When I was in Chicago in February, I was excited, but overwhelmed to be in a big city. Chicago is so different from the U.P. in so many ways. There are skyscrapers, subways, and a lot of people. A LOT of people. And in the tall buildings, subways, and on the sidewalks, you see a large portion of these people on thier phones, whether its talking, texting or using the internet. It seems to me that you cannot exist in a city if you don't have a Blackberry or iPhone.
In the past week, I've had three discussions on technology. One of the conversations I had was with my mother and grandmother. First off, I was surprised my grandma knew what Twitter and Facebook were. I found out about Facebook when I was a freshman in college, and Twitter only about a year and a half ago, so I was taken aback that my grandma had something to say on the issue. I didn't realize what a heated and opinionated topic this was for people of all ages. The main technological debate topic: social media. And since SM is such a mainstream of PR now, I thought it would be worth discussing my thoughts on the subject, as well as what some of the "small towners" think about this subject.
To cut to the chase, social media really is a great tool, but where do you draw the line? It's amazing that you can get automatic updates on what your friends and your favorite celebrities are up to, but WHY? Why would someone really care where someone is or what they are doing at that exact moment in time. Social media sites, such as Facebook, let me see who you've got weekend plans with, what you've been up to for the day, and even look at pictures of your life for the past few weeks.
The use of technology in general may be getting a little out of hand. People who have Blackberrys or iPhones are OBSESSED with them. I see people on their phones constantly and playing with their applications incessantly, even when they are around other people. Case in point, we had a family dinner at my house the other night. I walked into the living room where my brother and four cousins were hanging out (they are all teenagers). When I walked in, they were ALL on their phones or playing with their personal iTouch. What's wrong with this picture? This is our future and their social habits, which are, quite frankly, NOT good.
SM and technology are fun and convenient, but where's the real relationship? As a busy college student I agree that this type of communication is convenient and saves me time from actually meeting up with my friends to catch up, but as a human being, we SHOULD be getting together and maintaining our relationships on a more personal level.If I wanted to know what you are up to, I should be a good friend, give you a call, and ask if you want to grab a cup of coffee. I think that people are starting to rely on technology too much to manage our relationships.
I'm sure people in the U.P. are not the only ones who have these opinions. But the U.P. is a different lifestyle, and people are not really falling for the social media hype. It's a slower-paced life where afternoons are start by walking across the street to have a cup of coffee with your neighbor, and finish with an evening of dinner with your family. In the U.P., there is no time for social media.
I think its important to keep in mind exactly what social media is. Its is a great communication tool, but its not the only one. I think every once in a while, people should take the time out of their day to call those they are close with and actually talk with them. With all these great developments with social media, and technology in general, we can't forget the importance of face-to-face interaction. There is a way we can all utilize social media in positive ways, but we can't forget to be people too.
No comments:
Post a Comment