Blog 6 : Social Media 11/18/16

Throughout the week, we've looked at several pieces that take stands on social media. The clip, "Nosedive," is engraved the most in my memory. The seemingly dystopian future depicts a world of ratings. Virtual reality eye contacts provide users with floating star rankings that ultimately define who they are. Some jobs do not take users under 2.5 stars, and users with 4.5 stars and over are considered the social elite. Some may argue that our reality is far from such circumstances, but there is some truth to it if it has come to the center of our media in the form of network shows. We do have a social elite, caracterized by their millions of likes and followers, who both directly and indirectly shape the minds of the masses who aspire to be like them. The ideals of beauty are shaped by Hollywood celebrities, all of whom dominate social media platforms. Likes fuel our strive, like a false accomplishment. Judging by myself, I wouldn't post something that I knew wouldn't get any likes. If a post is genuinely a thought of that person, why can't it stay as a thought? The purpose of posting it is either to see another viewpoint or validate the original. The other text this week focused on arguments on social media, and how they dont exist constructively. The idea of a screen, or virtual mask, allows the user a no-holds barred approach. Things that would have been bottled up in person are uncorked through the nonexistent meeting of social media. Emotion cannot be displayed on either side of the spectrum: the speaker cannot convey emotion through their words, and the listener cannot convey their emotions in a response. On the other hand, as someone who deleted their social media for over a year, I can honestly say it connects like no other. I am able to communicate with friends I do not get to see regularly, and I've also been exposed to ideas that I did not take into consideration. Social media is here to stay, and ultimately it is up to the individual to make up the majority, and how that majority uses it.