AVERYDAY BLOG

Social media has changed the way public opinion is formed and how people communicate with each other. It used to be that most information came from things like TV, newspapers, and radio. Today, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X allow anyone to share their thoughts and opinions with a large audience instantly. Due to this, public opinion can form much faster, and people have more opportunities to participate in discussions about social and political issues. One major impact of social media is how quickly information spreads. A post can go viral within hours if people start sharing it and using hashtags to attract more attention. For example, the #MeToo movement spread widely through social media and encouraged people around the world to share their personal experiences with sexual harassment. This shows how social media can also help raise awareness and influence how society views important issues.  Storytelling also plays a very big role online. The Narrative Paradigm suggest...

For this assignment, I decided to analyze an article by Jennifer Casa-Todd called, “New Research: Social Media Has (Maybe Not) Destroyed a Generation.” In the article, Casa-Todd argues that many fears about social media harming young people may be exaggerated. She uses several research studies to support her point. While the article makes strong arguments, there are a few possible fallacies we can see using ideas from Crusius and Channell (2016).  One example is hasty generalization. The author shares studies that show social media does not strongly harm teens' well-being and may even have benefits. While these studies show positive or neutral effects, it’s possible that some teens are still negatively affected, so the conclusion may not apply to everyone. Therefore, the evidence cannot fully support such a broad statement about an entire generation.  Another fallacy is either/or (false dilemma). The article suggests that if we blame social media, we miss the chance to support...

For my blog post, I wanted to choose an argument I could relate to and understand from a personal perspective. For my weekly blog, I chose the argument of school start times because I’ve heard a lot of back and forth from both sides. I also haven’t been on Reddit before, so this was a whole new experience for me, trying to find an argument about this. However, I chose this Reddit thread because the topic is relatable to almost everyone, and they also question why schools start so early if research suggests a later start time. As someone who used to and still struggles to wake up for school, I was interested to see what people thought. This discussion quickly turns into a debate, with commenters sharing strong opinions, personal stories, and frustrations.  One concern I noticed is that a lot of comments would say opinions as facts without citing any research. Also, the original post mentions that it’s “proven” to be harmful, but very few responses include credible sources. Another i...

When thinking of companies to research and observe their online communication, Nike came straight to mind. It has a strong online presence that feels clear and intentional, and has a great balance in its marketing. After looking through its website and social media, it's obvious that the company knows who they are talking to and what message they want to send. In The Rhetorical Act, Campbell, Huxman, and Burkholder explain that communication always has a purpose and is shaped by the audience it's trying to reach (2014). Nike's online platforms show that idea in a real-world way.  At the top of Nike's homepage, you can see simple tabs for navigation like Men, Women, Kids, and Sport. This makes it easy to find what you're looking for right away. The middle of the page features new releases and collections with visuals and short phrases. It's not crowded with text, which keeps it easy to scroll and not get overwhelmed. At the bottom, there are links for customer se...

I am a regular listener of Emma Chamberlain’s podcasts, and I hadn’t yet heard her episode “You Won’t Be Liked by Everyone,” before. I really enjoy listening to her because her content is fun, relatable, and completely real, and I was interested to see how this episode shared unique advice, like her other advice sessions. One of the most noticeable aspects of her podcast, I think, is her conversational style. She speaks naturally and sometimes quickly, but when she wants to highlight a point, she will slow down. For example, when she says, “Not everyone is going to like you,” she pauses and gives listeners time to think about what she just said. Her pitch changes in an expressive way, which keeps the listeners engaged, and her volume is steady. These aspects make her advice feel very personal and trustworthy, which is like what Griffin, Ledbetter, and Sparks (2019) explain about how effective communication delivery can shape how messages are perceived.  The intended audience for ...

Marc Prensky’s idea of digital natives and digital immigrants makes sense when I think about my own experience as a student. Digital natives grow up using technology all the time, while digital immigrants learn to use it later. Due to this, learning can feel disconnected when classes rely mostly on lectures or long readings. I find it harder to stay focused in those situations compared to when information is broken up, visual, or interactive. Prensky also says that students’ thinking patterns have changed because of technology. I can see that in how I learn. I usually understand material better when it’s organized clearly and gets to the point instead of dragging on. Visual examples and short explanations help me more than long lectures. This connects to what Pearson et al. (2021) discuss in Chapter 14 about informative presentations needing to be clear, structured, and designed for the audience. When information is presented that way, it’s easier for me to pay attention and actually r...