Mobile Phone and Social Media
Title: Look up
Author: Gary Turk
Genre: Visual Poem
Cultral Perspective: UK/ England
Date: 9th May 2014
By now, if you spend any time on Facebook, you’ve probably seen the “Look Up” video. It’s powerful and makes some feel guilty every time they pick up their cell phone.
I believe the video has been shared so often because we all have a love/hate relationship with smart phones and social media. I hate how it has become a reflex for so many to pick up their phones and check Facebook. There are days when I wish smartphones weren't even invented.Yet I try to imagine life without social media, and it makes me sad to realise how many people I would no longer be in contact with. The people I communicate with the most on Facebook are not the people that I’m closest to in life. Instead it’s the people who either live in other cities or have moved on to other schools and our lives no longer intersect on a daily or weekly basis. I’m able to stay in touch with these people in a way that I wouldn’t be able to without Facebook. We’re able to share articles, books, recipes, and ideas. I’m able to see them accomplish life goals, get married, start families. Although these friendships are not the same as the friendships I have with my close friends and family, I still value the connection.
Social media and smart phones are now a permanent part of society, and I think that is, for the most part, a positive thing. I, for one, am going to try to set aside my phone and ignore Facebook for hours at a time, and I’m going to get out of the habit of touching my phone during family and school times. I want to someday have a family, and when I do, devices will not be allowed at family meetings, so it makes sense to get out of the habit now. I’m going to continue to post interesting articles and photos when I see them. But I’m not going to constantly check to see how many "likes" and "comments"I have. As for using my smartphone in public, that’s not really an issue for me. I’m
Author: Gary Turk
Genre: Visual Poem
Cultral Perspective: UK/ England
Date: 9th May 2014
By now, if you spend any time on Facebook, you’ve probably seen the “Look Up” video. It’s powerful and makes some feel guilty every time they pick up their cell phone.
I believe the video has been shared so often because we all have a love/hate relationship with smart phones and social media. I hate how it has become a reflex for so many to pick up their phones and check Facebook. There are days when I wish smartphones weren't even invented.Yet I try to imagine life without social media, and it makes me sad to realise how many people I would no longer be in contact with. The people I communicate with the most on Facebook are not the people that I’m closest to in life. Instead it’s the people who either live in other cities or have moved on to other schools and our lives no longer intersect on a daily or weekly basis. I’m able to stay in touch with these people in a way that I wouldn’t be able to without Facebook. We’re able to share articles, books, recipes, and ideas. I’m able to see them accomplish life goals, get married, start families. Although these friendships are not the same as the friendships I have with my close friends and family, I still value the connection.
Social media and smart phones are now a permanent part of society, and I think that is, for the most part, a positive thing. I, for one, am going to try to set aside my phone and ignore Facebook for hours at a time, and I’m going to get out of the habit of touching my phone during family and school times. I want to someday have a family, and when I do, devices will not be allowed at family meetings, so it makes sense to get out of the habit now. I’m going to continue to post interesting articles and photos when I see them. But I’m not going to constantly check to see how many "likes" and "comments"I have. As for using my smartphone in public, that’s not really an issue for me. I’m