Blog Post #3

The reading I chose to focus on for this blog post was Couldry and Hepp’s How We Live With Media. In this reading, they discuss the concepts of network and assemblage. Both of these concepts assume how the social world holds together in a regular way (Couldry & Hepp, 60). Network analysis is important because we are able to grasp how the social world is formulated and how it is linked to social structure (Couldry & Hepp, 61). Viewing technology as articulation we can see how it focuses on practices, experiences and representations that ultimately form technology (Andrew Herman). I think the concepts of network and assemblage can be related to how we use social media as a way society create social structure, how we connect the world, communicate and express beliefs.

If we did not use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., that are designed for communicating with one another and creating online experiences technology would be much different. These platforms allow for the world to work together in a manner that is always moving. There are many practices, rules and expectations when it comes to social media and posting. These types of social media platforms create a type of social structure. They are created by how we judge a person based on how many likes and comments they get on a post. The social world has grown so much because of technology and social media that it has become a regular benefit in many individuals lives. Without these mediums, technology would not be what it is today.

What types of practices do we use when it comes to social media and technology? And, how do you think technology would differ if we did not have social media?


Couldry, and Hepp. “How We Live With Media.” pp. 57–78.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Social Media Anxiety

I came across this article that unfortunately has started to seem a little too relatable for many. It talks about social media anxiety and the obsession over likes, follows, what other people are doing, and all other feelings that are a result of us being over connected with the rest of the world. The article showcases examples of people who even become physically sick when logging on to social media sites. While that may seem as an extreme example, the scary truth is that more and more people are reporting social media anxiety everyday because of pressure, fear of missing out (FOMO), and ‘Compare and Despair’. I found this to be very relatable to the article we previously read about Katherine and her obsession with her phone and social media. Katherine was constantly worried about getting online approval from her friends, how many likes she got on her photos, how many comments and so on. While the article never directly claimed she had social media anxiety, many of her a...
Read more

Blog Post #3

Due to the freedom we have for the post this week, I took the time to really think about what I wanted to write in my post. My first thought was to discuss sports but I wanted to try and discuss a topic that could create more discussion. As most social media users have learned over the last few days, former SNL actor Pete Davidson, and pop star Ariana Grande have called off their engagement. While the speed at which their relationship seemed intense, at the end of the day, shouldn't we be more focused on the wellbeing of each of these individuals who very well may be walking away from the loves of their life? I would think it is safe to say that those of us in this class won't garner as much as attention on social media if and when we find a life partner. These individuals are only a handful of years older than ourselves and are under the microscope of the media every day of their lives. We may never know exactly this relationship didn't work out, and honestly, we as comple...
Read more

Just a social human-being

I want to draw on ideas from this week’s reading to share upon how this perspective has provided me some insights into why social media practices vary from person to person.  In society where there is a strong reliance on social media for interaction, connectivity and information, it is uncommon to encounter someone that does not use any form of social media whatsoever. The social practice of meeting a neighbour or starting a conversation with someone you see on a public bus has decreased because of the overlap of our public and private lives. Therefore, because there is less sharing exchanged exclusively with people solely immersed as beings in a public space, I believe that even those that attempt to resist the use of social media feel the need to be connected. I argue this because Dunbar suggests that it is the animal genetic make-up to innately want to share to build connections and respect.  I chose to address the idea of people resisting social media because I ...
Read more