Introduction

My name is Misti Nelson, this is a blog assignment from my English class, that Shannon Gramse is instructing, at the University of Alaska Anchorage. The main topics of my blogs are social media networking, and how the effects and risks that it has on an individual. I found the process quite interesting because I didn't know what most of the facts were on the internet, and that it has on a person and through out a community, yet alone the world. I liked this assignment because it was way better than having to write essays, i got to get away from being punctual to myself for a little bit.  So these are the blogs that i have for you, and if you have any questions just please ask! :) 

Classmates blog

In Response to Laura's blog on: Early dedication of rare eye disease on facebook!

Laura talks about how a mother is posting pictures of her daughter onto Facebook, and her friends notice, and speak up to tell her to bring her daughter to a doctor, because of the glowing in her eyes. They went to the doctor and found out that she had a rare eye disease and got it treated. I think that its crazy what people can notice through pictures. If I looked at that picture, I would have just thought of her eyes glowing how a dog's eyes would when the flash comes on and not think anything of it.

If you want to read more about the story I encourage you to go to her page and read the her article and click on the link she has provided.

Social Media Revolution

The video I am blogging about glosses over incredibly informative material, it really opens your eyes to how important social networking is, and what effect it has on out life and progression. Included in this video, are statistics that seem beyond believability, I would never have guessed that the Ashton Kutcher and Britney Spears have more followers than the population of some major countries, and even continents. This video also made me aware that children aren't learning from the chalk board anymore, but instead of the iPad. Today, we no longer search for the news, but have the news come to us, whether it is from Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube. That seems to be the way we take in all of our information.

I would also like to point out a quote from the video, "Social media isn't a fad, its a fundamental shift in the way we communicate." When I saw that sentence pop up, I  was alarmed by the truthfulness in it. Because as time keeps passing, we will still be depending on social media to spread important information and products. It is the "Social Media Revolution." 

Bibliography:
Profit, The Total. "Social Media Revolution." Youtube.com. Youtube, 23 Oct, 2011

Web. 19 Apr. 2014. <http://youru.be/0eL3n7fDs>

Social Networking has Hidden Dangers for Teens

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/10/BA9T1954T7.DTL

In this article, the importance for online privacy is very crucial. There are numerous dangers in giving out your information online without even considering the consequences, such as: where you live, the school you attend, your age, the pictures you post, relationship status, family history, information that could easily be used against you in harmful ways. There are also consequences to posting pictures that will leave a digital tattoo for someone later in life to stumble upon and use again you. Such as naked pictures, pornography, party pictures, any form of adolescent activities that will forever scar your portrayal to the world.

So much of us, are obviously posting things that could later effect our lives negatively. Facebook, dating websites, and form of social networking could automatically put you at risk, for your life because you are behind a screen, and you never know who is going to be on the other end. Everyone should consider the cautions they are participating in. There is also that caution for a potential job seeker, and you could be easily selling yourself short by the information you provide that could automatically put you at dismissal. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU POST ONLINE! :)

Bibliography:
Tucker, Jill. "Social Networking Has Hidden Dangers for Teens." www.SFGate.com

Hearst Newspapers, 27 June 2011. Web 18 APR. 2014 <http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/10/BA9T1954T7.DTL>.

How Social Media is Affecting the Way We Speak and Write

http://gigam.com/collaboration/how-social-media-is-affecting-the-way-we-speak-and-write/

It is a known fact that the way we talk, speak, and write are changing and whether that its for the better or worse its undecided. There are three main things about this new form of social networking that are effecting our society both negatively and positively. 

First, is how its made our writing more concise and compact. In most media settings there is now a limit to what you can either saw have be seen; which means that we either have to abbreviate or shorten our words to get everything out. 

Next, is what professional speaker Aliza Sherman calls "Social" Spoken Here. Meaning that we are so used to posting and be open about our lives through social media that it is flowing into our business and personal lives as well. We no longer really have a filter for what should and should not be talked about publicly. Making things more open and people more open. 

Finally, the last section is "Anti-Social" and it's becoming a massive epidemic among people. People are retreating to their phones and electronic devices to avoid dealing with social awkwardness and shyness. 

