#irlfetish

This topic was one I could seriously relate to (you don’t even know, I could go on and on). ANYWAYS, let’s talk about privacy! Starting with my own experiences of being very protected of growing up, my parents have always limited me to using the computer. Which in return, restricted me to use and be active on social media networks.

Luckily, being a 14 year old tween, being exposed to the Internet, and having friends who underwent the same things, I was able to control privacy settings (including clearing search history, creating an extra account on the desktop, turning off notifications, blocking). With this being said, just because I blocked my parents from seeing content I search or post, I let my school friends see what I did because they were the audience I wanted to share my profile with for example. It’s not that I despise my parents at all, it was more so that I had to act a certain way if I’m talking to my friends, and another way if I’m in a room with my parents. 

On the other hand, this weeks articles were particularly really interesting and have caused me to think about the importance of having a phone around for example. With respect to the "Stop Googling: Let's Talk" article, there is not a doubt in my mind that my parents would say "Say it louder for the people in the back!". And to a certain extent, I agree with what the author had to say (obviously, not the Rule of 3 or the 7 Minute Rule).

I do believe that the human connection is important, and that in particular social situations, it can be rude if people pull out their phones during a meaningful conversation. But I also would have to agree with Jurgenson's point that maybe we are fetishizing the "IRL" world. I personally know a lot of people who think being "online" will some day cause our world to end. And these same people go on, deactivating their profiles on Facebook and actually find more meaning and value to that. Now all of a sudden being "offline" is something we should pat ourselves on the back for and should be given praise?