What Social Media Has Taught Me About YOU.

It is truly insane how much social media controls our real life interactions. Someone posts a status, a picture, or even an article they read and everyone seems to know about it. Our opinions of one another change based off of the most recent status update. Real life friendships and connections are destroyed when someone deletes another as a friend, or even makes the decision to delete their own profile to regain some sanity. What have we become?

Recently, I made the decision to truly dive into social media and find what drives people behind decision making. I’ve always wondered what sorts of things make a person more likely to click on a particular link and why certain people receive more attention than others online. So, I began so research and here is what I found about how YOU interact with social media:

1) If there is a picture, people will believe it.
You have to see it to believe it. Someone can post a status that says something, but if you have no visual evidence of it taking place how are you supposed to believe it actually happened? Not mention, you want to be able to experience, to some extent, what another is. If a Facebook friend is posting about a raging party, let’s see some pictures of this action! Show us what we are missing out on! Participation on social media increases drastically if people have a picture to relate to.

2) Anything involved with a relationship status change or romance draws a huge following.
We are all just hopeless romantics. That, or we seriously need soap opera drama to get through the day. Even without social media being a part of society, conversation tends to evolve around romantic relationships. This is simply because for some sick and twisted reason everyone cares. Maybe you always liked someone and want to know what they are up to, or you just want to make sure that your ex hasn’t moved on yet. Either way, this tends to be a topic of discussion. When I log onto Facebook, it always makes me happy to see my friends who have made the Facebook commitment of a new relationship. My attention is immediately drawn to those who recently become single as well. Apparently, you are all the same. The amount of likes a relationship status change receives only proves this. Not to mention, everyone loves to throw in their two cents on the matter. “He’s a great guy, I’m so happy for you!” “She’s a psycho! You’re better off single, let’s go find us some tonight!” You get the picture.

3) People care more about what that “loser” is doing more than their own friends.
This has to be one of my favorite things to cover in here. It is truly fascinating how social groups are formed and how bullying (in any extent) is very common. It’s even more fascinating to find that the one who was hated on the most in school tends to get the most attention over their Facebook activity. By this I mean, others seem to feel the need to check in on what another is doing in order to make themselves feel better about their own lives. I mean, I am guilty of this as well. I find myself comparing involvement or even the “coolness” of posts in order to see if I am “doing better” than that person who I don’t like very much. Even if a status or post doesn’t receive social media involvement, it is likely to still appear on the Facebook NewsFeed because of how often people click on that profile. Haters are going to hate, and also increase your social media presence!

4) Insults about others and bitch rants receive more participation than anything else.
Here we go with the drama again. Everyone hates it, but everyone still wants it. Don’t lie, you experience a small bit of excitement when you see a status from someone who is just tearing their boyfriend/friend/ex apart. You love to see the insults, you love to see what is being said. That is, as long as it is not about you. And everyone loves an Internet fight. You love to see the exchange of comments that go back and forth. Don’t you? We all do, as sad as it is to say. Negative conversations and criticism seems to spread the fastest in communities. That “have a great day!” post will go ignored by the “I’M HATE JOHN WITH MY WHOLE HEART! @#$% HIM AND HIS STUPID @#%*!” I mean, there is a reason why shows like Jerry Springer were on air as long as it was. The best part of these Internet rants and fights is when other people contribute to the conversation as well. Clearly, everyone has something to say about the matter and this is their opportunity to have their voice heard! Bring on the drama!

5) Everyone loves a happy person online.
Despite our sick desire for drama and fights, all of us want to see someone happy. Maybe it is out of envy, or maybe we are truly happy for that other person. Either way, you love to read, see, and stay up with everything that person is doing to stay happy. And honestly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. 🙂

6) Music, pictures, random Internet memes, and other tacky crap really makes people happy.
Who doesn’t love a good beat? Who doesn’t like stumbling across something satirical that just makes you laugh out loud in public? Recently, Internet memes have been taking over the social media posts of others; giving cute puppy videos a run for their money! Someone’s social media presence is more likely to increase and be more effective if you post a popular meme or share some music. The only explanation I can offer for this is that it is something for people to relate to and incorporate into their day. It is nice to see that people have a shared sense of humor; long live memes!

7) Instead of being active outside, people would rather spend time on Facebook. Or worse, spend time on Facebook while playing outside.
It’s a beautiful day outside, and what are you doing? You are inside on Facebook! Or, you are at the lake with your friends posting on Facebook about it. Put down the damn laptop and cell phone and just enjoy nature for a change! Society has lost a true touch with enjoying the outdoors and being active outside in order to stay up on what is happening online. No wonder obesity is a problem! Please please please promise that the next time it is beautiful outside that you will just soak it all up and not care about what is on your NewsFeed.

