Technology Makes Us Afraid to be Alone

Figure 1. iPhones

In the previous posts, I have discussed the change that professionals must make due to digital technology, how important it is to train communication professionals so they could better perform daily job tasks with evolving technology and programs, and just how much journalism has evolved due to these new advancements in the digital era.  Additionally, I have discussed how digital technology has changed society's expectations and created this demand for instantaneous gratification, speed, and FOMO (fear of missing out) which results in constant connection to all things Internet and technology.  "Towards the end of the 19th century, artists sought to capture their subjects through portraits of individuals who were absorbed in the act of reading a book.  Today, it is the pictures of people standing in the middle of a crowd, captivated by what they are reading on their smartphone that best symbolizes the 21st century subject." (Furedi, 2014)

In my previous post, Absently Connected, I discuss some of the issues with being constantly connected to the Internet and our digital technologies.  One of the significant aspects is the fact that we are becoming more accustomed to this idea of being alone together.  We would much rather text, email, or Facebook message.  Real conversations are seemingly becoming a thing of the past.  "It takes place in real time and you can't control what you're going to say...Texting, email, posting, all of these things let us present the self as we want to be.  We get to edit, and that means we get to delete, and that means we get to retouch, the face, the voice...not too little, not too much, just right." (Turkle, 2012)  Let us take social media platforms as an example.  Many individuals rely heavily on social media as a communicative forum, but again we get to edit our profiles and images to our liking.  We are relying more heavily on technology to form relationships based on the selves we created and the selves we want to portray to others.  But how to we change this?

We should definitely become comfortable with the idea that being alone with our own thoughts and selves is a good thing.  Solitude is okay.  If you are at home, create spaces that are a strict "no tech

Figure 2. Texting During Dinner

zone."  For example, take "the kitchen, the dining room-and reclaim them for conversation.  Do the same thing at work.  At work, we're so busy communicating that we often don't have time to think, we don't have time to talk, about the things that really matter.  Change that." (Turkle, 2012)  We are using technology to redefine how we communicate and form bonds with each other.  We use technology to find a date, get a cab, find a restaurant, make friends, and even showcase our relationships via social media.  (It's not real until it's Facebook official is a pretty popular thought process!) Put down the technology and form real connections with other individuals by actually listening to what they have to say, even if it does not particularly interest you.  It is natural to fumble over words and make mistakes, as that is what makes us human.  We should absolutely "recognize our vulnerability." (Turkle, 2012)  Do not hold back from revealing this side to your family and friends and form ever lasting connections.  Life is short and we should spend our time living in the moment, not in the surface of our screens.

This video explains how technology and constant connectivity can have an affect on your personal life as the lines become blurred.









References:

Furedi, F. (2014, April). How The Internet and Social Media Are Changing Culture. Retrieved February 17, 2016, from http://www.aspeninstitute.cz/en/article/4-2014-how-the-internet-and-social-media-are-changing-culture/ 

Turkle, S. (2012, April). Transcript of "Connected, but alone?" Retrieved February 17, 2016, from https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together/transcript?language=en 

Images: 

Figure 1. iPhones. [Jpeg]. Retrieved on February 17, 2016, from http://indeliblebranding.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/iphones2-300x225.png

Figure 2. Texting During Dinner. [Jpeg]. Retrieved on February 17, 2016, from http://socialmediaweek.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/06/global10.jpg

Video: 

The University of Sydney. (2011, November 9). Constant connectivity. [Video File]. Retrieved February 17, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byjHH4ilvVw

Absently Connected

Technology has made the seemingly impossible, possible.  We are now able to connect and make friends on a global level.  As long as they have access to an Internet connection, we have the ability to connect with anyone, anywhere, at any time.  In some aspects, with the inclusion of social media, we are able to stay in touch with friends and family more frequently.  “Technology has made learning, making friends, having fun, and interacting so much easier than ever before.” (Zorzini, 2013)  On social media, all we have to do is like or share a post and we have interacted in a matter of seconds.  Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow its users to share personal information “and photos with others, regardless of the physical miles that otherwise may have prevented them from doing so.  This allows grandparents to see updates and pictures of grandchildren instantly, rather than waiting for the pictures to arrive in the mail.” (Orth, n.d.)  The increasing popularity of smartphones also allows consumers to take this ability of communicating technologically with them anywhere.  While being able to communicate on a higher frequency with loved ones and friends is a great pro of technology, it has also changed the way our society communicates with each other as a whole. 

