Convenience or Addiction?

Living in the 21^st century brings many advantages. We have immediate access to just about everything including 24 hour pharmacies or corner stores. Let’s not forget the world’s entire database of knowledge is available at our very own fingertips via personal computer or Smartphone. There’s no surprise that your average American spends about 10 hours plugged into their various media platforms. Think about it! The moment you lose your cell phone you realize how important social media is to you. Once you’re away from your phone you feel UN-PLUGGED from society and the world around you. But, is it bad to feel un-plugged once in a while? Social media is a growing sensation! Becoming more and more a part of our daily lives. The last twenty years the rapid transformation of information and media occurred through the advancement of technologies such as the internet. Now new media means on-demand access to content anytime anywhere. The rise of new media has definitely increased communication between people across the world and internet. It provides people the opportunity to express themselves and exchange ideas through blogs (like this one), photos, sites, and other user-generated media.  The prime social media platforms are Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and etc.

According to a LawMarketing blog Use of Social Media

These commonly used social media channels are redefining how and what we communicate with potentially equally negative consequences. According to a Nielsen study, the average American spends more time on Facebook than any other US website. Just like your favorite fast food chain, social media has grown into a craving for people. It’s obvious that the internet is just convenient for people to use to communicate rather than writing a letter or picking up a phone. It definitely played a fundamental role in shifting how we communicate. There’s numerous of examples of how communication changed due to social media. For instance, when sentences are written it’s not in full text or complete thoughts, it’s written with acronym’s and array of fragments. It’s even to a point that emoticons replace words to express feelings and emotions. Are we really allowing this to redefine and reshape how we communicate within our societies?