Second Life isn’t a Life.

By Winnie Wong Sing Yih (49427)

Second Life is an interactive virtual world reachable through internet where people spend a great deal of time and money. Participants in these increasingly realistic life and engage in activities ranging from simple conversations, financial transactions, to stimulate sex, violence, and rape, or even marriage and divorce (Furber, 2009).

Apparently, it is a video game. I mean, you wouldn’t say it is your career, or hobby even you are earning or spending so much money and times on it. This virtual system remains virtual eventually. The most interesting part is about the behavior of people who are on Second Life, no matter consciously or not consciously willing to try and get into it for some reason. That’s the beauty of today worlds, only the choice you could not expect instead of no choice.

One of the highlight about Second Life is free role play. In terms of both choice and charge. Avatars may take any form users choose such as human, animal, vegetable, mineral, or even a combination of them. Of course, residents may choose to resemble themselves as they are in real life if they want to. I believe that some images and characteristics of avatars will be the projection of user’s desire. For instant, a fat girl wanted to get a fit body in few minutes, she goes for second life. If a man wants to be a girl in few minutes, he does not have to buy a dress but goes for Second Life. The instant projection can’t actually satisfy the urge but might trigger more questions about real life identity. In real life, identity like father, husband, leader, and daughter is an obligation, in Second Life, brand new identity is your creation without duty but interest or even curiosity which means, and it could be obscene in certain condition. 

Moreover, many users try to entertain themselves by getting a “second life” under real life pressure and problems. Actually, it is pretty sarcastic when a person could not manage their real life issue but having a great second life in virtual. As our lives are full with unpredictable and uncontrollable condition, Second Life would be too manual to compare with. Users can build their own castle; buy their own fancy car with a finger click which is never possible in real world without any hard work. In fact, we cannot just selectively skip or ignore the steps of succeed because it is a bad practice of humanity. Well, if users try to compare Second Life with real life, it is definitely not a solution of but an excuse.

Here is the real deal, would you like to trade off or give up everything for this virtual life? There are so many things that genuinely beautiful and meaningful in our lives. Our life which cannot be pause and reply is what Second life could not present with. A successful and charming avatar character cannot define who you are to your beloved family, friends and significant others. It cannot make a difference, contribution and development for your community, country and world. So, when you spend your creativity and intelligence to build up this virtual avatar, ask yourself just one more time: Is this Second Life worth to risk it all?

Reference

Furber, M. (2009). Ethics & virtual world: Second life as a case study. Tabah Analytic Brief, 9, 1-33.

Individuation in the Digital Era

By Lim Sok Fern (47395)

Does the rise of mobile media contribute an individualistic society? According to Allik and Realo (2004), individualism refers to an individual who values independence and distance himself or herself from a society.

With the emergence of mobile media, we are spending more time on cyberspace. Mobile media users become more individualistic and prefer to be alone when they are consuming the Internet. Therefore, we are shifting our attention from the real world to visual world relationships. This is a phenomenon that recognized by all of us as “detachment of the real world” and “digital addiction”.

Individualism is a belief about the importance of personal needs over the society needs as a whole (Woollaston, 2015). The diverse networks on mobile media increase the chance for people to express themselves and individualism. The use of anonymous identity allows people to create different personal attributes and characteristics in the virtual world. In the virtual world, they are free from oppression and control. Unintentionally, they tend to isolate themselves from the real world and enjoy the happiness that the virtual world brings to them.

On the other hand, people argued that the existence of mobile media does not individualization us. Social networking sites are actually bonding and reinforcing traditional groups such as family and tribe. Moreover, it aids people to connect with each other when they are separated at different places. For instances, a student who studies abroad can keep contact with their family and friends via Facebook and Skype. Also, it enabling people to develop and maintain relationships through private messaging.

UCL (2017) mentioned that media is often a group activity. People especially the young are sharing access to their personal phones and computers (UCL, 2017). In fact, not only young, we also share our social media account passwords with our best friend or partner. As stated by UCL (2017), 83% of people shared their password of social media accounts with their family or friends. Unintentionally, this enhances the collectivism culture that involved more than one people in a social activity.

Last but not least, people tend to post group photos and these photos are tagged their friends or family and can be shared by others. So, we choose to appear in public in different ways in the digital era instead of going out with wearing the same clothes. Furthermore, social networks create a platform for all people to share and exchange their personal ideas and opinion in which these actions are making us less individual.

In conclusion,the existence of mobile media is unavoidable in our life. In my personal opinion, mobile media does not make us more individualistic. Instead of it, it creates bonds between all of us. It connects people with different backgrounds and experiences and builds a shared platform for all of us to share our idea and stories. Meanwhile, what is your opinion towards the issue of individuation in the digital era?

Thank you.

