In my EDP5216 class, my teacher had us read this article http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129384107. I believe technology, especially social media, can have positive and negative effects. I think the author of this article puts the issue in terms we can ponder. The author suggest that technology is like food, some food is good for you and some food is bad for you. Specifically the author calls the bad food Twinkies and the good food Brussels sprouts. What would you consider to be the Twinkies and the Brussels sprouts of your technology diet?
I also found the article to be interesting regarding the “three-day effect”, which was termed because after 3 days without the use of technology people seemed to mellow out and slow down- relax a little. I have noticed this as well when I go camping, no service and no worries. When I travelled to New Zealand we did not have working cell phones, just Wi-Fi when we could find it and that was minimal. Do any of you experience a relaxed state without technology or do you find yourself panicked?
I love a good technology fast. Traveling is most often why I take a break from social media, whether forced from lack of access or not. I find it does take a couple days to totally disconnect (and I often don't... Yelp junkie) but I do take a break from certain outlets. I have found in the last few years when I have taken a total break, a complete hiatus, once I have access again it takes me a couple weeks to want to reconnect. There is something about calming the usual onslaught of information. But then when you reconnect, you realize how much you missed and how much you want to share your experiences with your network.
ReplyDeleteI have had a 3 days camping with my family and I expected fear of being disconnected from internet or mobile phone. The first day, I felt it definitely. I tried to connect my phone online (even there was no cell phone signal). Then, second day, I gave up and fully enjoyed our time, so the story is true for me. One thing that I never expected, but happened was some of my friends thought we were disappeared and they tried to find us. Thought we are connected each other.
ReplyDeleteI only mind the disconnect when I have to be connected for work. That stresses me out. I'm heading to Vermont the first week of August, and as soon as the grades are in for this class I'm going into disconnect mode for a week!
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