Media Awareness
There
are many things that one must consider when you are using any form of new media
for the very first time. However, I
believe that there are 10 considerations that are most important. They are as follows: 1) it’s a great research
tool, 2) misinformation, 3) issues with privacy, 4) the availability of
inappropriate material, 5) addiction with over using, 6) over-buying stuff
online, 7) isolation, 8) bullying, 9) increasing in interest in education and
10) faster communication. Some of these
are good things about the internet, and some are things to keep an eye out for. New users must be aware of these 10
guidelines in getting the best use out of new media.
I
would first like to talk about how new media; primarily the internet, can be
used as a great research tool. (http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/11_0241.htm) In recent years, people with chronic
diseases, like diabetes, have been using the internet to gain information on
how “… to live longer in their own homes, with more independence, and reduce
the costs for inpatient care.” While only
42% of older adults actively use the Internet, according to a 2009 US Census
report cited in this article, more elderly people could take advantage of the
internet to access this kind of information.
Although
the internet is a great source of research material, one must be careful about
the possibility of misinformation. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/farida-vis/the-rapid-spread-of-misinformation-online_b_4665678.html
) Take the Boston marathon bombing for instance. “After the Boston bombings,
social media users engaged in online detective work, examining images taken at
the scene and wrongfully claiming that a missing student was one of the
bombers.” Here, people using sites like
Twitter and Facebook caused the spread of misinformation. Snopes.com is a good site for debunking
rumors, urban legends, and other misinformation. (note to self: try to find
stats)
Privacy
is another big issue that might be of concern for a new user of new media. (http://mediasmarts.ca/privacy/privacy-issues
) “Many social network users, including youth, share more than personal
information online. Location is also commonly shared on these sites. Sometimes,
this is done simply by indicated location or itinerary in a status update or tweet.” As one can see; there are a lot of ways for
personal information to be exposed on the internet.
While
keeping personal information to yourself is vital; there are still a lot of
material on the internet that isn’t exactly appropriate. (http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=45&articleid=201§ionid=1311
) Some people say that “…more than 1,000 parents in households with at least
one working computer and at least one child between ages 8 to 17, some 70% of
parents said the Internet is a place for children to discover “fascinating,
useful things,” while more than 75% were concerned that their children might
give out personal information or view sexually explicit images on the
Internet.” (Wartella, and Jennings )
Another issue that I feel that I
need to bring up is over-usage. (http://marketing.wtwhmedia.com/new-harvard-study-shows-why-social-media-is-so-addictive-for-many
) While the internet is a powerful tool;
one must use it wisely, and conservatively.
“Through a series of experiments, the researchers at Harvard University
learned through the study that the act of disclosing information about oneself
activates the same part of the brain that is associated with the sensation of
pleasure, the same pleasure that we get from eating food, getting money or
having even having sex.” In other words;
we want so much of a good feeling that we can’t really think about anything
else.
This
addiction may also lead to over-shopping online. Sure it beats going to the store all the time
to purchase something. But doing too
much of it online would probably leave your credit card number vulernable to
identity theft. Not to mention that once
you give them your email address, you keep getting emails about offers from
them; even after you told them not to send you anything other than a receipt.
Another
major issue with using the internet, or the computer overall is that it could
lead people to become socially isolated. (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10391416-93.html
) However, there are some people who
would argue that this is a false statement. “Frequent Web users are more likely
to communicate with neighbors in person than those who don't use the Web as
often, Pew found. In fact, 61 percent of respondents said that they talk to a
neighbor at least once per month. The study also found that bloggers are 72
percent "more likely to belong to a local voluntary association" than
those who don't blog.”
That
social isolation could eventually lead someone to become a target for
cyber-bullying. (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/us/suicide-of-girl-after-bullying-raises-worries-on-web-sites.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
) It is this kind of thing that parents
really need to stand by their kids for.
Some “ … cyberbullying experts said
cellphone messaging applications are proliferating so quickly that it is
increasingly difficult for parents to keep pace with their children’s complex
digital lives.”
I believe that it is time to talk
about some of the more positive aspects of using new media. Specifically about how it helps with
education. (http://www.campustechnology.com/Articles/2012/01/19/Pros-and-Cons-of-Social-Media-in-the-Classroom.aspx?Page=1
) Teachers are capable of using new media to help students learn what they’re
supposed to be learning faster since all the bright colors of what appears on a
computer screen draws their attention to what’s posted on the screen. It is also a much easier way for students to
communicate with teachers since the students don’t have to feel nervous about
approaching them in the classroom.
Speaking
of communication, using new media is a great way to stay in touch with
people. If I may quote myself from an
earlier blog “Thanks to programs such as Skype, Twitter, and Facebook, people
can have real-time conversations with others on the other side of the
planet. This can be handy if you are
working with someone else to produce a YouTube video.”
Ultimately,
new media can be good or bad. It depends
on what people, including yourself, do on it.
Works
cited
1) Bernhardt, Jay. "Healthy Aging 2.0:
The Potential of New Media and Technology." Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, 19 Apr 2012. Web. 30 Mar 2014.
<http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/11_0241.htm>.
2) Vis, Farida. "The Rapid Spread of
Misinformation Online."Huffington Post. 27 Mar 2014: n. page. Web.
30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/farida-vis/the-rapid-spread-of-misinformation-online_b_4665678.html>.
3)
http://mediasmarts.ca/privacy/privacy-issues
4) Wartella,
Ellen, and Nancy Jennings. "New Media: Interactivity Accentuates Similar
Promises and Concerns ." Journal
Issue: Children and Computer Technology .
10. 2000.
<http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=45&articleid=201§ionid=1311>.
6)
Resinger, Don. "Study: Internet use won't cause social isolation." CNET. N.p., 05 Novem 2009. Web.
30 Mar 2014. <http://www.cnet.com/news/study-internet-use-wont-cause-social-isolation/>.
7) Alvarez,
Lizzette. "Girl’s Suicide Points to Rise in Apps Used by
Cyberbullies." New York
Times [New York] 13 SEP 2013,
n. pag. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/14/us/suicide-of-girl-after-bullying-raises-worries-on-web-sites.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&>.
8) Lederer,
Karen. "Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom." Campus Technology. 19 JAN 2012:
1. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.campustechnology.com/Articles/2012/01/19/Pros-and-Cons-of-Social-Media-in-the-Classroom.aspx?Page=1>.
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