Today we will be splitting into 2 groups. You will be provided with 5 messages and the groups will have to find the medium (TV , film, internet , radio, print) for each message. Then we will discuss with the class and see what you guys discovered.

This post was a bit of a struggle for me in the beginning as I didn’t really understand Marshall McLuhan’s theory that “medium is the message.” I have an idea but the reading was stiff and I had to dig dip for the meaning and research.  First, medium is defined as an agency or means of doing something. Writer Tabitha David explained it further, “This theory helps to explain why we communicate through more than one medium.” (Tabitha David. VAC) This was true when Marshall coined this term and it still rigs true today because there are many different mediums and social media has a lot. There are different handles like Twitter, Facebook and my favorite Instagram. In all these ways, we can convey a message. So, in theory, the way that a message is conveyed which is the medium is the message.

In the reading McCluhan stated, “For the message of any medium or technology is the change of scale or pace or pattern that introduces into human affairs.. The railroad did not introduce movement or transportation or wheel or road into human society but it accelerated and enlarged the scale of previous human functions…” (McCluhan Pg.1) This means that even though one would think the train –the railroad which is the medium isn’t just a away a way of doing something in other words taking people to their destinations. It is more than that, it is the message because instead of looking at the railroad in one way it is also a part of a movement that expanded and did many things for humans as we don’t have to walk for hours to get somewhere. The railroad, the medium does this and that is the message.

As I read further it became clearer when I read Napoleon’s statement, “Napoleon had paid attention to other media as well, especially the semaphore telegraph that gave him a great advantage over his enemies, He is on record for saying that “Three hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” (McCluhan, Pg. 5)  That statement speaks volumes regarding the theory that medium is the message. How it is conveyed was very important and Napoleon knew that three angry news outlets were detrimental than any other thing. That stands even to this day. The media is a beast and that message can be very scary and intimidating and with social media it has only become worse.

Joseph Singh

March 29. 2018

MCS

Jonah Brucker Cohen

Youth and social Media

After reading, “Its Complicated”, I concluded that teens whom are raised in a technological environment are considered “digital natives”.  But adults are considered “digital immigrants” because they weren’t raised in a technological environment and were not raised to adapt with technology at a young age. While I was reading this article, it reminded me of a movie I once saw called cyber bully. It was basically about how this girl was being bullied via the internet and ended up trying to kill herself. This leads me to my next statement which is although kids are growing up in a technological era, it still doesn’t make it safe for them to be online and have social media and search the web. There are predators, people who are “trollers” and bad hackers on the web who have malicious intent.

Teens and kids are becoming more tech sav and technology proficient because just like them they are growing up with the internet. One thing that social media sites do good for teens is offering like buttons with accurate numerical amounts. This feeds the need for teens want to be “like It works liked”. It works like a currency, because the more you have the richer you are, or basically the more you have the more famous or relevant you will be. Furthermore, Social media is a very big part of almost everyone’s lives, to the point where if you don’t have social media you’re the one who is odd or weird. Basically, it is a norm to have an Facebook or twitter or Instagram. Also, when you are looking at a teens Facebook profile vs an adults profile you will see many major differences. For example, the friends list will be vaster on a teen because teens add anyone with out being cautious that they could be dangerous vs an adult who would only friend’s family and acquaintances. Lastly, I think it is great that kids are becoming very good with the internet and social media, but I’d just like to see more safety for innocent children from predators when searching the web

I found the reading interesting. I definitely agree that the youth of today are seen as “digital natives” while older people are considered “digital immigrants”. Youth these days have essentially grown up in the age of social media, and tend to be, for the most part, quite tech savvy when it comes to computers, video games and the navigation of social media.

However, I also agree that many young people do not always know how to use critical skills when using the Internet as a source of information. The Internet is a plethora of knowledge, and it has many valuable, but also problematic sources of information on it.

“Because many adults assume that youth are digitally savvy—and because they themselves do not understand many online sources— they often end up giving teens misleading or inaccurate information about what they see online. A conflict emerges as teens turn to Wikipedia with uncritical eyes while teachers deride the site without providing a critical lens with which to look at the information available” (“It’s Complicated”, page 188). Throughout our school years, we were told constantly to not use Wikipedia as a credible source of information. We have to take it with a grain of salt because it can be edited by anyone.

As a whole, youth could benefit from active learning on the internet rather than passive learning. More young people can use their voice to create a space and an online presence for themselves.

Today we will be discussing the pros and cons of how social media effects the youth and also the aim. The activity will be based on how creative the groups can be in bringing ideas to known social media websites!

In chapter 7 of Its Complicated by Dana Boyd, the main topic being addressed is how closely connected today’s youth is with technology, more so the media. Two terms that are used within this chapter are “digital natives” and “digital immigrants.” A digital native is someone who was born in an era where advanced technology and media as always been around for them. The natives are also more capable of understanding new technologies. Where as on the other hand, a digital immigrant is someone who is an adult , maybe from a matured age group, that was born before the new technologies and would most likely have a harder time understanding them.

Personally, I would definitely agree that kids these days are digital natives to media just based off how young you will see a child working an iPad. I myself could be considered part of the digital natives because of the amount of technology that was around and the new technologies that were being produced. I also would agree that digital immigrants do seem to have a harder time understanding new technology, however, depending on how old someone is can determine how much faster they would be able to understand but would probably not be fully updated or involved most new technology activities.

Boyd also brought attention to the reason why the youth of today is more technology savvy is due to the youth basically creating the next new and best thing within and for the media/social media. This seems like a valid statement in my opinion because since the youth are the ones understanding the most recent and new technology, they would be the ones to repost, retweet, or upload content that they agree is what the interest is at that time.

