Blog Post #3: Instagram's Transformation from Photography to Marketing by Stella Aisenshtat
The Guardian article titled "Facebook aware of Instagram's harmful effect on teenage girls, leak reveals" speaks to the negative impact social media platforms have on teenagers, specifically girls. According to this article, the main issue causing depression and anxiety among Instagram users is what Facebook data scientists call "social comparison". I briefly mentioned this in my last blog post, how "Influencers" portray a false image of reality that pushes an unattainable standard of beauty and life by altering the shared truth of popular culture. Baym discusses four perspectives on the relationship between technology and society, all of which can help us further understand the anxiety about the interactive nature of social media as evidenced in the aforementioned Guardian article. Namely, the perspective of the social shaping of technology. In other words, technologies have the potential to force change upon society but, simultaneously, individuals...
I mostly relate to your third question. I believe that I could have spent time elsewhere and done something more productive rather than watch endless social media. I believe that we should try to minimize our usage, not necessarily abstain from it altogether. We could pick up new hobbies or new hustles that could make some money. I think that too much time on social media is sometimes a waste of time. Especially since we are being commodified, and it is considered valuable to companies.
ReplyDeleteHey Noah,
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading your post. I specifically liked the part where you mention that in our modern-day, individuals are judged due to their presence on social media. I totally agree with this as I have personally experienced something similar. How do you think our society can move a way from this mindset? Overall, great post.