Global Context
Across the vast oceans of the world, Social Media is the only thing that is helping us to connect with one another. Without it, we would have no way of contacting friends, relatives, lovers, etc. other than going to visit them. But we all know how expensive that could be. So we use faster, cheaper alternatives that, while we are still connecting with other people, we are also disconnected with them. “Statistics show that a shocking 57% of people using social networking sites talk to more people online than in real life.” This overall says that we would rather and do talk to people over the Internet, rather than seeing them face to face. And while talking to someone is still talking to someone, doing it so online drastically reduces a person’s social skills. “Children’s social skills may be declining as they have less time for face-to-face interaction due to their increased use of digital media, according to a UCLA psychology study.” What exactly are we teaching this current generation of kids? How to cheat? How to be obnoxious over the internet to their fellow peers and or random strangers? They will not learn much if they use the internet solely for answers. “Two-thirds of teachers believe that social media does more to distract students than to help academically”. Not only are we left with a “Dumber” generation, but one that is not informed properly. The media tends to only show us what they want us to see, opposed to what we NEED to see. They make the world seem like it’s simply sunshine and rainbows, when in actuality it’s filled with regret, hopelessness, and the lies and consequences that this generation has been left with.
Is Social Media Taking Over Our Lives? (2012, October 15). Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://www.westerneye.net/comment/2012/10/is-social-media-taking-over-our-lives/
In our digital world, are young people losing the ability to read emotions? (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/in-our-digital-world-are-young-people-losing-the-ability-to-read-emotions
Social Networking ProCon.org. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://socialnetworking.procon.org/
In our digital world, are young people losing the ability to read emotions? (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/in-our-digital-world-are-young-people-losing-the-ability-to-read-emotions
Social Networking ProCon.org. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://socialnetworking.procon.org/