Reflection - Surrounded by the Media

Our society today has undeniably been changed by the media, which influence our lives on a daily basis. As I previously stated, social media has greatly impacted how people think. Social websites, like Twitter and Facebook, are designed to share information and reactions to events such as the recent presidential election. Users exchange views, expressing a multitude of opinions, regardless of whether other users agree or disagree.

Due to its increasing prevalence in society, the media have developed the power to establish cultural norms. We are growing accustomed to a world in which people rely on mediums like smartphones for information, entertainment, and communication. We also feel the presence of advertising in all different forms of communication: newspapers, television, radio, and the Internet. This advertising can influence people's activities as well as what they choose to buy, including what car they drive, the clothes they wear, and even what brand of cellphone they own. This sheer amount of control is an ever-present reminder of the media's presence in our world and in our lives today.

Zombies of Technology

Today an older man sat by me on the bus and, seeing that I was holding my cell phone, pointed out that if we wanted to change the world, all we had to do was take away what people nowadays hold most precious in their heart - their cell phones. I then glanced up and looked around me. Three people near me also had their heads fixated on their phones. I then turned around and found a dozen more. Up until that point, I hadn't really noticed the large amount of cell phone usage. We have been assimilated into a society in which it's totally acceptable to have our noses in our phones at all times. It's only until we actually open our eyes that we see how much it's affecting us.

Cell phone zombies.

I found this image on the Internet a while back and was actually surprised at how true it is. We've become zombies in the sense that we don't participate in our lives - instead of walking tall and enjoying the fresh air, we are slumped over, gazing at our cell phones.

And though I realized today that hey, maybe I shouldn't always be on my phone, I still find myself using it ... a lot. I guess it's just become a part of me. And apart of everyone who lives in this ever-growing technological world.

The Pervasiveness of Advertisers

Advertising is everywhere.
It's on television, the radio, and most importantly, the Internet.

It's very rare to get on the Internet and not be bombarded by loads of advertisements asking you to buy this brand new car or a shiny diamond ring. Even websites made for small children are composed of ads. Social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, are filled with ads. Newly-made websites, like blogs and tumblrs, have spaces saying "advertise here."

Advertising is helpful. We go to ads for information and they help pay for jobs. Advertisements at movie theaters boost sales for future movies, while advertisements in the newspaper help us find what we are looking for. Video gaming creators use ads as incentives, such as "Pre-order this game today and get a free xbox 360 with your order."

However, as helpful as advertisements are for businesses and consumers, they are getting out of hand. Lately, it's as if advertising is constantly being forced down our throats - we can never escape it. Advertising is just as pervasive as any other media outlet.

The Importance of Social Media

I'm watching one of the newest seasons of America's Next Top Model, which is a show in which a number of women compete for the title "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry. The new twist this season is the addition of the viewers as judges. The models' photos are posted on Facebook and the viewers' responses are added to the scoring the models receive.  The scoring also comes down to the girls' likeability - not just the girls' ability to produce a good photo.

Though I don't know if it's the best direction for this show, it's an interesting concept. It's a nice idea to allow the viewers to be able to contribute in some way. Viewers could potentially make sure that their favorite competitor stays in the competition longer.

It just goes to show how important social media is. These girls' chances of succeeding are lying in the hands of those who watch the show.

Disney Gains Lucasfilm

Six days ago, I looked at my Twitter feed and saw a post asking if Leia from Star Wars is now a Disney princess. Of course, that got me wondering what could’ve happened for this question to even be asked. I looked further and sure enough found what I was looking for. 

According to USA Today, Disney is buying Lucasfilm for $4 billion, adding the legendary Star Wars franchise to the list of businesses the global media conglomerate has bought. Disney continues to grow as one of the largest media conglomerates in the world.

There’s also a rumor that Disney will release a seventh Star Wars in 2015, with more films to follow it. This news slightly enrages me. I’m a Star Wars fan, but I believe the series has already reached it’s full potential. I feel like adding more movies to the saga will just ruin it. However, they’re still making another movie, so all I can do is hope that it won’t turn out bad. 

The Second Presidential Debate

I didn't even have to watch the second presidential debate to know what was going on. 

That's the beauty of social media. 

While Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were battling it out, the nation's journalists, comedians, politicians, and voters were busy analyzing, fact-checking, and spinning every word coming from the candidates' mouths to post it on the ever-growing-in-popularity media site Twitter. I watched the Twitter feed during the entire debate and was thoroughly entertained with the comments I saw during it. Some of the people I follow—friends, not just influential comedians, politicians, or celebrities—came up with witty remarks and asserted their opinions on the matters that the president and governor were talking about.

That’s when it hit me. Social media sites, like Twitter and even Facebook, are very influential to voters. We go to Twitter to see what people think of the issues. Even though we may not entirely agree with their opinions, we can respect what they have to say and we may even understand their views a bit better. It’s nice for people to have the freedom to write what they feel about certain subjects.

We shall see what the election brings Tuesday.