check my facebook once every couple of hours. I probably spend approximately a fourth of my day texting. This is because it is my main form of communication with my friends. I prefer texting to facebook because the only person that views my text is the person I send the text to. Facebook is too public for my taste. I often wonder how this social networking fad caught on because I think it is weird to have five hundred people watching/viewing my conversations. Aren’t conversations meant to be between the sender and receiver? I am so relieved that I do not have the facebook application on my phone. I think that app would drive me crazy. I am already tuned into/distracted by facebook so much that the last thing I need is for facebook to be following me when I am not by a computer. I also think that the facebook application is unnecessary because people are so focused on their phones during face-to-face interactions. A lot of my friends will just stop mid conversation or even mid sentence (during dinner too) and look down at their phone because they received a notification from facebook. One of my elderly neighbors even noticed how obsessed teenagers are with technology. He noticed that most of the teenagers who walk down the street are all staring down at their phone or have their iPods on. They are completely out of tune to their surroundings.
Although I think there are some benefits to this new technology, I think the cultural move toward social networking, constant access and loss of privacy has an overall negative affect. The benefit of facebook/technology is that it is much easier for me to contact and stay in touch with people who I normally would not be able to because of distance. For example, technology, including facebook, has made it possible for my friend (who lives in Germany) and I to keep in touch on a constant basis. It would be a shame if I could not keep in touch with a good friend because of distance. Another benefit is online social support groups (OSSG) as discussed in Tanis’ article. These groups allow individuals who may or may not have support at home, to find support online. They can ask any type of question (medical related or not) and receive feedback without being judged by their physical appearance. In my Communications textbook, a gay teenager discussed how he lived two different lives. When he was surrounded by his friends and family he pretended he was straight. He did not even know that other people were gay until he went online and found support groups that consisted of all gay members. The internet/OSSGs prevented him from committing suicide. A negative aspect to social networking, constant access and loss of privacy is how dangerous constant access and loss of privacy can get because of apps that tell people where people are located at the moment. I discuss this in further detail below.
The benefit to this entanglement between technology and our lives is that we can easily access information. I can find information on a research topic from a variety of sources. Although I can gain different perspectives on a topic, a drawback to this is that I have to learn how to tell what source is credible and what source is not. Another drawback to this entanglement between technology and our lives is that technology can make people, specifically teenagers, feel uncomfortable. I think the overwhelming influence of technology harms students in some ways. Every teenager goes through stages where they try new things and explore their identity. For example, one of my friends who never drank alcohol was at a party. One of his friends offered him a drink and he decided he would try it. He took a sip and then put it down. Unfortunately, someone captured the split moment he was sipping the drink on a camera. The person posted this picture on facebook and tagged my friend. Although he untagged my friend (at my friend’s request) that picture is still floating around on facebook. My friend is not happy that this picture is floating around facebook but there is nothing he can do about it. Because of his friend and technology, the situation is completely out of his control.
I’ve never over-shared something that I’ve regretted. I am very careful as to what I allow on my facebook in everyway (status updates, conversations between friends and pictures). I honestly cannot think of a moment where my friends over shared something but perhaps this is because they took it off their facebook right when they realized it was inappropriate.
I do worry a little bit about privacy when it comes to these tools. I am very careful to set my profile to private so that only my friends can see me. I never post anything about where I am. I think the new facebook check-in application is not a good application. At the very least, there should be an age limit to who can use it. I feel that many young, naïve or vulnerable kids will use it and increase their chances of walking into a dangerous situation. Also, I’ve noticed that on the right sidebar, facebook now posts events that my friends are attending. Some of these events have nothing to do with me and I do not even know the people who invited my friends to the event. It is a bit unnerving and weird to think that people are interested in seeing what events their friends are going to when it has nothing to do with them.
In short, there are benefits and drawbacks to the ever-changing and ever-growing technology.
