Social Media...

Is Not Social

By: Brett SykesPhoto Source: Flickr “Oblivious” Andrew Sutherland

Social media has allowed us to put on masks and hold up shields. [12]

Photo Source: Pixabay “Leonidas statue” Gancheva

In real life, we look like this. [9]

Photo Source: Flickr “cat” Selda Eigler

But, online we look like this. [9]

Photo Source: Flickr “Lion” Dulup

Focusing on cultivating our online persona is a crutch and the expense is our real-life persona. [12]

Photo Source: Flickr “Lost to society ” Ricardo Liberato

71% of Internet users are plugged into social media [12] and we check our phones 150 times per day [9].

Photo Source: Flickr “Texting” M.o.B 68

We have sacrificed conversation for connection. [7]

Photo Source: Flickr “Taxi!” Stefan Tarnell

39% of Americans spend more time socializing online, than face to face. [1]

Photo Source: Flickr “sb10063521a-001” Verkeorg

We expect more from technology and less

from each other. [7]

Photo Source: Flickr “Airplane” Cory Hatchel

20% of Americans

prefer texting or

communicating

online to talking

face to face. [1]

Photo Source: Flickr “Hug” Petras Gagilas

Social networks are creating the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship. [7]

Photo Source: Flickr “Texting” Kreg Steppe

33% of Americans are more likely

to speak to someone new

online than in person. [1]

Photo Source: Flickr “American Flag” Michael Dorausch

People who use social networking sites are prone to social isolation. [6]

Photo Source: Flickr “Isolation” Mtrappitt

We are together, but each of us is in our own bubble. [11]

Photo Source: Flickr “Bubbles” Jeff Kubina

Right now we are too connected to people and it’s only making us unhappy. [3]

Photo Source: Flickr “Dwindling Flames - 20151001_074618” L. Eaton

An experiment found that Facebook could cause problems in relationships by increasing feelings of jealousy and envy. [5]

Photo Source: Flickr “Couple” Wyatt Fisher

We live in a time of multi-communicating, where no one person gets personal attention for long. [4]

Photo Source: Flickr “Birds” likeaduck

Even selfies are interrupting experiences to mark the moment. [10]

Photo Source: Flickr “Selfie Stick” Ravi

Being alone feels like a problem that needs to be solved, so people solve it by connecting. [7]

Photo Source: Flickr “For my math girl” Craig Dugas

People in the U.S. check their Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts a staggering 17 times a day. [2]

Photo Source: Flickr “Texting in Nyc” Michele Ursino

We are getting used to a way of being alone together. [11]

Photo Source: Flickr “Communication Breakdown” Matteo Bagnoli

We would all live better if

we had hands to hold

rather than keys to click. [8]

Photo Source: Flickr “Holding Hands” Quinn Dombrowski

Bibliography

Bennett, Shea. "Is Social Networking Making Us Antisocial?" The Premier Online Debate Website. Schools.com, 15 July 2012. Web. 05 June 2016. [1]

Chang, Lulu. "Americans Spend an Alarming Amount of Time Checking Social Media on Their Phones." Digital Trends. N.p., 13 June 2015. Web. 05 June 2016. [2]

Chayka, Kyle. "The New, Improved Online Friendship." Next. N.p., 24 Mar. 2015. Web. 05 June 2016. [3]

Eichler, Leah. "Sorry to Be Rude, but My Smartphone Needs My Attention." The Globe and Mail. N.p., 04 Oct. 2013. Web. 05 June 2016. [4]

KKonnikova, Maria. "How Facebook Makes Us Unhappy." The New Yorker. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 05 June 2016. [5]

"Social Networking ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., 25 May 2016. Web. 05 June 2016. [6]

TEDtalksDirector. "Sherry Turkle: Connected, but Alone?" YouTube. YouTube, 03 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 June 2016. [7]

TEDxTalks. "How Social Media Makes Us Unsocial | Allison Graham | TEDxSMU." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 05 June 2016. [8]

TEDxTalks. "How Social Media Makes Us Unsocial | Allison Graham | TEDxSMU." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 05 June 2016. [9]

TTurkle, Sherry. "The Documented Life." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Dec. 2013. Web. 05 June 2016. [10]

Turkle, Sherry. "The Flight From Conversation." The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 June 2016. [11]

White, Thomas. "Why Social Media Isn't Social." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Nov. 2013. Web. 05 June 2016. [12]