References

Allik, J., & Realo, A. (2004). Individualism-collectivism and social capital. Journal of Corss-Cultural Psychology, 35(1), 29-49.

UCL. (2017). Social media is not making us more individualistic. Retrieved from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/why-we-post/discoveries/1-social-media-is-not-making-us-more-individualistic

Woollaston, V. (2015). Think the “Me Me Me Generation” is new? Think again: Society began shifting towards individualism more than a century ago. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2942561/Think-Generation-new-Think-Society-began-shifting-individualism-CENTURY-ago.html 

How mobile media has changed our lives

By Lim Sok Fern (47395)

In the past, no one was talking or texting on a mobile phone in a restaurant, no one was looking on a mobile phone while crossing a road and no one was on a phone while driving. Today, mobile media has become ubiquitous in our society and it is recognized as a necessity instead of a convenience. 

Can we survive in a world without mobile phone and devices? Puretalk (2014) mentioned that people may not be able to handle the world without mobile phones. Media devices bring benefit to us. For instance, the use of WAZE and Google Maps application on the mobile media are actually helpful in order to provide direction for us. At the same time, it also guides us to reach our destinations in the shortest time. 

Mobile media is useful when we are in case of emergency. Although we at different places, we still able to reach our friends, family or people who we want to connect with mobile phones and ask for help. Unintentionally, it saves our time. For example, teachers and lecturer may not always be in the office due to many reasons but they are connected to students and colleagues through mobile media. Students still able to contact with their teachers or lecturers through email or various types of social media.
 

In addition, we get the latest news and updates with the use of mobile devices. If we are living the world without the mobile media with the Internet, then we have to wait the printed newspaper on the next day then only we can know what was happened yesterday. 

Grotewohl (2015) stated that technologies give us access to the virtual world in an exchange with the precious moments from the world we live in. For example, parents are still busying replying email when they are out of office, they scarify their personal and family life in order to ensure their “efficiency and productivity”. Initially, technologies were designed to make our life easier. However, Shapiro (2009) claimed that technologies do not make our lives easier, instead, it only makes our tasks easier than before. Nowadays, people engage in mobile media anytime and anywhere. Nevertheless, being in the real world and the virtual world at once means we do not belong to anywhere. 

Moreover, mobile media are diminishing the society’s ability to communicate and interact face-to-face. Drago (2015) stated that people use mobile media as a crutch and hide behind of it when interact and communicate with others.  Our ability to face-to-face talk and interact with others is impeded by the technologies. Hence, it negatively influences the human face-to-face interactions and the quality of the conversations. 

In the age of speed growing of advanced technologies, we have to recognize and admit that human life is changing quickly as well. Today, most of our life is like a slideshow machine of news feeds, online videos, photos, and texts. Is there any time left to exist as ourselves? Hence, everyone should decide their limitation and set a boundary in relation to mobile media usage.

References

Drago, E. (2015). The effect of technology on face-to-face interactions. The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 6(1), 13-19.

Grotewohl, T. (2015). I went 16 months without a cell phone and my life was so much better. Retrieved from http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/life-without-phone-ive-learned/683367/

Shapiro, J. (2009). A digital myth: Technology does not make life easier. Retrieved from http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/a-digital-myth-technology-make-life-easier/136533/

Puretalk. (2014). Could you survive a world without cell phones? Retrieved from https://www.puretalkusa.com/blog/could-you-survive-a-world-without-cell-phones/

5 Ways to Overcome Internet Addiction

By Jessie Kong Seng Ding (47093)

Are you aware of Internet addiction? As we know, Internet addiction acts as a host of bad effects in our life. Nevertheless, it is still a growing issue in our society. Therefore, are you struggling to fight with the Internet addiction? Here are some tips for you.

First of all, we have to recognize the triggers that make us to connect with the Internet. Is it when you are bored or lonely? Or you are experiencing stress, depress or anxiety so the digital devices become the way to sooth yourselves? Young and Rodgers (1998) proved that there is a relationship between depression and internet addiction. Casey (2016) stated that we need to concern about some signs shown are meant that internet use is harming our health. It can be happen physically. The signs of Internet addiction are loss or gain of weight, headaches, back pain and interrupted sleep cycle (Casey, 2016). We have to be alerted to control the use of internet. Instead of play with digital devices, we shall find a healthier way to manage our moods such as go for a jog or find a close friend to talk.

Secondly, list down the online activities that spend us time by developing a personal inventory. Through this, we able to identify what activities that we spend the most time. Then, find something to do to replace screens. Internet is just a part of our life, it really does not matter that much. Spend more time with people who we care and who care about us is the best antidote to cure the Internet addiction.

