COMM 565 - The Technological Phenomenon of Play

Since technology has had such a vast impact on work and school, it is natural these technological advances would also affect our personal lives as well. Our society is enamored with our smart phones, tablets, and social media. Or so it seems.

An article written by Jenny L. Davis discusses our society’s relationship between social media and the Internet as being ambivalent. Davis uses experiential accounts from 231 subjects to perform a Facebook-based qualitative study. She argues that this relationship is neither utopian nor dystopian in nature (as some may argue) and, based on her study, concludes our feelings towards social media are ambivalent. She goes on to state that the key is to diagnose social media ambivalence and even associates similar feelings regarding medical enhancement technologies. Ultimately, the question lies in an uncertainty of technological effects as well as the relationship between technological objects and morality. She concludes with the poignant observation that society can “log off” or “disconnect” from social media no more than the decision to not own a vehicle precludes a person from navigating the transportation system. How does this information affect the way communication professionals engage with target audiences?

Regardless of how we may feel towards technology and social media one thing is for certain: some things are still black and white. For example, the case of Bland v. Roberts, argues clicking “like” on Facebook qualifies as speech. Former sheriff’s deputies in Hampton, VA claim the Sheriff violated their First Amendment rights by choosing not to reappoint them based on their lack of political affiliation with him during his campaign. In fact, one deputy clicked “like” on the Facebook page of the Sheriff’s opponent and subsequently posted supporting comments. According to the court, clicking “like” on the Sheriff’s opponent’s Facebook page caused the opponent’s page and name to appear on the user’s Facebook feed. The court stressed that social media offers individuals a powerful message board to communicate his or her views through the click of a button. This is another example of how social media is affecting everyone, including communication professionals.

In addition, social media platforms such as YouTube have allowed many individuals to be recognized for their hobbies or passions. For example, Noah Guthrie started out posting his renditions of cover songs on YouTube and gained so much notoriety that he is how touring the country promoting his own album of original songs. You can read more about his journey here.

Davis, J. (2012). Social Media and Experiential Ambivalence. Future Internet, 4, 955-970.

doi: 10.3390/fi4040955