In his thought-provoking article “Social Media: The Screen, the Brain, and human nature,” Justin Vinh explores the multifaceted impact of social media on individuals and society. This essay aims to provide a focused summary of Vinh’s ideas and respond to one specific notion presented by the author. By critically analyzing the author’s arguments, examining our responses, and evaluating the author’s credibility, we can gain valuable insights into the effects of social media on our lives.
Rhetorical Analysis – First Draft I am writing a rhetorical analysis paper over Hannah Brencher’s TedTalk video “Love Letters to Strangers”. My audience is the younger generations in our society that are consumed with the world of technology. Hannah Brencher, in her TedTalk video, “Love letters to strangers”, explains that despite the fact of living in a “world consumed by the age of technology” (McClure, par. 1) there are better ways to connect with society outside of using social media.
The world is evolving at an alarming rate and the internet is at the center of this advancement. Nicholas Carr wrote the literary piece “ The Shallows” in which Carr explains his views on how the internet is hurting human beings rather than helping them. A few points that Carr goes into detail about, are how the internet is causing the attention span of average people to slowly decay. Carr also explains that due to the internet, people are tending to skim through what they are reading rather than reading the full text they are searching for the key points in each price of writing. Additionally Carr points out that the internet is causing relationships between people are becoming weaker due to the lack of face to face interactions between each other.
Brooks’ position is seemingly critical of the modern day moral virtues; however, he does admit that there has been improvement in the treatment of women, or more accurately, the idea that “girls were expected to be quiet” (p 248), is one which is diminishing as “self-actualization and self-esteem” have functioned as a means for women to “articulate and cultivate self-assertion, strength, and identity” (ibid). In opposition to this, Brooks identifies three effects “on the moral ecology that have inflated the Big Me Adam I side of our natures and diminished the humbler Adam II” (p 25). These three effects are communication, in that it has become “faster and busier,” social media for it has become concentrated on “more self-referential information,” and lastly, social media’s encouragement of a “broadcasting personality” (ibid). Brooks continues to speak about social media by repeatedly labelling this age as a “more individualistic society,” one which has a steady decline in “intimacy, social trust, and empathy.” In the end, Brooks states that “it is okay to be flawed” (p 268), which can be confirmed by the previous chapters and the exceptional individuals who certainly had
“Rocket Night” by Alexander Weinstein gives a clear insight into the modern world and shows that social isolation can take shape in many forms. “Rocket Night” demonstrates that even with young audiences, a significant amount of social outcasting takes place in social media today. For example, “Rocket Night” illustrates a clear bias against those from different economic statuses. Furthermore, it displays clear discrimination against those of other ethnicities. And finally, it demonstrates that groups will try to become uniform in appearance and push away everyone that appears different than what is considered “normal”.
Technology is a topic that critics and journalists have a lot to say about. There are many point of views and details that are discussed like whether technology affects our writing because of texting or how technology has more capacity than our brains to store new things every day at a faster pace. Most critics and journalists think that if we adapt to technology it can be a helpful tool in a person’s life because of its advantages it has produced throughout the years. People think that adapting to technology gives us the advantage of maintaining close relationships with other people without factors like distance or the need of a person being there physically, stop us from communicating with others. Jenna Wortham thinks that because of the apps in our devices we can communicate in a more interesting, fun way where you can insert “cutesy features that let you add digital doodles to video messages, or send virtual kisses or cartoon characters” (394).
In today's society, technology has taken over. Texting is believed to have been destroying social skills and a majority of people are constantly on social media broadcasting their lives. Ray Bradbury presents technology as only being something that eliminates personality but many improvements have also been made in the world
He elaborates on the superficiality of online users personas, and how social media allows people to hide behind false and sometimes harmful personifications of themselves. Taplin continues by discrediting the integrity of popular online personalities and sites, and argues how their levity harms the quality of our culture. Taplin cites sources that debate the future of a world under 24 hour surveillance. He discusses how sites such as YouTube have made it possible for people to upload content and credit it as art. Taplin believes that the quality of work being circulated by mainstream individuals is resulting in producing mediocracy and passivity in peoples understanding of
In the article “Why Women Aren’t Welcome on the Internet,” Amanda Hess emphasizes that society is becoming increasingly indifferent towards hateful remarks made online as a result of the advancement of social media and technology. Social media and technology have become inescapable components of our everyday lives, and is altering social behaviors. Furthermore, these social behaviors are becoming more accepted as people become more insensitive towards them. This idea is especially provocative because it indicates that society is voluntarily eliminating necessary social boundaries. Hess also asserts that when women enter the online environment, they are treated like they do not have the fundamental right to privacy and safety.
This chapter of Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle essentially focused on the effect technology can have on the bond of a family. The writer depicts different families to prove how social media has creates a false sense of closeness in family relations, when in reality it drives us further apart. As explained in the section named “Left to their own devices”, a teenager named Alli finds herself in a situation most families are currently in. Alli is not able to rely on her family for emotional support and instead seeks comfort from thousands of strangers online. This is a common situation in which teenagers feel more comfortable going out of their way on social media to obtain advice from strangers, instead of having a conversation with
Social media has the potential to connect people from other sides of the globe, but has it disconnected people from those closest to them: themselves? To discredit social media for all that it has done would be wrong; however, social media has potential negative effects on a human’s behavior and psyche that are too blatant to be ignored. Social media helps showcase aspects of people’s lives. From the sharing of baby photos, to your recent meal, to a beautiful photo of your last vacation, the motives behind these experiences are becoming questioned. As an aphorism from Confucius’ Analects states, “The Master said, in old days mens studied for the sake of self improvement; nowadays men study to impress others” (Source B).
Story Structure: the Key to Effectiveness The documentary Free the Mind was directed by Phie Ambo and released on May 3, 2012. It is about a seven day experiment for veterans suffering from PTSD and children who suffer from ADHD. They use breathing exercises to try and help them deal with their symptoms. Throughout the week the participants see how well the exercises are working for them even within the short amount of time.
Shelley's view that technology becomes monstrous when it gets out of hand still applies to social media because of the mental and physical aspects that can impact
If people continue to turn on the television or check their phones and see the stories that bring disorder to our society, they will be unable to see the world as it actually is (SN, 2014). Without people opening their eyes, being innovative and fighting for change, there cannot be any progress in the world, which is a concern that many people have for the future. An example of our society “taking the blue pill” are the photographs and videos taken for social media. We see these pictures and have a perceived reality on what life the people must live. However, unless we witnessed what was going on first hand, we have no way of knowing if these pictures and videos are accurate representations of what is actually going on (SN, 2014).
Her comment reflects the social stigma of technological relationships. Because technological relationships involve interacting with others remotely, people think that the relationships do not have the same emotional capacity as relationships where partners have physical contact. They believe the emotions couples in a technological relationship are feeling are not genuine. As a result of this social stigma, this can negatively affect the ways that members in technological relationships view their relationships. After speaking with Catherine, Theodore’s view of his relationship with Samantha becomes distorted by her comments.
