Welcome to the Internet

The cultural shift of the online world from one that is purely meant for means of technological advancement, commercial purposes, and data tabulation to another that is personally shaped, participatory, and inviting to all people is arguably one of the greatest changes to occur in modern society. The video “An anthropological introduction to YouTube” illustrates this by documenting the origins and development of YouTube as a platform and cultural commonplace.

As with all technology, societies are forever transformed as tech advances and the internet is no exception. Just as the invention of moving pictures was momentous and ripe with possibility, the invention of the internet was just as uncertain. People worried endlessly about the dangers that something like the internet could bring, yet, today we don’t think twice about uploading an Instagram story or posting a Facebook status. This behaviour is in part because of our time spent learning the internet and unconscious social etiquette, but also an inclination to participate in cultural activities.

As Wesch noted in his presentation, the internet introduced a wholly new idea of anyone being able to participate in cultural phenomenons. This behaviour, though, did not limit itself to memes and trends. In fact, the participatory culture extended itself to gathering user data to better refine an algorithm to show users content that uniquely piqued the user’s interest. Simply watching videos long enough could inform an algorithm that this is content you would like to consume.

There are only two industries of note that refer to their demographics as users: illicit drugs and social media platforms. Perhaps I am exaggerating, but the analogy is more than apt. The platforms and apps that we use today are designed to keep users on the platform for as long as possible. By showing users what they want to see, providing outlets for users to participate, and making it heavily accessible, social media platforms create a scenario where users find it difficult to leave.

When extending this thought to education, there are many potential problems that arise. One that I often think of is the continuous stream of gratification that social media and the internet allow and how this affects children socially and psychologically. Will children be able to manifest identities and critical thinking skills that are uniquely their own with such an abundance of information tailored to them? Will engagement levels in education be consistently positive without an equivalent stimulus? These are questions that I think of when considering social media and the internet’s effects on education.

Personally, I hope to integrate social media and internet use in my classroom in a way that is inviting to critical thinking, respectful discourse, and personally driven. However, I know that this ideology isn’t shared amongst all my peers: this means that there will be schools with varying levels of technology use and digital participation. This isn’t to say that one methodology is more valuable than the other, rather students will be exposed to an array of teaching methods both philosophically and technologically. Regardless, education and its many forms will and have changed significantly with the involvement of technology. With that in mind, I think all educators should equip students with the tools and skills necessary to navigate an ever-changing landscape in a way that is responsible but not devoid of their identities. When I reflect on my educational experience in technology, I realize there is so much more I could have been taught to help me understand my place in the digital world. It is our responsibility to prepare students so they can use the internet to its best applications and carve a space for themselves in this new world.