Week 3 of EDC3100 started with a quick quiz………………………one question.
Are digital technologies making us anti-social?
There were two pictures you can find here. The first picture is in colour, and the people are on their phones during dinner at a restaurant. It is assumed to be taken in the present. The second picture is black and white, a horse and carriage is clearing seen and the men are reading a paper. It is assumed to be taken in the past.
The answer was either true or false. I chose true. The correct answer was false. After reading Chloe’s blog titled the same as mine it was clear she took a different view. Chloe states technologies have made communication more accessible via various devices. This I agree with. Especially when we can make contact with family and friends all around the world. Chloe also talks about the benefits of social networking for educational purposes and makes some great points that children today are growing up in a technology world. Chloe provided a great clip regarding social networking sites have educational benefits which can be viewed here.
In both of pictures it can clearly be seen that each group of people are reading and not interacting with each other. This is where I believe that technologies are making us anti-social as we no longer interact in meaningful ways, connect or make bonds with each other, or value relationships with others. We are no longer communicating face to face without a device between us, which at times can distract us from the face to face interaction. After reading Is Technology Making People Less Sociable? I agree with many statements made in the yes article and value the face to face communication and connection with people. While many people may hundreds of facebook friends or instagram followers, we thrive on human interaction as it is important for our emotional health. The article refers to many studies and many different reasons as to why the author has answered with a yes. This article is also great as it also debates the no side. I focused on the yes side as that is currently where my opinion lies.
Call me old fashioned, I do love a good old catch up with friends face to face without a digital device in their hand. Personally I have had many experiences where digital technologies have left a negative impact on my life. However, as my brother and his family live in Adelaide, I love the fact he can facetime me and show me my nephews pooey nappy (yes this did happen, no idea why he felt the need to share). So after reading this weeks anti-social and low-end fast food restaurants I am still torn with the correct answer being false. In some ways we are anti-social and in other ways we are able to communicate more. I think it depends on the deep level of the connection.
References:
Chloes’ Blog. (2016). Are Digital Technologies making us Anti-social? Retrieved from https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/44452261/posts/958352059
Wall Street Journal. (2011). Is technology making people less sociable? Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/is-technology-making-people-less-sociable-1431093491
University of Minnesota. (2009). Social networking sites have educational benefits. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxrlrbP4UNo
University of South Queensland. (2016). EDC3100 ICT and Pedagogy: anti-social and low-end fast food restaurants. Retrieved from http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/m2/mod/book/view.php?id=538638
You have no control in play, only a partnership 