#milentry5

[elaserbo]

“The Good and the Bad: How Social Media Affected Me as a Gen Z Individual”

Technology has been playing an important role in our lives. It had a very big impact on society and made our lives easier. And now that technology is continuously advancing, social media has also emerged into the picture. Social media being a big part of many teenagers’ lives has affected youth in today’s generation, mainly the Gen Zs. It allows us to experiment, find, and create our identities as teenagers who are doing their best to survive from this cruel society. Teens also use social media for entertainment and self-expression. Our voices can also be amplified, especially those who have platforms or to those who are in need of help. Another good that we can get from social media is communication and interaction. It makes it easier for the people of this generation to be able to communicate with someone who's far away and helps us to still keep in touch with them. We can also find and make new friends that may be a help to alleviate loneliness and depression. Social media has helped us get information much faster because of its accessibility. We can now be aware and be updated on the news and important events that are happening in our surroundings, our very own country, and even every corner of the world. Because it’s easy to get in touch with a large group of people, information can be shared and can spread quickly and effectively. And fake news is not an exemption.

Social media taught me/us as Gen Z individuals to always fact check news/information before sharing it because it can greatly affect us once it is all over the internet. It taught me/us to always be careful in whatever I do and whatever I click. Most (if not all) of the Gen Zs are most likely prone to having poor time management and wasting hours by just scrolling and checking through their different social media accounts. Gen Zs spend too much on their phone that it disrupts their sleep, and develop a possibility that can damage their eyes and mental health. Yes, social media has a big part in protecting our mental health because it makes us more anxious, more fragile, and more depressed because aside from making us isolate ourselves without realizing, the norms and standards that are very far from reality and so hard to reach are also one of the reasons. We, as Gen Zs, believe that reaching those standards are so important to avoid backlashes, or worse, cyberbullying, and gain more praise from other people. This results in creating more insecurities about ourselves which shouldn’t be happening. Let’s use our influence in social media to promote self-love, uniqueness, and acceptance. Social media definitely has affected me/us as Gen Z individuals but it molded us into a more mature and responsible user who knows their limitations and worth.

[ajdayata]

“The Good and the Bad: How Social Media Affected Me as a Gen Z Individual”

In this generation, we are now using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. to communicate and connect with other people without going outside of our homes. Due to evolving technology, we are now adapting and accepting these changes that give us a lot of benefits which at the same time, have its downside. When these things come up, we now have the capability to multitask, work faster to finish things, and to be more efficient in time. In this midst of the pandemic, many of us weren't able to go outside and should stay at home to prevent the virus from spreading. Social media plays a crucial role in helping us stay connected with our friends and to those people who weren’t able to see us due to this crisis. Social media really helps each individual in making communication more efficient and easier for everyone.

All along with the good side of social media, it also has its own bad side. Despite all its benefits for us, there are also potential issues that we can’t really do anything about. Social media itself is not a problem at all. But on how people will use it. These days, especially us Gen-Z, are being so exposed in social media. The worst part here is where many people now use these platforms to earn or to have other people’s approval for their appearance or compare themselves to others. The other very alarming thing about these platforms is nowadays, we rely mostly on information that we will see online. But some information there is not that accurate and will just lead us to be more confused at all. Social media platforms could also make us be manipulated. Many of us now, especially Gen-Z, spend a lot of time scrolling through social media. This is why many young ones these days are more depressed, experience anxiety, and other bad effects because of what they are seeing there that might make them feel worthless or something, that isn't even true. What we need to do is we should limit and know how to control ourselves by using these platforms so that we won’t fall into its rabbit’s hole, that won’t even give any good benefits for us.

[marizpimentel]

“The Good and the Bad: How Social Media Affected Me as a Gen Z Individual”

 In this generation, we are now using social media platforms such as facebook, twitter, youtube, etc. to communicate and connect with other people without going outside of our homes. Due to evolving technology, we are now adapting and accepting these changes that give us a lot of benefits which at the same time, have its downside. When these things come up, we now have the capability to multitask, work faster to finish things, and to be more efficient in time. In this midst of the pandemic, many of us weren't able to go outside and should stay at home to prevent  the virus from spreading. Social media plays a crucial role in helping us stay connected with our friends and to those people who weren’t able to see us due to this crisis. Social media really helps each individual in making communication more efficient and easier for everyone.

 All along with the good side of social media, it also has its own bad side. Despite all its benefits for us, there are also potential issues that we can’t really do anything about. Social media itself is not a problem at all. But on how people will use it. These days, especially us Gen-Z, are being so exposed in social media. The worst part here is where many people now use these platforms to earn or to have other people’s approval for their appearance or compare themselves to others. The other very alarming thing about these platforms is nowadays, we rely mostly on information that we will see online. But some information there is not that accurate and will just lead us to be more confused at all. Social media platforms could also make us be manipulated. Many of us now, especially Gen-Z, spend a lot of time scrolling through social media. This is why many young ones these days are more depressed, experience  anxiety, and other  bad effects  because of what they are seeing there that might make them feel worthless or something, that isn't even true. What we need to do is we should limit and know how to control ourselves by using these platforms so that we won’t fall into its rabbit’s hole, that won’t even give any good benefits for us.

