Journal Entry #1 for PIDP 3240 Social Media

Assignment #1

Journal #1-- How Social Media Can Make History

Clay Shirky makes the argument that social media is now making changes to society worldwide.   When dealing with the dissemination of information, in the past it began with the printing press and books, through the invention of the telephone, film and on to the internet.  We as a society no longer have to rely on the “experts” or “professionals” to provide us with information and opinions.  With the internet and social media, millions of people worldwide are now connected and able to communicate amongst themselves, educating themselves and making their own informed decisions.

Freedom of information, thoughts, and the choice to make our own informed decisions are all values that we hold dear in our society.  There are still many places in this world today where the powers that be are afraid of this concept and take many steps to oppress it.  The internet has made possible the distribution of information amongst millions or billions of people.  The use of cellular telephones that are capable of taking pictures and video, plus the ability to connect to the World Wide Web, means the average man or woman can show to the world what they have seen or witnessed.  No longer just for phone conversations, a cellular phone can be a window or receiver to the world. 

Witness the most recent events in Egypt, Syria and Algeria.  The internet and the access millions of people have to it has led to revolution.  No longer willing to be oppressed, social media has helped people become united, share their emotions and become organized to overcome a common foe.  In the Ted video by Shirky he uses the example of Twitter.   The social medium of Twitter was used by the population to expose the corruption in China with respect to building code violations and bribery of officials that led to the deaths of thousands of children when their schools collapsed following a large earthquake.  The government could not stop the tide of information being generated by its own people.  By the time they were able to shut down the system it was too late, the story was out.

What does this mean for the future?  Is there such a thing as too much information?  Will we become incapable of making our own decisions unless we consult with social media to see what everyone else is doing?  How much misinformation is there out in the vast spaces of the web that we will have to wade through to get to the truth?  What of those amongst us who do not have access to the internet?  There are still billions of people on the planet that need to worry about food and shelter every day before they need worry about social media, communication and dissemination of information amongst the rest of the worlds’ citizens. 

 I find many of these subjects raise more questions than they resolve. Is the internet a good thing?  Undoubtedly “Yes”.  Is the sharing amongst people of information and events important?  “Yes”.  Will our reliance on the internet cause problems in the future with respect to how we as a society and global community interact and or react to each other?  Undoubtedly “Yes” in some form or another.  What will happen in the event of an environmental catastrophe where we lose access to electricity and the internet is unavailable?  I personally am in a bit of trouble should I just forget my iPhone at home one day of the week. My dependence on this little device for communication, internet, e-mail and a general feeling of safety knowing I always have it  handy has already been set in stone.  I am also fortunate to have come from a time before the prevalence of cell phones and internet access.  Should my access to the Web be cut off for whatever reason, I will inevitably get by just fine.  But what of the generations raised on it, reliant on internet connection for all things from directions and weather, to ordering food and basic communication?  Is this new technology and society being built into a mass of automatons, incapable of real independent thought?