"Weapons of Mass Distraction"

A handful of individuals have affected the lives of the masses through a wave of new technology. Their creations are seen by many as miraculous feats achieved by man. Although these intellectual properties allow for a greater amount of action and discoveries to be made, they can also impede on the common man's daily duties. The creation of the television, smart phone, and much more have lead some to believe that what we observe in media is 100% truthful. Many who understand that this belief of media is a blind one, may wish that one day the media they consume will be reality. Their desire for this stems from the fact that most surround themselves with media that displays views that they appreciate. They add people on Snapchat that they are friends with, and most likely share feelings that are similar. They follow people on Twitter and Instagram who are both their friends as well as those who share an almost identical aesthetic, which may lead to other similarities. I used to be guilty of doing so myself. I followed what I liked because seeing it made me feel happy. A happiness that is propelled by a feeling of solidarity. This solidarity can be found with political beliefs, artistic beliefs, satirical beliefs, and cultural beliefs. No one likes to feel unhappy, so many can use media as a distraction from the real world.

The achievements of individuals like those of Apple, Intel, and IBM have helped with many advances in our history. My educational resources and communication abilities have become substantially easier. I don't have to go to a library to find out about a topic. I don't have to write assignments by hand. I don't have to write letters to talk to loved ones across the world. All of these things can be found in a small, metal rectangle called an iPhone. This allows for a much easier lifestyle compared to those of the past. But with advantages, can come disadvantages – including but not limited to games, social media, and music. These things can be great in moderation. But when I am writing an essay for a literature class and my phone keeps buzzing even while on silent, I can't be less than tempted to take a look. I know I shouldn't, others do too. But we have a sort of "#FOMO" (fear of missing out) that stems from the instantaneous availability of social media and what can be shared. Some may be from people who have no idea what they are talking about, or from news outlets and that can what is going on in the other half of the world with the press of a phone screen.

Media is vital to us. It allows for governments to communicate, you to play Angry Birds, and me to write this blog. My sense of reality relies on media, it is how, as a young adult of America, I find out about what is happening in the world and it allows me to respond with an informed response rather than an ignorant one. I have been educated greatly by media, but it has also distracts me from the harder stuff in life.