week two initiative
This image essentially sums up my view on the mediated vs unmediated communication debate. People who believe we’re becoming anti social as a society as a result of the increasing role of social media in our lives are on par with cavemen finding fire scary. I truly believe online connection is just as authentic as face to face relationships, if anything it increases our access to friends worldwide. Since my best friend moved to England two months ago we’ve spoken more than ever through Facebook and FaceTime, sure I would prefer to hang out with her in person but this is still authentic communication and connection.
I think there’s definitely an age gap between the two sides of this argument. I could be perpetuating an unfair stereotype but from my experience I’ve never seen a millennial on the “unplugged” side of the debate. I’m very aware there are many baby boomers who have adapted to the new forms of communication we encounter in our daily lives, but there’s still the group wagging their finger at the beginning of a “back in my day” lecture.
It’s very cool that we’re alive at a time of such change in the way we interact and communicate with one another. We’re able to access so much information instantly and I think that can only benefit our generation as we become members of society with power and influence.
However, to contradict myself slightly I do think we lose some of the excitement of the unknown. We’re exposed to so much of the world through the internet, television and movies that when it comes to seeing things in person we may be underwhelmed. This reminds me of a quote from “Gone Girl” – “It seemed to me that there was nothing new to be discovered ever again…We were the first human beings who would never see anything for the first time.” This is potentially a downside to the amount of information we currently have access to, but it is certainly outweighed by the benefits.
I like your ideas here, great work! Keep doing what you’re doing, because it’s on point girl!