Modern Technology: The Influence of Social Media on Young Audiences

Technology is being developed quicker than ever before. Our generation has become known as the generation reliant on their technology, and as we look around, we see everyone on a cellular. People have become attached to their phones, constantly checking social media sites and their texts. Has this gone too far, that people are becoming disconnected from one another? Are people becoming more and more influenced by what they read on the media?

Felipe Luchi, a Brazilian designer, uses photo manipulation to create powerful and impactful images. In one (or rather two) of his pieces, he demonstrates how our devices can be a “prison” to the human mind, naming the photos “jailhouses” for a “Go Outside Magazine”. Although these images (as shown right) can create a negative look on technology, with the dull colour scheme and the caged look of the iPhone and the computer mouse, it also represents an escape. In both images, Felipe Luchi adds a prisoner escaping out of the “technology cage” in various ways. In the first photo (the iPhone) the prisoner is escaping via digging. In the other, a 
hole in the wall is shown. Through both of these images, Felipe Luchi is showing his audience that although the majority is stuck within this “prison”, there is still a way to escape the virtual world.

The third photo (as shown left) was taken from an article featuring how far teenagers (or pre-teens) could be influenced by what they read on the internet. The article spoke of two girls that had attempted murder on one of their close friends, due to the fact that they believed an online character would harm both them and their family if they hadn’t. On June 3rd 2014, two twelve year old girls had stabbed their friend, and left her alone, after reading a story on the internet. Because they had believed the story to be true, they were frightened into doing this terrible act. It was told that they had been planning to do so over the few months before. Fortunately, the girl was found and made a full recovery. The story was broadcast on both the news and the internet, catching large attention on how badly youth can be influenced and the extremes that they may go to.

Next is the children’s education and health. Instead of “hugging, playing, rough-housing, and conversing with children, parents are increasingly resorting to providing their children with more TV, video games, and the latest [technology]” (Rowan 2013, para.7). As shown in the photo (right) not only is the young girl reaching for the tablet instead of the books, but is also stepping on a pile of books as well. So instead of reaching for the books and reading, the photo represents that more children would rather seek the internet and social media. But although there is a negative outlook on technology now, there is also a positive side. One of the  arguments on technology with children is the “iPads in the Classroom”. A school named “Mounts Bay Academy" was given iPads to all the teachers, and the students. They claimed that the opportunities for the education were limitless, and to them, the "novelty of the iPads in the classroom will never wear off". The teachers said that learning was much easier, helping with internet research, making videos, taking notes, revision, creating music and art, and much more. But, is this dissconnecting us from one another? Teaching students to rely on the new technology, always on the iPads, will they be drawn to it much more, rather than their own colleagues?

The last photo is powerful; as it shows the connection between a person and their phone. The photo was created by a Banksy fan; a graffiti and street artist who depicts society in a matter of pictures, and known for their society views. The picture represents the bond between a person and the media, how they're "a slave to the phone, desperate to it's digital hit" (Condliffe 2014, para.1). It shows this by how the phone is drawn to look like it is becoming a part of us, and in a way, it is. Taking a look around us, everyone (or the large majority) has a phone.Whether it's to text, or to check your social media, it has become a large aspect of today's society.

In conclusion, from some people's standard, this could be seen as a good thing. Learning new ways to communicate, and furthering the field of technology. However, from some people's perspectives, this can also be negative. Creating a large gap between people, and closing the gap between technology. So does technology have an influence on the younger audience, or is it just because we are pushing each other away and into a different view, which is our new reality?

References

Condliffe, J. (n.d.). A vivid reminder that technology can slave us all.

    Retrieved September 2, 2014, from Gizmodo website: http://gizmodo.com/

    a-vivid-reminder-from-banksy-that-technology-can-enslav-1629468521

Santoso, A., & Luchi, P. (n.d.). Prisoner of Technology. Retrieved April 22,

    2013, from Neatorama website: http://www.neatorama.com/2013/04/22/

    Prisoner-of-Technology/

Luchi, F. (2012). Go outside magazine- jailhouses [Illustration]. Retrieved from

    http://felipeluchi.com/59761/522767/advertising/go-outside-magazine-jailhouses

      Felipe Luchi created three images of social media, turning them to

      jailhouses with photo manipulation.

Himelstein, R. (n.d.). How an imaginary online character influenced two teens to

    kill. Retrieved August 13, 2014, from Philly.com website:

    http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/

    How-an-imaginary-online-character-influened-two-teens-to-kill.html

Rowen, C. (n.d.). The impact of technology on the developing child. Retrieved

    May 29, 2013, from Huff Post; Screen Sense website:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/

    technology-children-negative-impact_b_3343245.html