Writing

QUESTION
Summarize the points in the lecture, being sure to explain how they address the specific concerns about social media described in the reading passage.

READING PASSAGE
Despite the obvious advantages of technology, social media has generated highly negative consequences. To begin with, social media has created a false sense of connectivity and friendship. Additionally, social media has encouraged new forms of harassment through cyber-bullying. One last result of social media is a decrease in overall productivity. These negative attributes make social media a dangerous and controversial set of tools.

The first negative consequence of social media is a false sense of connectedness. People feel a sense of belonging when they can log onto the Internet and see the people they can talk to. Unfortunately, despite the number of people everyone can connect with, there are lower standards for what constitutes a friend. Relationships are casual online interactions rather than legitimate friendships.

Another consequence of social media is the creation of cyber-bullying. People in all age groups now find themselves the object of scorn and derision through message boards. In online interactions, people don’t fear to say things because they don’t have to do so in person. This unfortunate byproduct can have dreadful repercussions for both bullies and the bullied.

Finally, social media has become a distraction and decreased productivity. Students doing homework are likely to be pulled towards scouring social media to check on their friends. Rather than pursuing hobbies, people are more likely to spend time pursuing artificial relationships they established online. Social media has ultimately provided a source of addicting distraction that has turned the world into unproductive workers.

Thus when all factors are considered, the presence of social media has simply brought about too many negative repercussions for people. It has replaced genuine relationships with impersonal interactions. It has introduced a new and almost unpunishable form of bullying. Also, it has become a distraction, turning people into unproductive workers. The snowball effect of negative repercussions is astounding when examined in unison.

LECTURE AUDIO

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QUESTION
Films serve as a window into the culture, values, and perspectives of the countries in which they were made. By watching movies from around the world, we can gain a deeper understanding of different societies and the stories they choose to tell. Here is a question for the discussion board: Films can tell us a lot about the country where they were made. What have you learned about a country from watching its movies?

Student 1
Hey there, I’ve definitely learned a ton about Japanese culture through watching their films, particularly those from Studio Ghibli. Their movies have this unique animation style and intricate storytelling that just captivates me. Plus, the deep respect for nature they show in their films has given me a better appreciation for how important tradition and spirituality are in Japanese society.

Student 2
Hey, I can see how you’ve learned a lot about Japan through Studio Ghibli movies, but I have to say that I don’t think films always provide an accurate representation of a country’s culture. I mean, movies are often created for entertainment purposes, and some aspects of the culture might be exaggerated or romanticized to appeal to audiences. So, while we can certainly get a glimpse into a country’s culture through films, I believe we should be cautious about generalizing based on what we see in movies.

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