Essay Draft #2

The use of social media has surged, raising concerns about the detrimental effects of over-dependence. Such damaging habit may interfere with our daily lifestyle if we get overly-compelled to engage in social media updates at every moment. The term "social networking addiction" has been informally coined to describe a person who spends too much time on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking platforms to the extent that it interferes with his or her daily life. Even though the social networking addiction is not an official medical term, it is a real issue that needs to be addressed and to seek a solution to juggle the delicate balance between pleasure and obsession.

Rosen (2014) conducted a survey to members across four generations to analyze the use of social media and what factors will predict who would use more or less technology. Results show that the younger generation, also known as the iGeneration, those born between 1990 to 1999, are avid users of the internet. This sub-population grew up with the internet technology and is probably the most likely folks to be affected by the "social network addiction" syndrome.

While the term is still vaguely defined, a social networking addict would be someone who has a compulsion to excessively check status updates, new photo uploads and view profiles at every second. Meikle (2012) states that urges to twitter are actually stronger and harder to resist as compared to cravings for alcohol and cigarettes. However, it is difficult to draw a line between plain fondness for engaging in social media and an addiction that is harmful to one's life.

As mentioned, this unofficial term is not categorized in the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) under the American Psychologist Association. However, Konnikova (2014) states that The American Journal of Psychiatry strongly suggests adding "Internet Addiction" in the next DSM. Such compulsion to be involved in social media network almost constantly to the extent that is causes distress demonstrates signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is an anxiety disorder that causes one to feel uneasy and engages in repetitive behavior to soothe out his or her intrusive thoughts.

As such, rehabilitation is needed for such an addiction. Increasing the awareness of the public of the term "social network addiction" would be a huge first step in addressing the issue. One would need to be aware of the symptoms so if he or she identifies the problem, measures can be taken to tackle the addiction. Such an obsession may result in significant performance deterioration in other activities such as work, academics, social life and so on. Re-directing one's priorities in life would help him or her realize that technology should be used as tools that enhances life and without it, one would still be able to function properly.

In addition, the demographic study conducted by Rosen shows that the largest age group population in the internet consists of the iGeneration. As such, this group would most likely be susceptible to fall into the addiction category. Hence, to prevent this from happening, the Ministry of Education (MOE) could implement a program to increase the awareness of the negative consequences of internet addiction. Currently, the MOE has encouraged schools to teach about internet safety and security, especially on how to prevent oneself from falling prey into online scams. They are also safeguarding certain materials such as pornographic websites from under-aged children. However, the internet is vast and it is impossible to keep track of every single user's actions.

Similarly, if we were to implement the awareness campaign about internet addiction and the possible symptoms, the message could be relayed effectively. However, this effectiveness may not translate to objective outcomes. They may still be over-reliant on internet technology and may get hooked into it so much that it disrupts their daily lifestyle. This is a flaw that would need to be explored further.

To sum up, "social network addiction" may not be a term that exists in official documents, as of now, but it has been a growing concern ever since the Internet revolution. Studies have shown the detrimental effects on an individual's psychological, emotional and social being and while we may not have sunk into the psychiatric disorder, it would be safe to take precautionary measures to prevent such a situation.



References
Konnikova, M. (2014). Is internet addiction a real thing?. The New Yorker. Retrieved from: http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/internet-addiction-real-thing

Meikle, J. (2012). Twitter is harder to resist than cigarettes and alcohol, study finds. The Guardian. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/feb/03/twitter-resist-cigarettes-alcohol-study

Rosen, L. (2014). Our Social Media Obsession. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201407/our-social-media-obsession

Essay Draft #1

The use of social media has surged, raising concerns about the detrimental effects of over-dependence. Such damaging habit may interfere with our daily lifestyle if we get overly-compelled to engage in social media updates at every moment. The term "social networking addiction" has been informally coined to describe a person who spends too much time on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking platforms to the extent that it interferes with his or her daily life. Even though the social networking addiction is not an official medical term, it is a real issue that needs to be addressed and to seek a solution to juggle the delicate balance between pleasure and obsession.

Rosen (2014) conducted a survey to across members of four generations to analyze the use of social media and what factors will predict who would use more or less technology. Results show that the younger generation, also known as the iGeneration, those born between 1990 to 1999, are avid users of the internet. This sub-population grew up with the internet technology and is probably the most likely folks to be affected by the "social network addiction" syndrome.

While the term is still vaguely defined, a social networking addict would be someone who has a compulsion to excessively check status updates, new photo uploads and view profiles at every second. Meikle (2012) states that urges to twitter are actually stronger and harder to resist as compared to cravings for alcohol and cigarettes. However, it is difficult to draw a line between plain fondness for engaging in social media and an addiction that is harmful to one's life. 

