Arola writes about the ways in which individual design versus templates alter how we are represented in online formats.
In a world where we now are defining ourselves based on
web templates and fill in the blank boxes, what does this mean for how our
identities are shaped and how we view ourselves? When Facebook presents a format
that forces us to look at newsfeed of
others and compare our own lives to these events, how does this play into
esteem formation and an overall healthy sense of self and identity? Where is
the line drawn between who we really are and the version of ourselves that we
project into online platforms?
Selfe urges humanities scholars to pay attention to how literacy and technology are linked together in our country. She specifically references politics and policies that have shaped this relationship.
How might policy be altered to better distribute
resources so that communities with low socioeconomic status and high numbers of
people of color have more equal access to technology? What role do literacy scholars
play in the formation of such policies?
Hi Leah,
ReplyDeleteIn response to your second question, I think that issues of resource distribution would probably need to be addressed gradually over time, being dependent on factors like the casual affordability of computers and internet access being low enough for even impoverished families to support their children's education. If the humanities did a total 180 today and switched entirely over to the digital medium it may actually make it less plausible for children at lower income levels to participate. I think a great first step would be for public schools to try and begin reallocating some of their funding towards investing in more updated computer labs, as well as class curriculums integrating a more regular usage of these labs in order to establish an even playing field for those who may not have readily available internet at home.
Hi Leah,
ReplyDeleteIn response to your first question, I think that the structure of Facebook does cause users to compare themselves to the people that they see in their newsfeed. A big issue with social media is that users tend only to post when things are going very well in their lives. If you scroll through Facebook, you'll most likely see people sharing their new job, posting happy family photos, or reminiscing with friends. It is very rare that we would see someone sharing something embarrassing that happened today or posting a selfie in which they don't look very nice. Because Facebook profiles become a romanticized version of a person's life, it can cause users to develop a lower sense of self-esteem as they wonder why their life can't be as "perfect" as the people they see online.