Although I think there are some benefits to this new technology, I think the cultural move toward social networking, constant access and loss of privacy has an overall negative affect. The benefit of facebook/technology is that it is much easier for me to contact and stay in touch with people who I normally would not be able to because of distance. For example, technology, including facebook, has made it possible for my friend (who lives in Germany) and I to keep in touch on a constant basis. It would be a shame if I could not keep in touch with a good friend because of distance. Another benefit is online social support groups (OSSG) as discussed in Tanis’ article. These groups allow individuals who may or may not have support at home, to find support online. They can ask any type of question (medical related or not) and receive feedback without being judged by their physical appearance. In my Communications textbook, a gay teenager discussed how he lived two different lives. When he was surrounded by his friends and family he pretended he was straight. He did not even know that other people were gay until he went online and found support groups that consisted of all gay members. The internet/OSSGs prevented him from committing suicide. A negative aspect to social networking, constant access and loss of privacy is how dangerous constant access and loss of privacy can get because of apps that tell people where people are located at the moment. I discuss this in further detail below.
The benefit to this entanglement between technology and our lives is that we can easily access information. I can find information on a research topic from a variety of sources. Although I can gain different perspectives on a topic, a drawback to this is that I have to learn how to tell what source is credible and what source is not. Another drawback to this entanglement between technology and our lives is that technology can make people, specifically teenagers, feel uncomfortable. I think the overwhelming influence of technology harms students in some ways. Every teenager goes through stages where they try new things and explore their identity. For example, one of my friends who never drank alcohol was at a party. One of his friends offered him a drink and he decided he would try it. He took a sip and then put it down. Unfortunately, someone captured the split moment he was sipping the drink on a camera. The person posted this picture on facebook and tagged my friend. Although he untagged my friend (at my friend’s request) that picture is still floating around on facebook. My friend is not happy that this picture is floating around facebook but there is nothing he can do about it. Because of his friend and technology, the situation is completely out of his control.
I’ve never over-shared something that I’ve regretted. I am very careful as to what I allow on my facebook in everyway (status updates, conversations between friends and pictures). I honestly cannot think of a moment where my friends over shared something but perhaps this is because they took it off their facebook right when they realized it was inappropriate.
I do worry a little bit about privacy when it comes to these tools. I am very careful to set my profile to private so that only my friends can see me. I never post anything about where I am. I think the new facebook check-in application is not a good application. At the very least, there should be an age limit to who can use it. I feel that many young, naïve or vulnerable kids will use it and increase their chances of walking into a dangerous situation. Also, I’ve noticed that on the right sidebar, facebook now posts events that my friends are attending. Some of these events have nothing to do with me and I do not even know the people who invited my friends to the event. It is a bit unnerving and weird to think that people are interested in seeing what events their friends are going to when it has nothing to do with them.
In short, there are benefits and drawbacks to the ever-changing and ever-growing technology.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
My Media Diet
I spend approximately two hours a day during the school year consuming the media. My media consumption during the school year is mainly using the internet, which is discussed in further detail later in this blog. I basically do not watch television at all during the school year, unless I stop by a friend’s room for a few minutes and she/he is watching television. The only books I have time to read are my school textbooks, which I spend approximately four hours a day reading.
Monday: In the evening, I went on facebook for fifteen minutes while reading my communications class textbook (two hours for communication). I took a ten-minute break from facebook and then logged back on for thirty minutes. I did this for the rest of the evening as I studied different subjects for two more hours. I had chapter for my sorority in the evening and I did not go on facebook after that.
Tuesday: I read for my history class, which took approximately three hours because it is difficult material. I went on and off facebook for about twenty minutes while I read. I did this for approximately two hours. I also printed out articles for my sociology class, which took approximately one and a half hours to read and write about.
Wednesday: I studied in my room and I spent approximately two hours on facebook again. Today I logged on right after my last class for about twenty minutes. Instead of going on and off every thirty minutes or so, I went on right after I logged off. I stayed on for about an hour straight, which is not usual behavior for myself. After an hour, I logged off, did some English reading (two hours) and then logged on for approximately forty more minutes.
Thursday: I walked into my friend’s room and she was watching Jersey Shore so I sat with her for approximately ten minutes. After getting bored of the show and needing the time to study, I went back to my room. I logged onto facebook for approximately thirty minutes. I signed off, opened my English reading and continuously logged on and off facebook for three hours as I studied. It is difficult for me to focus on studying on Thursday because I know the next day is Friday and I cannot wait for the weekend. Facebook is an easy distraction for me.
Friday: I spent approximately thirty minutes on and off facebook on Friday. I was on every time I was in my room and I logged off every time a friend came into chat or I went somewhere with a friend. Friday is a day I expect to spend a lot of time on facebook because my last class ends at 11:35pm. Most of my friends are in class till later and I am too tired to study or do an activity so I chat with people on facebook. However, I notice that I actually spend the least amount of time on facebook on Friday because I do not need it as a distraction from my studies.
