Our world and our scope have been expanded with the internet and all it provides. We are able to get news as it's happening, Instagram our dinners and Skype loved ones across the world. Some of the crap posted is absurd, but we like absurd. Some of the content isn't true, doesn't matter and is hurtful to others, and I wonder if we can distinguish the good from the bad.
Personally, the internet has allowed me to have a super-long-distance relationship. In addition, I grew up in a different state from my father, so the internet allowed us to stay in better contact. It's positives are indescribable in my particular scenario.
But what about the negatives? What about our desire to constantly be on our phones or connected to some sort of social media? What about the insatiable appetite for news, gossip and 140-character wit? This NPR program, along with the fantastic class I just finished in December, has opened my eyes to see the impact of social media and Wikipedia and Google and political blogs and Gawker and and I could go on for days.
How do you think, as bloggers, the internet is shaping us? Sure, I adore the creative outlet, the community of friends and the opportunities it has presented. What about the culture of blogging, the popularity contest it can be and the superficiality it can (unfortunately) bring out in us all?
Just some food for thought on this Thursday evening. xoxo
I just deleted my Facebook this week for that exact reason! I do plan to bring it back to reconnect with long-distance family, but I felt the need to purge myself of alllll that.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with blogging, too, but I love it too much to give it up. It's nice to have a voice and connect with others all over the world, but at some point I think, is this even real? Sunshine is real, trees and oceans are real...where does the internet fit in?
Great post!
I always think about this. I love the interent (obviously), but I can't help but wonder if I would be a different person without it. I get a lot of my entertainment and information from the web, I'm no saint... But it just seems so inorganic! Thanks for posting something thought provoking! I love NPR.
ReplyDeleteI think about this a lot. I hate where all of this (the social media) is taking us, disposing us of our privacy and making us addicted to it. I am a huge opponent to Facebook, but at the same time I can't delete my account because I fear I will lose precious friends from different sides of the world. And although I absolutely adore blogging, reading blogs can have so many negaive effects on a person. When you read a blog and look at all the wonderful photos, you think that's the reality, but we don't actually know what's happening behind these photos. And then you compare yourself to others, wish for the things they have etc., without realizing that it's not all rainbows and flowers. Oh man, I could go on about this issue for houuuuurs. :D Really good post, I'm glad you opened this discussion! There is a huge lack of quality content and debates on the blogs (I never take the time to write something like this because I always think that the readers won't be that interested in it).
ReplyDeleteOk. So I totally just wrote a long post about the "superficial-ness" of blogging and I totally agree with you here. TOTALLY agree. It's pretty insane how people will go out to dinner and all of them will be on their phones instagraming what they are eating. I mean, really?!? Enjoy your company. If you ask me, I am ready to go back to 1950 and live their way :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to talk to you about this more! This is something I think about a lot, and I love all the complexities behind it. You took a class on this?? I want to pick your brain. :) I read "Hamlet's Blackberry" recently, and it really helped ease my mind. I think in the end, it is important to remember that THINGS are not the problem. The internet is not bad, blogging is not bad, phones are not bad...people misuse them and use them to spread lies, negativity, and just general absurdities. Just like anything else, people can be good stewards of these tools, and that is what we need!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I think that we need to make sure that we have a limit for how much time we spend on the internet, especially if it is distracting us from other obligations such as school, work, or spending time with loved ones. I do think that we are blessed where we can live in a time where it is much more easier to have long distance relationships, whether they are romantic or just friends.
ReplyDeleteI also think that we as bloggers need to make sure that we are never posting to brag or bring "fame" to ourselves, but rather to encourage those that may read our posts :)