and many of you spend a lot of time monitoring it with little parental oversight. For this assignment consider the results of the polls above and think about how you currently interact with social media and then consider the following. What is your reaction to Essena? Did it move you? Is she onto something? Is it easy for her to say because she's experienced "fame"? If you could do a video response to her what would you say? Excerpt from Essena's website:
Let's bee Game Changers "For me I just completely cut off social media and all use of youtube/tumblr/snapchat/facebook/instagram... and I found my whole life/self esteem just increased dramatically. I was using it anywhere from 4-8 hours a day! That's like over 4 months of my year! It was the centre of my career, but even then, I was just aimlessly stalking, scrolling, comparing, wishing, wanting.... I just had to cut it all off like 'nope I have a serious addiction, these perfect lives and pictures aren't doing all that much for me anymore'. I had soooo much more time after that, and I started doing things like writing, reading and drawing that I always thought I didn't have time for. I now can't wait for my lunch break or after work to go read a novel, or leisurely write, or go out into the forest for a run... There's something so mystical and beautiful in life out of screens. I'm serious! It was as if - when I completely quit - the spell of comparison, boredom, anxiety was lifted. I started seeing a lot of how I used social media as absurd - perfect edited highlights, not the raw, mystical, genuine, calm, educated substance of integrity. I now crave those things, things of substance. That now 'sucks' me in. And those things enrich my life. "NYTimes article:
I definitely agree with what O'Neill had to say. Although social media can be entertaining, it is gradually taking over our lives. People can become obsessed with other people's opinions of them, and social media feeds into this addiction. Even though she learned this from her "fame," her points are valid. If I could do a video response to her I would tell her that I admire her statement and opinions, and that she should continue her good work.
ReplyDeleteGood Lily. Does it make you think twice about your social media use?
DeleteI agree with Essena. In some sort of way many girls can relate, seeing picture perfect people on screens and dreaming about them. Wishing that they had their life. The 19 year old Australian model did make good points in her response to obsession with social media. With what she said many of her followers will agree and most likely take her opinion but, that's what she is trying to convince them not to do. I don't believe it was easy for her to even try to express her thoughts because of 'fame'. I believe it was a great difficulty to go against what she used to believe solely in. If I could make a short video telling her what I thought, I would state that I hope she progresses in her goal to help people cut off from the internet.
ReplyDeleteEssena's video about social media is very true. Social media can cause people to compare themselves to someone who is their definition of "perfect." It is a serious addiction, and a waste of time. I felt that Essena had learned this from her "fame," but she shared a good message to today's society nonetheless. If I could do a video response to her, I would thank her for telling others how social media affected her life and how we should be aware of these things.
ReplyDelete"a waste of time"...is a really good point that I think was hidden in her message. She could have been doing so much more with that time!
DeleteI agree with Essena's video. Everything she said is very true, especially the part about technology and society pushing us to be "perfect." Her fame did help her realize this so it did make it a bit easier to realize. Technology is constantly pressuring you, even when you aren't on it. If you see someone who is considered "perfect" by society, society AND technology will slowly come from the back of your mind, pressuring you to be exactly like that person, even if it means starving yourself. If I could make a video response her, I would like thank her for opening my eyes and many other people's eyes. I would also like to help spread her story.
ReplyDeleteEverything Essena said is true because social media has become a problem in everybody's life. Her video moved me because I wish that I could give up all technology/social media like her. She has taken a huge step towards turning away from her phone and I think that people should follow her example because she is onto something. This is not easy for her to say because she has experienced "fame." She may be living a life people dream about, but she finds herself miserable. We find ourselves miserable from social media since we compare ourselves. If I made a response video to her, I would tell her how she is now a role model of mine because she was able to push social media aside. I would also say that we should strive to do what she is doing because there is more to life than just our phones.
ReplyDeleteI am taking Essena's side. It takes guts and bravery to put your experience and all you have been through on a video. Essena is one of the few that did so. The famous and popular social media star talked about everything and how social media affected and also ruined her life. At first she said "It was great getting all of the publicity" but then after time "It was all fake and just for the camera". Essena's story moved me and I'm sure many others. She really showed me how the way people treat you and how you treat yourself on social media can really hurt you in many ways. She is definitely onto something in my opinion. It is easier for her to say and talk about everything just because she has been through so much of it. BUT, this does not mean normal average teenagers could relate as well. Many teenagers in today's society worry and what they post on social media and what other might think. Giving up social media forever after all of the "fame" it brought Essena is probably very hard. I give her credit for what she has done and how she has moved many young girls like herself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything Essena said in the video. Social media is taking over the majority of peoples lives, and is affecting them in negative ways. This video really moved me, and made me realize the dangers of social media. I do believe that Essena is on to something. I think fame helped her realize how miserable social media made her, and I think the fact that she used her platform to tell her story and set a good example was very brave of her. Not a lot of people would do what she did, and if I were to make a video response I would thank her for telling her story and opening my eyes.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with everything that Essena said. Social Media takes over many peoples' lives. People become addicted to social media. Young girls compare themselves to what social media considers ''perfect''. Essena made very good points. Her video moved me. She was very brave and it must have been hard to quit social media. I believe Essena is onto something that can help people realize the consequences of social media. Essena learned from her ''fame'' that this wasn't her life and the number of likes or followers she had didn't matter at all. If I could make a video response, I would tell Essena that she is very brave and is a great role model. I would tell her that she should keep working towards her goal and to never give up. I think that it is great how Essena now has time to do things that she enjoys rather than wasting all her time on social media. I would also tell Essena that she has had a great impact on many teens' lives.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what Essena stated. Yes, technology is very entertaining and useful, it can be a terrible distraction to carrying out our daily routine. Social media can take over your life. People are obsessed with how they look and act 24/7, because they want to have what social media calls a "perfect life." Essena has definitely learned from her "fame", and has successfully stopped herself from letting social media take over her life. If i could send a video response, I would thank her and tell her that she is a great role model for young teens.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Essena had to say. Technology is taking us away from things that we should be enjoying. Instead of talking to a screen we should be talking face to face. Also Essena made a good point when she stated that technology gives you temporary satisfaction. Essena is a very good role model for all people.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Essena may seem like a highly educated young person and has the ability to move other lives, she did not influence me in any way. I enjoy certain things, like texting my friends and watching YouTube videos when I have the time. I'm not going to stop that just because I feel insecure, I don't feel very insecure at all in fact. If I were to write Essena a response, I would tell her social media isn't a bad thing, it's just bad for the people who don't know how to use it.
ReplyDeleteTo cut off all social media and or technology would be impossible because we live in a world that runs off of it. We all have our own life styles and it always involves technology. She is old enough to make her own disjoins wether or not to keep on using it.
ReplyDeleteI would say that I agree, with Essena, in the sense that having social media from a young age is dangerous. This puts the person at risk of seeing things like photoshopping people to make a certain body type. This also puts this person at seeing a photo of a "perfect girl" which is wearing make up, and is photoshopped to be their definition of perfection. I also agree with her in the sense that we are never really fully satisfied, with what we have on the internet. Such as not enough likes, followers, friends, retweets and such. So I agree with Essena 100%.
ReplyDelete