Browsing: Facebook

If your realization is that you really don’t know all that much about journalism, don’t worry — you’re not the only one. Mob mentality spreads like fire on the internet, and it’s all too easy to connect the negativity and offensiveness of what’s happening in our world to the source that reports it. But we ask you, please, don’t shoot the messenger.

It’s difficult to conceptualize a solution to propaganda on social media. However, what we can do is check the source of the media we consume. Is this a 35-year-old filming commentary in their mom’s basement or an article from The Wall Street Journal?

One of the most popular topics for false news is politics. It’s almost impossible to scroll down a timeline without seeing someone post an article saying President Barack Obama is a secret Muslim, or Ted Cruz wants to deport you.

On Saturday, I chose to temporarily deactivate my Facebook profile.

I invent various excuses for why I did this. I just need to focus on school or I had a really awkward encounter with someone and need to be incognito for at least six months until the shame goes away. But the truth is this: Facebook often makes me feel like an failure.

Dear old-fashioned, outdated, face-to-face communication: We are no longer in need of your service, but thanks anyways – we have Facebook.

Cell phones, social media sites and computers – to name a few – seem to be replacing authentic, face-to-face communication. I remember the days where sitting at the dinner table each night consisted of conversational replies other than, “Oh, sorry mom, what? I didn’t hear you, I was texting my friends back,” or, “Hold that thought while I post how much fun we’re having on Instagram.”

Fellow students, we all remember a time when we checked Facebook five times a day, each time taking 30-45 minutes scrolling through other people’s statuses and photos. Some of us have proudly narrowed that down to two times a day now. And only for about 10 minutes each (hopefully).

Think back to this past summer for a minute. I know it’s hard to do with the weather finally starting to get chilly here in Waco, but reflect on those sunny days. The time spent lounging by the pool. The time when Google+ was supposed to be the Facebook killer.

It’s hard to remember what the original Facebook looked like. There might have been a small news feed in the right corner of the screen with the most recent status updates from your friends and “poking” was a more common activity than it is today. Now, Facebook has decided to reformat its home page once again, making it less likable in the eyes of many of its users.

So, let’s say there’s this truly fine individual standing there across the room and you’d like his or her name, number and email address, but don’t want the hassle of walking over and risking rejection.

Do make a schedule. Planning never hurt anyone and it’s always good to prepare yourself for everything that could happen during SXSW. Austin is probably the craziest city in America for this week, a little guidance couldn’t be all that bad.

In these times of technological progression and the social networking explosion, friends become enemies and vice versa easily. Without body language, intonation of voice or the ability to quickly speak your mind, relationships are built and just as effortlessly destroyed.

In Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address the 44th president praised the fact that we live in a world with “Facebook and Google.” It is extremely fascinating that these two companies have become so successful — providing outlets for communication and research on a global scale.

There is little denying that Generation Y is one of constant communication. You want to reach someone from Gen Y? Pick your poison: Will you call them? Maybe shoot a text message off? You could reach them by email, possibly to two or more e-mail addresses. Perhaps you will use Facebook chat or send a message? Maybe both? If you wanted to get really creative, you could even tag them in a tweet.