- Summarize at least 4 class resources, whether video or article, in a short paragraph. Cite references for each paragraph at the end of the paragraph in parentheses, using URLs where possible. (4 paragraphs)
First Resource: “The People Behind Your Tech Addiction Are Now Trying to Curb It”
This article is about the change in technology and how it is affecting our lives. Most people don’t know they are being tracked through their social media movements, and the goal of the tech companies is to keep them addicted to their phones as much as possible. However, the nonprofit, Center for Humane Technology, wants people to recognize their unhealthy habits. The problem is that Technology is spreading so rapidly throughout the world to make a profit. The only way to compete is to make something as addictive as possible. The solution would be to get public awareness on the issue. Have awareness taught in schools using the “common sense” program, promoting further research on the subject.
(Schneiderman, Miles. “The People Behind Your Tech Addiction Are Now Trying to Curb It.” YES! Magazine, 28 June 2018, https://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/the-people-behind-your-tech-addiction-are-now-trying-to-curb-it-20180628.)
Second Resource: “The Internet Is a Force of Nature. It’s Our Job to Civilize It”
“We can’t make the internet safe any more than we can gravity, so instead, it’s our job to civilize it.” This article is about the effects of the web and how we, as consumers, can gain back control of what seems to be out of our hands. Everybody went on Facebook because that’s what their friends were doing. Data collected from users clicks can track what they like and dislike, creating an artificial picture of who they are. One solution is to keep the user’s search information stored locally, developing personal AIs. These would act on our behalf and not collect or store our information to just to sell it to make a profit.
(Dorrier, Jason. “The Internet Is a Force of Nature. It’s Our Job to Civilize It.” Singularity Hub, 6 Sept. 2019, https://singularityhub.com/2019/08/25/the-internet-is-a-force-of-nature-its-our-job-to-civilize-it/.)
Third Resource: “Humane: A New Agenda for Tech”
This resource is a video about redefining a new way for technology to better assist humans. In short, technology is downgrading humans. Social media has already overwhelmed human weaknesses, bringing out anxiety and depression, it will only continue to exploit more. Some examples of fixing our mistakes could be a regenerative attention economy (that saves humans attention), and AI that assists human intelligence rather than attacking its weaknesses. Using the trust economy, companies could get rewarded by competing for a customers trust, rather than their attention.
(Vimeo, Center For Humane Technology, 25 Apr. 2019, https://vimeo.com/332532972.)
Fourth Resource: Plugged In: The True Toxicity of Social Media Revealed
This documentary uncovers some of the dark truths about social media. It brings light to how toxic the cyberspace really is and why so many kids are dealing with its side effects. Using too much social media can alienate the user from having physical social interactions. It has increased suicide rates and depression and deflated confidence. It is a place where cyberbullies have the means to attack random people online with the security of never having to talk to them in person. A possible solution is to not get rid of the phone, or social media account, but to rather change the users perspective with real-life communication and making real human connections offline.
Grannon, Richard, director. Plugged In. The True Toxicity of Social Media Revealed, YouTube, 23 Jan. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1682&v=PHzwMLx-rKc.
- Then define and write a specific question you have or issue you want to research about the link between social media and mental health of young adults. Explain why this question or issue interests you. (a few sentences to a paragraph)
One question I have about the link between social media and mental health is, does social media directly affect mental health? Although we have been reading articles and watching videos about this topic for the past few weeks, I think it is a cool area of study. I have a general understanding that it does, but I guess I would just like to know more about it.
- Then find a list of 6-7 articles that respond to the issue–This might be a result of a few Google Searches with different terms of questions. You can also add 2 from the Resources in Week 3 Schedule). Pick the best 6-7 articles/videos and list them as a “working bibliography” on this topic. Cite references for each paragraph at the end of the paragraph in parentheses, using titles, authors, and URLs. (a list)
Some good resources I found for my research question include:
Miller, Caroline, and Child Mind Institute. “Does Social Media Cause Depression?” Child Mind Institute, https://childmind.org/article/is-social-media-use-causing-depression/.
“Social Media and Psychology: Our Wired World and Mental Health.” AllPsychologySchools.com, https://www.allpsychologyschools.com/psychology/social-media-psychology/.
Barr, Sabrina. “Six Ways Social Media Negatively Affects Your Mental Health without You Even Knowing.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 28 Jan. 2019, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/social-media-mental-health-negative-effects-depression-anxiety-addiction-memory-a8307196.html.
Charles, Shamard, and M.d. “Social Media Linked to Rise in Mental Health Disorders in Teens, Survey Finds.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 15 Mar. 2019, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/social-media-linked-rise-mental-health-disorders-teens-survey-finds-n982526.
Parnell, Bailey. Tedx, YouTube, 22 June 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czg_9C7gw0o.
Smerconish, Michael. YouTube, CNN, 24 Nov. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHQ4fhWoeLs.
- Skim these articles and based on your skimming, pick the two most informative–those that expand your knowledge the most, not necessary those that you already agree with. Summarize each of these articles as you did above, each in a short paragraph. (2 paragraphs)
One of the best research sources I found was the last article in the previous question. In this video, CNN broadcaster Michael Smerconish was interviewing Dr. Jean Twenge, Author, of book “iGen”. The video was only about 6 minutes but it had some good points. One of the biggest pieces of information was the causation between spending more time on social media and being depressed and lonely. Before there were only theories of the correlation between time spent on social media and being depressed. Now this study is saying one actually causes the other.
The second article I thought was really informative is listed 3 down from the top of the list in the previous question. The article, “Six Ways Social Media Negatively Affects Your Mental Health” listed and described six ways in which social media negatively affects your health. The six ways are self-esteem, human connection, memory, sleep, attention span, and mental health. I was interested to learn how social media can affect my memory. It talks about how looking back on the memories made in the pictures you took from a trip can alter your perception from the reality that actually happened. If you spend so much time trying to find the right angle for your selfie, you are losing the real-time connections you could be making in the environment around you.
- Now conclude by explaining how your knowledge of this topic has developed over this research experience. If you did your research correctly, there should be some change in your thinking–that’s what “re-search” means. So explain how your thinking changed–either by deepening, changing or making more complex your understanding of the issue. (1-2 paragraphs)
After doing more research on this subject, I have learned some more useful information. I now know that there are actually more pros to social media than I thought there were. There are actually people working on finding a way to fix the harms and effects that social media is causing. The research also confirmed my previous understanding, however, I did not know how depressing and degrading social media can actually make you feel. Like anything, social media has its pros and its cons, but in this case, it has more cons than pros.
- Given your new understanding, suggest how you might adapt or redesign a social media platform you currently use, or create a new one, so that other youth are likely to have a healthier experience. You may need to go beyond your own experience of “it’s just fine for me” to “if other teens are depressed, maybe this could help them”. Remember that having gown up within social media, it may be hard to even assess its influence on you, or to imagine there might be an even better experience than the one you are used to. (1-2 paragraphs)
If I were to redesign a social media app, let’s say Instagram, I would redesign the notification system. I would make it so you there isn’t any. If your phone is off, it will not light up and start vibrating with how many likes you got or who messaged you because its goal is not to get your attention, its goal is to provide you with what you want, a medium to view pictures of the people you “follow”. You cannot see how many likes or views they get, and there isn’t even a public comments box. You also cannot see how many followers other people have and who other people follow. The only way to react to a photo is to directly message the person through a message icon. The goal here is to take an app that already exists and to simply dumb it down and simplify it, squeezing out all the stuff that is doing such a good job keeping our attention right now.
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