Can Facebook Show Narcissism?

Do you know anyone who uses Facebook to promote themselves? I know I do. I can think of plenty of people who use profile pictures and write things to make his or her self look better than they might actually be. We all know then narcissist people in everyday life, but can people be narcissist online? According to the article I read this week, they can be. I think that it all comes down to how people are sometimes not afraid to act how they really are when online. When someone really does think highly of themselves, that will show on their Facebook profile. Research showed that the people who are more obsessed with themselves have more friends and more wallposts. They have many more shallow relationships. It seems to be more about quantity than quality. This is also true with real life self-obsessed people.

I know a lot of people that convey a totally different image of themselves on their Facebook profile. The interesting thing is that this behavior is easily identifiable by others. We learned about this in class when we talked about online dating and profiles and how people put themselves up on a pedestal sometimes. I don’t think that I would be able to tell at first glance of their Facebook profile how self-obsessed a person is, but I can see how after comparing and contrasting profiles, one can come to these types of conclusions.

According to the article, research has consistently showed that these types of web pages, including social networking, are much more popular among the narcissist people. Does that mean that most of us [college students] are self-obsessed? I don’t think so. I think it is all in the image that you put out there for yourself and the level of interaction that you engage in with your social networking friends.

First Communication, then Content, Contact, Cost

How much can parents really monitor what their kids are doing online? The article that I recently read pointed out that while parents may be able to see what their children are doing on a computer in the house, it is much more challenging to supervise what their child is doing online at school, a friend’s, or even on their smart phone. After numerous articles, books, and even television series, parents and their children are very aware of the risks of online sexual predators.

Similar to what we discussed in class, this article points out that for children, the internet can be for great benefit and detriment. As stated in my last post, technology can be used to create a better learning environment and to improve student to teacher interaction. I don’t think it is necessary for me to give examples of the negative things that the internet can do. There are many examples of kids who have gotten themselves into trouble by posting things online that are personal and these things followed them as they grew up.

The author of this article informs parents to follow three simple rules. She calls them the “Three C’s,” but also urges parents to first use communication with their children. Let them know the boundaries and the risks. Then, consider content, contact, and cost. These “Three C’s” can be beneficial for parents who do not pride themselves in knowing a lot about technology. You can ask a salesperson what kind of content your child will be able to view and if you can filter what he or she sees. You can ask if he or she will be able to communicate with others and if you can monitor that as well. Lastly, it is important for a parent to know how much money they will be spending. For instance, will ringtones and applications cost and are you able to monitor the use of those? Basically, the author is stressing that a parent much ask these types of questions before many any technology purchases in order to keep their children safe.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26747108/

Cellphones: Educational?

The article that I read for this week’s blog had to do with the welcoming of cell phone use in college classrooms. Surprisingly, more and more college professors are encouraging the use of cell phones for learning in their classrooms. Many colleges and universities are handing out or contemplating handing out iphones instead of laptops. They are less expensive, more efficient, and have the capability to do more with. Much like the laptop did many years ago, handing out iphones seems bizarre and unneeded to many people today, but it is projected to be the norm in a few years. Podcasts, social networking, Instant Messenger, and E-mail are already all very useful things in the education realm. One can do all of these things on a smartphone.

Another thing to bring to a college or university’s attention is that many more students have cell phones upon arrival to college while most students are forced to purchase laptops if one is not handed to them. One of the writers even said that a smartphone will be just as important to education in a few years as the book bag is today. They point out that when all students have smartphones, they will be in a 24/7 learning environment. Many teachers are still, not surprisingly, resistant to the idea of allowing cell phones in the classroom. They have the idea that cell phones are used for cheating and distracting students. Will this still be the case in school wide distribution of smartphones? Will teachers one day be able to monitor the smartphone like they can the laptop in the classroom? This will be a very hard transition for many traditional and old fashioned teachers. I would imagine that it would be for teachers that understand the benefits of technology as well. Do you think Dr. Corso will ever allow cell phones in his electronic communications class?

The possibilities seem endless. For one thing, the use of smartphones will provide instant communication with teachers and students at all times. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? There are many software programs that allow teachers to create educational games for their students to play in order to practice for an exam or just to learn. How much easier would it be to flip open your phone and have all of the information at your fingertips than to lug all of your books on the bus ride home to study.

"Cell phones welcome in some classrooms:Devices used to check schedules, take quizzes at various college campuses"from MSNBC.com

A Grasp on Graspr

I must say the finding an article or issue that concerns computer mediated communication was easier than I could have ever imagined. While in the tub this afternoon, I opened the USA today only to find an article about a woman named Teresa Phillips (left), who is from a small Kansas town. Phillips started an online networking web site called Graspr that is specifically designed for people to increase their knowledge. It’s a huge library of how-to video’s submitted by 1,200 producers. Phillips had a question that she had a hard time finding an answer too once, and came up with the idea for this website. She had a vision for an easy and affordable way for people to become smarter.

Now Phillip’s website is not the only one out there. Apparently, there are many other websites that are attempting to be open forums for how-to videos. Much like many of the social networking sites that we have looked at in class, Graspr gives viewers an opportunity to message each other, post and reply to posts on each video, and learn more about the contributor. One of the more unique things about this site is the opportunity that it gives viewers to edit and make their own videos better before submitting them.

I think that Teresa Phillip’s project is significant to what we have been talking about in class because of her story and the story of the website. She was raised on a farm, knew nothing about computers or networking, and has made millions by starting this site only a year ago. Phillips did earn her bachelors and go on to join the military and then worked with Yahoo for several years before leaving to start Graspr. The online business was started late 2006 and has already earned 471 million dollars since then. It just proves that people today are looking for an easy way to be better at something. Some of the videos are of mindless, simple things while others are very complex and educational. The website is also very user-friendly and provides opportunities to constantly improve the videos as well. People can comment and make suggestions on a better way to do something. I’m willing to bet that, like many other non-relational intended websites, relationships of both a romantic and non-romantic nature have been formed in this site.

http://www.graspr.com/

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The writers and producers of this episode of Buffy are trying to communicate how the use of computer mediated communication can be dangerous and deadly. There are hardly any scenes where the positive aspects of CMC are demonstrated. The writers are conveying a message to the audience that the internet is dangerous and will only become more dangerous in the future. The older man in the show is ridiculed for not being very computer savvy and he is smart for not trusting the evils of the internet. The monster that was released onto the net is evil in everyday life, but is much more easily accessible on the internet. He is also about to reach a larger amount of people faster.

This is a different message than what we have been discussing in class. In Buffy, the internet cannot be used for good or bad depending on what you chose. The writers make it seem as if the internet is an evil tool no matter what your motives are. It also brings to focus the absence of reality in CMC. Willow falls hard for someone she knows nothing about. She feels safe with him and shares information with him that she would not share with anyone else. She has not had a lot of experience in the dating field and feels that the online relationship she built over chatting is real and valuable.

In this episode, when all the things that a computer can do are pointed out, they are all for bad. A computer brings “love, power, and knowledge,” says Malcolm’s creator. When using a computer, one can “change traffic lights, destroy the world’s economy, release nuclear missiles, and convince a perfectly nice kid to kill someone.” The writers are presenting only negative aspects of the internet and internet based communications in this episode.

It is also important to note that the writers show the vulnerability of people on the internet and how easy it is to get wrapped up in emotions with someone that doesn’t exist. Although it is a cheesy show about vampires, the issues are real, present in our society, and dangerous for our future.