‘Social Media’ vs ‘Anti-Social' Media?

Are so-called ‘Social Media’ electronic gadgets and websites really social? Or are they actually ‘Anti-Social' Media? 
At first glance, many people seem so caught up in their little electronic ‘social media’ gadgets they appear oblivious to the rest of real life actually going on around them. They seem in a world of their own; obsessed by their electronic devices, often seeming to be preventing others from entering their ‘personal space’ in any way. 
Are these people implicitly or explicitly sending the message to others to leave them alone; so they can continue their unrelenting orgy of e-mailing or text messaging, or listening to music flooding their eardrums through their earphones big and small?

‘Social Media’ or ‘Anti-Social' Media?

It’s been said that people are social animals. But are people who seem consumed by their electronic devices and other ‘social media’ really being social? Or are they essentially keeping others at bay with their latest or favorite hand-held gadget and earphones, or by obsessing over so-called 'social media' websites? 

Do so many of these poor souls succumb to these electronic obsessions because they’re afraid to interact with other humans; perhaps uncomfortable conversing with others? Do these electronic gadgets merely provide an easy and somewhat temporary escape from the routines and drudgeries of daily life? 

Or are those who seem consumed by their ‘social media’ electronic gadgets actually being anti-social—at the expense of interacting with other humans in-person?

Out of Control

Blocking things and people out with earphones is not a new concept, of course. As a boy I had my transistor radio, with earphones, which I took with me while walking. Having my radio helped make my walk a bit more fun and interesting; my own form of ‘social media’ before the term was ever contemplated. My daughter Heather had her disc-man as a teenager, for similar reasons.

But these days, the ubiquitous ‘social media’ seem out of control; or at least some aspects of ‘social media’ could be doing more harm than good—especially when those who seem preoccupied with ‘social media’ appear anti-social in the process; by seeming unwilling to be interrupted for a little ‘social contact’ with another human being.

Observations

From my daily observations of many people, younger and older, walking on sidewalks, riding in buses, driving cars, sitting in coffee shops…many seem immobilized and utterly enamored by their ‘social media’ gadgets; oblivious to anything or anyone else in their vicinity--as they might once have been captivated by an interesting conversation with another human.

But now, those who seem addicted to electronic 'social media' gadgets often seem to be knowingly or unwittingly blocking out anyone who is physically nearby, who might want to speak with them, even briefly. 

By having their electronic devices either plugged into their ears, or staring at the small screen and continually reading or sending seemingly endless text messages, or going on Facebook or the internet at almost any location, these people send the message that they don’t want to be bothered by other humans.

‘Social Media’ Misleading 

In these contexts, then, the term ‘Social Media’ seems a misnomer; wrongly suggesting all ‘social media’ devices and activities are designed to help users have healthy human interactions with others, all the time; to help people enhance their social lives. 

But is this always so? Not according to many of my students in the fall 2012 semester at a Canadian community college; where I taught two sections of a course called WRIT—critical thinking-reading-writing—to first-year students.

Facebook Harmful? 
I had my students first read an article, ‘Facebook is Killing Communication,’ in class about the perceived pros and cons of this online gathering place; and then write a response essay in class, critically analyzing the author’s comments.

The author, Emile Visage, acknowledged Facebook is the premier 'social media' place to go online to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. But he also claimed Facebook is a hazard to users because it "erodes" valuable face-to-face communication skills and leads to "shallow" relationships.
“People treat the number of friends they have on the network as a status symbol—a sign that they are somehow liked and needed...Making friends requires trust, effort, and compassion. Simply accepting a friend to be added to a list is not friendship—it is a game, and a shallow one at that,” said Visage.

Students Agreed Facebook Unhealthy

Interestingly, and to my surprise, many students in both of my classes, who go on Facebook every chance they get, also agreed, in their essays, that many of their Facebook ‘friends’ really aren’t true friends at all.
In these students' essays, some actually noted the real goal in adding ‘friends’ to their own Facebook page is to build their own feelings of self-importance by having large numbers of online followers who ‘like’ them enough to be ‘Facebook friends.’

One student even said anyone on Facebook who has fewer than about 100 ‘friends’ on his or her Facebook page is generally considered a loser. To me, this strongly suggests there is or can be a bullying and humiliation aspect to Facebook, which has been borne out in some real-life news stories; leading Facebook to potentially seem like a horribly oppressive and demeaning online atmosphere.

Yet, no doubt there are many merits to Facebook--and to other ‘social media’ sites and activities, as well, depending on how they are used.

No Facebook

In the interests of so-called ‘full disclosure,’ another of today’s popular terms, it might not be a surprise to learn I am not a Facebook fan. In fact I have been on the site only once; to look at a photo my long-time good friend Mike posted to his own page, of himself with a guitar when he was about 8 years old. He was cute. 

But my main problem with Facebook isn’t its perceived superficiality, which my students duly noted in their critical response essays about the Facebook article they read. I don’t go on Facebook because I’m mainly concerned about its well-known privacy issues—specifically, that Facebook users apparently have little or no control over how Facebook owners can or might use individuals’ personal material they post on their own pages.

Other ‘Social Media’ Behaviors Questionable

As for other so-called ‘social media,’ many people still drive while watching an electronic device instead of the road. They seem so intent on keeping their eyes on the latest e-mail or text message that pedestrians and other living things appear unimportant while they’re behind the wheel of their potential killing machine.

Many who seem obsessed with their electronic gadgets also walk down sidewalks, and across intersections—busy or otherwise--staring at their little devices—instead of heeding other pedestrians they could hit in their electronic stupor; and instead of watching for motor vehicles that could hit them. 

Incredibly, these particular pedestrians seem to blindly and blithely surrender their safety to their electronic gadgets while out for a stroll: they look down at their little device while walking; instead of looking up and watching where they’re going.

‘Anti-Social' Media Seems to Prevail

I see these and other kinds of related scenarios happening every day, outdoors and indoors. The electronic gadget users usually seem so wrapped up in their devices they appear to consciously or unintentionally block other individuals and the rest of the world around them out of their lives in those precious electronic moments. 

Sadly, those electronic moments invariably seem more important to the ‘social media’ gadget user than human interaction with others—including friends or family--who might be nearby, even in the same room; which can lead the electronic ‘social media’ user to actually appear engrossed in ‘anti-social' media.