TOO MUCH CONNECTION?

Image:  Nomo123  

BY TRISTAN ZENG

TWITTER HAS 269 MILLION ACTIVE USERS

500 MILLION TWEETS PER DAY

Image:  MDGovpics  

Google + IS RACKING UP LARGE NUMBERS OF NEW USERS

IT NOW CAN BOAST 359 MILLION ACTIVE USERS

Image:  brionv  

 

FACEBOOK IS NOW AT 1.06 BILLION MONTHLY ACTIVE USERS

Image:  Robert  Scoble  

IF FACEBOOK WERE A COUNTRY IT WOULD BE THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE WORLD, BEHIND ONLY CHINA AND INDIA

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FACEBOOK SAW 57% GROWTH IN MOBILE MONTHLY USERS

THIS NUMBER EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE

USING IT ON DESKTOPS ON A DAILY BASIS

Image:    louisvolant  

We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection.

Image:  UltraSlo1  

 

We are together, but each of us is in our own bubble, furiously connected to keyboards and tiny touch screens. 

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THE LITTLE DEVICES MOST OF US CARRY AROUND ARE SO POWERFUL THAT THEY CHANGE NOT ONLY WHAT WE DO, BUT ALSO WHO WE ARE.

By  UltraSlo1  

 

Self-presentation becomes more important than self-representation in constructing identity online. 

Image:  niallkennedy  

 

Texting and e-mail and posting let us present the self we want to be. We can edit. And if we wish to, we can delete.

Image:  msk  

 

USERS CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE AN IMAGE THAT OMITS SOME FLAWS OF WHICH THEY BELIEVE OTHERS WILL DISAPPROVE OR DEEM INAPPROPRIATE.

Image:  dawolf-­‐  

We have high accessibility to so many people, and we’re choosing breadth over depth and a

virtual world over the real world. 

Image:  FullbridgeProgram  

NEARLY 40% OF AMERICANS NOW SPEND MORE TIME SOCIALIZING VIA THE INTERNET THAN THEY DO IN REAL LIFE.

Image:  pennstatenews  

It seems that over time we stop caring, we forget that there is a difference, between connection and conversation..

Image  Jonwick04  

But connecting doesn’t work as well when it comes to

understanding and knowing one another.

 

Image:  MeckiMac  

IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS ONLY THROUGH A COMPUTER YOU ARE LOSING THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION.

Image:    __o[ES]__  

A reliance on virtual world communications could lead to a deficiency in real world abilities.

Image:    davus  

WE EXPECT MORE FROM TECHNOLOGY AND LESS FROM ONE ANOTHER, AND…

Image:  LJR.MIKE  

Seem increasingly drawn to technologies that provide the

illusion of companionship without the demands of relationship.

Image:  vonderauvisuals  

Not too long ago, people walked with

their heads up, looking at the

water, the sky, the sand and at one

another, talking...

Image:  mikebaird  

Now they often walk with their heads down, typing.

Image:  comedy_nose  

SOURCES •  hSp://www.nyUmes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/the-­‐flight-­‐from-­‐conversaUon.html?pagewanted=all  

•  hSp://ca.ign.com/arUcles/2013/05/02/report-­‐google-­‐bigger-­‐than-­‐twiSer-­‐with-­‐359-­‐million-­‐acUve-­‐users  

•  hSp://www.businessinsider.com/google-­‐plus-­‐is-­‐outpacing-­‐twiSer-­‐2013-­‐5  hSp://www.academia.edu/1878518/IdenUty_ConstrucUon_on_Facebook  

•  hSp://fuseduluth.blogspot.ca/2013/01/conversaUon-­‐vs-­‐connecUon.html  

•  All  images  from  Flickr  CreaUve  Commons