The use of social media has evolved into mass communication for the entire world. With the use of social media platforms, the world has been transfigured into what people view online. Personal media pages allow individuals to present a filtered version of themselves to other people. This digitized person is able to convey themselves as a totally different person from whom they are in reality. This system has both pros and cons. On the positive hand, it allows people to be expressive and release their inner selves. For people who are shy and softspoken, social media platforms can really benefit them. On the other hand, people are able to fool others into thinking they are someone they’re really not. This was evident in the movie Catfish. Although, the deceiver believes her intentions were justified, others seem to disagree.
Although it is possible to filter oneself through social media. Some people claim that we also filter ourselves in reality. I, for one, disagree with that verdict. As it was brought up in class, I believe different settings cause people to change their behaviors. The example in class was that one person may behave differently in church, a basketball game, the club, and an interview. It is not the person instinctively changing his behaviors, rather it is their surroundings. I also believe that there are individuals who do remain the same no matter their settings. I do not believe that this concept is universal, it could very well be a cultural or societal effect that causes us to filter ourselves.
Social media and reality has seemingly become intertwined as one. We are able to connect with people from all over the world through our handheld/lapheld devices. I, for example, aim to remain the same no matter my setting and keep my social media pages as close as reality as possible. I generally think that most logical individuals have this same concept in mind. It even seems that the idea of filtering has been looked down upon on photograph based websites like Instagram. It should be our goal to present our true selves in reality and online. Because that is not the case, we all must be aware of false people and accounts online. As technology progresses and we become more informed, more dangers and threats will invade us. We must understand the distinction between reality and filtered versions of the world.
5 comments:
I understand your overall point, but I have to point out something. You stated that social media allows people to be expressive and release their inner selves. Well, according to Angela, her profiles were all pieces of her, and she was just expressing them. So what was wrong with her behavior?
I think that some of the points in this post are very true to this movie, but I'm gonna have to disagree with the fact that you think that there are people that act the same way in different settings. I don't think that anyone can do that, because if you were just to make a decision, your decision making is always influenced by your surroundings.
To me, self expression is fine until it begins to negatively affect the actor and the surrounding people. If someone who loves to punch people just wants to express themselves and they go around punching people it's not okay. Angela may not be punching people, but shes hurting them. If you saw Nivs wmotional reactions to finding out Megan was fake youd know he was heartbroken. However, I do think this movie was fake and or romanticized greatly.
Yes, surroundings do influence decisions; however, some individuals do have the capability of behaving the same way under different scenarios.
Great point. She is ultimately expressing herself to deceive others and misuse them.
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