Thirdly, discipline ourselves. Set the time limit to control our Internet consumption. For instances, schedule a break on every 30 minutes of the Internet time and set 4 hours as the maximum of Internet time for a day. There are many phone applications that help us to monitor ourselves. Although it may be difficult in the beginning, we must trust in ourselves that we able to achieve it.

Beside, seek for help from others. Find a support group that provides various strategies to overcome for Internet addicts to solve their problem with knowledge and information. You may refer to local community centre, counsellor, doctors or anyone you trusted. They give us advices and motivation to treat internet addiction. Not only that, we can also get a hand from our family members too. The given emotional and practical supports from our dearest family members are helpful to treat the internet addiction.

Last but not least, figure out the difference between interacting online and in-person. As stated by Smith, Robinson and Segal (2016), nonverbal cues from face-to-face interactions such as eye contacts and listening can make us feel calm, secure and generate a higher understanding towards the intended messages. In addition, the absence of nonverbal languages in online communication may causes misunderstandings between communicators. Be socially active with people around us also help us to expand our social circle and gain a level of self-confidence while enjoying others’ accompany.

In fact, there are many other methods to maintain a healthy online time. All of these ways might be difficult and hard at first when we are trying to overcome the Internet addition, but do not give up as “I’ m possible” is hiding in the word “impossible!”

References

Casey, J, B. (2016). How to Overcome Internet Addiction. Retrieved from http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Internet-Addiction

Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Segal, J. (2016). Smartphone addition: Tips for breaking free of compulsive smartphone use. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/
addiction/smartphone-and-internet-addiction.htm?pdf=true

Young, K., S., & Rodgers, R., C. (1998). The relationship between depression and internet addiction. CyberPsychology & Behavior. 1(1), 25-28.

The Impacts of Digital Addiction

By Lim Sok Fern (47395)

Technology has immersed into our lives. Today, much of our communication is online such as leisure and entertainments are provided by the Internet. Mental relaxing activities through online video games and, digital devices have become an essential part of our connectivity with the world. With all these changes in our lifestyle, there are increasing concerns about what technology has done to us.

Firstly, digital addiction is affecting our personal relationships. As mentioned by Adler (2013), people claimed that technologies are interfering with family life. A child complained that her parents did not make eyes contact with her until they finish the last email while a dad stated his father was more likely to play with his iPhones or laptops rather than watch Sunday sports with him (Adler, 2013). Through these cases, we can see that digital technologies are much more addictive than other technologies. It is a true disorder that influencing our personal relationships.

Secondly, it could result in anti-social behavior when online is dominating every part of our life. In a study conducted by Thenu and Keerthi (2013), long televisions hours caused people becoming anti-social. Furthermore, the digital addiction also will lead to depression, anxiety disorders, and social disorders. People get pleasure from their online identity in the virtual world. Hence, they are more likely to experience the feeling of loneliness and depression when they have to face the real world. People will tend to lost their interest in activities that held their attention and refuse to participate in activities that were enjoyed previously.

Also, digital addiction makes us vulnerable. We are exposing a huge number of personal information to unknown people and contents as the online time is getting longer. As mentioned by Lal (2016), we are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks when there are more our connected devices to the Internet. Therefore, people shall be aware of their online consumption.

Last but not least, it harms our health and overall well-being. When we are spending our time with phones and computers, we are more sedentary and it may cause us to gain weight unconsciously. Not only that, it is affecting our sleep cycles (Cook, 2016). We can see the increasing addiction to digital technologies from many aspects in our lives. Checking phones every half an hour and playing our tablets till late night are the two symptoms of digital addiction (Thorpe, 2015). 

As we are spending a lot of time with the media for variety needs and purposes, we have to know how to create the limits for ourselves. It is crucial to be active in our real world instead of the virtual world. To unplug ourselves from digital addiction, we shall start to practice digital detox in our life.

References

Adler, I. (2013). How our digital devices are affecting our personal relationships. Retrieved from http://legacy.wbur.org/2013/01/17/digital-lives-i

Cook, J. R. (2016). Digital technology can be harmful to your health. Retrieved from http://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/digital-technolgy-can-harm-your-health

Lal, R. R. (2016). Are Internet enabled devices making us more vulnerable to cyber-attacks? Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/internet-enabled-devices-making-us-more-vulnerable-rodrick-rajive-lal

Thenu, C. T., & Keerthi, S. (2013). Prevalence of digital addiction and use of digital devices by students. EXCEL International Journal of Multidisciplinary Management Studies, 3(7), 118-128.

Thorpe, J. R. (2015). Fighting your addiction to technology? These 4 factors might be messing with your digital detox. Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/articles/76764-fighting-your-addiction-to-technology-these-4-factors-might-be-messing-with-your-digital-detox

The Age of Digital Addiction

By Jessie Kong Seng Ding (47093)

The digital era provides a platform for people connect with each other around the world. People also use the internet for multi-purposes. Young (2004) declared that the Internet is a neutral device. It is originally designed to conduct research among agencies of academic and military. However, the explosive growth of the Internet had a huge impact on people’s interpersonal and communication behaviour (Sato, 2006). In this 21st century, we are all consumers of the digital age , and maybe most of us are experiencing the digital age addiction.

