For more than a year, I have eagerly used digital media as a daily part of my life. For even longer, I have explored the internet and learned countless fun facts, general truths, and a love for science and math.
Recently, I?ve noticed a troubling aspect of my digital media. Shows, podcasts, and apps still deliver high quality, but now I see something to them I didn?t see before, and that?s a repeat attempt to make the show, podcast, or app itself a thing.
What I mean is, valuable time and mental ability are spent making the show itself relevant, or transition from one to another apparent, almost like creating a new reality in which this show or this app is a central part. I worry at this, because it threatens to cheapen the education these shows can provide, or limit the potential these apps can reach.
To illustrate my point: Consider the many brands that make smartphones. Amazon with its Silk web browser, Apple with Safari, Google with Chrome, Samsung with Android?do you not see the myriad of choices there are when it comes to browsers? We must conceive of every one of them, because we must make a choice as to which one to use. Thing is, psychology tells us there?s only so much we can conceive of at a time; research suggests we can?t think of more than 7 items at a time [https://www.simplypsychology.org/short-term-memory.html]. That means for every browser we consider, we forget one thing we wanted to look up on the internet. In other words, we become dumber technology users because we?re distracted by the technology itself.
It?s like being present at a social event for an ill defined purpose, with people who don?t matter and ambiguity about why we should care. Every praise is trying to create success out of nothing, just like these smartphone companies try to create successful web browsers with no basis. Each case has people create an illusion of success out of presence, rather than merit. Wouldn?t a good web browser attract users without advertising itself?
That?s the key problem, I feel, is advertising. These browsers don?t all do it, but plenty of online shows and utility apps do. Advertisements are more than banner ads, they encompass any attempt to make a thing out of a brand or a product. Every ad you see takes up a place in your short term memory, and that place is lost for other, more useful thoughts. As a result, self advertising makes you learn less from an otherwise thought provoking program. And that, I feel, is tragic.
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What do you think? Does self advertising bother you too, or am I making a deal out of nothing? Don?t be shy, speak your mind!
Recently, I?ve noticed a troubling aspect of my digital media. Shows, podcasts, and apps still deliver high quality, but now I see something to them I didn?t see before, and that?s a repeat attempt to make the show, podcast, or app itself a thing.
What I mean is, valuable time and mental ability are spent making the show itself relevant, or transition from one to another apparent, almost like creating a new reality in which this show or this app is a central part. I worry at this, because it threatens to cheapen the education these shows can provide, or limit the potential these apps can reach.
To illustrate my point: Consider the many brands that make smartphones. Amazon with its Silk web browser, Apple with Safari, Google with Chrome, Samsung with Android?do you not see the myriad of choices there are when it comes to browsers? We must conceive of every one of them, because we must make a choice as to which one to use. Thing is, psychology tells us there?s only so much we can conceive of at a time; research suggests we can?t think of more than 7 items at a time [https://www.simplypsychology.org/short-term-memory.html]. That means for every browser we consider, we forget one thing we wanted to look up on the internet. In other words, we become dumber technology users because we?re distracted by the technology itself.
It?s like being present at a social event for an ill defined purpose, with people who don?t matter and ambiguity about why we should care. Every praise is trying to create success out of nothing, just like these smartphone companies try to create successful web browsers with no basis. Each case has people create an illusion of success out of presence, rather than merit. Wouldn?t a good web browser attract users without advertising itself?
That?s the key problem, I feel, is advertising. These browsers don?t all do it, but plenty of online shows and utility apps do. Advertisements are more than banner ads, they encompass any attempt to make a thing out of a brand or a product. Every ad you see takes up a place in your short term memory, and that place is lost for other, more useful thoughts. As a result, self advertising makes you learn less from an otherwise thought provoking program. And that, I feel, is tragic.
?????????????????-
What do you think? Does self advertising bother you too, or am I making a deal out of nothing? Don?t be shy, speak your mind!