8) You all care entirely way too much about what I do.
This is just something that I had to include as I am noticing a reoccurring problem. I understand that I am very active on social media, but that does not give anyone the right to hack into any of my accounts! People will tell me to “get a life,” as they turn and crack their way into my Facebook account. Get real! Get your own life! Every single Facebook account I have ever had has been modified in some drastic way that makes it almost unusable for me. My email even is victim to being hacked. And even worse, I have seen fake accounts that people have created that try to pose as me. It’s just weird! Why do you care? I’d love to be your friend on Facebook or in real life, but just stay out of my personal business like that. And for the love of all that is holy in the world, be your own person and do not try to pose as me. Seriously. I had no idea that people cared that much about what I do to take things to that extent. I’m not that interesting people, LOL.

The Evolution of Language with the Human Race

The use of verbal and gestural communication has evolved throughout the course of mammalian existence. With the development of speaking skills, it is apparent that the brain has also evolved to better compute and allow for such activity to take place. As research used for this paper suggests, it is believed that as the brain continued to evolve and grow larger, the ability to communicate and form social groups evolved as well.

Evidence suggests that H. eretus and Neanderthals had larger brains than prior species that allowed for societal and cultural components and development. Thus, the necessity to form social bonds and groups amongst the same species is a result of the neural circuitry and endocrine processes that are stabilized in mammalian evolution (Cacioppo et al. 2011).

In order to fully understand the evolution of human language, it is important to take apes and chimpanzee language evolution into consideration as well due to the blatant similarities between human and ape DNA. According to Arbib, Liebal, and Pika (2008), instead of verbal communication, apes utilize verbal gestures as means of an extended ability to communicate and imitate one another. This suggests that the capacity to use vocal communication gestures, or protospeech, evolved with other language skills consecutively. Homo sapiens sapiens use protospeech along with verbal communication (Arbib, Liebal, and Pika 2008). Examples of such behavior are demonstrated though the usage of American Sign Language.

Protospeech proves to be a useful communication tool for both primates and humans alike. As stated by Corballis (2009), the superior temporal sulcus (STS) contains cells that are responsible for actions such as grasping and hand gesturing. The STS and F5 portions of the brain are connected to the PF area in the inferior parietal lobule, where neurons perform and compute the understanding of gesturing/hand movements (Corballis 2009). The neurons used to help activate mirror-like behavior, along with the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex work together to allow for primates to mimic one another to create gestural conversation. This entire system in primates overlaps the homologues of the cortical circuits that are involved in human language (Corballis 2009). It is believed that if manual gestures were the origins of spoken language, an evolutionary transfer from hand to mouth had to occur. It is possible that the neutral association related for eating could have led to the usage of the mouth for verbal communication (Corballis 2009).

Another theory behind the evolution of language is that a genetic mutation took place in the forkhead box transcription factor, FOXP2. The FOXP2 gene had two mutations occur that split the difference between human and chimpanzee evolutionary processes (Corballis 2009). Evidence of this mutation is first dated back to Neanderthals. The presence of the mutation found that the allele for the ability of speech was globally beneficial for the species (Corballis 2009). More evidence suggests that the gene that regulates brain size, microephalin, possibly entered the human gene pool through interbreeding with Neanderthals, which then passed on the ability to communicate (Corballis 2009).

Fossil evidence suggests that the anatomical requirements for Homo sapiens sapiens verbal communication is due to the hypoglossal canal, which is much larger in humans than apes (Corballis 2009). The hypoglossal nerve signals for the tongue to be used during speech. Evidence suggests that early Australopithecines, and possibly in Homo habilis, hypoglossal canal size was that of modern great apes. Neanderthals and Homo sapiens hypoglossal canal and skull size almost the same as modern humans (Corballis 2009). Evidence suggested through the finding of the thoracic region of the spinal cord in humans is larger than that of another species. It is believed that this is because of breathing and the extra muscles of the thorax and abdomen used during speech (Corballis 2009). Additional fossil evidence indicates that this was present in Homo ergaster 1.6 million years ago and also in Neanderthals fossils (Corballis 2009).

Language has evolved in humans through the mutations, growth and changes that took place in early Neanderthals evolution. As the brain began to increase in size and allow for communication activity to take place, the body also began to utilize muscles and other features to allow the transition from hand gestures to verbal exchange. Essentially, language has evolved directly relating to the physical condition and increased usage of the various parts of the body.

CITATIONS

Arbib, M. A., Liebal, K., & Pika, S. 2008. Primate vocalization, gesture, and the evolution of human language. Current Anthropology, 49(6):1053-63.

Cacioppo, J., Amaral, D., Blanchard, J., Cameron, J., Carter, C., Crews, D., Fiske, S., Heatherton, T., Johnson, M., Kozak, M., Levenson, R., Lord, C., Miller, E., Ochsner, K., Raichle, M., Shea, M., Taylor, S., Young, L., Quinn, K. 2007. Social Neuroscience: Progress and Implications for Mental Health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2(2): 99-123.

