// APPENDIX Futurism 1 Smartphone Enslavement 3 Overabundance 4 Obsessive Tendencies 5 Social Media Trends 6 Manifestations 7 Process 9 Sources 13
Futurism
Ray Kurzweil
Acclaimed futurist who made many accurate predictions on our future involving technology.
Predicted rise and acceleration of tech/machines in 1990s onward including preferred mode of internet access as being mainly wireless by early 21st century.
As of October 2010, he reported his fndings from the 20th century about the 21st century had an accuracy rate of 86%.
1999 Book: The Age of Spiritual Machines (2009-2099)
+First 10 years: 3D Virtual Environments
+20-25 Years: Nanobots in bodies able to fght against diseases
+By 2029: Machine able to pass the Turing Test
+Around 2045: “Enhance our own intelligence by merging with the intelligent machines we are creating” in order to keep up with the fast pace of technology
+Humans will be a hybrid of biological and non-biological intelligence: “Brain extenders...created to expand our own mental reach” a.k.a. Artifcial Intelligence (AI)
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Source: GoodReads.com
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Smartphone Enslavement
According to Experian, “Millennials spend so much time on their smartphones that they account for 41% of the total time that Americans spend using smartphones, despite making up just 29% of the population.”
Millennials Spend Over 2 Hours on Devices Each Day
Millennial Smartphone Ownership
Age 18-24: 98%
Age 25-34: 97%
Average Smartphone User Checks 100+ Times Each Day
Source: MarketWatch.com
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Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Pinterest, Youtube
There are too many things to keep tabs on. We can’t post on just one platform, we have to post on every platform, even the same thing on multiple platforms.
Then there are notifcations which act as little red badges on our screens reminding us to READ ME, OPEN ME, TAP ME, SEE WHAT’S NEW. Even if we wanted to stay away, they taunt us and force us to return.
Furthermore, within these apps, tailored ads and news feed suggestions are adding to the social media fre, and creating a suffocating atmosphere of technology.
FACEBOOK YOUTUBE TWITTER INSTAGRAM
Source: DreamGrow.com
3,773,000,000 MONTHLY VISITORS
// Overabundance
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Obsessive tendencies
We millennials crave attention and recognition both offline and online, but specifcally the latter. We have developed obsessive behaviors surrounding numbers of likes, followers, and viewers.
The more visible attention, labeled under photos and statuses, we receive: the happier we are.
Self-validation and narcissism take full form through “personal branding,” which forces us to tailor our profles to best represent ourselves in the most interesting, yet somehow basic, way possible.
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// Social Media Trends
According to Forbes some of the top trends among millennials in 2017 include:
Disappearing Media
The thought of digital content being able to disappear forever is addicting. We love sharing “intimate thoughts and risqué pictures.” Two platforms monopolizing on daily stories are Instagram and Snapchat.
25% millennials age 25-34 vs. 34% millennials age 18-24 are on Instagram daily
19% millennials age 25-34 vs. 30% millennials age 18-24 are on Snapchat daily
Augmented Reality Lenses and Filters
We are animating mundane moments of our lives and evolving the basic selfe through Snapchat facial flters and masks. Pokemon Go in 2016 opened new doors to the ironic reality of augmented reality. Social media platforms especially Facebook may become leaders in AR.
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Black Mirror (British TV Netflix Series)
A dark depiction of the impact of technology in the future. Each episode touches on a different issue or subject ranging from politics, reality television, social media obsession, and virtual gaming.
2016 U.S. Election & Social Media
According to CBCNews, social media is blinding our point of view. It has a tendency to reinforce people’s existing opinions and beliefs by tailoring ads and news feed suggestions, which is leading to users passively absorbing information instead of looking at issues and topics from multiple viewpoints.
Age of Fear
Business Insider found that social media, specifcally apps like Snapchat, are aiding “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out). This means users are unwilling to miss anything going on in their lives as well as other’s lives such as celebrities and friends. Users want to be involved in everything and post anything that aids their precious appearance and impact on social media.
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MANIFESTATIONs
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Process
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Process
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Arthur, Rachel. “Intel Brings Wearable Technology To Hussein Chalayan’s Paris Fashion Week Show.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 30 Sept. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Behance. “Positive Posters Design.” Behance. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Friedman, Lauren. “4 Millennial Social Media Trends To Watch In 2017.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 29 Dec. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Hill, Catey. “Millennials Engage with Their Smartphones More than They Do Actual Humans.” MarketWatch. N.p., 21 June 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“How to Prevent ‘FOMO’ from Wreaking Havoc on Your Finances.” CTVNews. N.p., 13 June 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Lever, Rob. “Online Freedom Hit by Pressure on Social Media, Apps.” Yahoo! Yahoo!, 14 Nov. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“Millennials Are Top Smartphone Users.” Millennials Are Top Smartphone Users. Nielsen, 15 Nov. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Morency, Christopher. “Bits & Bytes | The Rise of Voice Control, 3-D Printing, High Fashion Embraces Self-Checkout.” The Business of Fashion. N.p., 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Pringle, Ramona. “Social Media Is Blinding Us to Other Points of View.” CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 14 Nov. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“Ray Kurzweil.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Mar. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Robinson, Tasha. “Black Mirror’s “Nosedive” Is a Vicious Take on Social Media.” The Verge. N.p., 24 Oct. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites (and 10 Apps!).” DreamGrow. N.p., 26 Feb. 2017. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“Why Social Media Is Suffocating Us.” Odyssey. N.p., 22 Aug. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“The World Beyond Your Head Quotes by Matthew B. Crawford.” By Matthew B. Crawford. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
“65 Satirical Illustrations Show Our Addiction To Technology.” Architecture & Design. N.p., 04 Jan. 2016. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
*All images are sourced unless they are original images or creations
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Source: Chris Keegan
