Nowadays, the advent of tons of social media entirely changes our habit. When my friend didn’t answer my phone call, I can find him/her on Facebook or Whatsapp instead. When I just wake up and open my eyes, I would like to scroll my Instagram and see the news feed around my friends. When I feel bored, I would like to go to Youtube to listen to the music or watch some video uploaded by the other Youtube users. It is undoubted that social media seems like a big part of our life.
According to the popularisation of social media, people, netizens in he global village, are simply getting closer with each other. Place and time limitations are no more hindered us to communicate with the others. Moreover, we have more chances to enrich our social interaction skills. For example, we can meet the strangers over the world through the “SHAKE” function of Wechat and get along with them. Social media allow us to enlarge our circle of friends that we are offered an ocean of platforms to meet new friends and can keep in touch with our friends handily.
Even though the social media are popular with us, they also lead to some demerits on communication.
The barrier of media users are also getting serious. Nowadays we can use Whatsapp not only to send text messages, but also to organise the chatting group. Not to mention it can send images, video, user location and audio media messages and the functions of blue ticks. It is undeniable that a small society can easily be organised on social media. Yet, it doesn’t mean a good friendship can be organised as well. The so-called ‘Friend’ on Facebook isn’t mean that they know each other in the real life. And, seriously, smartphone addicts are being common nowadays. They deprive their chance to communicate and interact with others in the real life which might let the family relationship and the friendship get worsened as well in the long run.
As there is no rose without a thorn, we cannot identify a correct answer that social media will let people understand each other better or let people more detached from each other. Nowadays, the conception of ‘’Public Space’’ is blurred on social network. And we are not clear to recognise our ‘Front’ space and ‘Back’ space to the others. With this in mind, we have to figure out our private area, to set a standard that stop being a formal one, on the platform and cultivate self-restraint when using social media.
Student Name: Lo Hing Lun, Austin
Dear Austin, the discussion of social media is in pretty much detail though it is a short article. For the most part of your writing, the emphasis is on the description of the functions of social media. I am glad to see that you can provide a more analytical conclusion at the end. In your forthcoming writing (i.e. the first portfolio assignment), try to elaborate the analysis by establishing a clearer linkage between your daily experience / observations with the theoretical discussion. In fact, the review of back space and front space is correct here. (Frankie)
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