Technology is constantly changing and adapting. Everyday new programs are developed, new social media sites claim the lime light, and new ways to communicate with family and friends are discovered. In my short 21 years of being on this planet, the most influential communications technologies that I have been exposed to are: internet, television and cell phones. These technologies have brought great knowledge and understanding to my life, however, it also can hinder learning.
Internet: In my opinion, the fastest and best way to gain information on
any given topic at any given time, however not always reliable. The
internet is a fantastic place to spend countless hours on and
inadvertently learn hundreds of, well, random stuff. We can learn that
Pluto is not actually a planet and then one minute later learn a
specific recipe for Pumpkin Pie. This is great and all, but how reliable
is the information you're reading?
Television: One of the easiest and (use to be) best ways to gain information on the world, your town, your community, and even just to relax and unwind. In my younger years (until about age 18) I found that television began shaping my life. For example, I found trying to emulate characters in Boy Meets World to be that "cool" guy, or maybe I found a sense of "friendship" when watching Pokemon. However not all television is "good." In regards to news and current events, television is a very negative place to be, stories are skewed due to political belief, and most stories on the news are disheartening or tragic, there is very little good left in TV.
Cell Phones: This technology I don't see having a bad aspect to it. I now can call my family and friends whenever I need them, whether I be in a crisis, or I want to say hello. Information can get transferred almost immediately.
Because of these technologies I have learned to be quite independent in my thinking. I have certain beliefs and lack-of-beliefs due to what I have learned on the internet in addition to the channels that I choose to watch on a daily basis (I don't watch much television anymore however.) I've learned that not all the information you are given is accurate and you need to be somewhat self-sufficient in your thinking, to weed out the garbage from the truth.
My uses of these technologies in comparison to the young people in the video are somewhat similar. We all use technology to better our understandings of the world, to communicate with people, to share what we love, and to constantly expand our knowledge.
