Connected but Alone

Sherry Turkle explores the relationship between technology and the effect it has on our lives. She has written many articles on the topic related to cyberculture. I found this 'Connected but alone' talk interesting, I feel that she doesn't solely label technology and using mobile phones or the internet as a negative way to communicate, however that it should be used in moderation, and not be something which we are dependant upon.

I also read about Sherry Turkle's interest in 'MUD' (multi-user-domain) where people can construct an online identity which can become their 'reality'. Turkle studied the world of MUDs for her book 'Life on Screen.'  

Here's a section from the 'Wired' article below:

"What has she found? That the Internet links millions of people in new spaces that are changing the way we think and the way we form our communities. That we are moving from "a modernist culture of calculation toward a postmodernist culture of simulation." That life on the screen permits us to "project ourselves into our own dramas, dramas in which we are producer, director, and star.... Computer screens are the new location for our fantasies, both erotic and intellectual. We are using life on computer screens to become comfortable with new ways of thinking about evolution, relationships, sexuality, politics, and identity."

(http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.01/turkle.html)

Internet Anonymity

I think it's interesting how communicating through the internet can give people more confidence or act differently to what they would in the 'real world'

I found this quotation interesting in 'Cyberactivism' edited by Martha McCaughey:

'Anonymity on the internet presents itself as a double-egded sword in terms of communicative action. On one hand, it means that those perhaps too shy or otherwise inhibited will feel more confident about expressing their opinions, against someone who might be physically intimidating'

'Further to this, profession, class, accent, body language, gender, ethnicity, religiosity, physical stature, speech impediments and so on act as potential obstacles to 'real world' face to face discussion, but are not as apparent online'  

So when communicating through the internet physical factors are not taken in to account a person can create a whole new identity, which most of the time wouldn't be questioned.

Impact of Facebook Usage on Students’ Academic Achievement: Role of self-regulation and trust 

Introduction.

The paper provides a preliminary analysis of the effects of Facebook usage by

undergraduate students at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden. The proposed research model

tests the perceived effect of personality traits, self-regulation, and trust on students’ achievements.

Based on flow theory, the model suggests negative mediating effects of the use and cognitive

absorption on Facebook, concluding that a decrease occurs in students’ academic performance but a

positive effect on satisfaction with life that would limit this undesirable effect.

Method.

 Paper and pencil survey was run with undergraduate students from Luleå University of

Technology and data from 239 students was used to test the model. SmartPLS software was employed to test the proposed structural equation model.

Results.

 Results indicated an extensive use of Facebook by students with extraverted personalities

leading to poor academic performance. However, students who are more self-regulated more

effectively control their presence on these platforms. Trust in people does not affect their presence

and interaction on this platform. Yet students’ cognitive absorption with Facebook is only regulated

by their self-control and their personality traits, which determines how much time they spend on

Facebook. Multitasking skills moderate the effect of cognitive absorption on academic achievement,

but they do not impede the time spent, frequency, or nature of use or their effect on academic results.

Although students’ satisfaction with life significantly declined due to cognitive immersion into

Facebook, it appeared not to play an effective role in the students’ academic achievement. However,

their performance goal orientation was shown to be a crucial determinant of their university

accomplishments, which would limit the critical effect of their presence on the Facebook platform.

Discussion and Conclusion.

Results support in part earlier conclusions about personality traits that

rule the presence on Facebook. Trust does not impede on Facebook usage as it determines surfers’ use

of Internet. Self-regulation and performance goal orientation characterized the students who are more

in control of this social activity. In turn, this prohibits the apparent negative effect on their academic

performance. Results help students to understand the preliminary consequences of their extensive

usage of Facebook and to better manage their social activities on this platform

This is an extract from a journal I found on Quest, it was published in 2011 by

Sana Rouis1, Moez Limayem 2, Esmail Salehi-Sangari 3

 

 

 

If this group gets...

Looking at websites for how to quite Facebook I found this:
http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/If-this-group-gets-1000-members-my-mom-will-quit-smoking/237088222255

I find it interesting how people make these groups to gain support, yet put a target number for group members. I recently saw one that was if the is group gets 10000 members they'll do a sky dive.
For this to happen the group created surly must relay on random people to either care about the group or just join out of interest?

Sorry i havent posted yet, there has been many problems with trying to join the group!


I thought it would be interesting to post this link up to a documentary called "Catfish"
this could really touch apon certain ideas and questions such as has cyber culture started to over influence peoples decision making in the "real world"






this is the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq_Ha99qXdc



this is the full film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv4UBv5CaIg

How to quit Facebook

Sorry, I haven't posted for a week or so, i've been in Germany.

I've come across a few websites with tips on how to quit Facebook. This is showing that people are worrying about the amount of time they spend on social media and it's becoming more of a nasty habit rather than a website to browse.

http://www.wikihow.com/Quit-Facebook

'The World is Obsessed with Facebook'

This little infographic has some interesting facts about Facebook and how much it is used, it states (in 2011) one in every 13 people have a facebook account, that seems huge, Facebook seems to continue to grow!

Just a thought for doing Primary research we could record our own time spent on Facebook or ask others how they spend time on it etc?