Final Keypost: Is Tech Really Unhealthy?

As well documented in our class discussions and exploration, technology can be a beautiful thing! However, there are many downsides to modern technology as well. A few we viewed in class were things like younger suicide rates, revenge porn, and cyberbullying. With that being said, I wanted to explore how technology played a role in my life. Is it a good and healthy one, or one I should maybe reconsider?

Starting with the concept of giving technology appropriate time in my life, I would say I actually give it too much time. With a career as a sports journalist, it’s literally my job to be dialed into news that cycles throughout the day. Being late to, or missing a story can be a very big deal. Therefore, I’d say that while I do give too much time to technology, a lot of it is something I’ve felt forced to do. If I had the choice, I would be much less active on my computer and phone.

All that being said, technology is an essential tool that does make its user smarter, depending on how they use it. Because I use my technology to research, conduct business, and help grow my contacts, I would say it’s made me a smarter person. However, those that use their technology to waste time watching funny cat videos (no offense) are likely not gaining the same knowledge. Having the world at our fingertips is a powerful tool and I feel we must take full advantage of what it has to offer.

As I look to my family, friends, and even those much younger than me, I am fearful. I’ve seen firsthand how my niece, who is only a few years younger than I am, can’t stay away from updating her social life. In fact, she can’t even watch a full movie without quickly being distracted by her phone. It really bugs me.

Also, during the summer months, I work at my county’s Parks & Recreation as a summer camp counselor. At this day camp, we do allow our kids to play with their technology at certain times. It’s become so interesting and concerning to me that kids these days have no imagination because of technology’s impact. Once we “unplug them” for the day, they will sit in boredom, feeling like they have nothing to do. It appears that gone are the days children would use their imagination to play with each other, rather than pairing their Nintendo Switch’s to play Mario Kart. It’s scary that at one point, my generation was the age of upcoming technology, but now I have to call upon a six-year-old for assistance.

Overall, while I feel the use of technology in my life is too much, I have come to terms that most of it is necessary. However, as cited in my above paragraphs, I’m heavily concerned about what the future holds if we don’t teach our young the proper uses of this new tech. From an early age, they are taught to be infatuated it with. Parents handoff tablets like lollypops to limit behavioral issues. What is found in turn is the lack of basic human functions and skills. I believe we will see more and more that while this technology is certainly helpful, it will produce many dangerous consequences to our society. It already has.

Sources: http://medlawlit.blogspot.com/p/final-post-prompt.html

Research: TikTok's Diffusion of Innovations

In class, one key concept we learned about this semester was Rogers Diffusion of Innovations. The concept maps out just how ideas, that turn into successful companies, brands, etc, catch on. With new ideas coming out every day, only some of them can truly find their way to the top. 

Currently, one of the most present companies of today’s society is the social media app TikTok. TikTok’s initial presence debuted in 2014 when the app was under the name Music.ly. At the time, users could create short lip-syncing videos to TV show/movie soundbites or popular songs. The app was notable but eventually phased out of popularity rather quickly. 

I would call the users that first joined Music.ly early adopters. These users, usually from a younger demographic, hopped on the trend of using the app while it gained popularity, and most stayed as it transitioned into what it is today. I personally had a Music.ly account, but I never used the app. I honestly just didn’t understand it and it had no appeal to me. However, now I can’t imagine a day I don’t scroll through TikTok. 

Eventually, the company merged with another out of China and became TikTok. The new idea was to allow longer video lengths (up to 60 seconds) without a creativity cap. What I mean is that it was no longer just about music or soundbites, but more about whatever the user wanted to put into the 60-second time slot. This is certainly where the early majority came in. 

The app’s new algorithm tracked what the user would like, comment, and share to produce more of that particular content on its “for you” page. For instance, if you’re a supporter of Joe Biden or Donald Trump, you’ll see content related to those individuals more often. Because I’m a racing fan, I typically see a lot of content that has to do with racing.

As the popularity of this concept and app caught on, the late adopters have started to appear. TikTok truly controls the entertainment industry right now as songs that gain popularity on the app will gain wide popularity on the radio and other places. The app has helped create new stars and celebrities by its power to reach a very wide audience. Notable celebrities have run to the app in hopes to stay relevant. How wide is its reach you wonder? How about 1.29 billion users worldwide and growing.

While the popularity of TikTok doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon, there are people who refuse to join the service. Some just feel it’s not for them while others worry about their privacy. TikTok is known to track their user’s data, in what they say is to make the platform better. However, as its parent company was formerly out of China, President Trump threatened to ban the app unless sold off to an American company, as it became a security threat. 

Whichever way you look at it, you have to admit how amazing the growth of TikTok truly is. For an app that rebranded in 2018, it’s truly changed the shape of our entertainment world. Ask any college or high school student if they use the service, and I guarantee the overwhelming majority will say yes.