Saturday: I woke up and went on facebook right away. This is because I feel I have ample time to go on facebook since it’s the weekend. I surprisingly only stayed on for twenty minutes and only went on twice (about thirty minutes each) after that. I spent approximately an hour and twenty minutes on facebook the entire day today. I signed on in the morning (as mentioned above), played tennis for approximately two hours, came back to my room, signed on for approximately twenty more minutes, signed off and started studying and hanging out with friends. I went on one more time while studying. After studying, I hung out with friends for the rest of the night so I did not go on again that day. I did not have any online reading to do today.
Sunday: I woke up and went on facebook right away again. Sunday is by far the day I go on facebook the most because I usually do most of my homework on Sunday. I spent approximately three hours on facebook on Sunday while studying for classes. I spent approximately two hours reading (online) and writing for my sociology class.
I do not have a television in my dorm room so I basically never watch television during the school year. Over the summer when my schedule was more relaxed and less hectic, I found myself watching mainstream television shows (The Office, Jersey Shore, etc.) on my computer more so than on the television. I probably watched approximately two hours of television a day. I watched it for two hours straight as I did not take breaks in between shows. I find it interesting that I watched my shows online rather than on a television because I never thought that the television would become outdated. The internet/computer is becoming so powerful and convenient because it puts everything into one small screen. It is even threatening the utilization of the television. I believe that online shows are becoming more popular than the television because of the convenience. Viewers can choose what they want to watch at any time, they do not have to wait for their scheduled program to come on at a specific time. The viewer no longer has to work around his schedule to watch his favorite show, his show works around his schedule. Another interesting aspect of internet television is that many websites have television shows and chat rooms. Thus, thousands of people can all be watching a show in the same chat room and they can discuss the show together. People can discuss their shows (similar interests) without the fear of being judged by their opinions or appearance, as discussed earlier in class.
The main and basically only media consumption I use all year is facebook. After keeping track for a week, I found that I spend approximately two hours a day on facebook. This is interesting because I never realized how much time I waste on facebook. The reason I say “waste” is discussed later. My two hours of facebook is different than my two hours of television as I take breaks in between logging into facebook. I do not sit by my computer for two hours on facebook, rather, while I am studying, I go on it for about twenty minutes and then sign off. I repeatedly do this for two hours. I believe that my peers and others in my age group go on facebook for approximately the same amount of time a day, give or take a few minutes. It is difficult to avoid using facebook because it has become a main source for communication, knowing what is happening, knowing what events are going on and advertising. Thus, I believe Americans are becoming more and more dependent on the media. As long as businesses and companies are successfully advertising online, they will continue to post events and deals (like coupons) online. Thus, consumers will continue to look online for these events and deals. It is an endless cycle. It is up to both the consumer and the seller to stop this addiction to the media. The seller should stop posting events and deals online while the consumer should stop using these events and deals.
I have a hectic schedule during the school year and I am always pressed for time. Thus, I would like to change my media diet and only go on facebook for maybe thirty minutes a day, at the very most. I feel that two hours I spend on facebook is a waste. This is because I would rather be outside doing activities, that looking at other people’s photos of them doing activities. I do not mind going on facebook for thirty minutes because I believe facebook is a useful source as long as I can limit my time on this social network. It is useful because I can connect with friends and see what events are approaching. It is not useful if I use it too much because I end up wasting valuable time as discussed above and it takes that much longer for me to get my work done.
Monday: In the evening, I went on facebook for fifteen minutes while reading my communications class textbook (two hours for communication). I took a ten-minute break from facebook and then logged back on for thirty minutes. I did this for the rest of the evening as I studied different subjects for two more hours. I had chapter for my sorority in the evening and I did not go on facebook after that.
Tuesday: I read for my history class, which took approximately three hours because it is difficult material. I went on and off facebook for about twenty minutes while I read. I did this for approximately two hours. I also printed out articles for my sociology class, which took approximately one and a half hours to read and write about.
Wednesday: I studied in my room and I spent approximately two hours on facebook again. Today I logged on right after my last class for about twenty minutes. Instead of going on and off every thirty minutes or so, I went on right after I logged off. I stayed on for about an hour straight, which is not usual behavior for myself. After an hour, I logged off, did some English reading (two hours) and then logged on for approximately forty more minutes.
