Introduction
Gone are the days when one would have to post a telegram to convey urgent messages to people they knew. Technology and Science have been miraculously meritorious in reducing not only distances but also efforts to an extent that one couldn’t even have imagined this to be possible back in Graham Bell’s days. In this context, it makes good sense to remember that telephones were replaced by Pagers which were further replaced by Mobile Phones. And now Smart Phones rule the roost of world. Similarly, with the emergence and mushrooming of various websites, social networking is on its all time high. There are endless effective ways to communicate and interact with others in any parts of the globe. And the best part is - one doesn’t even have to move from one’s place to do so. Believe it or not, with Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Blogs, LinkedIn, and such other networking sites, the world has reduced to an unbelievably small space, and staying connected with your loved ones has become so easier and fun-filled. In the backdrop, here are some questions being answered. These are:
Questions on Social Networking
- At the end of paragraph 4. Rosen implies that online social networks involve showing the self rather than knowing the self. Why does she think this is true? Based on your own experience of online social networks, is she right?
I agree with what Rosen implies when she says that online social networks involve showing the self rather than knowing the self. She believes this true because of the various incidents that happen around us that we see and read all the time. No one is unaware of the misdeeds that happen and how people become victims to cyber-crimes through social networking websites if one is not cautious enough. These facts support and speak in depth of the subject in question. Social networking sites entice people of all age group but teenagers and adolescents have been found to be the most affected and addicted to social networking through these various sites. Online social networking is seen to be a convenient way to share things with people you don’t know about. You tend to easily talk about any and everything with the opposite person because they know nothing about you unlike your real friends and family. So, there is no fear of rejection or dejection. People go to all limits to portray themselves as a good profile person since you do not know them. This makes you readily believe what they say. Based on my personal experience, one is easily attracted by good looks than good talks. Therefore, often it is found that networkers depict themselves more presentable and outgoing than they ideally are. This brings them in good books of the person they are interacting with. Also, this is straight out indication that the person will believe whatever you say. This psychological dogma is the principle cause of people being cheated, fooled, and taken undue advantage of lack of awareness in online social-networking.
- What are the differences between digital native and digital immigrant? Which are you? What are the consequences of being one rather than the other?
A digital native is one born after the advent and introduction of digital media and technology. A digital immigrant is one born before the advent and introduction of digital media and technology. I am a digital native since I am born in the era dominated by Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and many more. There are positives and negatives to both sides of it. As we may find on basic research that the population today is divided efficiently in these two groups based on personal preferences. A digital immigrant is found to be a ready user of newspapers, books, radio, magazines. And this is not much fascinated by technology based online networking sites. One is less eager or only meagerly eager to understand the nuances of the new technology. On the other hand, life is seen running on a fast track with the use of these technologies. Further, digital natives are almost totally drowned in technology consumption. They are less attracted by the traditional means of gaining information or interacting with people. Personally, I believe, being a digital native is a smart option over being the digital immigrant because the world today is dominated by technology. The utilization of technology in every aspect of life is ever-growing like a rolling snow-ball. Business, academics, entertainment, and media have become way easier and accessible in every corner of the world due to the prevalence of technology.
- In paragraph 4, Shirky uses librarians and newspaper executives as examples of professions that exist because of scarcity. Explain what he means by this and why he thinks that situation is changing?
- Do you think that parents should restrict their children’s use of internet or supervise it? Has reading this article affected your decision? Explain.
In the modern technology-driven age, school-going kids and adolescents have been found to be highly addicted to the internet. Children today spend more time on the internet browsing, playing games, and networking than they would do anything else. Therefore, it is imperative that parents supervise and have an account of what their kids do on the internet. Many harmful activities are being initiated and executed through the internet. Innocent children are often used as channels to program such crimes. Many instances have been found when children are influenced to perform actions by strangers having their personal interest in picture. In worst cases, the kids are found missing or even killed. Hence, I, personally believe that it is unavoidable under any circumstance to overlook why your child is glued to the computer screens rather than playing outdoor with kids his own age.
Work Cited
- Stubbs, M., Barnet, S. & Cain, E. William. The Little Brown Reader. Longman. 2007. Print.
- Lusted, Amidon. Marcia: Social Networking: MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, United States Of America, 2011.Print.
- Ryan, K. Peter: Social Networking, New York, 2011. Print
- Goodman, Lechan. Cynthia; Leff, Barbara: The Everything Guide to Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Professional, reassuring advice for coping with the disorder - at work, at home, and in your family, 2011. Print
