Media Isolation

When I write blog topics every week, I tend to write them based upon the encounters I face within that week. This week, I noticed I hadn't had many experiences at all. I hadn't had contact with any of my friends or anyone that I was close to in the physical realm which I thought was strange. But then I thought again, was it really strange? I have a Twitter, Facebook and Instagram account which I use very frequently. All of my friends and family are also quite active on there so that was my only means of contact. Recently, (this week) social media has been booming with activity. I feel like this recent activity burst has something to do with why I haven't seen anyone at all this week. There is a study that I learned about in my Media and Information (MI 101) class today called the Hypodermic needle theory. The theory claims that people socially isolate themselves and respond to media messages in a mindless, uniform manner. I believe this theory proves why all my friends and peers have been trapped in their homes. Either that, or their ducking me, which would suck.

The hypodermic needle theory supports the implication that media is able to trigger a specific, desirable response in its target audience by "injecting" or "shooting" an appropriate message into them. In this case, media is suggesting to my friends that they should pay closer attention to it because everyone seems to be so active on it at the moment. I'm thinking it is because of the recent election coupled with the continued killings of african americans, flint's continued water crisis and the upcoming thanksgiving feast that apparently, no one can wait for. Another name for this theory is the magic bullet theory, which instead of using the metaphor of a direct injection delivered by a syringe, uses the metaphor of a bullet shot by a gun, in which the bullet is the message intended for the target audience and the gun is the media outlet. Long story short, we're brainwashed.

Here is a short article further explaining media isolation if anyone was interested.
http://www.activebeat.com/your-health/women/5-ways-social-media-contributes-to-social-isolation/

by Justin Woods