How Technology Shapes Who I Am and How I Connect with Others
Introduction
👉 To be honest, technology has changed a lot about how I imagine myself. Between social media and all the platforms, I use, my online presence feels like a whole other version of me. Sometimes, it’s fun to experiment with how I present myself online, like sharing photos or posts that show different sides of who I am. But other times, I wonder if I’m just overly concerned about how I look to others, instead of just being myself. I read somewhere (Turkle, 2011) that technology lets people try on different identities, and I agree with that. For me, it’s a mix of figuring out who I really am and managing other’s perception of me.
Technology and Relationships
👉 Technology makes communication way easier. I can message friends, video call family, and chat anytime, which is awesome, especially when people live far away. Research even says that online communication helps people stay close despite distance (Hampton et al., 2011). However, I admit that sometimes texting or social media feels a bit disconnected. I miss the depth of a real conversation, with all the body language and tone. Additionally, social media can be complicated, like everyone posts the highlights of their lives, and sometimes it makes me feel like I’m missing out or not measuring up. It can be stressful sometimes when I am not able to catch up with the ongoing digital stuff such as Instagram trends and fashions, I feel disconnected in digital group conversations.
🎥 In a brief CBS Miami video, individuals reflect on how technology shapes identity and relationships. Watch here.
Technology and Community
👉 The positive side of technology is that I’ve discovered communities that I probably wouldn’t have come across in real life. There are groups and forums which resonate with my interests or causes I’m passionate about, and they truly feel like places where I belong. Howard Rheingold talked about how virtual communities can be meaningful even when people are not physically present (Rheingold, 1993), and I’ve definitively seen that. Even so, I try not to get caught only online – I try to avoid the echo chambers that virtually homogeneous thinking creates, and it’s not ideal at all. I balance it out with face-to-face interaction.
💬 A Quora discussion highlights how online communities can offer emotional support and meaningful dialogue. Read the thread.
https://www.communitytech.network/.
Technology and Self-Expression
👉 As for self-expression, I do not see anything that stops me from expressing who I am creatively. These days, there are many platforms that allow people to create posts, share photos, and upload videos. I also sometimes share my interests and also communicate with others who understand my perspective. Henry Jenkins says that digital culture allows all of us to be creators and not just passive consumers of content (Jenkins, 2006). Sharing creative work has boosted confidence in the digital world while helping people connect with other people that truly value the content shared. My best friend is a sketch artist, she has a Instagram page and posts her work on it, I have seen and experienced while with her how social media boosted her.
Looking Ahead
👉 Future considerations make me feel both excited and a bit apprehensive about the impact of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality. While the idea of VR making togetherness experiences feel more real sounds incredible, I’m concerned about privacy implications and the erosion of authentic relationships (Nadkarni & Hofmann, 2012). Addressing this concern will require finding a balance where technology enhances human connection rather than substituting it with virtual experiences devoid of the beautiful chaos of humanity.
References
Hampton, K., Sessions, L. F., Her, E. J., & Rainie, L. (2011). Social networking sites and our lives. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewinternet.org/2011/06/16/social-networking-sites-and-our-lives/
Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. NYU Press.
Nadkarni, A., & Hofmann, S. G. (2012). Why do people use Facebook? Personality and Individual Differences, 52(3), 243-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.11.007
Rheingold, H. (1993). The virtual community: Homesteading on the electronic frontier. Addison-Wesley.
Turkle, S. (2011). Alone together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other. Basic Books.
BY: Prabhjot Kaur Badesha
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