Since its invention, social media has made a considerable impact in determining interactions and relationships among individuals. It is an important issue since communication controls the very existence of the human race in the world. A variety of many contrasting ideologies have been put forth to explain these dimensions as captured in Malcolm Gladwell’s article, ‘Social Change,’ and Stephen Marche’s piece, ‘Is Facebook making Us Lonely?’ the two articles tackle the issue of social change brought about as a result of the revolutionized social media networks through which people interact. This essay considers the different perspectives brought out by the two authors in explaining how social networks shape our lives. Social media cannot present what social change desires (Gladwell 1). On the other hand, Marche holds the view that people receive in equal measure what they bring to social media. This argument brings a balance to social media platforms in that for the desired change to be realized, effort should be geared towards the achievement of satisfaction through collaboration and integration outside the social media platform.
The article, ‘Social Change’ by Malcolm Gladwell, studies the kind of activism associated with social media platforms (Gladwell 3). They are founded on weak links. This leads to a person having many friends on the social network but no real friends in real life. In the same train of thought, Stephen Marche in his article, ‘Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?’ Presents the case of the B-movie star. The facts presented in the two articles stress the significance of personal interaction and how effective social media can be made effective through the integration of societal and individual needs in the social media platforms. Interestingly, the two articles present a similarity in the effective and efficient utilization of social media platforms to generate desired results. However, this is made possible on the condition that it is used accordingly. Gladwell, in her article, ‘Social Change’ says, “The new tools of social media have reinvented social activism” (3). These new tools have been used in the ‘Twitter Revolution,’ which used the Twitter social network to rally support for the cause and made it a huge achievement for the citizens of Moldova. The trend is evident amongst the people of the area who have embraced the Twitter platform with a lot of zeal.
The outcome of social media interaction depends on the activities that one engages in while online (Marche). For instance, spending the whole day going through other people’s posts tends to create a feeling of depression and loneliness. This is in contrast to using social networks to conduct real-time conversations and personalized messages, an idea that leads to greater fulfillment and the creation of a wider base for friendship. It is evident, that when used effectively, social media can be an excellent tool for structuring social change. One crucial fact about social media interactions is the basis for friendship. Social media relationships are based on weak ties (Gladwell 1). The social network allies are most likely to leave when one needs them most. To avoid this, the article by Marche proposes that social media should be an extension of one’s real life. What is meant in this is that social media does not necessarily create new platforms for socialization.
Social media transforms established networks from one avenue to another (Marche). In the same perspective, the article by Gladwell presents the coordination of the sit-ins that were done in Greensboro to liberate the Negros. The revolution was a result of in-depth discussion being made countless times by the four freshmen who were the activists for the revolution (Gladwell 2). Moreover, the event’s success is also attributed to the personal relationship bringing the Negros together. Stephen Marche, on the other hand, stresses the importance of composed communication. The authors Malcolm Gladwell and Stephen Marche have analyzed whether social media is congregating or separating individuals. We have made ourselves lonely” (Marche). The social media outcome lays on the users of social media platforms. People are disintegrated because they want to be lonely and rarely do they engage in productive communication while online. In the same undertaking, the utility of social media platforms to generate significant changes in societal life settings (Gladwell 4). However, social media does not have a hierarchical organization that is necessary for the coordination of many operations and activist ideologies. The formation of hierarchy offers discipline and strategy, an aspect that social media networks cannot provide.
Stephen Marche’s ‘Is Facebook making Us Lonely?’ and ‘Social Change’ by Malcolm Gladwell are two articles structured in an almost similar pattern. They resemble each other in several aspects hoping to pass across the same message to the audience. It is evident from the close comprehension of the two items that social media platforms are adversely affecting the way people feel about and relate with others. A well-braced social interaction outside social media ultimately results in broad-based communication ideologies being posted through the social network.
Works Cited
Gladwell, Malcom. “Small Change.” Malcolm Gladwell. 2010. Web.
Marche, Stephen. “Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 2012. Web.