[maryrosefaelnar]

“The Good and Bad: How Social Media Affected Me as a Gen Z Individual “

Social media has a large impact on our lives, affecting everything from our mental health to our physical health, as well as our behaviors, attitudes, values, and preferences. Social media, like everything else, has advantages and disadvantages. I'd like to share how social media affects my life, specifically how it affects my mental health and relationships. I used to feel inadequate about my own life back in the day. I became ungrateful and dissatisfied with everything, including my accomplishments. What I saw online about people living luxurious lives and being able to get their desires only fueled my insecurity. Then it got to the point where it was affecting my mental health, which is one of the many negative effects of social media on our lives. We all, or at least the majority of us, have this experience. The good thing is that as time passed, many realizations and significant events occurred, causing me to change and appreciate everything, from small to large accomplishments, in every aspect of my daily life. 

Social media became a tool for me to vent my frustrations, raise awareness, communicate, and have a good laugh —since my friends and I are unable to go out as much as we used to. I frequently see posts that aim to raise awareness about issues (e.g., mental health, bullying, and so on), which is a good thing because people are now more aware of and concerned, including me, about issues that were previously unacknowledged. I always share this type of post in the hopes of making a difference in someone else's life. We are now more involved in the online world, particularly in times like these. We're all stressed out about how things that used to be done in an office or school are now done inside four-sided walls, with no coworkers or classmates to engage in personal interaction. Our situation affects almost all of us, from children to the elderly. But I'm hoping to make an impact with the help of social media. It has a positive impact on me because it has made me more responsible and has taught me how to behave appropriately on social media. What used to make me feel insecure is now a way for me to make a small difference.

[g12stem7g2sy2122]

“Digital Divide in the New Normal”

The digital divide has existed since civilization started thriving towards a comfortable future. Today, it is still existent in countries that are developed and also in progressing ones. Fortunately, the gap has lessened over the years but everything took a halt when the pandemic happened. As people say:  "Progress is never linear." In this time of the pandemic, people have evolved to have a technology-based lifestyle. Unfortunately, some people cannot afford to keep up with the lifestyle as the economy started to fall, jobs have become scarce in number, and providing basic needs and safety for the family is a priority. People don't have the same financial capabilities to obtain gadgets, geographical locations to obtain a good broadband signal, and resources to be technology literate individuals.  This has made the stairs harder to climb and the finish line longer to reach. The new normal has brought change to our life and has led us to a world where technology is like a lifeline for everything.

It is undeniable that our country is one of the countries that is recognized for having impressive progress. However, what many do not see eye to eye is the widening gap of digital division in people, morally and ethically. In technological advancements and times of crisis, capitalism took the opportunity and stunned everyone through increased prices of our needs and wants. It has affected many, especially in the education and labor sectors. As we are transitioning to contactless transactions, everyone has been too reliant on technology and spends more time in the virtual world than being present in reality, but also many are left behind. Each one of us is facing our battles, yet not everyone can alleviate them. Considering each factor and effect,  we cannot stop the digital divide but we can lessen the gap. Creating effective solutions that are in touch with reality is one solution to having a more inclusive environment for everyone.

[g12stem7g7sy2122]

“Digital Divide in the New Normal”

In the technologically advanced world, where technological progress made the access to the internet and other digitally inclined devices transcend physical and geographical boundaries and cultural differences between people, there is bound to be a gap between individuals, societal classes, businesses, and even countries with varying backgrounds and their capability to access information and use communication technology. This gap is called the “Digital Divide”, which refers to the idea of “being left behind” in digital knowledge, skills, and accessibility. In the past, having access to smartphones and the internet is a luxury that only those in the upper class can afford, and the digital divide at that time only refers to a person’s ability to possess these things, but as time passed by technology also evolved and became more accessible for everyone throughout the world, changing the whole concept of digital divide into who has greater, or less internet bandwidth, or who has the skills to utilize it and who has not. The digital divide is very evident in the new normal, for a lot of activities that are usually done face-face were now done online as a compromise to continue their services. The gap that is already very wide before the pandemic, has widened even more because of the limited interaction amongst individuals, greatly affecting a lot of major sectors of our society. The influence of the new normal has also reached the domain of education; schools were forced to halt face-to-face classes in fear of the transmission of the virus, but a new way of learning that was safe was presented, which is online learning. Online learning is the most suitable way of teaching in the new normal since it allows students to learn, and interact with their classmates, and teachers without risking their health, this is also true for the teachers, and all the other members of Universities, since they were able to keep the school in business amidst the pandemic. Nevertheless, we can all agree that access to the internet, and devices, required in online learning, needs a hefty sum, which not everyone is capable of providing. Furthermore, internet bandwidth plays a major role in online learning since it affects the amount of data a connection can send and receive at the same time. This is important for the students who rely on the internet to continue their education. This leads me to believe that the benefits that online learning can provide are favorable to the privileged and will widen the digital divide between individuals, and those with less access to the internet and other digital devices will be left behind in the digital literacy race.