According to a HomeNet study conducted by Kraut (1998), an increased use of internet has resulted in lesser interactions between family members living within the same household. It also equates to smaller social circles and a higher likelihood of depression. The increasing use of social media has revolutionized the way people communicate, behave and act with one another. It transcends the temporal and spatial dimensions of communication in a relationship and supposedly facilitates day-to-day interaction between acquaintances, colleagues, friends and family members. However, the aforementioned study illustrates the negative consequences of over-dependence on the internet.

In the published article "How social media affects our self-perception", Sunstrum (2014) states that there exist high rates of depression caused by an inconsistency seen between ideal cyber self and self-image. Social media has become a bragging platform where most post up their best angles and best shots to share with others, concealing flaws in their daily lives. While social network platforms bring people closer as it provides opportunity to share intimate details online, it creates a dissonance within an individual's ideal self and actual self-image, causing distress.

As mentioned, this unofficial term is not categorized in the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders under the American Psychologist Association. However, such compulsion to be involved in social media network almost constantly to the extent that is causes distress demonstrates signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is an anxiety disorder that causes one to feel uneasy and engages in repetitive behavior to soothe out his or her intrusive thoughts.

As such, rehabilitation is needed for such an addiction. Increasing the awareness of the public of the term "social network addiction" would be a huge first step in addressing the issue. One would need to be aware of the symptoms so if he or she identifies the problem, measures can be taken to tackle the addiction. Such an obsession may result in significant performance deterioration in other activities such as work, academics, social life and so on. Re-directing one's priorities in life would help him or her realize that technology should be used as tools that enhances life and without it, one would still be able to function properly.

To sum up, "social network addiction" may not be a term that exists in official documents, as of now, but it has been a growing concern ever since the Internet revolution. Studies have shown the detrimental effects on an individual's psychological, emotional and social being and while we may not have sunk into the psychiatric disorder, it would be safe to take precautionary measures to prevent such a situation.

References
Kraut, R., Patterson, M., Lundmark, V., Kiesler, S., Mukopadhyay, T., & Scherlis, W. (1998). Internet paradox - a social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? American Psychologist, 53, 1017-1031.

Meikle, J. (2012). Twitter is harder to resist than cigarettes and alcohol, study finds. The Guardian. Retrieved from:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/feb/03/twitter-resist-cigarettes-alcohol-study

Rosen, L. (2014). Our Social Media Obsession. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201407/our-social-media-obsession

Sunstrum, K. (2014). How social media affects our self-perception. Psychcentral. Retrieved from: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/03/14/how-social-media-affects-our-self-perception/


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Questions to help you analyse the essay prompt:
1. What are the problems related to the use of social media?
2. Identify one problem you would like to discuss in your essay.
3. What existing measures have been adopted to counter the problem?
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the existing solutions?
5. What are the other potential solutions to address this problem?

The Essay

The increasing use of social media has revolutionized the way people communicate, behave and act with one another. It transcends the temporal and spatial dimensions of communication in a relationship and supposedly facilitates day-to-day interaction between acquaintances, colleagues, friends and family members. Internet has become a forced lifestyle option whereby those who do not engage in social media are considered "weird" and "out-dated". Gradually, social media has become a bragging platform where most post up their best angles and best shots to share with others, concealing flaws in their daily lives. While social network platforms bring people closer, it creates a dissonance within an individual's ideal self and actual self-image.

Supporting evidences:
1. HomeNet study conducted by Kraut (1998)

• Article published in American Psychologist
• Results: Increased use of internet results in lesser interactions with family members within the same household, smaller social circle, increased likelihood of depression and loneliness

[Kraut, R., Patterson, M., Lundmark, V., Kiesler, S., Mukopadhyay, T., & Scherlis, W. (1998). Internet paradox - a social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? American Psychologist, 53, 1017-1031.]

2. Social media forces us to participate in it

• It is a forced option
• Online job applications, portraying ourselves on social media i.e. Instagram and Facebook
• High rates of depression caused by an inconsistency seen between ideal cyber self and self-image

[Sunstrum, K. (2014). How social media affects our self-perception. Psychcentral. Retrieved from: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/03/14/how-social-media-affects-our-self-perception/]


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Questions to help you analyse the essay prompt:
1. What are the problems related to the use of social media?
2. Identify one problem you would like to discuss in your essay.
3. What existing measures have been adopted to counter the problem?
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the existing solutions?
5. What are the other potential solutions to address this problem?