Figure.1 Connection

We, as a society, have become constantly connected to technology.  When was the last time you left your phone at home or in your bag, forgotten?  I feel empty, naked in a sense, without my phone.  We are emailing, texting, and updating statuses constantly even if we are at work, shopping, or going to class.  We spend time together with friends, but in a sense distance ourselves and are not together because we are constantly connected to technology.  Sherry Turkle, who studies how technology shapes modern relationships, believes that this constant connection can cause “trouble in how we relate to ourselves and our capacity for self-reflection.” (2012) Why is this statement significant to social culture?  “We’re getting used to a new way of being alone together…People want to customize their lives.  They want to go in and out of all the places they are because the thing that matters to them is control over where they put their attention.” (Turkle, 2012)

Figure 2. Using Tech

We are letting technology shape who we are as individuals.  We use technology as a way to share how we feel, when we feel it.  “The problem with this new regime of ‘I share therefore I am’ is that, if we don’t have connection we don’t feel ourselves…So what do we do? We connect more and more. But in the process, we set ourselves up to be isolated.” (Turkle, 2012)  Watch this video that really makes you think of this concept and try an experiment.  The next time you are with your friends or at family dinner, try to stay off of your phone as long as possible even if you have to put it in another room or in your purse.  Spend some quality time and actually be present with the people that matter most and communicate person to person rather than being present only when you want to be.

References:

Orth, M. (n.d.). Technology & How We Communicate. Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/technology-communicate-27322.html

Turkle, S. (2012, April). Transcript of "Connected, but alone?" Retrieved January 27, 2016, from https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together/transcript?language=en

Zorzini, C. (2013, August 26). Technology's impact on society in today's generations • Inspired Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://inspiredm.com/technologys-impact-on-society-in-todays-generations/

Images:

Connection. [Jpeg]. Retrieved on January 27, 2016 from, http://universityofficetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/TechPicture.jpg

Using Tech. [Jpeg]. Retrieved on January 27, 2016 from http://31.media.tumblr.com/336b14fecd206278d660944c7c560a46/tumblr_inline_ndknrnvAhA1saij0z.jpg

Video:

Turk, G. (2014, April 24). Look Up. [Video File]. Retrieved on January 27, 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY

The Need for Speed

Figure 1. Loading

In my previous post, I discussed the need for instantaneous gratification due to technological advancements and social media.  This also means that technology has influenced social culture by creating the demand to have everything faster.  Consumers want communication professionals to work faster to produce news and information just as much as they want companies to ship products or meet demands quicker as well.  “The unmistakable message people receive both the workplace and marketplace is that faster is better.  Indeed, companies are counting on people’s impatience to sell their services.” (Alsop, 2014)  Companies, in order to keep with this need for speed, are charging more and more for quicker services.  For example, Amazon now has Amazon Prime.  For around $80 a year, you can have 2 day shipping and various other perks for the membership.  ISPs (Internet Service Providers) charge higher fees for quicker Internet speeds.  While it seems crazy to really think about, at the end of the day consumers are willing to pay if that means their video feeds will load in 1.4 seconds instead of 20 seconds.  “The need for round-the-clock connection not only makes people more impatient, it also robs them of time for quiet reflection or deeper, more critical thinking.  They tend to want constant stimulation…and get distracted more easily.” (Alsop, 2014) 

Figure 2. Multitasking

If we really take a look at how technology has influenced society, we will realize that we are in fact, multitasking more often and we have less down time.  Perhaps it is a case of FOMO (fear of missing out), that forces society to rely on technology at a higher rate.  Of course, multitasking was occurring long before the Internet, but the ability to have any information you want when and how you want it often puts multitasking in overdrive. We are on our phones during dinner, taking pictures of our food at restaurants, and on social media platforms while out with friends.  When was the last time you genuinely spent some time away from it all? Turning to technology to get that kind of stimulation or communicate, especially with Millennials, is going to continue to occur.  Communication is changing.   “…We can see so clearly that society is not going to stop moving away from this idea of using technology as our primary communication methods.” (Zorzini, 2013) My next post will further discuss the idea of technology influencing society to rely more heavily on communication through technology.

References:

Alsop, R. (17, July 20104). Instant Gratification & Its Dark Side || Summer 2014 || Bucknell Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://www.bucknell.edu/communications/bucknell-magazine/instant-gratification-and-its-dark-side.html

Zorzini, C. (2013, August 26). Technology's impact on society in today's generations • Inspired Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2016, from http://inspiredm.com/technologys-impact-on-society-in-todays-generations/ 

Images:

Loading. [Jpeg] Retrieved on January 27, 2016, from http://img01.ibnlive.in/ibnlive/uploads/2014/04/slow-internet-250415.jpg

Multitasking. [Jpeg]. Retrieved on January 27, 2016, from http://media.tumblr.com/7746662e4a0f1e2987eeb01c92dcd721/tumblr_inline_mpn3mtPFAN1qz4rgp.jpg

Video:

TIYO, (2011, October 6). Social Media- The Evolution of communication technology. [Video file]. Retrieved on January 27, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsFKImk3bKA