Thursday: I walked into my friend’s room and she was watching Jersey Shore so I sat with her for approximately ten minutes. After getting bored of the show and needing the time to study, I went back to my room. I logged onto facebook for approximately thirty minutes. I signed off, opened my English reading and continuously logged on and off facebook for three hours as I studied. It is difficult for me to focus on studying on Thursday because I know the next day is Friday and I cannot wait for the weekend. Facebook is an easy distraction for me.
Friday: I spent approximately thirty minutes on and off facebook on Friday. I was on every time I was in my room and I logged off every time a friend came into chat or I went somewhere with a friend. Friday is a day I expect to spend a lot of time on facebook because my last class ends at 11:35pm. Most of my friends are in class till later and I am too tired to study or do an activity so I chat with people on facebook. However, I notice that I actually spend the least amount of time on facebook on Friday because I do not need it as a distraction from my studies.
Saturday: I woke up and went on facebook right away. This is because I feel I have ample time to go on facebook since it’s the weekend. I surprisingly only stayed on for twenty minutes and only went on twice (about thirty minutes each) after that. I spent approximately an hour and twenty minutes on facebook the entire day today. I signed on in the morning (as mentioned above), played tennis for approximately two hours, came back to my room, signed on for approximately twenty more minutes, signed off and started studying and hanging out with friends. I went on one more time while studying. After studying, I hung out with friends for the rest of the night so I did not go on again that day. I did not have any online reading to do today.
Sunday: I woke up and went on facebook right away again. Sunday is by far the day I go on facebook the most because I usually do most of my homework on Sunday. I spent approximately three hours on facebook on Sunday while studying for classes. I spent approximately two hours reading (online) and writing for my sociology class.
I do not have a television in my dorm room so I basically never watch television during the school year. Over the summer when my schedule was more relaxed and less hectic, I found myself watching mainstream television shows (The Office, Jersey Shore, etc.) on my computer more so than on the television. I probably watched approximately two hours of television a day. I watched it for two hours straight as I did not take breaks in between shows. I find it interesting that I watched my shows online rather than on a television because I never thought that the television would become outdated. The internet/computer is becoming so powerful and convenient because it puts everything into one small screen. It is even threatening the utilization of the television. I believe that online shows are becoming more popular than the television because of the convenience. Viewers can choose what they want to watch at any time, they do not have to wait for their scheduled program to come on at a specific time. The viewer no longer has to work around his schedule to watch his favorite show, his show works around his schedule. Another interesting aspect of internet television is that many websites have television shows and chat rooms. Thus, thousands of people can all be watching a show in the same chat room and they can discuss the show together. People can discuss their shows (similar interests) without the fear of being judged by their opinions or appearance, as discussed earlier in class.
The main and basically only media consumption I use all year is facebook. After keeping track for a week, I found that I spend approximately two hours a day on facebook. This is interesting because I never realized how much time I waste on facebook. The reason I say “waste” is discussed later. My two hours of facebook is different than my two hours of television as I take breaks in between logging into facebook. I do not sit by my computer for two hours on facebook, rather, while I am studying, I go on it for about twenty minutes and then sign off. I repeatedly do this for two hours. I believe that my peers and others in my age group go on facebook for approximately the same amount of time a day, give or take a few minutes. It is difficult to avoid using facebook because it has become a main source for communication, knowing what is happening, knowing what events are going on and advertising. Thus, I believe Americans are becoming more and more dependent on the media. As long as businesses and companies are successfully advertising online, they will continue to post events and deals (like coupons) online. Thus, consumers will continue to look online for these events and deals. It is an endless cycle. It is up to both the consumer and the seller to stop this addiction to the media. The seller should stop posting events and deals online while the consumer should stop using these events and deals.
I have a hectic schedule during the school year and I am always pressed for time. Thus, I would like to change my media diet and only go on facebook for maybe thirty minutes a day, at the very most. I feel that two hours I spend on facebook is a waste. This is because I would rather be outside doing activities, that looking at other people’s photos of them doing activities. I do not mind going on facebook for thirty minutes because I believe facebook is a useful source as long as I can limit my time on this social network. It is useful because I can connect with friends and see what events are approaching. It is not useful if I use it too much because I end up wasting valuable time as discussed above and it takes that much longer for me to get my work done.