Influential Event

NUSSU Rag & Flag is a campus-wise charity project that aims to bring together students from various faculties in NUS. This fund-raising event ends off with a grand display of floats and dance performances put up by each faculty. When I first entered college, I joined this freshmen orientation project as a dancer. While it burnt my holidays away, I had no regrets sacrificing my last few weeks of "freedom" in this new school to train hard for the performance. When it ended, I knew that I would return to give back to the NUS Arts RAG family.

In the following year, I signed up as a choreographer for the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. It was definitely not a smooth-sailing journey and I witnessed an entirely different sight. There were many ups and down, frustrations, moments of joy, stresses and extremely messy disorganization but through it all, we managed to pull through the ordeal. As mentioned, I initially started off the RAG process as a choreographer. Hence, it came as a surprise when I was given the job as performance I/C along the way. My job scope widened up and it encompassed over-seeing the other aspects of the performance as well - administrative duties, music and costumes.

I had to deal with the welfare of the 50 dancers, organization of the performance and ensuring smooth progress of costume-making, music edits and props movement, it was no easy task. It was a challenge I knew I had to conquer, somehow. I am so grateful of the the wonderful team I was tagged with. Though we had a rough start, our common goal brought us together to battle the endless, tiring nights of building, sewing and dancing.

Alongside the hectic RAG preparations, I was juggling rehearsals for a dance concert as well as an external dance competition. It was a feat I thought was way beyond the bounds of my capabilities but, I survived through it and I came out as a stronger individual. Even though I was stretched from all angles - physically, mentally and emotionally, I appreciated the "test" to my limits. My friends told me I was crazy to sign up for all those commitments within a single summer holiday period, but I did enjoy myself because I was doing something that I love - dance.

Indeed, the quote "nothing is impossible" was transformed into reality and made me realized any human being is capable of achieving what is beyond imaginable because it is the state of mind that sets the limits. If I tell myself I can do it, it means I can.

Reader Response Draft #3

Reader Response Draft #3: 

In the article "The Perils of Over-sharing in Social Network, Emm (2014) states that over-reliance on the internet makes us susceptible to unwarranted threats to personal and organizational security. Many people post online to notify their social circles about their whereabouts, which also increases the accessibility to one's private information. The growing trend poses a risk to not only oneself, but also to their company's image should one divulge his / her organization's information. The author suggests users to enhance their device and internet security and to be wary of what one shares on social media. 

As part of Generation Y, I have views that are parallel to the author's as I personally experience the growing dependency on my phone and the internet to get many daily life tasks done. The brag culture pervades the era we are in now, living with the phenomenon of "pictures or it didn't happen". Golinkoff (2015) mentions that popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have made us obsessed about how we appear to everyone else, busying ourselves by narrating to our online audience instead of living in the moment. Such "normal" and seemingly harmless behavior are, in fact, inviting danger upon ourselves as it results in easy access to our private information and allow others to sneak into our lives. However, Emm's view draws attention to a very narrow aspect of online threats, exaggerating its negative consequences, while invalidating the possible offline dangers.

The author addresses the issue of privacy invasion due to the government's omnipresence online and I agree that this may result in disagreements among a large number citizens. This hot debate and never-ending struggle to find the delicate balance between privacy and personal security will continue to exist as long as there is dependability on the internet. As people exchange emails and surf the internet, they are being tracked of their activities. The term "Big Brother is watching you" has then been formulated, encapsulating the idea of the government snooping behind the screens of the citizens. While such actions are taken to ensure the safety of the people, the issue of individual rights to privacy still persists. 

Even though the government gets a hold of our personal information under surveillance, they are not the most threatening parties online. Schlesinger (2014) affirms that cyber-criminals are the ill-intended users that internet surfers have to be truly wary of. These tech-related criminals are seeking loopholes and vulnerabilities that are shared online by careless and unaware users. They would jump at the opportunity to hack into accounts and gain important information like PIN numbers and other financial data.

However, the threats lurking on the internet are, in fact, a reflection of reality. While many have said that internet is a dangerous platform that allows anyone and everyone to view your profiles, it could happen off the internet too. Crimes such as bank robbery and burglary still happens, out of the cyberspace context. Such dangers are comparable and the threats and risks that are posed by such corruptions - online or offline - are legitimate concerns to everyone. Hence, the article written by Emm accentuates the perils of the internet, while overlooking the crimes that could occur even without the use of the internet. 

To sum up, while Emm gives a very elaborate picture of the negative consequences of the internet, he seems to exaggerate the extent to which dependency on the internet jeopardizes our personal lives, negating other possible crimes that could happen offline too. He also brings up the citizens' uneasiness with the government's prying involvement in our online activities but fails to address the importance of such actions in guarding the security of citizens. 

