Reflection blog 5/9/13
This week in the Psychology of Social Media class we had a lot
of required readings on topics on social media and the information age. The
required readings that we read included,
finding many articles about topics of technology information age, and
statistics on social media usage in the united states and the world. One
article I read found on the media shift website, included a website http://www.mideastmedia.org/media-and-leisure/introduction.html where it mentions a
six-nation survey done at Northwestern University in Qatar, that showed
statistics on entertainment media usage in the middle east. It was really
interesting to me that even all around the world Facebook seems to come out on
top as the site where people go to for entertainment or to even connect. It
made me question, I am interested to find more information about why exactly
besides being social creatures, why is Facebook so popular around the world,
and MySpace not as popular etc? I want to ask this question in class next week,
or maybe do some research into what is it about Facebook that grabs humans
attention so much and keeps them addicted, and second why Facebook is the most
popular social media medium on the internet? This website didn't answer why Facebook
is so popular around the world it just included the numbers of billions of
people, and the numbers of hundreds of hours a month that people spend on Facebook.
I feel like it just gives us a sense of creativity, sharing, and gives us the
opportunity to present ourselves in a way we want to be presented. The scary
thing is that they say that Facebook is truly making people narcissistic though
mostly only thinking about themselves, their self importance etc. Some articles
I read about twitter, stated that twitter and instagram might replace the
popularity of Facebook in the future, but I personally think Facebook will be
around for a very huge amounts of time, but I guess the future and past history
will only be able to see the outcomes of Facebook if Facebook will continue to
be one of the number one social media websites that people love and use even
compared to Twitter, Instagram, and of course an earlier chatting site MySpace.
To prepare for class, and in our class discussions we also
got to talk about amazing ted talks discussing social media, and also even amazing
lds talks that give direction about the incredible changes in use of technology
and even advice as I think the world will keep on getting obsessed and use
technology more and more for all different reasons as time comes. Why?
Technology, computers, internet and fast information, makes life and answers
come more quickly and at times, answer our questions even better. I absolutely
loved the talk that Dr. Kinghorn required us to read, by Dallin H. Oaks given
in 2001 conference called "Of Focus and Priorities." I don't remember
ever hearing this talk in conference I think because it was given so long ago,
but this talk I was honestly so thankful to read because it had so much truth
and literally so much application to my life and everyone's life in this fast
speed information age, and the need to keep up with the seemingly increasingly increasing
speed of society and information, but still keep up with being in tune with the
spirit.
This article on "focus and priorities" reffering to the blessings and changes in internet and technology, in this fast paced
world literally I think made an eternal impact on me, if I apply what I read.
In this article, it talked about listening to the spirit, accountability, and
the internet and information inventions were inspired by God and we need to use
them with moderation to do good. Although it's always good to use our agency
with technology and information to do good, and be anxiously engaged in a good
cause, and as elders oaks talks about technology; "Every discovery in
science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind, has been given by
direct revelation from God."(Oaks1.) Elder Oaks also stated "We should take advantage of all these great
discoveries …and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful
knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the
great work” (Oaks1) Although it's always good to keep up with the world with
improving our individual talents and individual abilities even with technology,
Elder Oaks stated about technology usage, "The principle of accountability
also applies to the spiritual resources conferred in the teachings we have been
given and to the precious hours and days allotted to each of us during our time
in mortality. Each of us should be careful that the current flood of
information does not occupy our time so completely that we cannot focus on and
hear and heed the still, small voice that is available to guide each of us with
our own challenges today."(Oaks1)
In addition to the wonderful insights from honestly
incredible ted talks about why social media and online videos and entertainment
are so popular, and wonderful talks to give literally eternal knowledge about
technology to lead us to eternal progression, in addition to these amazing opinions,
facts, resources and required readings we also learned interesting facts within
out discussion groups. We talked about a teacher who tried to spread the word about
teaching her class how fast information can be spread on the internet about
internet safety, and Dr. Kinghorn stated that the reason why this picture was
spread over millions of times, was first, it was one of the first teachers to
do such a thing on Facebook, and second, the cause wasn't for what some might
call selfish narcissistic needs like, "if I get 1,000 likes my girlfriend
will get me a puppy" but was for a cause that reached the hearts and
interests of many. The cause seemed to be hidden messages of bringing in values
of educating children, keeping children safe on the internet, and also made
people feel included in this cause. Another way that some messages, news or
pictures are spread are there is a sense of unexpectedness, or relating to
emotions and topics that people can truly relate to.
Overall, this week on learning about all of the literal changes,
benefits, advantages that come with the increasing numbers and speed of
information available, I learned so much information it's hard to fit into this
whole blog, but my reflections I described on the insights an facts I thought
were insightful and interesting, and in addition
the questions I listed above, that the discussions made me wonder, and even
find out what my classmates thought, and even just being able to learn about
different topics from other students I learned so information that I would bore
people if I listed all my reflections and insights I got from taking notes and
class discussions , and sadly would make the outcome be that my blog could
probably get like 5 pages and would feel horrible if I anyone had to read that
long so to summarize all my reflections on the discussions required readings
and information from the book and in class, that I basically, this week I learned a lot,
and my favorite thing was the talk given by elder, oaks I'm literally saving this
talk because times are increasing in speed and knowledge and it is easy to get
overwhelmed, but when we make good use of our time, we can accomplish all we
were sent here on earth to do, with the resources and the grateful billions and
billions of information available around us and even with our fingertips can
either find information for to lead us to learn how to better serve others, and
lead us to our eternal progression for the better good, or if people pay
attention to just video games or social websites in a unhealthy 10 hour a day
thing, then people would join in distractions without eternal progression and
meaning to them. Instead of being against social media, I've tried to accept it
more, and since then I actually have found incredible quotes and knowledge. For
example even though I thought I would hate twitter, although I don't like
posting things, I have found incredible photos and even unique history facts about
the united states and even inspiring, motivating quotes by C.S Lewis, or being
inspired by the new engineered technologies Google company on twitter that
posts there working on, that help me to see, that if technology is used wisely
and moderately in balance with all other aspects in life, then it forsure can
add beauty, knowledge and even further skills such as looking up a new recipe,
that can help in aiding and serving our future families and others in this
life!
Here's links to just some of the cool articles, talks and topics required
to read for class.
http://www.mideastmedia.org/media-and-leisure/introduction.html
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/focus-and-priorities
http://www.ted.com/talks/chris_anderson_how_web_video_powers_global_innovation.html
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