Andrew Keen is better known as an Internet entrepreneur, but is also recognized as a speaker who addresses the impact of 21st century digital technologies. He founded Audiocafe.com, and is now a columnist, a commentator and hosts a chat show called “Keen On”. This British-American author and entrepreneur earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of London, and then later came over to America and worked towards a master’s degree at UC Berkeley.
In Keen’s ‘Digital Vertigo’ it says right below the title that the book is going to be about “how today’s online social revolution is dividing, diminishing and disorienting us”. The book goes into privacy rights, autonomy, extreme sharing, personal transparency and distinguishes out world as one that will reach around 50 billion intelligent networked devices by 2020 (18). Social media is seen as the culprit to why nothing is private anymore. It goes back with being able to access the information anytime, and digging is not even needed, it is right in front of your face.
“Social media is the confessional novel that we are not only all writing but also collectively publishing for everyone else to read” (34).
This is so true. When signing up for a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account, intentions are to strictly keep up with friends and see what is going on in the world. However, majority of users get caught up in societies perspective, creating this very narcissistic mentality. Users openly post information about them knowing, thinking, even hoping people will respond to it. Whether a positive or negative response, it is better than not having any reaction.
In an interview Keen responds… “I am concerned that whatever it means to be human is being undermined. This endless temptation to broadcast ourselves, intimately, globally, to the world is ruining us. The majority of us don’t want to be sold and right now, with all of this data, we are being followed around the Web”
Neil Strauss stated that the “social network culture medicates our need for self esteem by pandering to win followers.” As users of all these networks, we need to stand up and fight back against these innovators and creators of these web gadgets.
Whoever denies the pleasure of receiving a “friend request” is in social media denial. In the end, we all want followers. We all have that “fantasy of wanting to be liked” as Jonathan Franzen, a well renowned novelist stated. He then continues to connect how technology is simply an extension of our narcissism.
“Like the network itself, our mass public confessional is global. People from all around the world are revealing their most private thoughts on transparent network that anyone and everyone can access.”
Why people feel they are transparent on the Internet is beyond me. I myself am guilty of being a part of these networks, but I have taken the step in deleting my Facebook account. And, like Keen, it was the best decision I have made in terms of social networking. I am curious to know if people honestly think they will not be found online, or if they simply just don’t care. Like anything, people need to find that balance in access.
I understand that social networking is that outlet for people, where they think they are in this secluded cave and no one can see them, but in reality they are seen crystal clear. I feel I have taken a step in the right direction, but after reading this book, I will be more conscious in the personal data I publish on social networking sites.
Thoughts?
Yours Truly.
I thought your article was really well written. You seem somewhat passionate about this subject matter. I agree with many of your points one being that social networking sites are diminishing individuals privacy, and we as a society are to blame especially social media. Everyone is guilty of being apart of these sites and putting too much personal information on. We need to take some advice from Keen, and acknowledge what we are actually doing and become more aware.
This post is invitingly formatted with its images and blockquotes but reading it I found myself disoriented because I didn’t know who the blockquotes were coming from: Keen, Strauss, or Franzen. It is not clear who is interviewing Keen or who Neil Strauss is. You should proofread more carefully, as there are small errors here and there.