Connected, But Alone
Sherry Turkle had some thought
provoking concepts in her Ted Talk presentation.
However, her comments about new media were negative. I think
that new media is more inclusive rather than creating isolation as she states.
People have connected uniquely with new media whether it’s a match from a
dating app, a shared hobby on YouTube, and a long lost relative on Facebook to
friends posting photos to each other across the world on Instagram. Turkle said
that people currently are more lonely and isolated than ever before. I don’t
agree. We now have the whole world at our fingertips including readily
available news, information, art and greater social contact. My 90 year-old
grandmother, is lonely and feels isolated. She’s too stubborn to learn about
new technology such as iBook and Facebook: she is losing a community or many
communities. Human connection is important wherever and however it can be
found.
I appreciate your point of view, Gwendolen. I heard recently about groups that meet online to form a community of people who share a common interest. People who were experiencing isolation because of illness or other reasons commented that the experience of an online community was just what they needed to meet the need for human connections.
ReplyDeleteI empathize with your Grandma. It is hard for seniors to learn how to navigate the online world. I think social media is a great way for seniors and young adults to connect!
If the media savvy youth could give some demonstrations and coaching in social media perhaps more seniors would engage with it.
I agree with your thought that Turkle's view is a too negative. Painting new media in this kind of negative light can create stigmas that don't serve anyone. New media is neither good nor bad inherently, it's all about what one does with it. While I think Turkle does imply that in her talk, her skew towards the negative is a bit much in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteYour last point strikes me as interesting Gwen. And I agree, no matter what sort of connection it is, rather it's online or in real life, it's important and having that kind of connection is absolutely amazing. I also agree that Sherry was being really negative towards new media was a bit much and she could have been more positive about new media while still describing her concerns regarding it.
ReplyDeleteI update my profile name which was Voice in the Wilderness!
ReplyDeleteI re-posted my comments made last week.
I appreciate your point of view, Gwendolen. I heard recently about groups that meet online to form a community of people who share a common interest. People who were experiencing isolation because of illness or other reasons commented that the experience of an online community was just what they needed to meet the need for human connections.
I empathize with your Grandma. It is hard for seniors to learn how to navigate the online world. I think social media is a great way for seniors and young adults to connect!
If the media savvy youth could give some demonstrations and coaching in social media perhaps more seniors would engage with it.