(614 words)

References:

Emm, D. (2014, August 21). The Perils of Over-sharing in Social Networks. Retrieved from The Guardian http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/david-emm/the-perils-of-over-sharing-in-social-networks_b_5005276.html

Golinkoff, R. (2015, February 2). A Conversation About Conversations. Retrieved from The Huffingtonpost http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roberta-michnick-golinkoff/a-conversation-about-conv_b_6590206.html

Schlesinger, J. (2014, June 3). Is Big Brother really watching you?. Retrieved from CNBC http://www.cnbc.com/id/101719082#

Reader Response Draft #2

Reader Response Draft #2:

In the article "The Perils of Over-sharing in Social Network, Emm (2014) states that over-reliance on the internet makes us susceptible to unwarranted threats to personal and organizational security. Many people post online to notify their social circles about their whereabouts, which also increases the accessibility to one's private information. The growing trend poses a risk to not only oneself, but also to their company's image, should they divulge their organization's information. The author suggests users to enhance their device and internet security and to be wary of what one shares on social media. 

Being part of the Generation Y population, my view parallels to the author's as I personally experience the growing dependency on my phone and the internet to get many daily life tasks such as banking and shopping done. The brag culture pervades the era we are in now, living with the phenomenon of "pictures or it didn't happen". Golinkoff (2014) mentions that popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have made us obsessed about how we appear to everyone else, busying ourselves by narrating to our online audience instead of living in the moment. Such "normal" and seemingly harmless behavior are, in fact, inviting danger upon ourselves as it results in easy access to our private information and allow others to sneak into our lives. 

However, the threats lurking on the internet is, in fact, a reflection of reality. While many have said that internet is a dangerous platform that allows anyone and everyone to view your profiles, it could happen off the internet too. Crimes such as bank robbery and burglary still happens, even not within the context of cyberspace. Such dangers are comparable and the threats and risks that are posed by such corruptions - online or offline - are legitimate concerns to everyone. Hence, the article written by Emm accentuates the perils of the internet, while disregarding the crimes that could occur even without the use of the internet. 

Likewise, Emm addresses the issue of privacy invasion due to the government's omnipresence online and I agree that this may result in disagreements among a large number citizens. This hot debate and never-ending struggle to find the delicate balance between privacy and personal security continues to exist as long as there is dependability on the internet. As people exchange emails and surf the internet, they are being tracked of their activities. The term "Big Brother is watching you" has then been formulated, encapsulating the idea of the government snooping behind the screens of the citizens. While such actions are taken to ensure the safety of the people, the issue of individual rights to privacy still persists. 

Even though the government gets hold of our personal information under surveillance, they are not the most threatening parties online. Schlesinger (2014) affirms that cyber-criminals are the ill-intended ones that internet users have to be truly wary of. These tech-related criminals are seeking out for loopholes and vulnerabilities that are shared online by careless and unaware users and they would jump at the opportunity to hack into accounts and important information like PIN number. They are the ones who are after financial data and money. 

To sum up, while Emm gives a very elaborate picture of the negative consequences of the internet, he seems to exaggerate upon how dependency on the internet jeopardizes our personal lives, negating other possible crimes that could happen offline too. He also brings up the citizens' uneasiness with government's prying involvement in our online activities but fails to address the importance of such action in order to guard citizen's security. 

(599 words) 

References: 

Emm, D. (2014). The Perils of Over-sharing in Social Networks. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/david-emm/the-perils-of-over-sharing-in-social-networks_b_5005276.html 

Golinkoff, R. (2014). A Conversation About Conversations. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roberta-michnick-golinkoff/a-conversation-about-conv_b_6590206.html 

Schlesinger, J. (2014). Is Big Brother really watching you?. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/id/101719082#

Outline for reader response

Outline:

Main idea / thesis statement: 
Reliance on social media makes us susceptible to unwarranted / unnecessary negative consequences - harm to personal and organizational security

1. First supporting idea: "Government snooping around"
• "Big brother is watching"
• Debate between personal privacy and social security
• Tracked - every detail, every webpage, every button click
• Should be more wary about cyber-criminals
2. Second supporting idea: Obsession with social media - and the "unaware" mentality that "it is safe
• "Picture or it didn't happen"
• Updates regularly to appear socially active
• Unaware of the dangers lurking around
• Never understood the extent of the negative consequences
3. Third supporting idea: Reflection of reality
• Just as corrupted online and offline
• Article is skewed to internet dangers
• Failed to address real-life crimes that occur not within cyberspace