Week 2 - Social Media: Necessity or Liability?

Social media has become a great part of our lives in the modern days. Ever since the emergence of social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, large numbers adolescents and even young working adults have been immersed into these cyber places. We are now living in the Facebook age. There are two arguments as to whether this has become a necessity or a liability to us. In the following paragraphs, I will seek to explain to you my views on both ends and which one I am inclined towards.

A Necessity?

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

This theory posits that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. When one need is fulfilled, a person seeks to fulfil the next one. Each need has to be met in order for people to move up to the next stage. In image 2.0, the 5 stage model represents the order of needs to be met.

Image 2.0

The most basic need is physiological needs (e.g., survival through food, water, shelter, sleep), followed by safety needs (e.g. protection from elements, law, stability), social needs (e.g. a sense of belonging to family and friends, love, affections, relationships), esteem needs (a relatively moderate self-esteem, independence, mastery) and lastly self-actualisation (realising personal potential, self-fulfilment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences).

Zooming in on social needs

With the rise in popularity in social media, engaging in social media is the fastest, most efficient solution to meeting people's social need. Facebook is the one of the most popular go-to site for millions of adolescents and young adults because that is where their friends interact in high frequency and intensity.  

A Liability?

However, critics like myself argue that social media has become more of a liability rather than a necessity in the 21st Century. Instead of meeting social needs, I feel that social media sites, namely Facebook and Twitter, have caused social isolation instead! People spend more time on Facebook, checking for updates and notifications, than on having meaningful face-to-face interaction. The idea where they have more than a hundred friends viewing their status or tweets helps them to feel popular, wanted and needed but in reality, real friendships are breaking up. We slowly lose our natural sense of relation, not knowing how to relate to one another face-to-face, being awkward with our body language and facial expressions after being accustomed to computer-mediated communication and hiding behind our screens. We become socially inept in person… Friendships and relationships become more awkward. 

The following video rightfully, completely, and beautifully explains loneliness due to the pervasive power of social media.

For all of us who are so connected at the expense of having meaningful sincere conversations:

The Innovation of Loneliness

So what do YOU think? Is social media really helping you meet your social needs? Or is the comfort that social media gives illusory? Popcorn your thoughts and comments into the comments section below! 

P.S. No H8 (;

Week 1 - 5 Reasons why I use the Internet

I use the Internet because it gives me access to places while I am on the go. The Internet is the interconnection of networks, which in short gives us the power to access almost all kinds of information and knowledge out there in the world. You can Google what you want within a few seconds of pressing the Enter button. No wonder there is a saying that goes "Google is your best friend". Here are some of the reasons why I like to use the Internet (in no particular order):

1. The Internet is accessible everywhere! (well, almost.) Having my iPhone 4 with me everywhere I go allows me to access the Internet straight away. One swipe of the "slide to unlock" button can bring me straight into YouTube and load a video. With a 3G data plan, I can access it without worrying about the lack of WiFi. However, there are also a minority of places or districts where there is no accessible signal so even if I had a data plan, I would not have any access to the Internet.

More appliances are now connected to the Internet. My printer, television, xbox and PS3 are now able to get connected to the Internet. How can one not escape from the abundant accessibility! According to my lecturer, even refrigerators and microwave ovens might become connected online as well! The thought that my refrigerator can deny me access due to calories count is rather amusing... and maybe annoying.

2. Internet links you up to tutorials through YouTube and many other video sharing sites. The ability to watch videos online is a huge given as to why I like to use the Internet. Searching "how to beatbox" or "Do You Love Me dance tutorial" can bring you to a wide array of simple tutorials for all levels of expertise, especially for beginners like me. Nowadays, we don't have to sign up for a guitar class and pay a hefty amount just to pick up this skill. But of course, the Internet can't keep you disciplined. If you're not disciplined enough to learn and practice, you would have to pay for it.

3. It helps with storage optimization. Due to digitalization(basically, the conversion of prints to digital formats), I am able to download and read magazines and books through my MacBook Air or iPad without having to store books in shelves. Although I'm a fan of the physical books, I live in a small apartment that is getting very much clustered. Thus for magazines and books that have become obsolete or have lost my interest, I would have to discard it. Going instead of print, especially for magazines because, will save me the trouble of limited storage and maybe even the guilt for wasting paper!

4. With the recent addition of Apple TV at home, my family can download and pay a small amount, say $7, for any High-definition movie and watch it in the comfort of our own home! We don't have to pay for car fuel consumption due to traveling to the theatres, nor do we need to pay a total of $21 for the tickets! I can even watch Sherlock, a highly recommended television series broadcasted by BBC, multiple times at a much cheaper price than importing the DVDs (which can be $50 or more)!

5. Live streaming - taking over the Television? One major factor is the ability to access television shows live while they are being broadcasted on television sets at the same time. I have been recently addicted to Running Man and watching through live streaming sites keeps me engage. Since we are able to watch shows through the computers or tablets, televisions might one day become obsolete if they do not think up of ways to up their standards. Which explains why Samsung is now integrating their television sets with the Internet!


Most of the time, youths use the Internet for entertainment! Yes basically anything that is entertaining can be found through the Internet. From watching movies and television shows, listening to music to reading ebooks, youths and young adults alike can be constantly engaged and entertained. The Internet is now a world not governed by a country, not run by corporations, but now controlled and owned by individuals. It is a free platform yet it is highly controlled by the world.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed reading this post, do leave your comments below! Do you agree? Or disagree? (: or popcorn any thoughts that you have about this!

Digital Genesis

Craving for some digital action?
Watch this space! (: