No more awkward Situations

Today we talked a lot about technology and how we are manipulated by different brands. Just like the brands manipulate us, I think we are easily manipulated by the technology itself, too. Nick brought up the point that whenever someone feels like they are put in an awkward situation, they can just whip out their phone and go on twitter or text one of their friends. Sure it's comforting to look down at your screen when you feel like looking at any of the people you are with would make you feel uncomfortable, but the fact that individuals are so ready to just engage with their phones instead of people they are with to me seems somewhat cowardly. At some point or another we were unintentionally taught that when placed in a difficult situation, simply playing on our phones will make everything better. But imagine a situation where 5 kids are "hanging" out together, but all of them are glued to their screens. The fact that phones are replacing personal contact manipulates us into thinking that the cyber world gives us a comforting and inviting environment. People feel like "themselves" so much more on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr than they do in real life, which is a 180 to how people felt probably no more than 5 years ago. Technology has given us the fantasy than on the Internet, we can create our best possible self, even if it's not completely accurate. Because Facebook has features like "likes" and "comments" it compels its users to do whatever necessary to get a high status. Just the other day, a girl in my dorm was asking the other girls on the floor to go on Instagram and like her picture so she could get more views. She has clearly been manipulated into thinking that in order for her picture to be pretty or impressive she would have to get an abundance of likes. It would make her feel more popular which in turn would make her feel almost successful in a way. It's really not surprising that studies prove Internet use leads to a decrease in self esteem, because the only individuals who do feel good about themselves are the ones that get 200 likes or comments from their friends saying "aww so pretty <3." The internet has compelled us to yearn for approval from all of our cyber friends. It dictates what we should post, to what activities we should participate in, to what profile picture will get us the highest recognition.