Social Media Unplug
Episode summary introduction: Welcome to another episode of New Media Blitz. I’m your host Ang B., and today we are going to discuss the monopoly that is social media.
Main points in episode:
· Cellphones, computers, tablets, smart TVs, social media websites…digital media has taken control of everyday lives, while also changing the ways in which we communicate with one another. Media Essentials: A Brief Introduction says, “The need to communicate with others – to tell stories, to persuade, to entertain and be entertained, to share values and ideas – is a defining feature of what it means to be human.” [We spend the majority of our 24-hour day connected – our ideas, wants, and needs are shaped by what we see and hear on Instagram, Fabebook, Twitter, TikTok, and so on and so forth.
· The Instagram Terms of Use explicitly states: “When you share, post, or upload content that is covered by intellectual property rights (like photos or videos) on or in connection with our Service, you hereby grant to us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate, and create derivative works of your content (consistent with your privacy and application settings).”
· First Amendment rights are NOT protected by privately owned social media companies. You CAN and WILL be censored as they see fit.
Discussion questions:
· What do we agree to when we sign-up for social media accounts?
· How can we disconnect from social media in healthy ways?
Resources:
Campbell, A., Martin, C., Fabos, B., Harmsen, S. (2020). Media Essentials: A Brief Introduction.Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Terms of Use. (2020, December 20). Instagram. Retrieved February 4, 2021, from https://help.instagram.com/581066165581870
Calls-to-action:
· I encourage you to look at the Terms of Use of your favorite social media platform.
· Disconnect from social media for 24-72 hours. If you’re braver, try to disconnect for a week.
· When you disconnect, keep a daily written journal. Share in it some things that you may have gotten accomplished, clarity from not reading everyone else’s thoughts on a loop, or any other feelings and discoveries you may have.
