Interview with a 12yr old regarding their thoughts on growing up digital: their technology and social media

As I read David Crystal’s Language and the Internet and read some of the read more about Sherry Turkle’s work, I became very interested in something we discussed as a class in the beginning of the semester.

The debate over how we will preserve the written word or the spoken language is questioned continuously as technology and digital era makes their advancements. While going thru a couple pages of Crystal’s abbreviations for ‘key phrases’, I was thinking how there are truly multiple languages (or forms of our language) we rely on as a society. Who ever thought that BRB would mean be right back or IDK was I don’t know?   As a matter of fact there were some on the list that I would have never even imagined such as Y! and X! for typical man and typical woman. I can’t even imagine how those came about. 

 

Going back to Turkle’s work, (I know I am jumping back and forth but..), her research is very interesting. I truly appreciate her work. As a matter of fact it seems as if she really examines the depths of what technology is doing to society as a whole, including what it will do socially to the future of our society.

Her book on, Alone Together, is a topic that I feel needs to be examined more by other researchers. For example, I just drove 3hr 45mins to Massachusetts with 3 adolescent boys in the car. Can I just tell you that I thought the roof was going to come thru as they sat on their ‘DS’s and fought and laughed about a game they were all playing simultaneously but with their own hand held devices. It got insane to the point we had to threaten to take away their devices.

 

After about 2 hours into the ride, they were all engrossed in their own devices but not saying a word to each other. At the same point the 12 year olds text alert went off on his cell phone and he went to another world communicating with an outsider as the 11 and 9 year old engaged in their own toys. One step further was the ipod., that came out of the 11 year olds pocket and became a ‘face-time’ device to communicate with his sister who was in another vehicle 2 hours behind us into the trip. Essentially, Turkle’s work really captures my attention and it makes me realize that our society is in for a rude awakening as people have trouble interacting socially (face to face).

However, the conversations that did take place in the car (without technology in hand) consisted of ‘pre order’ games, ‘deluxe’ editions, ‘map packs’, ‘special features’, Microsoft features for Christmas, etc…. the conversation was NOTHING I understood except I was going to have to lay out money and get to GameStop EARLY ! countless hours I have listened to “please, can I…. or please, I need it…. Or please, it has to be done today….hurry hurry hurry….” My life as a parent in today’s digital era has turned into a new gizmo, an upgade, or a pre order for games that allow them to interact ‘alone, at home with friends who are in a separate home, alone….’  Odd, yet interesting!

 

So, after nearly 4 hours with 3 BOYS, and observing the habits of these children I have come up with quite a list of questions for my interview.

 

And trust me, if I had better phone and internet service, I would upload a picture of the 3 boys this morning on a couch all with their devices waiting for breakfast. (scary stuff!)

1.)   How does it feel knowing you can communicate through a gaming device and not know the person at the other end?

12yr old: It is normal. It doesn’t bother me either way.

2.)  Do you feel that you are safe because you are not face to face?

12yr old: Of course I am safe, no one knows where I am.

3.)  Does face to face with a stranger feel differently than through the gaming device?

12yr old: Yes, when I meet people for the first time, I am not sure what they think of me and I tend to be quieter until I get to know them. When I am on my game, it is much easier.

4.)  Do you feel that your location and identity are protected because you cannot see the other person?

12yr old: yes, I do. I feel safe.

5.)  Do you feel that when you are in school that you have to use ‘proper’ English and is it hard because you are generally using abbreviated words and phrases?

12yr old: Yes, in school we must use normal language and anything else is not acceptable.

a.     Explain to me what form of the language is easier for you to use ? and

12yr old: For me, it doesn’t matter I feel like I am programmed when I am in school to be ‘school’ like and when I am texting or gaming, I just go into that language. (and he laughed)

b.    Does your brain just switch over when you are in school versus when you are holding an electronic communicator?

12yr old: Yes, I answered that previously.

 

6.)  When you are at the dinner table (breakfast or lunch) ( at home) do you think it is ok to have your cell phone or electronics at the table?