Technological Advancements Have Altered Society's Expectations

Figure 1. Instant Gratification

There is no denying that advancements in technology have had a profound effect on society's expectation of mass media.  We live in a digital world.  "Nearly two-thirds of American adults (65%) use social networking sites, up from 7% when Pew Research Center began systematically tracking social media usage in 2005." (Perrin, 2015)We now have the ability to have online classes, use certain technology such as computers or tablets to take notes, or integrate social media sites like Twitter in our presentations to prove our thesis.  Being constantly connected in all aspects of the classroom, work, and personal environments has left people with this need to be instantly gratified.  We no long wish to wait for information to be released in the newspapers or wait for it on broadcast.  Consumers what information as it is happening, where it is happening, immediately.  "The demand for instant results is seeping into every corner of our lives, and not just virtually.  Smartphone apps eliminate the wait for a cab, a date, or a table at a hot restaurant.  Movies and TV shows begin streaming in seconds." (Muther, 2013)  We even have DVR that allows us to fast forward through the time consuming and, at times, annoying commercials.  The ability to connect, share, and receive information when and how we would like it has made society extremely impatient. 

Figure 2. Instant?

Think about the last time you waited for a video to load.  How quickly did you refresh the page or try another method when it did not load instantaneously?  How patient were you really?  Due to this instant gratification of information that the Internet and sites such as Twitter are able to provide, we have come to expect things and news to travel at an almost fictional rate.  "Ramesh Sitaraman, a computer science professor at UMass Amherst, examined the viewing habits of 6.7 million Internet users in a study released last fall." (Muther, 2013) Do you want to know how long his subjects were willing to be patient?  It was a mere two seconds.  25% of the subjects abandoned the video after 5 seconds and after 10 seconds that number jumped to half.  "The need for instant gratification is likely to become even more pronounced in the generation born after 2000.  More than 70 percent of children age 8 and under had used a mobile device for some type of media activity (such as playing games, using apps, or watching videos) in 2013, up from 38 percent in 2011..."  As technology and the Internet continue to advance and allow consumers to get information at quicker speeds, they will be less willing to wait and our patience level will only get thinner.  I guess the old saying is true, patience really is a virtue.

I am also going to provide a link to a video here, which explains how people make choices a bit more in depth.  I know that the video is long and there will be temptation to skip through it to get to the end quicker to fulfill the need for that instantaneous gratification, but it is well worth the watch.  I hope you enjoy it and find it as fascinating as I did!

References:

 Alsop, R. (2014, July 17). Instant Gratification & Its Dark Side || Summer 2014 || Bucknell Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2016, from http://www.bucknell.edu/communications/bucknell-magazine/instant-gratification-and-its-dark-side.html 

Muther, C. (2013, February 2). The growing culture of impatience, where instant gratification makes us crave more instant gratification - The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 25, 2016, fromhttps://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2013/02/01/the-growing-culture-impatience-where-instant-gratification-makes-crave-more-instant-gratification/q8tWDNGeJB2mm45fQxtTQP/story.html 

Perrin, A. (2015, October 08). Social Media Usage: 2005-2015. Retrieved January 25, 2016, fromhttp://www.pewinternet.org/2015/10/08/social-networking-usage-2005-2015/ 

Image:

Instant Gratification. [Jpeg]. Retrieved on January 26, 2016, from https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/retail-customer_service-customers-instant_gratifications-retailers-queues-bven202_low.jpg

Meeresapra. Instant? [Jpeg]. Retrieved on January 26, 2016, from http://static.toondoo.com/public/m/e/e/meerasapra/toons/cool-cartoon-2063755.png

Video:

TEDx Talks. (2012, December 14). The Marshmallow Test and Why We Want Instant Gratification. Silvia Barcellos at TEDXMidAtlantic 2012. [Video File].  Retrieved on January 26, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voF8B-Jr0mA

The Evolving World of Journalism

Figure 1. Social Media Takes Over

From the previous posts, it is clear that communication professionals have a lot of learning and work on their hands.  If some journalists are old enough, they can probably remember typing their stories for the news columns on their typewriters, saving news clippings for future references, mailing information, and telephoning others.  Since that time period, the world of communication has been drastically altered.  Now individuals rely heavily on the Internet to receive, share, and upload information.  Newspapers and other historical information can be stored and accessed digitally any time and anywhere in the world.  Information reaches a mass audience in a matter of minutes.

With the digital, technological, and social media advancements, professionals are forced to keep pace.  We are seeing two very fundamental shifts in the way we consume information.  “One is the

Figure 2. TwitFace

rise in news audiences accessing journalism through their phones and mobile devices, the other related to this trend, is the increase in people who read or watch news through social platforms…” (Bell, 2015)  This could drastically alter the way they produce the news.  Individuals that are constantly connected want their news and updates instantaneously.  Communication professionals should never sacrifice accuracy for speed when producing the news.  The demand to get information out quickly is great, but plagiarizing or deliberately publishing false information is inexcusable.  The next series of blog posts, to be published at a later date, will discuss just how the technological advancements we are accustomed to today have changed society’s expectations of the media and just how this technology has influenced our culture.

