My Problem with Social Media
Looking back on my first blog post for this class (that I actually only emailed so it is not on this site), I found that I was rather euphemistic in talking about my use of technology. Yes, I admitted to my high usage of it, but I was not willing to admit that there were any negative consequences for checking Facebook 10 times a day, or constantly sitting on Gmail.
Things are a bit different now. Although I knew lots about social networking before I even took this class, I find that I am now more critical about my personal use. I am worried, for myself! Thankfully I get to graduate in a month, and I can take a break (as I discussed in class). I don’t believe that I am in deep trouble, but I now believe that with what I have learned about targeted marketing, search personalization, privacy and even psychological effects of spending so much time looking at a screen, I can’t rightfully use the Internet as I used to. I know that I am a communications major and that, because of this, I will be searching for the true reason why I am so connected to the web- what it says about ME and the society I live in today, but all I can come up with is that the more and more research is done about this online phenomena, the more we realize that it is up to individual choice. The Internet is about US, ME, YOU, but specific to ourselves. We are the society of narcissim. I don’t want to be vain, but the Internet makes it so darn easy sometimes. Make me stop! No, it’s not anybody’s job but my own. I really, really, want to be done for awhile.
What was so interesting is that all the articles we read, or most, were so relatable, like Colleen said. I did indeed, unintentionally, perform my friendships on Myspace for other girls. One of my best friends had to deal with “coming out” in the age we are in today, and Facebook served as an interesting platform to track that process.
In my first post I said that “my usage is always changing based on the times”, and this could be very telling right now. Why am I being so hard on myself about my usage? Probably because I am right in the middle, or at the beginning of the end of my finals. Procrastination central is what I am currently experiencing, and I think that when we are in need of a distraction, the internet can make us feel worse about ourselves. I still, like I said in my earlier post, need to find a balance. Balance is so extremely important in this world today and now that I know even more about social networking, I will try my hardest. If only I could use social networking to my own benefit, but at the moment, I have no idea what job lies ahead of me, so it is hard to seek out potentially interested people when I have no impetus…until next time.
Oh, and I still just can't seem to get twitter.
~Sophie G.