I have to say I really enjoyed this unit a lot because it discussed the issues that face the majority of us today that are online in this technological society that we live in. These problems lie underneath the surface of everything that we are already used to. Social media has played a major role in the communication of peers amongst each other in a positive way. However, it seems that social media can be a doubled-edged sword. It can be used both positively and negatively which is clearly seen in the ongoing issues of cyberbullying and trolling. This violation of privacy by these Cybernet hackers is crazy to think about because these trolls can be amongst this very campus. It is said by Farhad Manjoo in "Web Trolls Winning as Incivility Increases," that the term troll is a vague one because they hide in the shadows, their purpose is unknown, and who they're associated with is a mystery. Even though these trolls seek to exploit, unveiling them and shedding light on the subject is only going to encourage it. This article that we just read in class posted by The New York Times was a very interesting one to read because I have never experienced that before, but it gave me perspective. I value my privacy and wouldn't want anyone meddling with my information, especially if I wouldn't think to do the same. Cyberbullying and public humiliation are root causes of the shame that individuals have experienced because, with everything put out for the public eye to see, those same people feel a sense of vulnerability that is indescribable. This concept of shame was exemplified in the TED talk presented to us by Monica Lewinsky, who is a walking testimony of how the amount of bad press she received back when she was accused of sexual misconduct with Bill Clinton, has affected her immensely. However, it was swept under the rug and Lewinsky took a bad hit. The amount of shame she felt was crippling, immobilizing her to live a life without being referred to as a "slut." She called the modern age of culture, "a culture of humiliation," which is an accurate statement and Lewinsky experienced that first hand. The quote that really stood out to me was when she was wrapping up her speech going on to say that, "we must learn to speak with intention, rather than attention. We all deserve compassion in this world." This unit gives us perspective, I found it very compelling.
I really enjoy this unit as well because it is so relevant to students our age. We all grew up in a world where technology is used for just about everything now, but as we know, there will always be a downside to things. This idea of social media being a "doubled-edge sword" is a pretty good way to describe it. It makes me wonder if the pros truly outweigh the cons and if it is even worth the trouble.
ReplyDeleteThis unit is very interesting because it is so relatable to our generation. I loved how you described social media as a double-edged sword because that is exactly what it is. There are times where positivity flourishes and social media does something worth while. However, there are also many occasions where it is a demeaning place that can trap someone in its web.
ReplyDeleteExcellently said Haley, it can be a "demeaning place," like a void of nothingness, knowing that all of our information is already out there for the public eye to see. I think positivity conquers all but in the case where everyone is online, it's difficult to remain optimistic in such a negative world. In the end, will the social generation that we are prosper and will we put each other up? Or will we just choose to pull people down?
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