Here is a short video to end the post explaining how social media has changed journalism:

Works Cited:

 Bell, E. (2015). The Rise of Mobile and Social News – and What it Means for Journalism. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/essays/2015/the-rise-of-mobile-and-social-news/ 

Images:
Figure 1. Social Media Takes Over [Jpeg] Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://roymorejon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/social-media-news-facebook-twitter.jpg
Figure 2. Twitface [Jpeg]. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/computers-journalism-media-reporters-twitter-technological_developments-rron1185_low.jpg

Video:
The Atlantic. (2014, August 8). How is Social Media Changing Journalism. [Video File] Retrieved January 11, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7esKJDZqzQ

The Importance of Training Communication Professionals

Figure 1. Journalism 

Modern technology has had an impact on professional communicators.  One factor is the struggle to keep up with the forever evolving software.  Another reason for the impact is due largely to the fact that these professionals do not have the knowledge nor were they properly trained to use new technology.  All individuals could struggle keeping up to date with the evolution of technology.  Technology updates occur at a high frequency.  Companies are always finding ways to meet the demands of producing better quality, better software, and the demand for more in general.  Seeing as we are immersed in the digital world more often, it is natural to demand better quality and for companies to try to meet and surpass those demands in order to keep persons content.  There is always a natural adjustment period that involves some struggling.  However, while many of us can find the time to learn these updates and familiarize ourselves, professional communicators often do not have that luxury.  “Constant deadlines often restrict documentation teams from acquiring the necessary information on the latest software tools that could make their jobs easier and more efficient.” (Catanio & Catanio, 2008)  Often, their work schedules could also contest with the communication professional’s time to learn the ins and outs of new software and other technologies as well. 

Training, or lack thereof, has a huge impact on those in the communication field.  Communicators are forced to learn new skills quickly, often without any guidance, and forget about the ones they were

Figure 2. Tech Predictions

previously once familiar with.  Communicators are then left wondering which advancements are the most important and should be utilized immediately “and yet, not be so complicated to learn and use that it impinges upon the writer’s ability to perform his or her job.” (Catanio & Catanio, 2008)  The only way to understand the impact is to go back and look at just how drastically the communications jobs have changed.  When technical communicators first started working, all they had to worry about were “mainframe and mini-computers serving large numbers of users and housed in large, specially cooled places…the job titles of technical communicators –writer, editor, or illustrator-reflected their role in the production of technical content.” (Carliner, 2010)  A significant shift started to occur in the 1980s when the personal computer was first introduced.  From here, communication professionals were forced to meet higher demands, learn more information, and multitask.  Flash forward to the 21^st century where individuals have the ability to publish their own news on social media or through blogs.  While this digital technology could be mystifying to journalists and professional communicators alike, “survival requires understanding all these new technologies so journalists and news organizations can make informed decisions about why and how to utilize them.” (Grabowicz, 2014)  Watch this video, which discusses the expectations journalists face. 

Works Cited:

Carliner, S. (2010). Transformations in Our Work. In Digital literacy for technical communication: 21st century theory and practice. New York: Routledge.

Catanio, T., & Catanio, J. (2008). Training Documentation Teams-A Research Plan. In K. Elleithy (Ed.), Innovations and Advanced Techniques in Systems, Computing Sciences and Software Engineering. New York: Springer.

 Grabowicz, P. (2014, September 28). The Transition to Digital Journalism - Berkeley Advanced                 Media Institute. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/digital-transform/ 

Image:
Figure 1. Journalism. [Jpeg]. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOozT6S9MnjBxxyBKYxxr_sk5PMRyqCJoCb1cNn7KPihS3MYhpWIfTO1HibTjVUS7MYvgBcO7MHVEB1fXVVBQU5dW5ANhUvwcV5QUhdEOki14-l9PVt0OsQ356rFfzdodZdPR50YQKzy7P/s1600/worlde.png

Figure 2. Technology Prediction. [Jpeg]. Retrieved January 10, 2016, from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVs98i1l7GEPspSViSf17YZ889bNNrbggVCY1JZLvLO7PcdxfjvkCn8RDnHdgoC-d922CORnnG_LoXWUk2dRER2qO2uwoF2OxnFsbAOS6vNLdU4Qyn3zHUBX8tkUrY5d4CH1t6a3Mw2eUI/s1600/Technology-Predictions-For-2013%5B1%5D.jpg

Video:
Elizabeth Lee. (2014, September 1). Internet Technology Offer New Tools for Journalists. [Video File] Retrieved January 10, 2016, from http://www.voanews.com/content/internet-technology-offer-new-tools-for-journalists/2434777.html