This is making their unsocial skills even worse and causing less spoken communication between people. Over all, it still is hard to say that in this case that all social networking is bad but its does have its ups and downs. 

Bibliography:
Shermon, Aliza. "How Social Media Is Affecting the Way We Speak And Write." GigaOM. Wordpress.com, 28 Apr. 2010 Web. 18, Apr. 2014 <http://gigaom.com/collaboration/how-social-media-is-affecting-the-way-we-speak-and-write/>.

China's Social Media Changing Society

http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/673435/Chinas-Soical-Media-Changing-Society.aspx

Dominic Swire writes about the growing importance of the Chinese social media. He illustrates several controversial situations that have been escalated and made widely known through the use of Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Facebook. He presents multiple examples of the phenomenon, and each one can be assumed to have affected China in a different way, therefore, strongly portraying the powerful feelings widespread in China towards social media. Finally, Mr. Swire reveals his opinion on the matter, that he believes that the Chinese government should discontinue being unsupportive of the impact the internet is making. 


I agree with Mr. Swire, that the government should embrace the usefulness of social media and effect it has on the whole world as a community connected by the media. 

Bibliography:

Agencies. "China's Social Media Changing Society." Http://www.globaltimes.cn. The Global Times, 31 Aug, 2011. Web 18 Apr. 2014. <http://www.glpbaltimes.cn> 

Social Networking's Good or Bad Impacts on Kid's

Does Social Networking Impact Kids Good or Bad?

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2011/08/social-kids.aspx 

In this story, the author explains both the positive and the negative effects of social networking, saying whether your parents try to prevent you from using Facebook or Twitter, they are going to have to find a way around it.  Social networking would help a "shy" individual socialize though a screen instead of though physical contact. Psychologists noted that if a teenager spent more than 15 minutes of Facebook, they were more likely to possess lower grades. 

I think that social networking definitely has its pros and cons, but the way you use it is all about self-control. Facebook is a network where its supposed to bring us closer together, a way to communicate with old friends and family, but instead people are being sucked into the screen, worrying about what they're going to post next, or how many likes it has, and what everyone else is doing, instead of engaging with the world around them and socializing in a group of people. They do it through their phones, computers, iPads, and even iPods. I wonder what would happen if Facebook shut down for a day, I know a few people who would go crazy. 

Reference:
Larry D. Rosen. "Social Networking's Good and Bad Impacts on Kids." American Psychological Association (APA). 2012 American Psychological Association,  6 Aug. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2014

Is google making us stupid?

Nicholas Carr's essay "Is Google Making us Stupid" claims that the ways technology is damaging our brains. This essay's main points are about how the internet is increasingly a huge resource, at the tips of our fingers, for almost everything. As a result, we are becoming more dependent upon things to increase reading, writing, and even work production. His article also claims that technology is a huge distraction in our lives. Social media has to live up to the assumption for their audiences to make everything short and to the point. Today, we are too use to being able to have everything so conveniently easy to access. In the end, Carr's ideas conclude that, technology is becoming more important than people. Google has reduced human attention span and has changed our intelligence So for a world where technology comes first, what will happen to us?

I agree with Carr's ideas because the internet is becoming so easy just to look up something and get answers we want. It makes me feel scared for my future because I know that anyone can make up a website and put up answers they want. The internet is such a BIG time waster and really makes me distracted when I really need to get my homework done or just to get anything done. I can relate the quote," just google it" I hear this conclusion being used when no one knows the answer to something. I think its bizarre to think what this world has come to. We are basically always on our phones, iPods,  iPads, and anything technologic. So when I look into the future the one thing that will always be available is technology and I don't think it will ever stop being the main priority and will never look frowned upon. 

References:
50 Essays: A Portable Anthology Book
Is Google Making Us Stupid? Nicholas Carr
(Pages 91-101)

A Reunion with Boredom Response

Do you ever feel bored while trying to read something online? You can’t seem read more than two paragraphs of an article, without wandering off into a different thought, or even to a different website? In my class, we are reading an article called, “A Reunion with Boredom” by Charles Simic. He writes about how power was vanished throughout a whole community and tells about the impact that it can do to ones mind.