Ramasubbu (2017) briefly explained the five types of digital age addiction that one can experience, it can be more than one type at the same time. First, it is device addiction towards a particular online game. Secondly, overloaded information where one always feel the urge to seek instant information online. Thirdly, net compulsions through online gambling and excessive online purchasing, followed  by cybersexual addiction like pornography. Lastly, it is cyber-relationship addiction through establishing an online relationship. 

Addiction is traditionally associated with a strong urge, often accompanied by lossing control, want to do it first and use it continuously. Young (2004) advised Internet users to set limits so that they can control over their behaviors. Internet addiction gives consequences. For instances, students who are addicted to the Internet and cannot stop keep playing with their digital devices are more likely to have poor academic’s performance.  The same goes to employees as they will suffer in the lack of sleeping time and bad performance if they are addicted to the Internet and digital device.

Digital addiction also affects student’s academic performance, psychological well-being and daily interaction with family members and peers (Sato, 2006). Pew Research Center (2003) reported the usage of internet in the United States is about 59% of adults at the end of 2002, which has grown up compared to the year 2000 (less than 50%). The rise of the internet use leads to the changes of people daily life. Many people rely on the Internet so much. They cannot live without Internet. The term used to describe this increasing trend “digital addiction”. Young claimed that digital addiction is a common clinical phenomenon.

 

We carried out a survey to study this clinical phenomenon. There are 25 respondents that took part in this survey. Most of them are undergraduate students.  A majority (56%) of them spend more than two hours on the internet. 36% of respondents go online for entertainment purpose, 28% of the respondents stated that they use their digital devices or the Internet for information search and get the latest news and information updates, only 14 of them mentioned that it depends on the situation which drives them to go online. Garari (2017) pointed out how the introduction of smartphones enables us to access the Internet without the limitation of time and space and drives us to seek for quick answers. Any mobile devices have the ability to make us feel "connected" with people are not around us that particular time. Hence, it gives us the illusion that we must always accomplish something anytime, where we are always busy doing work every time and without us realizing, we are depending on digital devices.

Based on the survey, there are 84% of respondents who have activated their social network accounts more than three years. The most three used social networks accounts are Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Next, 17 out of 25 respondents have never logged out their social accounts from digital devices as  they are more concern about convenience rather than they privacy safety. Even though more than half of the respondents feel that they are in control of their online consumption, it is undeniable that everyone has experienced a certain measure of social media addiction. In a study by Ramasubbu (2017), it is reported that 80% of the social media posts revolves around the user. In the same study, it is explained that this phenomenon is due to "self-referencing" where everyone feels competitive in social situations and the need to constantly reflect on our strengths. Everyone loves to talk about themselves. 

In this research, only four respondents feel that they are addicted to the Internet while majority of them (84%) claimed they are dependent towards digital devices. They explained their reasons through the feeling of frustration when they live without Internet. They always feel the need to update himself or herself with latest news and information and claim that "invisible forces" drive them to connect with the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Biologically, this form of "happy" feeling that you get while going on social media sites is attributed to the presence of dopamine. Dopamine is triggered by reward cues, unpredictability and release of little but continuous information. Whenever we go on online social networking, our brain releases dopamine to give us a sense of pleasure, that is why sometimes it is challenging to resist going on social networking sites (Ramasubbu, 2017). 

"Time moves slower without the Internet."- Female respondent , 22

"I know I am addicted to the Internet because my time is wasted."- Female respondent, 22

In conclusion, most of us are addicted to the Internet and digital devices. The digital age addiction is no longer a new term for us. We have to be aware and conscious in order to control ourselves so that we will not manipulated by the internet or digital addiction. Be a wise digital or Internet user, do not blindly follow the trend until we lose ourselves in the digital era.

References

Pew Internet Research Centre. (2003). Internet use by region in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2003/08/27/internet-use-by-region-in-the-u-s/

Garari,K. (2017,15 March). Deccan Chronicle. Mobile-dependent life. Retrieved from http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/150317/mobile-dependent-life.html

Ramasubbu, S. (2017,13 March). The Huffington Post. Biological & psychological reasons for social media addiction. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/biological-psychological-reasons-for-social-media_us_58c279a7e4b0c3276fb78388

Sato, T. (2006). Internet addiction among students: Prevalence and psychological problems in Japan. JIMAY, 49(7), 279-283.

Young., S., K. (2004). Internet addiction: A new clinical phenomenon and its consequences. American Behavioral Scientist. 48(4), 402-403.

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