-Original Proposal by Kayla:

Technology has become such a large part of our society, to the point where it has begun to affect
our social skills with one another. We have become so addicted to our cell phones and Social
Medias that all we do is stare at our phones all hours of the day. Instead of sitting at a table and
socializing with the people around us we now sit in silence and text our friends or scroll through
websites such as Twitter or Instagram. I chose this topic because recently I left my I phone in an
Uber and had to wait two days for it to be sent back to me. I can honestly say that those two days
were hell for me and it felt like the longest two days of my life. I feened to check my social
medias and text messages similar to that of a drug addict feening for their fix. During those two
days I went ate lunch with my friends and sitting there with them I saw why I had become so
addicted to my cell phone. I sat in silence alone watching my friends say nothing to me and only
stare down at their phones. My eyes were opened to the fact that we no longer communicate with
each other. We know what goes on in each others lives because of what we have read and seen
on social media, not because we actually communicated with them in real life. I plan to research
this issue and find out if anyone else sees this as a problem. If this technology addiction
continues to grow what will become of our society and our social skills? Over time will we even
be able to talk to one another at all or will all our communication rely strictly on our cell phones
and computers? We are beginning already to lose our language and I know this because listening
to my peers talk they are starting to talk in text language repeating phrases such as "Idk" or
"lol". Even in our writing we are abbreviating our words and replacing them with our text short
cuts. Technology has advanced us as a society in many aspects but it is also beginning to hold us
back. We are no longer living are lives because we are too busy stopping to take pictures or snap
chats to post. Online we all may seem like we have these great exciting lives, but whats the
point of all these great experiences if we dont take the time to take it all in?
My Comments (Julie Cook):

Are we really living the life we share on social networking platforms? This is the larger question
that I see your inquiry proposal raising, and it is a really interesting one.
Remember, while you might have an opinion, which will ultimately guide the types of research
you do and questions you ask, inquiry requires us to keep an open mind. It is important that as
your inquiry takes you in new directions with new information you are seeing new areas and
questions to pursue. As time is spent in the development of your inquiry, and as you compare
and discuss the directions for inquiry within your group, you will likely develop an arguable
stance; however, since you are only stating your inquiry you will need to NOT start with a thesis.
Inquiry relates to
new discovery and thoughts not proving what you think to begin with.

Commented [1]: I am not sure that I would take this

direction. As Pinker notes, this argument is as old as
the printing press. Generation after generation
continues to think that language is in ruin. If you check
Oxford for the etymology of OMG, it first appears in the
1800, in print.
Commented [2]: This is a very interesting idea.

Kayla
1.Why is it easier for people to vent on social media?
2.Do we make an alter ego on social media?
Austin
1. How trustable is social media?
2. How are social media relationships different than in person relationships?
Cierra
1.How does social network affect language and grammar?
2. How do people see each other on social media, than seeing each other in person?
Chaz
1. What is the history of social network and how it changed the way people communicate?
2.How does technology affect communication/interpersonal skills?l

Social media has become the heart of the 21st century, to the point where users revolve their
entire lives around it. Websites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook now have the power
to greatly affect our society. The reason social media has become so influential in our society is
because when something is posted it can be seen by millions in a matter of seconds. Users are
no longer a part of their small communities because social media connects them to the majority
of the world, from the average person to famous celebrities. Most social media users have
become addicted to belonging to something bigger than themselves, which is metaphorically
like taking the leap off the social media bridge. Studies have shown positives and negatives on
a social media platform but what researchers have failed to talk about is how the influences of
these communication networks have left online and been brought to life. Users of these sites
now have the opportunity to feel connected to their followers and friends. An average person
can follow a famous celebrity on Instagram and being a fan this is a big deal because users in a
way feel like they are apart of their idols life. Then there are users who feel popular and content
because of the number of friends they may have on Facebook or the number of followers they
may have on Instagram. Users that in real life may feel alone they are set free when they log
into their social media accounts. These communication networks influence its users not only
socially, but also psychologically. Social media influence is much more powerful than users
realize.
Our society always wants to point out the negative side of social media. Yes, I do agree that
people live on social media, but there are some who just want to post pictures and tweets
because they feel like they need to be heard. Just because someone makes a post doesnt
mean that they want to seek attention from other people, which is why our society is very
judgemental. -Cierra Sifford
The outlook of our community towards social media usually downplays how often we all use it.
Social media consumes most our free time in life and we continue to critique, yet our use does
not change. Its pretty hypocritical, but as we complain we have to realize that even though
there is an issue it still isnt enough for us to stop using these sites.
-Austin Rainey

Commented [3]: This is what I am looking for your

magazine to be doing: filling in this gap. Right now, I
am not seeing this. I see you taking on every hot topic
in social media, but there is no focus and nothing is
being added.

Commented [4]: As you continue to draft, remember

to complicate, not compare. Also, keep in mind that you
will be writing a formal contribution statement that will
be purposed for readers outside of the class. Don't
draw attention to "your group."

Creating the persona of the reader:

I see younger teens, especially girls who are about to enter the age of social media picking up
and reading our magazine because it will better inform them of what they are getting into when
they download apps like instagram and twitter. Our readers will want to know of the control that
these communication networks can have over their lives if they allow it. The purpose of our
magazine is to help them be better prepared grab hold of these influences,so they can have a
good experience on social media.
Joomag Login
email:csiffor5@uncc.edu
password: Cscheer_6
Inform social media users of the hold on that social media has and how these
communications can quickly take over peoples lives.
Target audience: Our Generation
1st page- Contribution page
2nd page- Table of contents
Austin:

Chaz: Effects on..

1.Communication
2.Productivity
3.Privacy
4.Identity Theft
5.Interpersonal skills