Forms of New Media I Use Daily
You can always find me with my smartphone in hand, or at the very least — close by. On a daily basis, I visit Facebook, Google Mail (Gmail), various blogs, news websites, and Google Search. New media helps me feel connected to the world at large.
How New Social Media Influenced My Perspective of Events
Social media has certainly caused me to be more aware of all events. I'm more knowledgeable of what's going on in the world, my town, and my circle of friends.
Social media influences my perspective based on the number of posts I see about a particular event. The more something pops up in my News Feed, the more important I consider it to be. While an event may be minor, if my Facebook circle is talking about, it becomes a 'major' piece of news to me. I can also admit that I'm also quick to assume my friends' posts are factual, without diving deeper into my own research on the topic.
Social media also influences involvement in events, simply by making it easier to get involved. A recent example of this is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Not only did it flood social media sites, but it also resulted in a large number of charitable donations and comedic videos of friends dumping ice water over their heads. The ability to share, connect, and participate via social media is unmatched.
In my opinion, social media's influences are both positive and negative. I enjoy staying informed on current events — from pop culture to international issues — and social media is a great resource. Breaking news is often leaked via social media (e.g. the death of actor Robin Williams). However, users must remember to take each post with a grain of salt and not allow others to influence our perspective. We need to obtain the facts and use our moral compass to shape our perspective.
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