12yr old: sometimes. If my Dad is home he threatens to throw it. But my Dad isn’t home much and I live with my grandparents, who feel that so long as I am quiet I am behaving.

7.)  If you were in a restaurant do you think it is acceptable to have your phone or game at the table?

12yr old: No, because I would be there with my Dad and he would get really angry.

8.)  When you have something really important and sometimes uncomfortable to discuss with your parents is it easier to text / email or talk phase to phase.  …. And how about the same for a friend?

12yr old: No, I would never text my Dad something like that. Sometimes I would hint to something but I would tell him face to face.

9.)  Tell me when you think it is appropriate to be ‘alone’ with your devices?

12yr old: after school and at night when I am in bed.

10.)              What do you think the appropriate age is for Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, etc…?

12yr old: I think 12 years old is okay.

11.)              How do you feel about adults and parents being on social media? Do you feel that it is appropriate and if so how do you feel about them posting personal information about themselves and their family?

12yr old: I don’t think anything about adults having social media. I never gave any thought to what adults do on facebook but I do think that they should behave because they are part of our family and I think it is not good for adults to post bad things.

12.)              What do you think is the appropriate age for a child to get their first cell phone? Do you think that the cell phone should be for calls and texts or should it be capable to be a mobile on line device?

12yr old: I got my first cell phone at 11. My Dad had said when I was 12 I would get one, but I kept bugging him for one to the point where he just went and got one. I think I should have the ability to use the internet on my cell phone but my dad will not budge. I get talk and texting.

13.)              How do you feel when you are sitting in a living room and there are 4 of you all on your separate devices communicating with others while there are people right next to you ?

12yr old: I would not think anything of it.

14.)              When you are bored or lonely do you feel that your cell or ipod helps you connect to others and not feel alone anymore? If the answer is yes, what makes you feel socially interactive…the fact that you have engaged with someone else?  (perhaps this was what the phone did for us in the 80s)

12yr old: when I am bored I go play on my games… all day long when my Dad is not around.

15.)              Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

12yr old: having a YouTube fan club and teaching about gaming. I will have a job too. I will be an engineer and have a dog.

16.)              Do you have plans to go to college ? If so, as of today what do you think your major would be?

12yr old: I am definitely going to college and I want to be an engineer.

17.)              Would you be comfortable and content working from home for a big company with a computer, lap top, or any other electronic gizmo?

12yr old: To me it doesn’t matter either way to me.

18.)              List 5 things you can do with your cell phone?

12yr old: I text, I call, I text, I call and I text. But mostly I only text…

19.)              List 5 things you do while gaming?

12yr old: I talk to others, I pay the game, I meet new people, I try to beat the game and I explore other options built into the game.

20.)              List 5 things you discussed with your family and or friends (face to face) in the last 24 hours?

12yr old: we are on vacation now, so I have been really busy. I went fishing, clamming, crabbing, swimming in the ocean, ate, played board games and slept!!!!!

 

As these questions get answered, I am sure there will be other questions that build upon them… Personally, I am concerned about this generation and where they will be socially in the next 10 years…. I find this discussion to be interesting and I would think that a longitudinal study, starting with 9 year olds for 15 years is in order…..  !

 

*****   After I completed my interview, I had this as closing thoughts: ‘if young kids can switch gears so fast and change English to texting language so easily, why are we not teaching students other languages at earlier ages or any other engineering qualities? If adolescents’ have the capability to switch gears and learn many different languages and retain an abundance of information, then I would suggest that we capitalize on that and get students to learn things that will benefit them and society as a whole for the future!

 

 

Reflection of McLuhan's Work

The Medium is the Message may have been antiquated but it sure did relate to our society. The best part is that McLuhan could forecast the internet before the internet was even on the drawing board.  The video spoke a lot about McLuhan’s phrases and how they related to conduits of communication.

