The Kaiser Family Foundation, which has for a long time been studying the media habits of the younger generation, this past week released their latest study that indicates that children 8-18 are spending 7.5 hours a day using media; that figure is compounded when you consider that teens are using multiple media at the same time. Multitasking with multiple media is a theme that will resonate throughout this course as we consider media centered rituals, that from a critical perspective lead to greater alienation. Think about your texting behavior – that’s a ritual. You’d rather text someone than actually converse with them. It gives you control. But the more control you gain, the ability to actually communicate is lost.
We simply fall out of practice directly communicating with one another. Moreover, we have to learn a new set of media centric rituals regarding civility, among other social issues that confront our society. In other words, in a "texting society" what is the appropriate tone, or language to use? So, I don’t think the problem is merely the amount of time we spend with technology; it’s what we give up in order to do so - each other. Does what I described above fit with your own experience?
5 comments:
I agree with your sentiment. I feel that we give up the personal aspect of communication, in some ways, by choosing to text or instant message each other over actual communication. While it is convenient and sometimes easier emotionally for us to have the time to type out fully-formed thoughts, un-distracted by our audience, I feel it loses a bit of the feeling the conversation may have had before.
I am always a bit irritated when a friend says they would rather talk online than on the phone or in person, because I like to hear their tone or see body language when they speak to me. Of course, talking online allows us to do other things while chatting, like studying or even looking up information pertinent to the conversation online, but it makes it so that the focus is not 100% on the conversation. Of course, I admit that I have had some very heartfelt conversations through aim, usually with people that I may not be close enough to to feel comfortable talking about some things in person, so in that way instant messenger allows me to be more intimate and personal than I might be able to be in person with some people. And of course there is always the distance issue - some friends just do not live nearby and it is easiest to communicate online or through text, but overall, I think in-person conversation should be valued most because it is the most personal way that people can communicate.
As a Speech Pathology Major, I understand and appreciate the fact that most of the communication between two people is in the form of non verbal language or their body language. Our generation has completely lost the ability to look someone in the eye and have a conversation with them without looking down at your phone to see if your friend texted you back. You can be seen as being rude and disconnected from the face to face interaction that you are taking part in.
I have also seen so many fights occur because of a miscommunication through instant messanger or texting. People forget that sarcasm is difficult and nearly impossible to detect through a written message. People act the same way in a conversation whether they are face to face or communicating through text. We act instinctively and forget that the person on the other side of the screen may not think the same way you do. It can be very frustrating.
I try to call and talk as much as I can, because I know how important it is, since humans are very social creatures. Despite my efforts, i always find myself going back to my phone and texting because it is faster and you dont have to take time out of what you are doing or multi task.
In this “texting society,” I find myself more and more out of touch with reality. Long are the days of hour-long phone calls to your best friend or parent. Texting has made communication easier, but it also has made it impersonal. There’s always that question in the back of your mind, “is he/she going to show somebody?” With a physical conversation, we see ones reaction, emotion, and trust that the conversation is almost sacred. But now, your one on one conversation has turned into a one on five. I am even guilty of this act.
Texting has also allowed a control and power issue. When you have a face-to-face conversation, you expect an immediate response, but with texting, we almost lose control. People can choose when or whether they want to respond to a message, leaving the other person with anxiety about whether what they said was right or wrong. We are now constantly questioning ourselves. Moreover, our emotions may not translate via text. We are not always able to catch on to the sarcasm or the certain tone in someone’s message. Yes, we can respond “haha” or “lol” but do we really know what they are doing/thinking?
Finally, on a little more PG13 level, a new term that I have come across is “sexting.” I actually found an article in the College Magazine: Baltimore Edition that references this new phrase. Not only are we losing person-to-person contact, but even intimacy. “Sexting” is sending sexually graphic text through words or pictures. There are even 10 commandments on what or how to “sext.” Some say “its fun” or allows intimacy through distance, but what happened to physical contact?
Despite my ranting and raving, I obviously use texting as my main source of communication, but we really should strive for more personal interactions to fulfill our basic human needs.
We definitely have given up on personal communication. There are too many devices now such as email, facebook, and texting that allow us to to contact individuals without actually talking to them face to face or even over the phone. While, texting is an easier form of communication I miss the nights where I would have a 2 hour phone conversation with one of my friends. We could talk for hours and hours. I am not sure if that is possible anymore.
Texting while the easier method of communication in my opinion can be frustrating. There can definitely be miscommunication through these newer communication devices especially texting when it’s hard to type a lot all at once. I definitely have gotten into arguments, because what I said through a text was miss communicated. If I were to have the same conversation on the phone I am sure there would have been no fight.
There are days I long for a phone conversation. I even keep in touch with my parents, siblings and grandparents through email, texting, and facebook. Sometimes I call them just because, and my mom always says, "Well you emailed me and texted me so I know you're okay." But my point is sometimes a longer conversation than just three words can be nice.
I am not denying that I am a texting addict. I rack texts up just as much as anyone else. But I still sometimes miss the personal communication.
I think Generation Y is a fortunate one. I believe this to be true because we are in the middle of the spoken communication and written communication generations. We have the ability to speak, and speak well, but also know most of the new technology which allows us to communicate with using our mouths.
I don’t consider myself to be a person who would rather text than talk. I find myself everyday getting annoyed my conversations over text and almost immediately call the person. Although, I like the idea that if I have a quick question and need a quick answer without the excess chat session, I can get what I need.
However, this instant access to someone does give us as a generation, the need to have access and answers instantaneously. I remember growing up my father would help me with my homework and sometimes I would ask him a history question. He would want me to look through my text book and I would just want him to answer (he always knew the answer). When he wouldn’t answer me I would just go down to our basement, get on our family computer and go to askjeeves.com.
So has all this technology, whether it educational or social, made society a little “lazier”? It might have, but it could also be argued that it has made us more productive since we have access more readily available. This previous argument could go back and forth forever: technology distracts us, technology saves time, technology makes us less social in person, technology connects us to more people, etc.
So who knows if multitasking with multiple media is a problem or the future…
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