Super Offline While Being Incredibly Online
I graduated high school in 2014. This means, besides feeling much older than I actually am when surrounded by many people in my program, there is an additional bit of distance that I created with myself and the world that they have experienced. Facebook was the only beast of a social media site when I was in high school, twitter started but felt like a very niche kind of thing, me and my friends were all on there and it really felt if it was just something we all shared together. Fast forward a couple years and it absolutely exploded. So while my twitter presence is still active (I cannot help but spending hours scrolling through each and every day), I have a very distant relationship with social media. I have a tik tok, but do not post, I have an Instagram but rarely post there either (couple times a year at most). It makes me feel as if I am a wanderer in somebody else's world, it feels that these apps are not necessarily mine to claim, but I am just floating around the margins. I understand how they work, and end up being on them all the time, but then my sister (who is 18) continues to clown me for the way I use them and see the world.
This being said I think there are a lot of good things that can come from these different apps. A sense of community and collective engagement. An entry way for conversation (what trends are popping up/why/are they good or bad?), a way to keep education and projects fresh so the students don't tread yet another day in school. However, I am terrified that people see the world only through the lens of the social media paradigm. Where genuine interaction and real experiences float by the wayside. Everywhere you look there are people trying to imitate various content creators and their lives, but the thing is, that isn't real life, its a look on an idealized world that has the ability to shame and disparage people for living normally. I think there is a real chance for better representation on these apps, but think it is a fine line to ride, and the chance that we get lost in the shuffle is real.
Hi Terrence,
ReplyDeleteI thought your point about the lack of authenticity due to social media was interesting. You're right, many individuals become obsessed with social media influencers or try to become influencers themselves. This often leads to those individuals trying to adopt someone else's personality. In some ways, I wonder if this trend of imitating popular people isn't actually something new. Before the age of social media, teenagers would imitate their favorite TV star. There have always been celebrity figures, although perhaps their personalities are more pervasive online. What do you think?
I completely relate to the distant relationship you have with social media. Especially since the beginning of the pandemic, interacting on social media (especially posting on tiktok) usually feels like a performative representation of whatever trend is circulating. You encapsulated that feeling of 'floating' so well.
ReplyDeleteHey Terrence! I appreciate you sharing your perspective when you wrote, "I graduated high school in 2014. This means, besides feeling much older than I actually am when surrounded by many people in my program, there is an additional bit of distance that I created with myself and the world that they have experienced." as I can agree to an extent as, although I am only 22, I feel as if I am old man, per se, when compared to some of my peers in this and other courses. Also, I find you writing about how you are currently disconnected to social media to be interesting as it feels as though this particular course, as well as the professor and grad students/active teachers who organized it, are advocating for us to implement social media within our classrooms.
ReplyDeleteHey Terrence! I graduated high school in 2015 and can very much relate to what you have said. I was and still am a big Facebook guy (gotta keep a steady flow of memes), but other than that, my social media presence has plummeted in the last 18 months. I don't exactly know why, but my desire to be heavily involved in social media is nearly gone. I do really think that these apps have the potential to keep us old folks in tune with all of the new lingo and pop culture that our students will be bringing to class. "I like your swag Mr. Reno keep it real son YOLO." Stuff like that and we will hopefully know what they mean lol
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ReplyDeleteHello Terrence! I also feel as if I connect with people more and better on Facebook rather than Twitter. I really don't like the whole "tweet" language. Idk it just sounds lame to me and then people go overboard with it. I created an account and never looked back since. However, maybe it is because I also don't know how to use it that well. I have had a Facebook account for probably a little over twelve years now. I only created a TikTok account because my best friend sends me them all of the time lol. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have one. I love the ending of your blog post! I try not to keep up too much with social media influencers and celebrities. The social media community can be toxic sometimes and make people feel like they have to change the way they look, dress, make money, etc.
ReplyDeleteHey Terrence! Our blog posts have quite a few comparable themes. I totally feel you on the distant relationship with social media sites. It almost feels like our age group is caught in the in-between, as gen-xers and baby boomers have taken over Facebook, while the younger generation is much more quick to assimilate to newer platforms. I also agree with your second point in that there are so many positives and negatives that can be associated with social platforms. As educators it will be a constant and evolving challenge to emphasize the pluses and try to inform our students about the effects of the negative.
ReplyDeleteTerrence, your feelings towards social media really resonated with me, specifically in the way that you mention they make you feel like you're "floating around the margins." I have progressively felt the same, and have distanced myself more and more from social media as a result. Additionally, your criticism that people are trying to imitate other creators is really strong, and I agree wholeheartedly. Overall, it really feels like the internet has exploded in popularity, to the point where it is almost too big to fathom, and thus feels overwhelming yet lifeless simultaneously.
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