Michael Wesch’s lecture, The Machine is (Changing) Us: Youtube and the Politics of Authenticity, presents a unique insight into today’s social networking and the social networking movement that is Youtube. Wesch’s depiction of the motives behind the engagement in present crazes like American Idol and Youtube, suggest that Americans and, in particular, young Americans today own a narcissistic attitude and a belief in warranting the right to be seen and heard. These social networks provide just the avenues sought after.
For decades, the media, specifically television, has dictated our conversations, opinions, and even our culture through one-sided communication. Today, like never before, people mediate the media. Social networking can be used as an opportunity in finding ones identity. The film discussed that in certain circumstances, people felt more comfortable revealing aspects about themselves to the world through Youtube than with their close friends and families. Social networking also allows a comfortable way to connect to others, inevitably improving the situations of those feeling insignificant and making bigger differences for causes that might otherwise be ignored.
My opinion of social networking after watching the video has not changed and I believe educators have no other option than to implement some form of social networking into their classrooms. Most students directly or indirectly are involved in some sort of social network and it is our job as educators to teach them to use it responsibly and morally. I think simple classroom wikis or nings and global service learning projects are some great ways to employ social networking into the classroom. Other networks like Youtube can be a great resource for teachers and students alike, when used logically. My only concern with social networking is that genuine face-to-face conversations will be compromised and maybe even lost to the generations coming after us. Does anyone else share this concern or am I being a spoilsport? haha
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Carrie, I agree that face-to-face interaction can often take a hit if you can just communicate through a social networking site. However, I don't know if this is merely a direct result of social networks but instead a reflection of American culture. We take pride in our individualism ever since we began to move out of the cities and suburbanization took place. If anything, I believe that social networking has opened up communication that we've lost following WWII. Just my opinion though!
ReplyDeleteI think face to face conversations will increase in a way. How awesome is it that you can have a face to face video conversation with someone living in another city or another part of the world. I think it would be awesome for classrooms to have a skype conversation with a class in another part of the country/world. How great would it be to ask students in a another country something that is relevant to your classroom content? The possibilities are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your opinion on how social networking may be having a negative impact on social interactions. You may be able to have video conversations and other technologies like that, but it's not the same as grabbing a pizza and hanging out with your friend, face to face. I love how technology allows us to reach other people from several different areas that are not in close proximity, but I would not want this to replace face to face communications. I feel like if people do this, it makes the world a little less human. Okay slightly dramatic, but in a way it's true. There needs to be a healthy balance.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that face to face interaction will suffer through social networking. The conversations that a person has face to face are different that the conversations had online, as Wesch said in the video. I also think certain social networking tools can augment face to face interaction. Technologies like Skype allow a person to have a face to face conversation, through technology, with someone half way around the world. While face to face conversation might change, I don't think it will diminsh
ReplyDeleteI think face to face communication is getting lost a bit also. In some cases I think online networking is great because it increases the number of people you can communicate with dramatically. I also think it eliminates some nerves for students since they can hide behind their computer, but that's also a bad thing. Students also need to learn how to talk to actual people if we want them to be "good citizens." I worry that we're raising a generation of socially awkward children!
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