Welcome back fellow internet-ians!
A few weeks ago I came across the Fermi Paradox again and no matter how many times I read this fantastic paradox, it always tends to blow my mind. And although that's not what I'm here for today to discuss, you should check it out if you've never seen it before. Prepare for inevitable mind blowing though, fair warning.
For today, I started to think about what other paradoxes are out there. And while there are tons, I want to explore the Social Network Paradox. Now this isn't exactly a proven or verified paradox but it's my take on a concept. Maybe it's more of an illusion, but all honestly, paradox sounds better in a title.
So first, what is a paradox? Well, it's an idea or concept that contradicts itself but can still be true, or false. Slightly confusing but if you've seen Inception you have some idea.
So now you might be asking, "Jay!!! How can social networks be paradoxes?!" You're in the right place because that's what I'm going to explain! Jeez, don't you know how this works yet?
Okay, social networks are great! They all have unique functions and different ways of sharing ourselves with the world. They bring us news, funny videos of cats, and of course "connect us like never before". (More on this later). But connect us to what? The internet? Eachother? Well, it may seem like it, or at least it might have used to seem like it. When social networks first got to the mass population, people all of a sudden could talk and connect and see updates about all their friends who they may no longer keep in touch with, even those across this giant rock we live on. You're probably saying "that's awesome! These networks are bringing people together!"
Well, are they really?
I mean think about what you do on Facebook now. Has it changed since you first got Facebook? No offense to Facebook but it's the best example. Do you start conversations with people you haven't seen in a while just because? Or do you only send a message to someone if you need something from them, if at all? My opinion is that it's a great communication tool, but so is a telephone. When I see my Facebook feed, all I see is reshared videos that are somewhat viral. I see the same 3 people posting them what seems like every 2 hours. And I see some people from high school who I frankly don't give a shit about anymore. That's not even including the fucking ads... Maybe I'm outgrowing it? Well, if I pay attention to other people, which I don't do often, many seem to have similar feelings toward Facebook.
"But Jay, where's this paradox you speak of that I came here to read about?" Shut up, I'm getting there.
A social network promises to connect us like never before (told you this was coming later), and well, they did. Mostly because there wasn't internet before/ internet wasn't as easily accessible back in the prehistoric personal computing ages. Now I can sit at my desk, in my room, or anywhere in the world and send anyone a message. That's connecting, and it's pretty amazing. Yes, technically before I couldn't do this so I suppose these social networks held up their promise. But when you think about talking to someone, or connecting with them, what comes to mind? Is the first thing that pops into your head a picture of you writing on this person's Facebook wall? Or shooting them a tweet? Probably not, if it is.. well, good luck in life. You'll need it. Typically, at least I would think about seeing this person face to face and discussing whatever it was with them like normal humans should always do. I know this has been regurgitated 3 billion times but there's a strange fulfilling element of interaction in person versus through a computer.
Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% for technology and communication through these much faster means when there isn't another option, but I can't stop thinking that people are losing the meaning and importance of face to face communication. As more and more communication through social networks become the norm, and technology accessibility increases as it does, eventually face to face communication will become scarce. We will no longer be truly connecting with our friends or other people in general. Eventually we won't be connected at all even though we still are "connected" over our social networks.
This, is the Social Network Paradox.
J
A few weeks ago I came across the Fermi Paradox again and no matter how many times I read this fantastic paradox, it always tends to blow my mind. And although that's not what I'm here for today to discuss, you should check it out if you've never seen it before. Prepare for inevitable mind blowing though, fair warning.
For today, I started to think about what other paradoxes are out there. And while there are tons, I want to explore the Social Network Paradox. Now this isn't exactly a proven or verified paradox but it's my take on a concept. Maybe it's more of an illusion, but all honestly, paradox sounds better in a title.
So first, what is a paradox? Well, it's an idea or concept that contradicts itself but can still be true, or false. Slightly confusing but if you've seen Inception you have some idea.
So now you might be asking, "Jay!!! How can social networks be paradoxes?!" You're in the right place because that's what I'm going to explain! Jeez, don't you know how this works yet?
Okay, social networks are great! They all have unique functions and different ways of sharing ourselves with the world. They bring us news, funny videos of cats, and of course "connect us like never before". (More on this later). But connect us to what? The internet? Eachother? Well, it may seem like it, or at least it might have used to seem like it. When social networks first got to the mass population, people all of a sudden could talk and connect and see updates about all their friends who they may no longer keep in touch with, even those across this giant rock we live on. You're probably saying "that's awesome! These networks are bringing people together!"
Well, are they really?
I mean think about what you do on Facebook now. Has it changed since you first got Facebook? No offense to Facebook but it's the best example. Do you start conversations with people you haven't seen in a while just because? Or do you only send a message to someone if you need something from them, if at all? My opinion is that it's a great communication tool, but so is a telephone. When I see my Facebook feed, all I see is reshared videos that are somewhat viral. I see the same 3 people posting them what seems like every 2 hours. And I see some people from high school who I frankly don't give a shit about anymore. That's not even including the fucking ads... Maybe I'm outgrowing it? Well, if I pay attention to other people, which I don't do often, many seem to have similar feelings toward Facebook.
"But Jay, where's this paradox you speak of that I came here to read about?" Shut up, I'm getting there.
A social network promises to connect us like never before (told you this was coming later), and well, they did. Mostly because there wasn't internet before/ internet wasn't as easily accessible back in the prehistoric personal computing ages. Now I can sit at my desk, in my room, or anywhere in the world and send anyone a message. That's connecting, and it's pretty amazing. Yes, technically before I couldn't do this so I suppose these social networks held up their promise. But when you think about talking to someone, or connecting with them, what comes to mind? Is the first thing that pops into your head a picture of you writing on this person's Facebook wall? Or shooting them a tweet? Probably not, if it is.. well, good luck in life. You'll need it. Typically, at least I would think about seeing this person face to face and discussing whatever it was with them like normal humans should always do. I know this has been regurgitated 3 billion times but there's a strange fulfilling element of interaction in person versus through a computer.
Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% for technology and communication through these much faster means when there isn't another option, but I can't stop thinking that people are losing the meaning and importance of face to face communication. As more and more communication through social networks become the norm, and technology accessibility increases as it does, eventually face to face communication will become scarce. We will no longer be truly connecting with our friends or other people in general. Eventually we won't be connected at all even though we still are "connected" over our social networks.
This, is the Social Network Paradox.
J
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