“We are becoming increasingly individual, but we have this strong desire for community.
We become increasingly independent, while watching for more community.
We have more commercial, and we long for more authenticity.”
-Michael Wesch, An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube
Michael Wesch said something relatively close to this in his video documenting the rise and impact of youtube. I find this interesting to think about in regards to not just youtube, but all forms of social media. We have people that sit home independently, yet spend hours and hours on Facebook, youtube, or other comparable sites seeking out others. I don’t see much issue with this with those that are socially connected in the “real world” also. It is those that don’t have as many “real” social connections with others that I wonder about. I think of even some of my own Facebook “friends.” Often times those that comment the most on status updates or those that seem to be the most active Facebook users, are those that I don’t perceive as having as many healthy social relationships in the “real world.” Is this something to be concerned about? In one way, it is at least one way of seeking out community when the alternative might be simply home by oneself. On the other hand, are these people replacing seeking out real social connections by spending time just connecting online?
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Your post reminds of the "real" exercise we did in class. What is a "real" social relationship? I remember back to online Greek class before we actually saw one another face-to-face. Members of the same group formed a "real" relationship online. That relationship was solidified when we arrived at campus and had a "real" face-to-face meeting. Was one more "real" than the other? For some people, online relationships may be as "real" as it gets and are they not better than no relationship at all?
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