Back in the dinasuar age, this was the main source of social media; a simple note that might be given to someone else as a messenger to pass along to that certain person that has smitten you. Hopefully the right box was checked, if not, then HOPEFULLY the not was simply shown to the whole world like a thief in the stockade, so the villagers can mock and ridicule the poor man.
"Like me" has a whole new term now in our 21st century social media where we constantly update our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Kick and so on in order to see how many of our followers "like" what we have to post or say. It validates our worth more than an actual live person in front of you smiling at you or saying they "love you." When did seeing a number next to a "like" button become so important to us than the people around us? The approval of strangers or people we don't actually talk to in our everyday life weighs more than the person in front of you, the person who you married, the daughter or son who hugs you or the mom/dad/ parental figure who works so that you have the digital idol that you freak out over if you leave it at home or it has a low battery signal. Now I am not anti-media or anti-tech, but I am not glued to my device when it comes to feeding the monster that is getting more ravenous as we speak. The fact that connecting to people, new and old, in a matter of seconds is amazing, to stay updated on news that we no longer have to wait until 5 or 6 has its advantages. It is a wonderful and scary age, this social media movement, and it's the scary part that is most disturbing for me and should be for our young generataion. "Selfie" in front of a bathroom mirror? Like! Picture of what you ate? Like! Captured video of hate or violence? Like! Calling people out? Like! What Disney princess are you? Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! Like! This narcisstic pattern will cause more harm than good in the grand scheme of things, where a recent post on Facebook shows a video of a person proudly out running the police on a scooter and making it home safely. This happened two years ago, so the statute of limitations was in affect, meaning the person could no longer be arrested for his crime. At first it was just posting silly cat videos and people who wanted to be the next Justin Bieber, now we see violence in Baltimore where it will enrage the nation and divide it even more between races. Everyone is a reporter now, who needs a news team when everyone has their own camera ready to capture the next "big thing" and upload it proudly in order to get those "likes". Honors Day is coming up for our school children, where there will be ribbons and certificates handed out, only to collect dust in their closets. While on stage, their loved ones will be taking photos and vids, uploading them on their accounts where others will feel obliged to hit that button because if you don't like a picture or video of a child, well then, you are a horrible person. Where this will go in the next two years will be very interesting with the constant updating and faster and new innovated way of developing tech, such as the Google glasses, the iPhone watch and whatever they are working on now for the year 2016 can make your head spin. Our technology has surely surpassed our humanity, and one can only hope that we can implement guidelines and model proper behavior for our next generation. Like? |
AuthorTeacher of ELA/HIstory of 12 years who still considers himself a life-long learner. ArchivesCategories |