Look Up

We live in a day and age where social media, and technology for that matter is taking over our lives. Sometimes we are so focused on going on our phone that we don't realize how much time has past or forget to connect/spend time with the people that matter, such as our family and friends.We crane our heads down so much to focus attention on the phone, what's going on in the social media world. Technology is changing so fast that teenagers, especially want to know what going on in the world. People want to find alternative way in keeping in tough with their friends and family by texting,social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram rather then manually visiting them/ or talking to them in person. Technology has impacted people to the point where they are too "lazy" to build up stronger relationships with their loved ones. It has taken a toll on people's relationships to the point where it breaks up friendships, romantic relationships, causes drama and unnecessary chaos. For me, technology has impacted the relationships with people that are closest to me. Before getting phones, my friends and I would find other ways to build up our relationships such as going out, having conversations about casual and serious topics, and actually be excited to see each other. But now, we're still good friends but that excitement is lost in the sense that we just text each other "what's up?" or "how or you". Of course my friends and talk/hang out with each other in person but that "spark" like before is lost. Most real life conversations, words are often replaced by simple indifferent acronyms and words through text and real life emotions are often replaced by emojis and GIFs. Some of these changes are made for either better or worse. A case where technology strengthened a relationship was with my best friend when she moves away. Even though we are several kilometres apart, we are still able to catch up with each other through social media and texting. Such devices should be allowed in academic settings such as schools because they are resources that help benefit the student in a case where they need to connect with group members for a group project via text (if one of them is absent) or to extract on'line resources. However I do think some rules and regulations should be put in place so that the student doesn't prioritize their technology devices over what's being taught in the classroom that would benefit them in the long-run. Some rules could be blocking sites such as Snapchat,Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and put a limit to how much time they have to be on their phone, by taking phones away during class or asking the students to shut down their phone if needed. This is how much technology has impacted our lives.

Spotting The Bad Blood

Celebrities are always in the spotlight, the good and the bad is always recorded by paparazzi to share with the rest of the world. Celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Lindsay Lohan are some of the many stars who's controversial behaviors have caught the attention of fans or people who like to catch up with the news. Justin Bieber is one of the world's most popular and successful singers as of 2016, although his success story was never this perfect and crystal clean. The last two years have been possibly the more controversial years of Bieber's life but as well as the most confusing for fans. His bratty behavior, being rude to fans, vandalizing his neighbor's property, causing damages worth over tens of thousands of dollars are just some of the many things that have caught everyone's attention, for the wrong reasons. However one thing's for sure, Biebs has some pretty loyal fans. Usually when a person keeps on doing wrong and exhibits such erratic behavior, people would want to stay away or keep there distance away from the person. But Justin Bieber's fans continue to support him through his success and musical talent while ignoring his behavior in the past two years. Fans are willing to support a celebrity, a singer or an actor because they adore him for his/her's looks, talents, physical features, etc. They create a perfect atmosphere for the person they admire; in this case Justin Bieber, so they busy themselves into thinking that their role model is better than others. Famous celebrities get way with doing such bad things by getting lighter charges or consequences. When someone, regardless of fame, social status,etc commits a crime/ disobeys the law, they should get the same  and fair punishment, otherwise this way of governing and democracy is just a joke.

Safe Schools Save Lives

Schools are institutions where students get enriched in knowledge and are able to grow and develop into young adults. It is important to create a safe and friendly environment in school so that students feel secure and parents feel relieved when they let their kids go to school. When is a school is attacked with physical violence, gun violence, and conflict it creates a wall of uncertainty between parents, children and the school administration.  Four years ago, on December 14th, 2012,  20 school students between the ages of 6-7 and 6 school staff  from Sandy Hook Elementary School were fatally shot and killed by 20-year-old David Lanza. This deadly shooting shook the nation of the United States and impacted the families in the neighbourhood. This shooting was truly a wake up call for students and families alike, on the safety and security in schools.

It is only when people come together with specific goals and achievements that they are able to make strides to a progressive future. I think one way that schools and communities can avoid act of violence is by implementing a system that encourages safety and prioritizes security. Teachers should teach students about what to do in lockdowns, what a hold and secure is and how to respond when the situation occurs. Students should also get into the habit of being present, by looking around and being cautious of their surroundings. When elementary students go out for recess, there should be a teacher watching over them and to inform them if there is a gunmen in the area so that students will be able to evacuate the area. Secondary students should be encouraged to carry a cellphone so that they can inform their parents of their whereabouts if they are staying after school/coming home late.

Bullying is one of the large factors that lead to extreme events such as physical fights or even gun violence.  Bullying happens everyday, everywhere and in schools. It is a good thing that many services are available to students if they don't know what to do when they are the victim of bullying. Services that have helped out students dealing with bullies are Kid's Help Phone, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), support groups such as Stop Bullying, YMCA and speaking with a doctor about emotional/physical concerns. Mary Ward students can use this sources as well as talk to people they trust such as TA's, guidance counsellors, coaches, parents. It is much better to speak up than to stay quiet because YOUR voices can be the link to improving your situations and putting a brake on violence and bullying.