Friday, October 8, 2010
The Benefits and Consequences of Technology
The inevitable growth of technology, specifically the internet, has truly changed how humans interact and communicate with each other. I believe the internet is useful for humans but an individual can only utilize it for so much. It is a good starting point but it does have some limitations and humans need to be more aware of these limitations so that they do not forget what a real connection is and lose the ability to make real connections.
First, I have noticed that the internet has a negative impact on my every day face-to-face interaction with others. Although I still have meaningful face-to-face interactions with most of my friends, I realize that with one person, I am able to connect with him better through facebook chat. I have noticed this trend in other people, specifically with one of my closest friends. My friend is able to produce clever, witty responses when she uses technology like texting or facebook chat. However, when she converses with the same people face to face, she is a completely different person. In the face-to-face interaction she does not have the luxury of having time to think of a witty comeback and make herself into someone she is not. It seems to me that she is living in two completely separate worlds. Furthermore, she adds people on facebook after meeting them once in an attempt to have more “friends.” While some reach out to others and try to make friends in person, she reaches out to them online and forms virtual friendships. I do not think she understands what a true friend is verses an online one.
In regards to online dating, I think that it is acceptable for adults to meet potential partners online as long as they do so with caution by following two main rules. The first rule being that they understand that this is not the only way they should meet people. They should not limit themselves to using the internet as their only means of making connections. Second, after they meet someone online, they should frequently meet each other in safe environments more so than chatting online. Again, the internet is a good means for a starting point, but it should not become the main form of communication for a potential or ongoing relationship because online creates an entirely different persona of an individual.
In regards to business, I believe the internet is a great way to advertise. Thus, I think websites like craigslist are beneficial for both the seller and buyer. This is because the buyer can advertise with the click of a button, and the seller can find reasonable, convenient deals with the click of a button. The only downside to online businesses is that it is hard to tell how reliable a seller is, but as in all cases, the buyer should beware. Also, many websites, including Amazon, rank how reliable a seller is so to discourage any unreliable sources.
Lastly, I believe fan sites and message boards are useful in that they help form a sense of community. This is because those with a similar set of values can relate to each other. However, it is important to realize that this sense of community is based on belief system, such as views on political issues. Individuals do not make real connections this way because that can only be done with face-to-face interaction. Thus, fan sites and discussion boards are a good way to unite humans, however, there is only so much you can unite over online. With this said, however, I believe humans are turning to online discussions and neglecting public spheres and this is detrimental to society. Public spheres are important because they allow for individuals to have a richness or tone to their words. Without this, an entire message posted online can be completely misinterpreted by the reader.
Overall I believe the internet is useful in that it is a good starting place to meet people, sell products, discuss issues and keep in touch with long distance friends. However, internet usage can easily be abused, as many people believe this is the only way to do these activities mentioned above. It is important to interact with others in person, as this is the only way to make deep, meaningful connections with others.
First, I have noticed that the internet has a negative impact on my every day face-to-face interaction with others. Although I still have meaningful face-to-face interactions with most of my friends, I realize that with one person, I am able to connect with him better through facebook chat. I have noticed this trend in other people, specifically with one of my closest friends. My friend is able to produce clever, witty responses when she uses technology like texting or facebook chat. However, when she converses with the same people face to face, she is a completely different person. In the face-to-face interaction she does not have the luxury of having time to think of a witty comeback and make herself into someone she is not. It seems to me that she is living in two completely separate worlds. Furthermore, she adds people on facebook after meeting them once in an attempt to have more “friends.” While some reach out to others and try to make friends in person, she reaches out to them online and forms virtual friendships. I do not think she understands what a true friend is verses an online one.
In regards to online dating, I think that it is acceptable for adults to meet potential partners online as long as they do so with caution by following two main rules. The first rule being that they understand that this is not the only way they should meet people. They should not limit themselves to using the internet as their only means of making connections. Second, after they meet someone online, they should frequently meet each other in safe environments more so than chatting online. Again, the internet is a good means for a starting point, but it should not become the main form of communication for a potential or ongoing relationship because online creates an entirely different persona of an individual.