“Being temporarily unable to use technology we’ve grown dependent on to inform ourselves about the rest of the world, communicate with others, and pass the time, is a reminder of our alarming dependence on them.” 

Simic tells us its’ not just the electronics outside the body, but on the inside of the body too which determines how sensitive we are to sensory input. 

The distractions of modern life are getting worse. Now days, its what’s called the “texting generation”. I remember when I was a little girl, I was always outside, running, biking, swimming, playing basketball, and being with friends. I always thought that I would never own a cell phone. Especially where I’m from. In Bethel, Alaska, I seriously thought that I had to be a big adult to own one. 

Now, I don’t think you can go outside and take a trip to the nearest store without seeing someone with a technology device. Whether it’s a cellphone, to an iPod. It just amazes me because right when people get out of class, there you see them, on there phone, checking email, texting a person, to changing a song. Its so hard not to be bored anymore. 

I think that being bored is actually good for you; simply a withdrawal symptom to what you’re actually experiencing is just an uncomfortable return to health. I think its like a vacation, even breathing is very soothing! 

References:

50 Essays: A Portable Anthology Book

(A Reunion with Boredom by Charles Simic)

Pages 374 - 376

Pinterest

Lets talk about one of my favorite websites…..

http://www.pinterest.com

Pinterest is a social networking site which allows the members to create what is called bulletin boards. Once you sign up, you can “Pin” a picture that connects you to another website, where you can post on your bulletin board. Its mostly a bog post, magazine or journal site of what people like to write about on their page. For example, say I really want shoes, I type in “shoes" in the search bar, and it comes up with all these different sites to where I could buy shoes from or even make my own shoes. Also, if I wanted to make a shoe rack, it pulls up any kind of category that is matched up with the search bar and I can make my own shoe rack if i wanted to! 

So basically the site Pinterest is a blend of pin + interest. pining something that has interest in you. its really fun once you get the hang of it, i like to go to some of my friends pages and look at their boards and steal some of their ideas. :) 
But you don't have to be friends with anyone on Pinterest to look at their bulletin board. 
Its also handy because you can download it on your phone and have it on the go too! Its a good way to keep up with the latest books, trends, and innovations. 



Here is a website you can go to for more information:

http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=144577&sr=HLEAD(Online%20pinboard%20Pinterest%20booming)%20and%20date%20is%202012

Snapchat

Snapchat  is a phone app that is one of the most hottest thing in 2013-2014. It is a Social app that lets you send pictures, add text and drawings, and videos to your controlled list of friends for a selected time between 1-15 seconds then is hidden from your device after you have viewed it. Over 50 million people use this everyday though out the world. Around 400 million snaps are sent out every day through out the world (which is a lot to me!)

I am guilty of the use of this app. I use it to see what my friends are doing today and thought the day, and can be very addictive! Its crazy of what the world has come to for all the communication that you can have with people.



Here is some an interesting magazine article about snapchat: 

http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=5774&sr=HLEAD(Why%20Naked%20Selfies%20Are%20Bad%20News%20for%20Facebook)%20and%20date%20is%202013

Is Wifi Making us Anti-social?

http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-research-2/is-wifi-making-you-anti-social/

Our generation is becoming publicly private, the example the author gives is in a cafe setting where he is writing a blog, and sees a woman sitting along across from him, wondering what she is doing on her laptop screen. Because of the new wave of public privacy there is a barrier between physical and mental connection with the people around you. In my opinion that defeats the purpose of public communication and contact, why are you going to get out of the house of you're just going to sit all by yourself and isolate yourself to only a computer screen? Also one point that became alarming in my mind was how today we have advanced technology such as iPhones, Androids, 3G and 4G phones, where Wifi is infinitely accessible for you, and it blocks out your surroundings where instead of socializing with friends who are physically around you, you're socializing though texting, and Facebook, Twitter, because its conveniently at your finger tips. 

Reference:

Murton, David. "Is Wi-Fi Making You Anti-Social?" Social Media Strategy

Convince&Convert, 10 Mar. 2011 Web 19 Apr. 2014

<http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-research-2/is-wifi-making-you-anti-social/>.