The Internet: Truths or Lies?

The internet is one of the largest sources of information in this day and age.That being said, the internet can be a place full of truths and lies and most of the time we are tempted to believe that everything shown on the internet is true. Millions and millions of bytes of information that is made available on a computer screen, phone screen, tablet screen, etc, can have an impact on one's mind on what to believe and can often lead to a life of confusion.  Personally, I believe that not everything on the internet is true and that some of the stories, news and headlines can either be made up or over exaggerated. Most of the information published on the internet such as YouTube videos can sometimes have misleading titles and clickbaits to attract hundreds of thousands of people to watch the video and be gullible to the information being said. This type of "marketing" is a benefit for the Youtuber as he/she make money from the views  and the hundreds of thousands of people who are watching are now questioning if what they saw was true or if it was just a waste of time.

There is so much information we can view just by going on the internet and memes are one of them. Memes are an idea or believe in the form of an image or gif that is intended for humorous purposes. Memes are especially popular to the younger generation of kids and teenagers. I believe there is nothing wrong creating or sharing a meme, if it is intended for humorous purposes. But if a person takes a meme seriously or personally; if the meme were to be directed to the person's race, culture or religion; that is when trouble arises. The phrases and visuals in a meme are intended as a joke and to create a little humor in one's day  but if intended  for the wrong purposes, if can impact how the person feels about him/herself and possibly change the person's view on life.

The internet is a place where people from all around the world can share information and connect with others. It is important that when reading an article/ or a piece of information that we stop and think logically; "should I take into account of what I am viewing on the Internet, should I be able to make decisions for myself of how much of an impact it can have on me?".  Trust me, I have been a victim of simply believing things on the internet are true. I hope that I, along with you reading this, stop and think about what you see on the internet and take responsibility of what you post because it can have an impact on those who view it.

Does it Add Up?

Edited.Original Photo https://www.canva.com/design/DABgSoALMl0/eh3K-qtDg_m5TCeuqaroEA/edit

Technology is always changing. There will always be new updates and features to make technology use easier. One of the most used social media platforms is YouTube. It is where people can share their talents and promote their businesses. One of my favorite Youtubers by the name of Bethany Mota started her channel by making makeup and fashion related videos and a few years later started a clothing line with Aeropostale. Since I watch YouTube videos religiously, this piece of news shocked me: one of the newest features that YouTube is launching is an ad free subscription service called YouTube Red. The only catch in this service is that you would have to pay $9.99 monthly. Personally, I wouldn't pay for this service. I don't see the reason to pay $9.99 for just one added feature since it's overpriced. Even though ads can sometimes be annoying, they are only temporary and last for a few seconds to a few minutes. This subscription service won't affect me since I’m deciding not to pay, but it will definitely affect advertisers. For advertisers it's not going to be a hit. Video ads are one of the main ways they can promote their business. The difference between a video ad and a picture ad is that with a video ad, you can be creative with your marketing techniques and how you present yourself to customers. If more and more people start choosing YouTube Red, advertisers will have to find other ways to reach out to customers. YouTube has yet again made a big change which was introducing a new subscription service with no ads and a price to pay. The way I see it, it just doesn't make sense to make a feature so overpriced. It just doesn't add up.

Where Did The TV Go?

 The television used to be one of the most used forms of entertainment. It was used to watch shows, the news and live events. When I was younger, I would rely on TV to pass time and watch my favorite shows. But times have changed and using YouTube, Netflix and Apple TV has been on the rise. In my family, I rarely ever see the TV being turned on, instead computers are used more often. I believe that in the next 5 to 10 years, the amount of TVs sold and displayed in homes will decrease drastically. There are many reasons why people are choosing computers, mobile devices and newer sources over cable television. The first reason is because you can't pause, play and replay a show on a TV at your own pace. With sources such as YouTube, you can do all of these things and more such as skip over or not have commercials. Not only that, but other newer and modern sources such as Apple TV, Shomi and Netflix offer a variety of TV shows to watch any day of the week with just the click of a button. On the other hand, to watch your favorite show on the TV, you would have to follow the schedule otherwise you would miss it. Although TVs show live events, they can be easily accessible through websites such as MTV and CBC which live stream those events. These are the many reasons why consumers think twice before buying a TV. What consumers are looking for is a product or service that is fast, easy, accessible, and worth the money. In this new generation where new ideas are developed, old ones slowly disappear, which is why I think the amount of TVs sold will decrease drastically in the near future.       

                                       Edited. Original Photo https://www.canva.com/design/DABgSSHY-gg/kqLB_JGUFY-0rW7993wE7Q/edit