In this chapter the author uses two interesting terms, one called “digital natives” and one called “digital immigrants.” She describes “digital natives” as teenagers who grew up in the era where the internet has always existed. “Digital immigrants” on the other hand are adults who are supposedly less capable of developing those internet savvy skills and people who grew up in the era of overhead projectors and film strips. I find the term digital native interesting and I do agree that most teens are digital natives even the little kids. I have little cousins who don’t even interact at family functions, they just sit there on their iPad. Most of the time you don’t even have to teach them how to use it, it’s like they just automatically know. Sometimes they even teach the adults how to use certain technology.

In a way I feel like I can relate to “digital immigrants” only because I did grow up in the era where technology wasn’t as fancy as it is now. When I was younger I actually played outside with my friends, had to actually call my friend’s house phone if I wanted to talk to them, and all of my teachers used overhead projectors. I grew up in an era where social media and technology was just starting to get popular. I appreciate the fact that I was able to experience life before technology took over.

Based on the reading, “Its Complicated”, teens whom are raised in a technological environment are considered “digital natives”.  But adults are considered “digital immigrants” because they weren’t raised in a technological environment and were not raised to adapt with technology at a young age. As we see now kids at the age of 3 are holding tablets and downloading apps. Where as for example my mom has a hard time accessing and using apps on my phone. I remember having blackboards and eraser boards. Then around middle school the projector was brought about. Then around high school, we used smart boards. So for me its easy to adapt to the changes and upgrades in technology. Although I don’t use social media networks because, I find it to have a more negative than positive impact.  But that’s my opinion not a fact.  Many teens suffer from social media and have been enslaved to being someone they aren’t, just to fit in the society we are in. In the text, it states “The rhetoric of “digital natives,” far from being useful, is often a distraction to understanding the challenges that youth face in a networked world. ”  Which is true, the youth does face a lot in this social digital world called “social media”.

Also, in the documentary, the beginning starts with teens saying all they want is to be “liked” and social networks make money off of them.  And the “like”, “tweet”, “follow”, “friends”, the more a teen has these the better they feel. So it has become a currency, like stated in the documentary.  The more you have these the richer you feel and the more popular and famous you get. But most of all social media gives teens a voice and makes them feel like the exist. Which is a good thing, when it comes to current conflicts such as teachers having guns. The youth has been active on social media and made their voices heard. And surprisingly, the youth have more power to change than adults. The youth is savvy, ambitious, creative, and strong and social media is their key.

What was scary and awing was when around 48 minutes in the video, “Generation Like” , they relate the youth and sponsors like the movie “The Hunger Games”.  As in the hidden game masters in the Hunger Games is social media. And the sponsors are big market companies. And that it rips people apart, and being put in an arena to be forced to survive on their own. And that having having ratings promotes you to having sponsors.  In order to get high ratings and to stay alive you need to get people to like you. This is dangerous, this is what causes most of the youth to be enslaved without acknowledging that they are even being consumers and marketers.

Today’s Youth as the article states grew up around technology, now a days you see 3-5 year old children use smartphones and tablets before they know how to read. I am not much older than those children and I too grew up around developing technology however I still remember the transition from the projectors to the Smart board and the flip phones to the smart phones. The article calls these teens that have grown up with this technology is called “digital natives”, he mentions that these teens range in their knowledge of media from those who are creating more technological advances to those who do not know the difference between a web browser and the internet.  Which really means that it does not matter whether you grew up in it or while it was being developed, it is just a matter of adapting to it and learning it, cause technology  doesn’t just come natural its something you have to learn.

TODAYS YOUTH AND THE MEDIA

The youth today are very savvy with current technology and the Internet.  I believe they can do a lot of things that older personas can’t do. I’m not saying that older people won’t be able to do certain things younger people can do like teenagers and young adults as they can learn.  There were some things that I had no idea about like how to work certain features on Instagram and apps that help you manage your Instagram account. It is true that adults don’t really have that skill set like younger folk with regard to knowing what’s hot out. In the reading Literacy, are Today’s Youth Digital Natives the author said, “From this perspective, teens are “digital natives,” and adults, supposedly less knowledgeable about technology and less capable of developing these skills, are “digital immigrants.”  (Boyd, Pg. 176) I agree with this. I believe that teens are “digital natives” and we are “digital immigrants.” Today’s youth totally understand all things Internet and computers. Teens thrive on social media and so do adults but that world is more of an oasis for teens and young adults than anything. Therefore, they know the latest fads with technology and the latest apps and the digital immigrants find out about things much later and half the time don’t know what to do with the latest gadgets. For example, I brought an apple watch and had my son show me all the cool things. Yes, I can google and find out but I knew to go straight to my son who showed me quickly what I could do as he is a “digital native.”

Now on the flip side I also agree that even though teens know the latest techies they are not that bright when it comes to things like watching for viruses while navigating the Internet. They don’t care nothing about things like that which is important. The author in the article said, “I also met teens who couldn’t recognize spam” or they “don’t know the difference between a web browser and the Internet.” (Boyd Pg. 177) These issues are mostly true.   However, an older person,  “Immigrants” can get nervous still of your children navigating online with predators and if they know how to handle themselves. The article talks about how teens need to learn about media and computers which is accurate. If you pay attention to most youth when they use computers their knowledge a lot of times is pretty basic. In the article it was stated, “Few teens have a basic understanding of how the computer systems they use every day work.” (Boyd Pg. 182) This is because they only have light functions which is writing for school, researching for school work and surfing the net and even with that is elementary. So, it’s cool to be a “digital native” but I think it’s even cooler to be “digital immigrant” because the latter have more knowledge which goes a long way than knowing how to work the latest apps.