Corballis, M. C. 2009. The Evolution of Language. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1156:19–43.

Is the future of entertainment Second Life bound?

Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this century. We live in a day and age where so much of our lives is online and our daily habits rely on various forms of technology to fulfill. The younger generations that are breaking out into the real world are so connected virally in ways we never thought could be possible 20 years ago. I’m sure we all have heard this many times, and what I just said is beyond cliché and redundant; however, it is important to understand just how electronic our generations are becoming and how this will effect the future for everyone. With alternative reality games blossoming more than ever, people are using the Internet to escape their real lives in order to be entertained in a whole new way. As this trend is becoming more apparent in our youth, it is reasonable for one to hypothesize that it may reach a point in our lives where a vacation isn’t something necessary you take in person but rather explore in a digital realm.

The concept of virtual reality is ideal, a way to flee the real world. Millions of human beings find themselves investing thousands of hours, and in some cases, an equal of amount of dollars in order to continue thriving in an alternative universe. The idea of being able to create an entire life that would be everything that an individual could ever want is something that many use as an escape from reality. Video games such as The Sims, World of Warcraft, and Second Life provide an outlet for this form of creativity.

With plausible reason, many people are skeptical about games such as Second Life; however, these same people also see the benefits of using such venues for the future of communication and entertainment. As stated by Freelance Technology Journalist and Social Media Strategist Mitch Wagner, “Second Life [has] permitted three things that have never been possible on any other platform:

– A rich, 3D graphical environment.

– The ability to have a shared, realtime experiences involving more than a half-dozen people.

– And the ability to meet new people serendipitously. I use Facebook and LinkedIn to connect with people I already know, and I can occasionally meet new people through Twitter, but Second Life is unparalleled as a way to make new friends and meet people through your computer.”

In the Second Life realm, users are able to host concerts, conferences, and other types of meetings with just about anybody in digital locations. This is ideal in regards to replacing in-person meetings as it allows people to connect from everywhere in the comforts of their own home. Musicians and others trying to break out are finally allowed an opportunity to perform in front of large crowds without having to deal with record labels, agents, and the long and unpleasant booking process. These types of events are just as successful as real life gatherings and even host live streaming video play of the performers in reality. It is even possible for people to record their activity on Second Life so that it can be distributed on YouTube and other video hosting sites for others to watch later. In essence, absolutely everything you can do in real life is possible (and better) in Second Life. By paying money for special features, users are able to completely construct an entire universe with possibility for networking and entertainment.

However, though to some people these mediums are merely games, for others it is an entire livelihood. As more and more people continue to invest their time and money into this leisure activity, companies that produce such products are thriving more than ever. On Second Life, more people consult the Mayo Clinic for medical advice than any other website online. Second Life even offers various educational programs for users to attain a degree, along with just about any thing else one could dream of. The development of this game appears to go hand-in-hand with the growing usage of social media, smart phone applications, and other types of Internet and technological advances. However, it appears that much confusion circulates about as to how public relations practitioners could be of use in this outlet and utilize it as a means of practicality for absolutely everyone.

Contrary to popular belief, video game enthusiasts are neither threats nor any sort of nemesis to society. These individuals may come off slightly odd and appear to have a different outlook on life, but that does not mean that they have any sort of cruel intentions. It’s just rather, some of these people look at life as if it were a game. As someone who has attended technology focused schools, played an uncountable amount of hours with various types of video games, and even lived the “Cyber Hall” dormitory at the University of Oregon, I not only understand this demographic but also include myself in it.

Simply put, some of us play sports and some of us play Super Nintendo. This occurs because people may find life to be a challenge and a tremendous burden simply because of the oppressions and judgments made by others against them. An easy way to get away from all the negativity is by turning a computer on and interacting with others in a new life that is just how they wish reality would be. Many individuals who consider themselves to be “normal” are very quick to insult and alienate this demographic simply because they find it to be a “weird” collection of people. From a public relations stand point, having such an attitude towards any demographic is highly damaging. Frankly, it is even beyond stupid. It is quite apparent that many individuals entering the public relations field are ignorant to the fact that gamers and Internet connoisseurs are the most powerful demographic of all time. Individuals that immerse into virtual reality tend to be highly connected amongst one another and use different outlets to accomplish various tasks online. However, the huge problem with this is all of this interaction takes places online. All of the time, money, and energy spent online does not benefit the individual much at all offline. Rarely do they actually meet with other people face-to-face, and these people spend so much of their time alone in a room with a computer. Though this is a habit that nearly everyone is guilty of, drastic changes need to be made to bridge the online and offline communities together. Something needs to be created that can bring real life benefit for time spent on the digital realm. And something needs to be done to help provide entertainment to the public in an entirely new dimension.