Friday, July 8, 2011

Social Media: Picture Discussion



The picture shows a scene of four elderly people using a computer,perhaps for the first time. The elderly woman to the left seems to be giving instructions, as she is pointing to the screen and looking at the others as if to see whether they are doing the right things. All the people in the picture are leaning forward towards the laptop, showing their interest in what is going on in front of them. One of them even has her hands on the keyboard, typing in something gingerly. Perhaps she is not accustomed to using a laptop and so is carefully learning. The woman next to her is looking on in curiosity, learning by example. The man in the center is very excited about the goings-on. He has a wide smile on his face. This could be because he is enjoying learning more about how to use a computer, or even the Internet. The older generation is often left behind these days because of the speed of advancements, and sometimes they appreciate it when someone takes the time to explain to them the use of new technology, especially in social media because this allows them to keep in contact with their friends and family, which is particularly valuable to retirees.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Social Media: The need for affirmation

The dangers of Facebook's 'like' button
The internet was supposed to set us free, says Neil Strauss at The Wall Street Journal, but "like" culture has made it a prison of conformity
Just as stand-up comedians are trained to be funny by observing which of their lines and expressions are greeted with laughter, so too are our thoughts online molded to conform to popular opinion by these buttons. A status update that is met with no likes (or a clever tweet that isn't retweeted) becomes the equivalent of a joke met with silence. It must be rethought and rewritten. And so we don't show our true selves online, but a mask designed to conform to the opinions of those around us. ...

So let's rise up against the tyranny of the "like" button. Share what makes you different from everyone else, not what makes you exactly the same. Write about what's important to you, not what you think everyone else wants to hear. Form your own opinions of something you're reading, rather than looking at the feedback for cues about what to think.



Read the full article