Dr. Richard Matthew Doyle, Thesis Supervisor Lisa Ruth Sternlieb, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Identity Violence Internet McLuhan Narcissism
Abstract:
This thesis examines the increasing use of social media in everyday life. The essay explores how this now ubiquitous force affects human interaction. Decreased attention span, a need for instant gratification, and a growing epidemic of narcissism are all examined in detail, all plausibly resulting from an overuse of social media. The examination of internal effects of technology are then used to examine external, social effects that social media has had and continues to have on communication. This thesis hopes to weigh the benefits and costs of social media in order to aid in effective and healthy use of the technologies in question.