Bobby Schnibbe
BLOGGGGGGG Post
Diffusion
theory derived from Everett Rogers and combined information-flow research
findings with studies about the flow of information and personal interests.
Rogers assembled data from numerous empirical studies to show that when new
technologies are introduced to the public, they pass through a series of stages
before being widely adopted by the public masses. The early adopters are the
first small group of innovators to try a product, or to become aware of it. The
then opinion leaders learn from the early adopters then try the innovation
themselves and distribute their knowledge to their friends and opinion
followers. Then after most people have adapted the Laggards come along, or late
adopters, and make the change.
This
is a topic that brings up a lot of questions. Do we all fall into the
information diffusion theory? Do we just always do what the masses do, do
people even think for themselves anymore or is media thinking and making decisions
for us, without us even knowing? When you see someone with a new cell phone, do
you have to have it? Or is it just another phone to you? After Reading about
this theory I believe it to be a bunch of nonsense. Although it is true with
our general public this is the exact reason we create so much trash and waste
in our environment because devices used for media delivery are worthless almost
the minute you buy them. We are all just sitting and waiting for the next new
things. For example, and for the most part totally unrelated, I helped a family
friend move out of her house recently. I must have thrown away 5,000 dollars of
CD’s, this is not an exaggeration, and she was perfectly ok with this.
The
Media Systems Dependency Theory states that the more a person depends on having
his or her needs met by media use, the more important that form of media will
become to the individual. In our society we are becoming completely reliant on
the media for three main reasons. To understand the social world, to act
meaningfully and effectively in society, and for fantasy and escape. This is
very true, many people are completely dependant on the media to tell them what
to do, and lack the human being skills to make decisions on there own. Do you
think that the media controls individual’s decisions so heavily that without it
they would be completely lost? How has media become so important to people and
the decisions that they make?
In
the article I found, 24 hours unplugged, it was students who were without media
in anyway for 24 hours. They began talking about how it is an addiction and
that they are lost without media. People are so engulfed in media that they
forget what life would be like without it. Aspects of life like trust and
reliability have lost all value. Our parents grew up making plans with one and
other. IF you were suppose to meet someone somewhere, you had to meet them
there, you couldn’t text them at the last minute to change plans or change
locations, you had to trust the person and be reliable. This is something our
generation has lost. Comparing this to an article that I can more closely
relate to was the article, Negative affects of the media on teenagers. Media
influence's peoples every move. It is making our generation less intelligent
and bringing us all down as the generation that soon has to run our country. Do
you guys agree or disagree? IS media doing too much? Have we forgotten how life
is truly meant to be lived, or is facebook, twitter, and pop culture more important
than our success as a generation?
Sources
Mass Communication Theory, Foundations, Ferment, and Future.
Sixth Addition Stanley J. Baron,
Dennis K. Davis
I believe that there are too many variables in that are more important than media to say that media greatly effects the people we are. Our family dynamic is the most important factor. Also there are different types of media which effects us differently. Music for instance, I feel is the most important media component. The most learning we do in our life time is during the age three to four. During this time our media consumption is most likely lower than the media we will consume when we are older and the types of media that we consume. Also during this time, parental guidance is very present. I would have to side with the limited-effects theory which states, “ The theory that media have minimal or limited effects because those effects are mitigated by a variety of mediating or intervening variables” (Baran, Davis, 148).
ReplyDeleteMany people feel that social media has a great effect on people. Facebook, and Twitter have a great hold on people view points and media in general. The social marketing theory is a “collection of middle-range theories concerning the promotion of socially valuable information” (Baran & Davis, 284). What we have considered to be “valuable” has diminished greatly. For example, during one of the debates presidential candidate, Gingrich was asked about his personal love life. Since when is a topic like this even considered important in a presidential debate. However most of the information that young people are getting about politicians comes from the media. Entertainment culture has taken over media air ways, especially Twitter. The topics that concern entertainment media have seeped into other genres of media, such as politics. This clouds our judgement as to what we consider important in each genre. Twitter was the first to break the news about Whitney Houston’s death, not the news. This concerns me as news is supposed to be our most reliable source. However the media that used be the the front runners of where we get out information, such as the New York Times, and The Washington Post no longer carry the importance that they used to. Young adults are now looking towards social media to find their information.
Not only are young adults changing the way they gather information using social media, but what they consider to be popular and unpopular is changing. The way we interact with one another has become more superficial. We add people on Facebook, that we have only met once, as “friends”. The number of photos your tagged in, people consider to be how interesting your life is. Media has shaped how other perceive ourselves. Its not that television and magazines have changed us. It is social media that has taken this biggest toll on our lives. However our true friends and family have the greatest control over what we do in our lives. Thus social media does have a great affect, but it is limited according to what we value to be important in our lives, which is ultimately friends and family.