R1- Adjusting to Social Media

      

       In Nancy Baym's essay Making New Media Make Sense, she directs her attention to the ways in which the media has handled the shift, creation, and inclusion of new media into society and the ways in which it effects change in communication. In her essay, she dedicates the quote,"What once seemed marvelous and strange, capable of creating greatness and horror, is now so ordinary as to be invisible" (29) to the understanding of how individuals adjust to new forms of social interaction, especially ones that use non-traditional forms of communication, such as with any social media platform. I found this particular quote to be quite interesting in regards to my own reflections upon my introduction to social media in the mid to late 2000s during Facebook's arrival into, as Baym calls, the domestication of technology. During this time, I was, like most, hesitant to willing put my personal information onto the internet for anyone to see. However, as time passed, I became more open to the idea of staying in touch with friends through the uses of social media. 

        Let a few years pass, and one can see how easily the notion of social media-based fear has nearly disappeared and that Facebook has now been integrated into our daily lives to the point where we are unable to fathom a life without it. The website, Lifewire (run by About.com), recently broke down the meaning of the term social media. In its essay the reader was able to get a clear understanding of what encompasses and defines social media, and how to tell it apart from other terms like social networking. This useful beginners guide gives detailed explanations to all aspects of new media that have erupted in the past few years. Even touching on topics such as gifs and vlogging. I believe this breakdown of social media is best suited for those who would be considered digital immigrants. For instance, Lifewire explained the difference between social media and social networking by saying, "Although the difference is subtle, they're not the same. Social networking is really a subcategory of social media. The easiest way to understand the difference between social media and social networking is by thinking about the terms 'media' and 'networking' separately"  This article also serves as a way to see how far new media has progressed and effected peoples' lives.

     

Sources: Baym, Nancy. Personal Connections in the Digital Age. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010.                                Print.
              Nations, Daniel. "What Is Social Media? Explaining The Big Trend" Lifewire. 09 March                              2017. Web.