The digital divide which was enhanced by the new normal did not end its influence in the educational sector, and further affected others such as the economy. Businesses that were greatly strained by the new normal chose to extend their services online as new means for their customers to ask for their services, and to allow their businesses to stay afloat despite the pressure of the new normal. Although this solution is brilliant, it also increases the gap amongst individuals since not everyone has access to the internet; when others with digital knowledge, skills, and accessibility are safely shopping for their necessities for survival online, those without those privileges are risking their lives by going out since they don’t have the digital knowledge, skills, and accessibility as the privileged. This shows how the digital divide affects every single one of us, especially those that are less fortunate, but I believe that this problem is impossible to solve since the number of opportunities and benefits a person can get in this world is directly proportional to the economical standing of their family. This means that the privileged get all the pieces of the cake called digital knowledge, skills, and accessibility, while the less fortunate are left with crumbs.

[g12stem7g4sy2122]

Digital Divide in the New Normal

The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to current communication and information technology and those who don’t, and it affects people of all ages in both positively and negatively. Humans are sociable creatures by nature. Every day, we progress because of technological advancements such as the internet, social media, and gadgets that have become essential in our everyday lives. Having a digital divide in our society has different effects on every individual in their daily lives. Whether it may be advantageous to them or not, it still matters. But it is still important for us to cope up with our gaps and have the capability to access and use information communications technology, and that's how to make our lives more efficient and convenient.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has been totally transformed by the sudden shift of work, education, and services to the online environment. All schools suddenly closed, and classes were shifted online for the safety of all. As a result of quarantine restrictions, the usage of digital technology to maintain effective communication among friends and family members has risen. We've learned to adapt to pulling out our phones to snap a QR code before entering a place, and Zoom meetings or Google Meet have become commonplace at work and in school. People who do not have access to technology, on the other hand, are a lot more disadvantaged in these circumstances than they were before. In many situations, technology's lifeline is only accessible to those who have it. While progress has been made in eliminating the digital divide, COVID-19 has shown how vulnerable technology access is in many parts of the world and how many people still lack access to unrestricted and empowering technologies. This problem shows up in a variety of ways, such as who has access to knowledge and the digital educational divide. This leads us to the conclusion that, while the current pandemic is new to many of us, the digital divide has been there for a long time. However, because the digital divide is a lengthy problem, we already have some basic information and resources to investigate its causes, processes, and potential solutions. Because of the pandemic we experienced a lot of difficulties and adjustment. Actually, because of the new normal there are some changes in our education because of COVID-19 we can't go outside, we instead stay at home and classes are done virtually. Digital Divide is pertaining to the gaps between individuals, social, etc. In the new normal, our classes are done virtually but there is a problem with that because other students can't catch up with their class because of signals or internet connection, there is  a gap between a students have a stable connection just like a wifi and a students have an unstable connection just like low signals or their using data connection.

[g12stem10g4sy2122]

“Digital Divide in the New Normal”

The digital divide may be a term that refers to the gap between socioeconomics and districts that have get to advanced data and communications innovation (ICT), and those that don`t or have restricted access. This innovation can include the phone, tv, individual computers and web network. Even among populations with a few get to technology, the computerized isolate can be apparent within the frame of lower-performance computers, lower-speed remote associations, lower-priced web utilize associations such as dial-up and restricted get to subscription-based substance. Digital divide is something that we all experience in this new normal. The global digital divide also contributes to the inequality of access to goods and services available through technology. Computers and the Internet provide users with improved education, which can lead to higher wages, the people living in nations with limited access are therefore disadvantaged.

The digital divide does exist and the factors that cause the gap are age, employment status, educational attainment, household, low literacy and income levels, geographical restrictions, lack of motivation to use technology, lack of physical access to technology, and digital illiteracy contribute to the digital divide. Digital divide has never been deeper than it is today digital divide is one of the issues in today's society, since it also provokes a distinction between those who can access certain information and those who are unable to do so. Globally, the digital divide in developing countries includes a lack of access to digital technology and internet service. It can also include a lack of accessibility to modern, high-quality new technologies such as mobile phones and Wi-Fi access. Additionally, there is significant inequality across the globe in telecommunication bandwidth. For some where experiencing the lowest digital access speeds. Proponents for bridging the digital divide include those who argue it would improve digital literacy, digital skills democracy, social mobility, economic equality and economic growth.