The Great Seduction

1. Keen defines democratized media as seduction.  He states that Web 2.0 promised to bring more truth to people, but in reality what it was really brings is superficial observations of the world around us.  His main issues with democratized media are that this "user-generated" content means there is less culture, less reliable news, useless information, and the disappearance of truth.  Instead of reputable videos, YouTube contains thousands of homemade videos.  All over the internet, one will find amateur bloggers and moviemakers.  Because people can post things anonymously online, you never know if what you are reading contains factual information and whether or not it is reputable.  Keen fears that this democratized media will "threaten the very future of our cultural institutions."  I chose this video because it a) was self-made and demonstrates how people are publishing videos on Youtube and b) some of the content in the video itself talks about how people just make their own videos and get so much viewership. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_YvesLycys&feature=channel

2. Andrew Keen and Douglas Rushkoff have very different ideas about social media.  Andrew Keen is extremely opposed to social media; he believes that the internet has become the medium of choice for distorting the truth.  He states that there are countless social media sites for preteens, teens, post teens, and "fake" teens.  Social media, in his opinion, has taken over our lives.  He states, "everyone was simultaneously broadcasting themselves, but nobody was listening."  Everyone is expressing themselves on the internet, yet at the same time they are so wrapped up in expressing themselves that it takes over our lives.  Essentially Keen compares it to a cult taking over America.  Douglas Rushkoff, on the other hand, is an advocate for social media.  He believes that social media allows people to share information and cultures easily.  It provides one with the opportunity to take risks and find advances for future generations.  To him, social media "functions as am extension of the heart, mind, and soul."  I find myself in between both positions, as I can see where both men are coming from.  Keen believes that social media essentially distorts the truth and that it has taken over our lives.  I agree with this.  Many people cannot go one day without using some form of social media.  There are treatment centers for people who are addicted to technology.  People have become attached to their cell phones and computers.  There comes a time when you need to ask yourself, when is enough enough?  Because everyone has the opportunity to post things online anonymously, you never know if the information you are viewing is reputable, or if it is by some kid who thinks its funny.  However, at the same time I see Rushkoff's point of view.  Social media provides an outlet for people to share and learn about others.  It is a way to take risks and improve life for future generations.  Social media, like everything else, is ok in moderation. 

comments are not showing up on people's pages, so I'm posting them here instead

I tried to post comments on people's papers and they are not showing up, so I am posting them here instead. 

Response to Rifayet:
When I was researching my paper, I discovered that there are over 500 million Facebook users, and that in a given month people spend over 700 billion minutes on Facebook; this is a horrifying statistic. You mentioned that people are putting personal information, such as their address and phone number online. I feel that people's perceptions of what is personal have changed drastically. You mentioned how you had to deactivate your Facebook when you were studying for an exam, and I had a similar experience. I didn't deactivate my Facebook, but I had my friend change my password and deactivate my internet. Why do we have to go to these extremes for a website? Facebook is changing our culture; people forget how to communicate if they do not have a computer screen or cell phone in front of them.  It is almost pathetic how much people rely on technology and Facebook.  I don't even think people could go a day or two without checking or talking about Facebook.  It makes me wonder what people did before Facebook.  Communication was much more personal, and I almost long for that.  While I am a fan of Facebook, I miss talking to someone face to face to learn about them, instead of looking at them on Facebook and knowing everything about them and their family and friends when you meet them.  Everything is right at your fingertips, and I miss the sense of "adventure" getting to know someone.  I agree that we are partially to blame for our dependence on these innovations because no one forced us to use them, but I also feel that society is to blame. Society makes it very difficult to communicate without the use of websites such as Facebook. I feel that people do not realize the effects Facebook has on them while they are living it. It is when you step back and remove yourself from the situation that you realize the effect it truly has on you.

http://mwalsh2812.blogspot.com/


Response to Tom Landers: 
I agree that when you sign up for Facebook, we lose our personality and personal space.  It is almost as if Facebook just drains us of our individuality, and we conform to the expectations of society.  I agree with you that sometimes I feel as if I know people even if I don't really know them, just because of their Facebook page.  I think people are still debating as to whether or not Facebook is a good or bad thing, but I feel like if Facebook continues how it is going now, it will be a more obvious answer: Facebook is a bad thing.  People don't know who they are anymore and are so reliant on technology to get them through life.


Response to Megan Warne:
I am a Communications major, so I really enjoyed reading your interpretation of technology's affect on interpersonal relationships.  As you mentioned in your paper, the thought that in the future we will have the ability to have all of our interactions through technology is terrifying.  When you communicate behind a screen, you lose that personal touch.  You cannot see someone laugh, smile, or cry.  Communication becomes informal.  As bad as sites such as Facebook may seem,  they do have some benefits.  Without Facebook, I probably wouldn't keep in touch with some of my friends from high school.  Facebook is convenient, and if people do not lose sight of who they are, Facebook can be a way to express oneself. 


Response to Nicole Araque:
The title of your paper was very creative, and I was really intrigued to see where you would go with it!  Your paper was really interesting and I thought you had some really good points.  I agree that people replace face to face communication with texting and Facebooking.  Society relies far too much on technology, and it is almost sickening.  I remember last week, Facebook was down for a few hours.  I went on Twitter and everyone was tweeting about how they needed to be on Facebook, and how Facebook sucked.  Are we that reliant on Facebook that we cannot go a few hours without refreshing the page?  I admit that I found myself clicking refresh a few times to see if it would magically work again.  People were lost without Facebook; they had no idea what to do.  It was as if you just told them someone died.  Facebook is slowly overtaking society.  I don't think I have gone a day without hearing "did you see X's Facebook status (or picture, or wall post)".  We need to detach ourselves from Facebook and regain our individuality and communication skills.  

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