One of the interesting points that Marshall McLuhan made was that he truly believed that people preferred to live in the past. He felt that it was because people were more comfortable because the past was more emotionally gratifying and satisfying. The ‘norm’ is trusted and as McLuhan stated, people go back in the old ‘medium’ rather than the new one.  We find that still today. I know that to be true in many cases, even in the work we have done in this course as well as in my work. I do find that even though it is innate to not embrace change right away, most of it depends on the ‘generation’

What is key is that McLuhan spoke as if he was Nostradamus. He spoke about the loss of privacy because of the mass collective store. All of the information including external identity; age, grouping, origin, etc.. there is nothing private anymore and this was an issue when he filmed this more than 50 years ago. Has this happened? Absolutely it has. Not only does Big Brother know when we cross a bridge because of our EZ Pass, the car dealership knows because we have GPS on our cars and our cell phones are tracked! The list of privacy infringements are a plenty but this is because of the medium at hand.  

McLuhan describes the various mediums that carry out messages; television – which he expresses, makes the younger generation turn inward towards the invisible world. I found that to be a great description. Even music, McLuhan says that it is directly linked to popular speech. For example, he uses The Beatles. McLuhan said it was the first time that English speech was turned into a musical form which made The Beatles very powerful. Another words, different mediums come about and allow us to cross barriers by erasing all categories.

Essentially, McLuhan reminds us that people all too often worry about the content of the message rather than the mode. The medium becomes the focus of our changes in society. Whether it was a handwritten letter, the telephone, electricity, television, texting, email, etc… they are all an extension of ourselves. We become part of the medium by communicating thru it, thus resulting in an extension of ourselves.  

 

Green’s model of  ‘operational, critical and cultural’ works with McLuhan’s theories. McLuhan speaks about the medium being the message which with Green, it would represent a ‘participatory culture.’ This is made possible by so many places having free wifi and devices to offer consumers. The critical component is carried thru with McLuhan’s theory that messages will be continued regardless of the mode. This is true when you consider as society evolves, messages still find an avenue to be disseminated, just the way it medium changes. And lastly, Green’s cultural dimension. This takes place without having to do much. I have examined the ‘net’ and its endless possibilities to create venues for anything., including but not limited to political deliberation, religious aspects, The internet has provided a place for anyone to feel comfortable, thus creating a safe place for new cultures to form and carry on.

McLuhan reminds me of Alexis deToqueville, a French Philosopher who wrote ‘Democracy in America’.  Perhaps he was not Nostradomus either, but he certainly knew where true democracy would lead America and he was right, a society with problems caused by our own ‘freedom’ and ‘rights’. The choices of mediums and the delivering of messages containing ‘anything goes’ content has put our society in a precarious position. This is one we need to learn from. I thought that Marshall McLuhan was an incredibly bright man who offered a great deal of worldly knowledge to everyone. I truly enjoyed his videos.

about my experience on doing the alcohol deconstruction assignment

Hello everyone!
I know that I posted my paper in the blog spot and I did that primarily because I thought the work would be nice to share.
After reading over many articles, I realized that no matter what federal guidelines say, alcohol is a money maker. Since the prohibition ended, alcohol has brought in so much money that the government wants to say they regulate ( to make money) and they want to tax it (to make money) and they want to collect part of the money from advertising and they want to have a hand in the rehabilitation programs for alcoholics.... etc.... as a matter of fact, I have seen evidence that the federal government even has a hand in some of the educational stuff .... well, why not? ...it all makes money.

As many advertisements as I watched on YouTube and Ads in magazines I flipped thru, I was amazed how each ad no matter if it was sexual or not, was suppose to bring some sort of pleasure. Whether it was the cute Budweiser guy with his dog ( from SuperBowl commercial) or a sexual encounter in a Grey Goose advertisement, the message is clear... drink and be happy !

Unfortunately for many people, dinking leads into a real life battle and the 'joy' you are suppose to encounter turns into a long battle with serious consequences...even some fatal.  I feel that advertisers are disingenuous in the fact that there aren't the dangers of alcohol linked to the advertisements. While you an I both know that won't help sell their product, it is still not fair to mislead or ignore the unintended consequences of drinking.

Through my research on this topic I saw much about how alcohol ads encourage underage drinking.., while I did not research that per say, I would tend to agree.

