Through Facebook, many people are able to reconnect with lost friends or family, keep in contact with them, and foster new friendships. Furthermore, being exposed to a diversity of views on Facebook, mainly through status updates and comments, has greatly helped me open my mind to many viewpoints.
Ironically the negative influence that Facebook has given me is the fact that everyone uses it. From spending countless hours plugged in with everyone, I was simply.. addicted. So I decided to deactivate my account. Yet within the first week I felt the repercussions. Without Facebook I felt like I was missing out on news and events happening, that slowly a gap was beginning to form between my friends and myself. After a few solid weeks I had to give in, I had to stay updated and connected.
Respectively, these two experiences resonate with certain aspects of post modernity and the inequality of our globalised world.
Firstly, post modernity embodies the defiance of dominant ideas. In its most basic sense, post modernity is the belief in more than one answer, instead of just one dominant narrative. For instance, many things have been publicised to us in the media, in which we just take that on face value. However once social media emerged, capabilities of personal opinion were heightened. Now I am able to read diverging views and supporting comments on a world breaking issue or controversy on sites such as BBC Have Your Say Facebook group.
Source: Screenshot by Brittany Chu
This has led me to realise we are now a world that is capable of sharing views locally and nationally, I now have the power to see what other people are thinking on a topic, and in turn share my own views. According to Hachten (2002, p. 13) "Powerful technotronic forces are binding the world together".
However it must be remembered that not all nations have the luxury of participating in this global digital society. "The development gap between advanced economies and least developed countries has been widening" (Nederveen 2004, p.13).
Source: Formacion Vargas
For instance, those in 3rd world nations are missing out on the opportunities that globalisation offers. For instance, there are numerous news stories on the fight for human rights populating the media, but without the access, those in least developed nations are kept in the dark. In some way, this coincides with how I felt without Facebook, because I too was out of the loop.
This led me to believe that our world is increasingly digitised, and without the technology, we may be left behind.
Facebook World, Viewed 28th July 2013,
<http://www.socialdon.com/blog/rules-capture-smm-facebook/>
Globalisation Images, Viewed 28th July 2013, <http://formacionvargas.com/cdd/courses/CURSO3/images-globalisation>
Hatchen, WA & Scotton, JF 2002, "News communication for a new global system", The world news prism: global media in an era of terrorism, 6th ED, Iowa State Press, Ames, p. 13
Nederveen, PJ 2004, "Globalization: consensus and controversies", Globalization and culture: globale melange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, pp. 13
Hi Brittany, interesting post! I completely understand where you're coming from - I also once deactivated my Facebook and felt that "gap" between friends that you spoke of. It's as though if you don't exist online, you don't exist, period. However, I suppose it would differ in those countries that you mentioned who don't have access to things like Facebook. I also liked how you mentioned that people now have the opportunity to voice their opinions through technology. Do you think Facebook will still be this relevant in a few years time? Or will we move on to a different social media site, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteHi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteIntroducing Facebook as your main point of discussion is highly relatable and relevant in our modern era of social mediums. I highly enjoyed reading your personal experience when you decided to delete your account, and the repercussions you felt as a result. I do believe that Facebook and other social networking sites alike connect friends in a way that would not be possible in the ‘reality’ of our world.
Your swift link to how your experiences link to the concept of post-modernity and the inequality of our globalised world explored the issues in a way that resonated with me, and I can imagine, other Facebook users. Especially when we can compare our lives in our pre-Facebook stages.
Hi Brittany, intriguing post to read. Your addiction to Facebook is one that I guess most of us can relate to, and I like the fact you mentioned social media has become a tool for us to explore more than one view on a topic. Your comparison of feeling 'out of the loop' without Facebook, to third world countries being out of the loop without the internet sparked interest. How can we report or express views on a country that we may not even hear from? Is it globalisation or just westernisation?
ReplyDeleteCool post
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your honesty in admitting that you have become completely engrossed in Facebook in the past - you’re certainly not alone! However, I don’t necessarily believe being connected is a negative thing in this day and age when we look at daily news content, opinion polls and business strategies – everything is converting to online methods! I really liked that you acknowledged the ever-increasing gap between developed and developing countries in relation to globalisation (the image backs this point up perfectly). Your blog post has made me realise that I might be thinking about globalisation too generally. Well done!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post this week, I found it very interesting - I can't believe you were even able to stay away from Facebook for a couple of weeks (I applaud you). Given that facebook is arguably the most common form of interaction in this day and age, it is very relevant to the argument of globalisation, given how global Facebook is. Or is it global? I completely agree that the third world nations in our world are not gaining access to aspects of globalisation that could change their world and give them opportunities they have never had before.
Great post, thanks!
Karina x
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, fantastic post!
I enjoyed your discussion about your personal experience with Facebook, I myself have had a few friends deactivate Facebook and last for less than two days! Your post was really well written and flowed effortlessly into the discussion about post modernism, which actually helped me clarify the term. Your post is one of the first that I have come across that touches on 3rd world nations and/or people who don’t have access to certain technologies. It would certainly be great to delve deeper into this issue and as you mentioned, to what extent are they kept in the dark?
Morgan ☺
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post this week it was very interesting to see your thoughts on Facebook. This is very relevant to society today and globalisation. Facebook has truly taken over my life and you have given a great explanation to why this is. You have used great example about 3rd world nations and how they do not have the same technology and don't have the same information accessibility. Your post is written and flows very well, with a good use of different images.
Thank you for your post.
Hey!
ReplyDeleteInteresting point you made between the two quotes by Nederveen and Hachten. In some way they are both right and at the same time they are not?
Sometimes I feel the social media is going too fast for me to contribute! And in the same time some people in the 3rd world have not even computers. What gab!
But in the 3rd world social media is existing it is just used another way, due to different needs. Narnia et. al. point out: ‘The 2010/2011 revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt were largely organised, supported and driven through the use of social media-based tools. Facebook, Twitter and mobile phone technology inter alia allowed for extensive political expression against government corruption both on- and offline.’ (2011:1)
I think the social media is a plague to some and a gift for others. We are so lucky that we can choose ourselves.
Ref: Narnia et. al 2011, ‘Policy Brief :The potential of social media to influence socio-political change on the African Continent’ AFRICA INSTITUTE OF SOUTH AFRICA, no. 46 ,South Africa
I was very interested to read all of your articles because you argue a lot about the reality of your own life. I also admit that I am addicted Facebook too, although I know the fact that it is useless. I feel left behind if i have no access even for a day, it just shows how addicted I am to Facebook and I know I'm not alone. You also have argued about how the 3rd world nation how they can access only limited technology and get information that is not up to date. In my opinion, they can fill their time with things that are more beneficial compared to most people who are addicted to social media (like me). Well written with the use of images that make your article more interesting, good job!
ReplyDeleteI really like the way in which you highlighted the notion that those without Facebook are somewhat disconnected in todays day and age. I felt the inclusion of your own personal experience, of removing yourself from Facebook, helped in showing that those without the Internet or social media may be behind in many ways. One thing you could improve on might be expanding your interpretation of the sources used as it might give your point of view a little more credibility. I also like the inclusion of the pictures especially the cartoon towards the bottom, I feel it gives a touch of humour to a worsening issue. The layout of your blog was very user friendly. Great post!
ReplyDelete