Social Media Interaction
By Naomi VeVers
September 21, 2018
As I start to wake up my phone is flashing, the radio is singing, and Fox News Chicago is reporting the local and national news. The “gift” of my mom’s comments on the news along with the need for coffee electrifies my day before my feet are on the ground. My service dog Millie is licking my face to wake me up to start the day.
I grab my phone to look at Facebook for recent posts. YouTube Chanel, Live Stream Fox, NBC, CBS, Facebook, Insta-Gram, Twitter, Snap Chat, New York Times digital, and text messages are all fighting for my attention along with my Moms choir in the background. What’s so funny is my feet have still have not yet touched the ground. Having Asperger’s transitions can really challenge me. I think I’m in the camp of the entire human race with, Let Me Wake Up!
I get a text message on a friends story hitting the news “All Charges Dropped” five years of holding on to what he believes His God has told him. All Charges were dropped against him. He did not have to go to prison. He had to preach behind graphics and digitally record his journey for the past 5 years now he can tell his story. Followed by a Facebook post on NBC Live Stream report of a gun that is shown to two little girls in Naperville at a park. My Pastors daughters were those girls.
There are all forms of media platforms I interact with all day. My phone, IPad and computer are all Apple products synced together. As soon as something hits the air waves I will text, share/like on Facebook. Then maybe do a live video with my response to what happened. My Moms friend is a local anchor and I ask her questions when I am trying to find out the truth. I do not like Fake news. The truth sets you free. With Lies it’s hard to keep track of them. The Truth is always the Truth regardless if you like it or not.
I pay attention to the news all day. In bed, at school, comments in the halls, church, out with friends, in the car, taking walks, or at events. Sometimes I feel like I am blowing a gasket with the news coming at me all at once. Yet, I find myself depending on these social media outlets embraced by traditional media mainstream sources.
Most of the time my views are different from my family. My mom is very conservative. I am to a point conservative with my views on the news. With my friends we agree to disagree on certain topics. Social media as news is a main source of communication with my generation. In the future I believe it will be the main source of communication.
Like my friends we will respond directly through comments, Instant Messenger, and texting to different events happening daily impacting our lives. What I think that folks respond to first is a visual stimulus instead of only print words. A picture or a short video clip grabs the attention of ones focus. Then after the article is read you have a clearer picture of the written words. Social media gives us that interoperation.
On Facebook back in January 2017 when 4 suspects were facing criminal hate crime charges for kidnapping that boy with special needs. My mom went crazy. None of my friends were aware that it took place. Yet this was a live Facebook torture of this disabled boy. I had not seen it posted until after she had seen it. Then the conversation was sparked between my friends about; How to be safe? What actions do we take? What are we responsible for?
I am constantly getting news forwarded to me. News can be anything from something huge nationally or locally. The other day I received a text message about how I should vote in the up coming elections. I think getting random news on your personal phone is over stepping boundaries.
As I observe how family, friends and myself react to different news. I know from myself my reaction to news stories most of the time I have not researched the topic myself. I am basing my thoughts and beliefs based on what others think. That is definitely crossing the danger zone.
I have been challenged to find out the truth of a story after I have checked out all the sources for myself. Not everyone tells the truth. I need to divide that word or actions for myself. I want to not be deceived. Trusting others to discern it for me has led to have wrong thinking. I ask you this, who do you believe? What will you do to make sure you have been told the truth? No response is still a response; no action is still an action! I want to be teachable. To be a good leader and a reporter I need to be teachable. How about you? What will you do or not do? The answer is up to you!