Great assignment and I was very interested in looking at more ads... Thanks!

Alcohol Deconstruction

           In making my observations of this add and a couple of others, I went thru the housekeeping list we reviewed for ‘deconstruction’ of alcohol ads. Forgive me if I do not go in the exact same order as the model did, but I intend on addressing the underlying messages along with the perceptions which are created amongst society.  In a revenue seeking economy, the purpose of advertisements is to move products and generate revenue. The advertising companies are cognizant of what the consumer wants and they portray it through their ads. The advertisers make their ads appealing, enticing and speak of glorious promises. It is not uncommon for most alcohol ads to send similar messages about fun and sex. 

First and foremost, the two ads I have attached to this file are both made and sponsored by their respective companies, Jose Cuervo and Sky. These ads both are to attract the younger generation.  By looking at these pictures, you immediately think that drinking either of these alcoholic beverages brings some type of sexual act. While Cuervo’s is more free spirited and Sky is more submissive and affluent, there is still that underlying message.

     

For the rest of this deconstruction I want to focus on Cuervo. “PURSUE YOUR DAY DREAMS.” Well, that is quite a statement to make on an alcoholic advertisement campaign. This ad says, hey all of you young hotties, come drink this and your dreams will be answered.   The advertisers creates a promising illusion with the use of lighting and with the angel of the camera. The theme is bright and sunny and the camera is angled so that you can see the uniting of their bodies in a provocative position which can be deemed as sexual.  Basically saying that by consuming this alcohol will give you sex appeal and good times. The alcohol is portrayed to us as a signifier in this ad in which we associate alcohol with a fun loving time.

I am sure that my feelings differ from some of those who are attracted to purchase this tequilla, primarily because I am not a drinker but also because I knew I was suppose to pick this advertisement apart. However, if I was in my 20s and wanting to have fun, I would look at these advertisements as a day to play in the sun. To me, these advertisements represent fun and free spirited. What I do find interesting is the fact that beer advertisements generally do not go for the sex appeal. Most beer ads go for relaxation and maybe a laid back sport. Very seldom do you find a Budweiser advertisement promoting a wild time. I have found that beer advertisements portray the atmosphere of laid back and responsible drinking.  As a matter of fact Budweiser has been known for using their talking frogs, gorgeous Clydesdales and most recently that sweet dog on the farm. On the flip side, when I examined the Curveo ad, I examined an advertisement that represents the casualness of a sunny beach filled day, romping around in a bikini, laughing and loving, all with that the bottle is strategically placed where the two bodies unite, signifying an intimate encounter. The advertisers trigger the brain to think: fun, carefree, playful, happy, and incredible…times.  The goal of the advertisement works.

The reality is that the glamour of the advertisement is induced by the alcohol which does not portray what negative consequences could bring because of that frolicking day. Imagine if the advertisers had this ad and then to the side of it a picture of either a fatal car crash or a possible drowning? There are no negative ramifications even insinuated in this ad, only that the possibilities for happiness are abundant.

Cultural studies would support the ideology that buying alcohol will make your dreams a reality and regardless of what the consumer thinks, subconsciously the buyer will believe that this drink will reward them with pleasure.

The media has portrayed this alcohol as a pleasure inducing event without any negative connotation. “Information and images delivered by mass media is no longer information. It is a commodity saturated by fantasized themes. Mass audiences are nothing more than consumers of such commodities (Griffin, 2009, p. 330).”  Essentially, this product has become the ‘commodity’ which will deliver the desires to the consumer once ingested.  

With all of the federal regulations on alcohol advertisements there are still naysayers that insist that alcohol advertisements do not coax people to drink more or excessively, rather they claim that the advertisements helps the consumer to chose their brand over another (UTNews, 2015).  As of right now, the jury is out and I am not buying it.

References

Griffin, E. (2009). A first look at communication theory. New York,: McGraw-Hill.

UTNews (March 25, 2015) Alcohol advertising has little effect on overall consumption, study finds. Retrieved from: https://news.utexas.edu/2015/03/25/alcohol-advertising-has-little-effect-on-overall-consumption