Social Media & Virtual World - Admission/Application Essay Example

 We live in a world that allows people to remain digitally connected on a 24/7 basis. As such, our thoughts, and the thoughts of those around us seem to have become highly important turning into an instrument upon which we base our everyday opinions and actions. Facebook, Twitter, and other various forms of instant communication have opened up a Pandora's box leading people to their “5 minutes of fame” whether warranted or not. Instant communication tools have led to the demise of the ability of people to perform the task of critical thinking, analysis, and reflection prior to sharing their thoughts. In this virtual world that has been created by the social media and networking sites, each person has been given the ability to re-imagine their world and function in such a way that their thoughts and words encourage the “globalization of superficiality” instead. This has been achieved by the proponents of the aforementioned technologically by allowing their users to share any thoughts, feelings, or images that they wish to share, regardless of its true importance towards the betterment of our society or not. It was St. James who once said that “everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak.” Those words have never rung truer than in our current society. As people continue to be quick to speak and slow to listen, we have slowly evolved into a society that seems to have become desensitized towards the feelings and needs of those around us. Social media and instant communication tools such as the mobile phone and text messaging have proven to be the technologies that offer us the potential to improve our society a thousand times over, and yet has instead become the undoing of most people in everyday life. This is not caused by the technologically turning out to be an instrument of the devil, but rather, it stems from the instrument being misused by people for purposes other than what these were originally and, well-intentioned for in the first place. Social media and instant communication tools have thus posed a problem when it comes to placing people in situations wherein they must first practice reflection and personal judgment prior to unleashing their thoughts and feelings upon the world that they are connected to. The people of today seem to have to carry a constant fear of not being able to say what and how they feel about certain topics before anyone else can share their own thoughts and emotions, so they tend to simply type and hit send without pausing for even a minute to think about what the effect of their words may be. After all, the written word can be taken in many more contexts than the spoken word due to the lack of vocal emphasis on the words. One need to only look at the Occupy Wall Street movement and the Spring Awakening in the Middle East as clear examples of the positive and negative results that stem from being in constant touch with one another, without any censorship in place for the thoughts, words, and emotions conveyed via electronic media. As college students and future leaders of this world, it is our duty and responsibility to lay the proper framework from which future generations will learn how to responsibly use social media and instant communication tools accurately and responsibly; and it all starts with the simple suggestion that St. James made centuries ago. One should simply remember that one must not remain connected in a cyberspace world. Sometimes, it is better to hang up or hit the power off button on the laptop, mobile phone, or whatever gadget one uses for keeping in constant touch with those whom he considers important to his life. By tuning out on a regular basis, one will find the peace and quietness that he needs to sort out his thoughts and emotions free and clear of all the electronic chatter that normally surround him. This off-time is one that he can use for serious reflection and analysis of events, topics, and people that he considers of the utmost importance to his personal life. As a college student at LMU, it shall be up to the student advisers and those who can directly influence the students to encourage them to tune out in favor of tuning in to themselves and what is truly important in what they feel they have to say. By forcing the students to take a step back in order to ponder their words and the potential effect it may have on people, they shall be encouraged to exercise critical thinking and serious reflection prior to declaring and unleashing their sentiments upon the social media and instant communication sites. It would be fantastic if gadget-less days could be encouraged at the university in order to force the students to communicate directly with each other so that they can see the instant effect their real thoughts and emotions, as conveyed by voice to others, has on those around them. Such a practice could actually help to encourage them to think before they speak in order to get their messages across clearly, coherently, and with a touch of sensitivity that cannot be found in the social media and instant communication fields. By practicing the words of St. James in real life, “be quick to listen and slow to speak,” the social networking sites and instant communication tools will be able to serve the positive purpose that they were originally created for. But, just like everything else in this world, students need to be encouraged to try it by those around them first. Read More