Several weeks before the riots were even rumbling there was a hubbub all over my internet streams about the joys, and more noticeably ills, of social media.
Bad for breakfast
The first place I came across these concerns was on BBC Breakfast, they were discussing the impact of smart phones on family meal times. An academic report had noted a correlation between words spoken between family members at the dinner table and the number of smart devices present. The argument being made was that smart devices are detrimental to conversation and relationships between the family members who are so engrossed ‘LOL’ing at someone else’s video.
I am lucky enough to live in a family none of whom own a smart phone or tablet device; but I have had conversations with people who do own this equipment, and they have spoken of the need to ban the devices from the dinner table and the bedroom. The influence of these devices are so often associated with a rhetoric of corrosion; but what is it about these devices that makes them so potently destructive as opposed to, a newspaper or any other older technology? Surely the problem of families failing to engage with one another is deeper than the technology they bring to the table (which I agree might (or may not) reflect their commitment to developing these nuclear family relationships)? The questions concern time, commitment, and ways of expressing love for other people as much as the technology in use; that allows people to be ‘elsewhere’ whilst being ‘here’ with us.
I check my private messages at lunch, I've no time to eat!
Following the release of what I presume was some form of government/ thinktank report there was a huge spate of blogs and facebook posts on the subject of digital communications and the ways in which they might damage both our individual and collective identities. I have seen social media blamed for a self-obsessed generation; allegedly pretentious enough to believe that other people will find what they have to say interesting enough to read (http://phil-blogs.blogspot.com/2009/06/facebook-is.html). The self-esteems of a nation misplaced in the number of wallposts achieved or how many people ‘like’d a profile picture.
On occasion these sites are linked to other perceived evils, tweeting to our ‘culture’ of self-aggrandisement; private messaging to the growth of illicit or ‘immoral’ activity. But again I make the point that the blame is misplaced. Sure, the technology is successful because people demand it and it may make evil easier to carry out, but for millennia people have found ways to feel insecure and to have illicit liaisons, without the internet. And whilst digital media might have provided the language with which we talk about these things; relationships being ‘facebook official’ as code for legitimate; saying ‘LOL’ instead of actually laughing, the insecurity, the grandstanding and the independent journalism also happens outside of the internet. So which came first? Its a bit of a chicken and egg situation.
Rioting Raspberries
One of the most frequently discussed things this week both in my real world and in my ‘internet community’ is the link between the recent riots in London and use of the Blackberry smartphone, used for its untraceability. Its funny how law and morality step in and make some hacking decidedly unethical (News of the World anyone?) and other hacking as legitimate...
I’m going to sit and ponder that for a bit...
Anyway, there has been plenty of discussion about how evil digital technology must be because of its usage in terrorism and rioting. Again I don’t think the technology is the problem, if you have a problem with its usage then you must address the ideas and the people behind the usage, merely restricting access to the technology will not help.
I agree that digital technology can be used to facilitate ‘bad’ things; but so can paper and pen, leaving a voicemail (that you regret in the morning) or meeting up for coffee with someone (who may, or may not be as trustworthy as you thought). None of these things are intrinsically bad, in fact they can be used to great ends; to maintain relationships over long distances, to introduce two of your friends who could be great business partners/ spouses/ just friends, to let the important people know that you love them. And the same is true for social digital media; its just a new medium for human interaction.
And now you’ve massaged my ego by reading my self-aggrandised drivel, I can happily take a few weeks off, basking in my own reflected glory and some Somerset/Scottish sunshine. See you all in a few weeks.
Cruel.
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