I really enjoyed this
reading from Howard for this week. It is interesting to see how someone views
the future with respect to social media. I like how the chapter first presents
the affects social media has had on us in the past and today. I agree that
there is an unwritten rule on Twitter that people follow without even realizing
it. When we read things on Twitter, we analyze it, and then retweet it if we
think it is important or appealing. It also true that when someone does abuse
this unwritten rule, that they may be shut out from tweeting and may feel as if
they do not belong.
What I also found interesting
about this chapter and what I definitely agree with is that technology changes
continuously and quickly. Technology will always be evolving and changing and
people seem to evolve with the technology. However, what is interesting about
this is that even though technology changes rapidly, people seem to not change
as quickly. When technology changes people have to essentially move away from
the technology of the past to appreciate and understand the technology of the
future; which in some cases, may take a while.
Even though technology is
changing, it still needs to provide people, according Howard, with the necessary
tools to be successful. Technology needs to not only do that, but also needs to
make sure it improves our intelligence. Some people believe that technology is
essentially making us less intelligent because we are relying on it more and
more. This can be a problem with some internet sites, such as Google, because
it gives all the answers instead of helping people to get the answers on their
own. In the future, social media and all technologies should focus on improving
our intelligence instead hindering it.
This brings about
the concept Howard provided of control vs. creativity. I agree with Howard that
in the future, this could cause friction. It is becoming easier for people to
post what they want on the internet and find what they want, without making
much of an effort. Thus smart decision is becoming less important. In the
future, social media should be a place where people can make smart decisions
and think critically instead of letting social media control our decide our intelligence
and creativity.
I like your bit about the unwritten rules of twitter. Especially with the upcoming election season I find myself unfollowing twitter users who post false or misinformed tweets. Your part about people not changing as quickly as technology was unique and enlightening. Along with your point that argues how technology is making us less intelligent, it is also important to think about the effects social media has on our friendships. Some would say that it hinders our real-life friendships and others would say that it enhances it.
ReplyDeleteYour statement about technologies giving us the tools to be successful but also improving our intelligence is an interesting one. I'm reminded of the days before cell phones, when I had to memorize the phone numbers of all of my friends. Now, my phone remembers them for me. If I lost my phone, I wouldn't be able to call anyone because I don't know their number. It's pretty similar to remember your username and password so you don't have to spend time logging in. But after a while, you don't remember what your user name or password is because you never actually use them.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a technology that also helps to make us smart. I liked your Google example. Yes, it gives us all the answers. But are they good answers? I'll be teaching my ENG 103 students about how to recognized non-credible sites next class period. Just because Google gives it to you, doesn't mean you want it. But it's still a situation where the technology doesn't teach us to be intelligent. We have to teach ourselves.
I also liked the idea of the unwritten rule on Twitter, and I feel like almost all of social media has unwritten rules. Once we become familiar with different social media sites, we figure out what the purpose of the site is and how to properly use it. So, in a way, there is a "norm" for social media, and we must act accordingly or we will not belong and may even have our account deactivated, just as in Twitter.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny to think about how technology changes so quickly, and we just move right along with it without changing very much. When new technology arises, we instantly want that next best thing, so we get it. Even though it may be totally different than the old version, we don't really upgrade ourselves as the technology upgrades.
I've also had the scary thought of technology making us stupid. I ALWAYS go straight to Google when I don't know something.
I like Heidi's point about cell phones. In some ways, the argument could be made that society has been dumbed down as it has become easier to function with one another as individuals. I also think it is fascinating how unwritten rules are communicated. Through trial and error, or through simple visual evidence, these things are passed along to new users in ways that are constantly adapting to the ways people utilize different avenues.
ReplyDeleteI can't even watch a football game anymore without technology creeping in. My dad, my grandpa, and I used to watch games all the time and talk about how players were playing or teams from the past. Part of the allure of those discussions was trying to recall stats, players, and coaches. Now, we just go to phones or laptops constantly. It is still fun to watch games, but having sure answers isn't nearly as fun as guessing and sharing those moments together.