Analysis Of 'Douse The Online Flames'

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Consumed Social media has grown to become a norm in society today. Everyone from young children to elderly persons is using some form of social media. The short essays, “Douse the Online Flames” by Andrew Keen. “Virtual Companionship” by Jeremy Rifkin. “Why Twitter Will Endure” by David Carr. “What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up in Cyberspace” by Brent Staples. Last, “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism” by Christine Rosen. These essays are arguing the negative effects that social media has on people. Social media can be great ways to meet new people from all walks of the Earth. It does have a negative aspect of many people, especially teenagers. Social media decreases one of the most vital developments of human …show more content…

Just about everyone uses social media. Particularly to keep in touch with family and friends, or to post on discussion boards. Tragedies occur daily from the use of social media. The fact some people use it to bully others online which is cyber-bullying. Not a lot of persons are aware of the dangers that can occur from the use of social media. Andrew Keen, the author of “Douse the Online Flames”. Expressed his views on the negative aspects of social media and why people should be careful. He discussed the popular notorious case about cyber-bullying. This case led many schools to discuss the severity of cyber-bullying. Megan Meier, a 13-year-old girl from a suburb of St. Louis, committed suicide in 2006. Meir had an internet friendship with a boy named “Josh. He turned out to be her 47-year-old neighbor Lori Drew. Drew posed as this boy told her that “the world would be a better place without you”. Leading to Megan committing suicide. …show more content…

Status-seekers are on just about every single social media site. Persons who seek satisfaction from other people portray a different personality. A person, who they actually are not like in person. Friendship on social media has a totally different meaning than a “real-life” friends. These friends are not the same as people saw in the flesh. The people on social media who friend and/or follow one is not a real-life friend. She suggests that people get a grasp on the fact that internet friends are not the same as real life friendships. One can fathom her argument. The majority of followers one has social media will never meet them in real life to interact. Indeed, they do not know the true personality of a person. I have a twitter and Instagram account. I have seen people follow me with over 12 thousand followers, I never follow back. They are following back less than 100 people. People who partake in this behavior, find it essential in life to have thousands of followers. They want these followers to feel important. It is the hype of having thousands of followers, little do many know they are status-seekers. Many of these people are vigilant of their profiles. Finding different means of earning more followers. “They are ultimate social currency, public declarations of the intimacy status of a relationship. . . . Every profile is a carefully planned media campaign” (Rosen, 407). She is saying that the social media

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