I recently found an interesting article pertaining to the ban (only one week!) of social media sites at a university in Pennsylvania. More specifically, I was amazed to find that it was a school actually specializing in science and technology. After the 'experiment' students are asked at the end of this week to write a reflective summary about their life without social media.
We have never been without Facebook. I mean, it's hard to imagine that we never had this strong desire for constant communication. But we did. We lived without it. So much of what we do, think, say is based off of other people's perceptions of us via the internet. Who we're dating, where we are, and who we're with are major concerns of our peers.
Although tools like Facebook make connecting (or re-connecting) a ton easier, it takes away some of the personal aspects of interacting with someone. I am thrilled if someone even takes the time to call me anymore, let alone sit down and write me a letter. As a communication major, I find it shameful to observe how college students communicate with one another. If you want to always be by yourself when communicating...live in the desert!
I'm not saying that technology is all bad, but when it runs wild, we allow it to consume our lives. Believe it or not ( I have to keep telling myself this) people only care what's going on in your life for one reason--so THEY have something to talk about. We're only making it easier for people to know our every move.
Maybe we could take a few pointers from Harrisburg University. Lose they keyboard and gain real communication skills!
Be sure to check out the article on CNN. com http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/09/14/university.bans.social/
I'd heard of this one...and I worry about communication skills and social skills in general being lost altogether...maybe in a million years we'll evolve out of the ability to speak...
ReplyDeleteBut I will say this: St. Lucia was not even enough to keep me from Facebook altogether. For my honeymoon I was on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, having the time of my life, but also telling the world about it on Facebook...which means in 2 years of being on Facebook, I'm an absolute addict.