1 Facebook. Twitter. Instagram, Google+. These are bywords among the youth – and even the adults – of today. As long as you have an internet connection and a computer and a mobile device, you can stay connected.
2 These social media networks have provided us the chance to be connected. We remain connected with friends even if we’re not at school or work. We reconnect and rediscover old friends and relatives from afar. We also find new friends to mingle with as we continue surfing the internet.
3 Our friends on Facebook, followers on Twitter and Instagram, members of our Google+ circles can reach hundreds, thousands. Hence, we are more connected, more engaged. The question is: does commitment become a price for this increased engagement?
Why do I argue that we may have less commitment? Let’s take a look at the news.
4 With our increased, connections come to our access to what’s happening to different people. Before, it used to take days, weeks, or months to reach news about what’s happening in another country. Now, we learn about it as it happens due to the news websites publishing on Facebook and Twitter.
5 Question: When we hear news about refugees dying of hunger, of people being massacred because of their religious beliefs, of innocent victims of war, of pitiful casualties of natural disasters, do we sympathize with them? If so, for how long?
6 Before, when news were few and far between, people tended to remember more, remember longer, and thus have a greater chance of getting committed to a particular issue.
7 Now, with so much information, do we simply flick through news, feel bad about it, post, comment, and tweet, then forget? The speed by which news flashes before our very eyes can cause us to forget so much faster.
Let’s take a look at the acquaintances and the friends we make.
8 We have thousands of friends, but how many are actually “friends”? Many Facebook users have reported receiving greetings from people on their birthdays – and they are shocked to see that some of these well-wishers are actually their friends on Facebook, to begin with.
9 If we become solely dependent on social media for interaction, we may connect, but not deepen, relationships. There is still value in face-to-face interaction, in bonding moments, in seeing and hearing each other. As you immerse yourself on social media, do not lose your sense of community. Otherwise, social media would have been used for the wrong reason.
Things to Ponder!
1 Are the topics used in the introduction popular among the people today? Were the things that the author said true?
2 Have you experienced reconnecting with friends and relatives via social media networks?
A text can be more appealing to readers if it can relate to what you are saying, so you must remember to think of your audience all the time.
3 What was the question that the author wanted to ask?
4 Was the author’s contention true? Is it believable that the news items are now flashed and announced as they happen on the internet?
5 Do you sympathize with people who are victims of injustices?
6 Is this true? Do you believe it? Is there proof for this contention?
In this case, what is lacking is proof. While you don’t necessarily doubt the person’s ideas, it cannot just be one person’s perspective.
7 Do the youth today forget easily?
8 Is there a difference between Facebook friends and real friends?
Did you experience this? Do you have Facebook friends who greet you only on your birthday?
9 Where is the author’s proof that deepened relationships cannot exist over social media?
Is the author asking you to stop using social media?
The article is written by Philippe Jose S. Hernandez.
For educational purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.
