I was hoping Freidman had included a chapter on the social downsides of all this wonderful technology we have available to us. I think I first realized that technology was changing the way we socialize when my family began texting and IMing while we were all in the same house. I thought to myself, this is ridiculous! As Freidman puts it, “every new technology or toy that connects us more easily divides us more easily.”
The age of interruption has arrived and we are now all slaves to our Blackberry’s, Laptops, and PalmPilots. I often seek that place where I can get away, sit down, and really focus on my schoolwork. (I have checked my e-mail twice, checked a couple of random websites, and responded to several text messages just while writing this post.) Our time is no longer our own and common social graces are beginning to slip away. Many of us while connected to the web have become completely disconnected to the world around us.
Freidman also points out how IM speak is creeping into everyday language. I did not realize this was issue. There has always been slang but I guess when that is the way you communicate 95% of the time it becomes a preferred language.
The final social downside Freidman discussed is when all of these tools can be turned against us. Just like every celebrity has a blogger out their bashing or praising them so can every normal person. People always laugh at me because I refuse to take pictures today because I prefer not to be on a Facebook or MySpace page. That is where the world is today. There is no longer such a thing as a private life. Everyone, everywhere is a voyeur. All you need now is a camera phone and blog and you have the power to ruin someone’s reputation. The worse part is nothing can be done about it; there are no penalties or punishments.
So how do we protect ourselves:
1. Develop a thick skin.
2. Try not to waste too much time reading this stuff.
3. Keep it all in perspective.
4. Let your kids know what word they are living in!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
That's funny about your family texting & IMing in the same house! I've seen that done in businesses too. It makes sense b/c it saves time (if you can type fast)! We don't have private lifes anymore. If I go out one night, one of my friend documents it with an album and comments on Facebook the following day. I always untag pictures of myself but that doesn't change the fact that they're sill on the Internet where anyone in the world can see them!
Post a Comment