Media Ecology: Loss or gain?

Media and technology have changed my life in ways that I think most of us don't really notice.  We grew up in this age where there were cellphones, supercomputers, and the start of new Apple technology, but I find it interesting to think as far back as when my parents were children.  It's so strange to think that in the 1960's and 1970's, technology and the world was radically different.  Now that this question has been brought to me, it's funny to think about how my parents reacted to these new technologies as they grew up which were radically different from the technology that they were used to.

In terms of what I think I have lost and gained by technological advances, I think there is a balance of both.  I think a lot about how when I was younger, I didn't have a cell phone until I was a senior in high school.  Today, there are 2nd graders with iPhones.  In some ways, I think this is a loss for their generation; kids don't experience the same outdoor experiences and ways to use their imaginations as much as I did when I was a little kid.  I used to build intricate towns for my toys with a school, houses and everything that went along with the houses that would expand from my room to my brother's room to the living room.  Today, I think kids sometimes miss out of the hands-on experiences and building and imagining with what they have to work with in favor of a game on their mom's phone.  Obviously, most kids still play with toys but a lot are just given a tablet or iPad to play with and told to sit quietly on the couch.  Playing with toys was also social; I had a bunch of friends over all the time to play with and to help me build my towns.  Kids today have friends over, but they connect through an online game.  I just don't think it's the same anymore and I personally think that it is a disadvantage of technology.

I think this loss is pretty important, but technology does have it's advantages.  I've been able to connect with friends I knew when I was younger through Facebook that live in different states and that I don't see anymore.  Before, I would see them one a year when our parents went camping together.  As we got older, we each had our different activities and busy lives, so we saw less of each other each year.  Recently, I was able to friend them on Facebook and direct message with them and catch up.  While social media does have an unsocial aspect of being plugged in from the outside world and physical interactions, being able to connect with people all over the world instantaneously offers a lot of cultural benefits and social situations.  It's a great way to stay connected with people.

References

picture from: https://www.google.com/search?q=slow+children+texting+meme&rlz=1C1KMZB_enUS554US554&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=623&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs4_e-mrzLAhWBHR4KHZeiBxAQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=Gd1M9HocBdQr4M%3A