“One of the greatest concerns about digital media today is that it may be rendering our lives too transparent.” (Thomas & Seely Brown) Prior to this course, I thought I was pretty up to date with technology. I was competent with programs such as Comic Life and iMovie and was often the person others came to when they were having problems. I realize now that I was viewing technology through a specific lens. While I had a Facebook account (limited use), I wasn’t involved with any other social media sites.
Since the course began, I have spread my social media wings. I am following three blogs for my analysis task, as well as two others. I am now on Twitter, and made my first tweet today. But, as I have no followers (three random people were following me a week ago, but perhaps my lack of tweets turned them off so they dumped me), is it like the saying of the tree in the forest, if I tweet and no one is listening, does it matter?
I joined Pinterest, an online pinboard that “lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web.” I currently have three boards with nine pins total. Within 24 hours of ‘pinning’ my first item, it was ‘repinned’ to the boards of 17 people I don’t even know. A friend from high school, and one other person are now ‘following’ me and my boards. Who knew what I found interesting would be so interesting to others.
With Instagram, I can follow the photos of others, as well as share the photos I take with my iPhone and others can then follow me and my pictures.
With all of the options out there to follow what others are doing and saying, what does it say about who we choose to follow and who we don’t, who chooses to follow us and who doesn’t? As who you follow is often visible to everyone, could who you choose to follow help or even hurt your personal brand? (Think Snooki from Jersey Shore)
I do think it is getting harder to remain incognito on the internet, especially with social media, as everything is connected. Facebook now tells me if friends have played certain games and when I pin something on Pinterest, I am given the option to ‘tweet my pin’ and pins I make are now listed on my Facebook page.
I have friends who use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to promote themselves and their businesses. Perhaps being a teacher, and not needing to reach out and make these connections to grow my career or business as they do, is the reason why I’m not up to date on the potential of social media to contribute to my personal brand, but I am trying.
So, with my increased social media presence there are two things I now need; time to keep up with it all, and a way to remember all my different usernames and passwords!
“While it’s true that we don’t need a credit card or PayPal account to use Facebook or Twitter, there is still a cost to social media. We pay daily with our time.” (Stambaugh, 2012)
Pinterest- http://pinterest.com/about/
Stambaugh, J. (2012, March 1) Social media is free but comes with a price. [Web log post] Retrieved from http://michaelhyatt.com/social-media-is-free-but-comes-
with-a-price.html#respond
Thomas, D. & Brown, J.s. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Seattle, WA: Create Space.
Hey Nancy,
ReplyDeleteIt was with some amusement that I read your reference to a tree falling in the forest. That was the very same thought that came to my mind when analyzing blogs, readership and continued authorship. Main motivations to continue blogging are often predicated on the responses and dialogue that result. If no one responds, what does that mean for the blogger? It calls into question the content of their words and, really, the reasons for blogging in the first place.
I think this speaks to the larger issues of your post; why do people wish to be so 'connected' and what are the costs of doing so? I am reminded of Loris Malaguzzi's comment, "I am, who we are." Paradoxically, in an ever-increasingly human populated post-modern world, feelings of isolation and dis-connect seem prevalent. Does the Internet and the variety of social media tools provide a vicarious (or is it) sense of community that is safer, less confrontational (and I don't mean in a negative sense) and more personally filtered/appealing?
I suspect there are many arguments indicating that technology-enabled community is to be lauded for it allows greater access, a forum for the introverted, a chance for like-minded to connect and so on.
Be that as it may, I can't help feel a sense of loss (and even anxiety) when peoples' interest in the world becomes more virtual than physical. What kinds of mindsets does this create? As you quoted Stambaugh, time is the cost... and there is nothing quite so valuable as time.
Nancy and Jody,
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has Educational Technology as their focus (as I know Jody does as well), I am very cautious and aware about the amount of interaction via social media that I have. Whether it be Facebook, or twitter I am a bit leery about the quality of interaction. Perhaps it's a generational issue, but I choose to believe that face to face contact is the preferred method. I tend to use social media to stay in touch with friends from other parts of the country that I rarely see, and go out of my way to challenge friends in the city to meet in person or have a real genuine phone call to discuss our days.
I as well believe that social media leaves us far too transparent. I think a bit of mystery is good. In our research so far on online dating, I am a bit troubled by the research that demonstrates how quickly people divulge personal information to complete strangers. Mind you, it's easy to divulge interesting details when you can just end the contact by blocking the person you're talking with if you change your mind. Social media I believe is giving commitment in dating and developing meaningful relationships a bad name. Call me old fashioned, but putting more emphasis in the virtual world I find troubling.
Colin
I cam across a You Tube video that speaks to you post.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=0eUeL3n7fDs&feature=endscreen
Social Meida is definately a growing form of communication.