In regards to business, I believe the internet is a great way to advertise. Thus, I think websites like craigslist are beneficial for both the seller and buyer. This is because the buyer can advertise with the click of a button, and the seller can find reasonable, convenient deals with the click of a button. The only downside to online businesses is that it is hard to tell how reliable a seller is, but as in all cases, the buyer should beware. Also, many websites, including Amazon, rank how reliable a seller is so to discourage any unreliable sources.
Lastly, I believe fan sites and message boards are useful in that they help form a sense of community. This is because those with a similar set of values can relate to each other. However, it is important to realize that this sense of community is based on belief system, such as views on political issues. Individuals do not make real connections this way because that can only be done with face-to-face interaction. Thus, fan sites and discussion boards are a good way to unite humans, however, there is only so much you can unite over online. With this said, however, I believe humans are turning to online discussions and neglecting public spheres and this is detrimental to society. Public spheres are important because they allow for individuals to have a richness or tone to their words. Without this, an entire message posted online can be completely misinterpreted by the reader.
Overall I believe the internet is useful in that it is a good starting place to meet people, sell products, discuss issues and keep in touch with long distance friends. However, internet usage can easily be abused, as many people believe this is the only way to do these activities mentioned above. It is important to interact with others in person, as this is the only way to make deep, meaningful connections with others.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Technology and Inequality
Technology is influencing the media and news in ways that I never imagined. In the article Social Implications of the Internet, Paul DiMaggio, Eszter Hargittai, W. Russell Neuman, and John P. Robinson state, “web proponents…insist that the internet will enhance the…diversity of the public sphere by lowering the access barrier to meaningful public speech” (184). I understand that unlike other non-technologic resources such as books, the internet is free so that populations who did not have the resources to politically engage in society in the past can now use the internet to gain information and participate. However, for the most part, I do not agree with this quote because I also believe the technology misleads the public, specifically with politics, even if it is not intentionally trying to do so. In an example discussed below, the news is favoring one population over another all because of technology it used to involve its viewers. I observed this during the Obama McCain election. A news station asked viewers to text in which candidate they would like to win the election in a poll. I realize that in general, though not always, Obama appealed more to the younger generation who is more familiar with texting so Obama received more votes in this poll merely because of the way the poll was conducted. Also, socio economic status played a role in this poll because only those who could afford cell phones could participate. In addition, only those who could afford a television to watch the news in the first place could participate. There was an entire population left out. Because of technology and because of these factors, this poll was not an accurate way of predicting who would win the election so the public was mislead. This illustrates how influential technology is nowadays, even in places where it is least expected. In my opinion, it is unnerving to think that the news, a neutral source, is no longer as accurate as before because it is greatly influenced by technology. It also scares me that the news station was probably not intentionally conducting the poll in this manner; it was conducted in this manner because of the inevitable growth of technology.
This relates to the “Digital Divide,” the concept that the internet favors one population and therefore limits another population. I will use socioeconomic background as an example, thus I will discuss the influence of technology on the wealthy population and the less fortunate population. The wealthy are favored because they have the resources and knowledge of how to use the internet and other technologies whereas the less fortunate do not have these privileges. Although the less fortunate may be able to work hard to utilize the internet, it is still much more difficult for them to reach that level with a lack of resources. As a result, the wealthy can use the internet to further their business or company and make more profits while the poor become poorer because they cannot keep up with the growing technology. A large gap between classes is detrimental for society because there is no middle class. The digital divide is a global issue as well as the U.S. created the internet and therefore English is the leading language online.
Through the election example and the digital divide, one can see that specific populations are unintentionally excluded from this technologic era whether it is for voicing their opinion in a poll or using the internet or technology in general.
This relates to the “Digital Divide,” the concept that the internet favors one population and therefore limits another population. I will use socioeconomic background as an example, thus I will discuss the influence of technology on the wealthy population and the less fortunate population. The wealthy are favored because they have the resources and knowledge of how to use the internet and other technologies whereas the less fortunate do not have these privileges. Although the less fortunate may be able to work hard to utilize the internet, it is still much more difficult for them to reach that level with a lack of resources. As a result, the wealthy can use the internet to further their business or company and make more profits while the poor become poorer because they cannot keep up with the growing technology. A large gap between classes is detrimental for society because there is no middle class. The digital divide is a global issue as well as the U.S. created the internet and therefore English is the leading language online.
Through the election example and the digital divide, one can see that specific populations are unintentionally excluded from this technologic era whether it is for voicing their opinion in a poll or using the internet or technology in general.
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