It is interesting how social media networks have molded their users. Since mid July, I have had the privilege of managing and socializing California State University, Chico’s social media networks. Getting paid to click through everything from Facebook statuses to Twitter’s infamous “@” world of single-line perspectives. Ironically, I have never been a big socialite. My true-self is more of a “I’ll listen to you and say something.., maybe” and “I like books, drawing, and running/cycling alone” kinda guy. I sometimes think people speaking to me tend to find me intimidating (may not be the word I’m looking for). Either way I tend to listen contently without much interaction. Today, everyone is talking – not many are listening. So I listen, making philosophical assumptions, and going about my day. SO! How in the world does a semi-introvert philosopher find himself at the glowing screen of a CSU’s social media network? Thousands of potential students, current students, alumni, parents, and general Chico fans are at the will of my digital megaphone. Oh’ the power! Woah! Have I come to join the gold rush of social interaction, jumping on the social bandwagon, and mining my way through trivial life-statuses? Or am I simply playing a “part”? Playing a part on an artificial-digital-world stage… ? Is it artificial? Okay, the philosophy isn’t helping right now.
Throughout my time as the “social media intern” I have decided to focus closely on what social media has become. I hope that I can interact with readers through WordPress. We can make some assumptions together.
I should share something about myself. My name is Chris Trudell. I am a 22 year-old male, college student at CSU, Chico (of course), and an English Education and Philosophy major. May seem that an English major isn’t well suited for a Public Affairs / social networking intern position. Shouldn’t it be a sociology major? Or a public relations student? Or someone obsessed with Facebooking, tweeting, stalking, and tagging pictures? However, I am fascinated with the -FACT- that, because of the internet (WEB 2.0 +), people are reading and writing more than any other time in human history. That, to me, is pretty cool. I’m an individual curious of the human element and condition. I can say that I “believe” and have a “faith” that the ability and practice of reading and writing is possibly the most powerful tool known to man. I am not very good at the practice, yet I have ideas. I would say that my primary focus in college has been how technology, or digital medias, have impact the educational world (especially written works). Then there is this entire different cup of tea. There was a YouTube video which struck a serious key with me. Professor Mike Wesch of Kansas State University, studies mediated culture, and successfully brings the ideas of Media Ecology and Cultural Anthropology together. I was shown this video in a Literacy/Writing Theory class focusing on composition tutoring — and realized to be a successful teacher today, one has to embrace the extremely rapid spinning growth of “Media Ecology”. I’ve been growing a perspective that the digital world is becoming incredibly ingrained into our culture and most importantly a part of our education. Now how has or will digital media shape the educational world? HUGE, right? Well it is.
There are three main themes in Media Ecology and education: 1). reading and writing (literacy), 2). digital identity vs. daily identity, and 3). the exchange of information. The reading and writing part is natural. It simply happens because it is the center of the function of the internet (TEXT). Like I said earlier, imagine all of the people who are reading and writing on the internet / video games at this moment. Astronomical and very cool. The exchange of information in an education context is worth studying. What users (you and me) read and write about is worth learning about. I like to call this the “user generated standard”. Users, by popularity and even emotional reactions, decide what is worth sharing, exchanging, blogging, and tweeting about. In an education context, institutions should embrace what is being read and written about, and develop links or threads to informational and academic discourses. Thanks to the internet the “elite standard” of literacy has started to buckle and crumble. The users are in control. Anyone is a published writer and/or critique of anything on the world wide web (books, food, products, movies, music, etc.). Finally, what is possibly most interesting is the concept of identity. I will leave that topic for any readers:
Is there a difference in digital identities vs. public in-person identities? Does social media system allow for people to create their own image of self? Finally, what are the greater-future impacts of this blurred line of identity?
Posted on August 16, 2010
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