Social media reshapes connections all around the world. Anytime technology reshapes and evolves into a newer, more advanced concept there tends to be a mini celebration. The celebration typically centers around the whole idea of how it processes information much faster and how impressive the advancements are. However, what we fail to realize is recognizing the deeper message behind it. Behind the technology is not just the function, but it’s sort of a broader impact. Marshall McLuhan introduced the idea of “the medium is the message.” A.K.A to understand any medium or technology, we must look beyond its use and examine the larger effect it has on our society. The form through which we receive information heavily shapes our experience just as much as the content itself does.
Personal connection
For me, I have seen this play out as I keep getting older with the way I use my phone and social media. I used to believe that me just “checking in” was me staying connected. But then again, you read readings like this and your like “wow eye opening great” make you look at things differently. I noticed over time these platforms started shaping the way I communicated and even sometimes the way I saw myself. Now how can it shape the way I communicate? Back in highschool instead of having a full blown personal conversation a quick snap, repost or song would just help to feel connected. Over time you realize that I wasn’t genuinely focusing on building a deeper connection rather than maintaining an image.
I hope this makes sense because in my head I feel like it really connects to the reading and this is the way I comprehend it. The platform was using me rather than I was using the platform. It was reshaping how I connected with other individuals. This is exactly what connects with what McLuhan meant. It’s not only the message that I am sharing but it’s the medium itself that changes how I experience the connection.
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