Learn How To Learn

The ever-expanding aspects of the Internet have produced new employment opportunities as a result of the need for new media experts. However, many current new media employees have mentioned the drawback of the constant change of the Internet and the necessity of ‘learning how to learn’ (Gill, 2007, 38).

It’s clear that certain personal traits are required for those looking to work within new media as the need to like learning and the necessity to live on little money are frequently mentioned. The fact that after we graduate we might eventually end up right back where we are is quite daunting to consider. Especially when current media workers are mentioning a common issue of lack of money and certain education may include fees.

Within my New Media unit we have learnt about the new opportunities technology improvements are providing.  Though this is creating greater employment prospects, the never-ending updates to the media that have been mentioned frequently unfortunately mean media employees can never stop learning.

So if you are considering a career within the media but you don’t particularly like learning you may have to re-think this or learn how to like learning. But if you love the media and you enjoy learning, this job may just be perfect for you. So go out and get it! 

Social Media Learning
e-Taalim
http://www.e-taalim.com/events/how-social-media-can-be-used-learning.html

                                                                                                               

References

Gill, R. 2007. Surviving in New Media. Technobohemians or the New Cybertariat? New Media work in Amsterdam a Decade After the Web. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures: 38 -40

Are you a ‘Cyberchondriac’?

Lewis (2006, 526) discusses the increasing worldwide use of the Internet to find medical information, considering whether it is a healthy lifestyle choice or a case of ‘cyberchondria’. The website RealAge.com in particular is discussed for it’s ability to calculate your ‘real age’ (Lewis, 2006, 521).

Click Here to Take the Test
Wendy White
http://sirensong.sireninteractive.com
/web-20/the-real-truth-about-realage/

I went onto the RealAge.com website and took the RealAge test, admittedly I expected to be ‘older’ but the result I got was slightly surprising. RealAge.com also offers to provide you with health tips to bring down your body age, all of which seem to be straightforward and easy tips to achieve.

This website, for the most part, consists of tips to stay or get healthy, while other websites seem to be giving away medical advice, which they expect their audience to follow.

I will admit I have looked up my own symptoms online many times. Sometimes I hadn’t understood or remembered what the doctor had said. Sometimes a friend or family member had suggested a condition to fit my symptoms and I looked it up out of curiosity.

Though many people use the Internet for these reasons, others truly believe they can diagnose their own condition through Internet advice. Ultimately, you have to realise not all the information you are being given is true and you don’t necessarily have the condition that fits your symptoms.

                                                                                                                                                                                

References

Lewis, T. 2006. “Seeking Health Information on the Internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria?” Media, Culture & Society 28: 521 – 539 Accessed April 9, 2011. doi: 10.1177/0163443706065027

RealAge, Inc. 2011. “Health Tips – Health Assessment and Tips to Live a Longer Life” Accessed April 10, 2011. http://www.realage.com/

Life and New Media

Today's Popular Media Icons
Niall Harbison
http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/17482/

Deuze (2011, 137) suggests that as a result of the increase in media we have become a society living in media, rather than with media. In turn influencing every individual’s habits in regards to these media capabilities.

When considering my experiences with media within my everyday life, I can see multiple arguments of this implication. Within the opinion that we are “living in media” there is an idea that we spend more time connecting to other’s virtually rather than in the physical world (Deuze, 2011, 142). I personally see this opinion in two ways.

Firstly, I use new media, including social networking sites, email and my mobile phone to communicate with my friends. This is mostly to organise a “real world” catch-up. I also use these platforms to connect with friends that I don’t have the opportunity to see face-to-face, whether they are overseas, inter-state or too busy.  This shows some use of new media is not centred around a virtual world.

However, my second viewpoint reflects on an experience of being “connected but isolated” (Deuze, 2011, 142). I’ve been out with a friend who has constantly checked and updated Facebook and sent hundreds of text messages. This causes a sense of isolation and does support the opinion of a media life. I however don’t believe I am living completely with or completely in media.

                                                                                                              

References

Deuze, M. 2011. “Media life.” Media Culture Society 33: 137-148. Accessed March 30, 2011. doi: 10.1177/0163443710386518