Harrison's Communication Blog

One of the remarkable things about studying communications is how it can make your feelings toward a new technology completely flip 180 degrees. Diving deeper and deeper into the literature of this subject gives greater context than what laymen ever have exposure to. An example of this is my view toward social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. There are several widespread criticisms of these websites although the ones that see the most regurgitation often feel shallow and reactionary. There are the usual complaints of these forms of communication being shallow and vain, or of ruining people’s social skills. At their worst, these arguments often manifest as anger-induced hot takes, with no discussion of actual statistics or proof to back it up. It was easy in the past to write them off as the complaints of an older generation who are resisting adoption of a new innovation. However, research into how social media operates reveals a much more nuanced discussion. There is a ...

  Technology is so omnipresent today that it is easy to take it for granted, especially when it comes to the relationship children and young adults have with it. Research shows that children are now beginning to become aware of their online presence as early as grade school (Lorenz). Mobile devices and online content can provide a much deserved respite for overworked parents, or open up new opportunities for children to learn about the world and teach themselves. However, parents need to be wary about letting their kids have unlimited access to technology. Services such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube actually pose a risk to children’s emotional development and long term mental health. The Social Media Generation In a recent talk Simon Sinek discussed the complaints people have about millennials, mainly them being too entitled, narcissistic and unfocused, and talk about how that is partly a result of their unparalleled access to social media. Millennials, the age brac...