Even though new media has the capacity to connect people across
the globe and spread information almost instantaneously, I find it keeps me rather insulated from outside events. Thanks to innovations
like Netflix and Spotify, I am often blissfully unaware of what is happening in
the world around me. I watch TV through
streaming, without commercials or newscasts. Ditto for music. I rarely listen
to broadcast radio in my car and never in the house. Instead, for $10 a month I
enjoy unlimited, commercial free music through my Smart Phone or iPad. I have been
living in this insulated commercial-free bubble for about 18 months and it
wasn’t until recently I realized that I really had no idea what was going on in
the world. Or even in my own backyard. One Tuesday evening in early August, a
hurricane blew through my town located in the western Foothills of Maine (we
rarely get hurricanes). I had no idea. I thought it was just a really bad rain
storm. It wasn’t until later in the evening when I popped onto Facebook that I
saw all the posts about people taking to their basements and losing power. Geesh,
I thought. I don’t even have any bottled water in the house, in case of an
emergency. The situation made me realize
how removed I am from current events.
I wasn’t always so disengaged from what was happening in the
world. As a former social studies teacher, I know the importance of being an
informed citizen. I used to read the local online newspapers and occasionally
watch a local or national newscast the day after it was broadcast, on the
Internet. But there was always so much
information available. One article would link to another article and another
and so on…until I had frittered away my morning reading news that was usually
pretty depressing, not to mention bias.
I think my hermit-like aversion to both local and national news started
slowly, replacing the New York Times with Martha Stewart Living on Hulu and CBS
Nightly news with Youtube channels of How to Remove Wallpaper. I am slightly addicted to
Pinterest and all the ways to use a mason jar. I use Facebook to stay connected
with my family and friends and to cyber-stalk my teenagers. LinkedIn is useful
only when I am feeling disgruntled at work and want to look for a new job.
Essentially, I am selfish social media consumer. I only use it if it benefits
me directly.
Is this positive or negative? New Media allows me to be much
more selective about the content I consume. Obviously, I’m generally happier looking
for dessert recipes on Pinterest than reading about fighting in the Middle
East. Add to this the fact that there is so much content available all the time – and it starts to feels like information fatigue. I know I should care, but I just don’t have
the energy right now. I’m going to check
out Halloween craft ideas on Pinterest instead.
I seriously enjoyed reading that. You have a conversational tone to your post that immediately drew me in:)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
ReplyDelete