Texts about social media

iAnna

The short story follows the way two psychiatrists try to solve the case of a schizophrenic woman (Anna Richardson) who believes the world is an iPad. Anna’s case illustrates how digital technology can lead to extreme cases of alienation, as she is no longer able to perceive people as flesh and blood beings but as their digital versions. Also, the story suggest that we are all alienated by new technologies until they become something common.

Lightbox

This disturbing short story shows how stalkers can make use of social media to gain easy access to personal information about their victims, but also deals with the theme of alienation in the digital age in a more general sense.

Video by Randy Yang

This short film examines the issue of content that may destroy a person's career if it is shared online. Two young women film an upper class woman using racist language, and proceed to blackmail her, threatening to leak the video online unless she pays them off.

The Righteous Anger of the Parkland Shooting's Teen Survivors

Robinson Meyer’s article explores how high-school students used social media as a tool for political activism, following students at an American high school who were the victims of a mass shooting that killed 17 people, students and teachers. During and after the event, the students used media to express their outrage and frustration and to advocate for tighter gun control in the US.

Selena Gomez on Instagram Fatigue, Good Mental Health, and Stepping Back From the Limelight

In this article, the pop star Selena Gomez shares the story of her huge social media following on Instagram, but also the stress and alienation she felt as she became addicted to the platform, and eventually had to step back from it. 

Online Harassment and Cyber Mobs | Analysis

Sarkeesian’s speech highlights the idea that online harassment of women can lead to real-life effects. Sarkeesian presents the way in which the “cyber bullies” on social media transformed into a “cyber mob” and the way in which her privacy and personal life were put at risk.

Why we need to slow down our lives

In this essay, Pico Iyer says that people have lost their appreciation of stillness and meditation in a world of constant digital entertainment. He argues that we need to get better at stepping back from social media and other digital entertainment to help us find peace of mind in our stressful lives.

How Not to Be Alone

In this essay, Foer argues that developments in digital communication technology have taken a heavy toll on people's ability to truly communicate with each other, which means that modern society is becoming increasingly alienating. Foer does not recommend giving up social media completely, but argues that it is important to use it in a balanced way.