Let's take a look at a typical night out with friends. Together you plan out a trip to a certain destination or you decide to grab a bite to eat. What is the usual action the happens right after arriving at the location or the moment that your food arrives? Instead of taking the moment in or begin eating, people will reach into their pockets and make the extra effort to capture that perfect photo for, "The gram". Instagram, is actually one of my favorite social media platforms to use and I like scrolling down checking out what my friends are up too. There is however, detremental effects from using Instagram that I have seen within myself and others. With Instagram, we begin thinking that "the grass is really greener on the otherside" from the posts from our friends. We scroll down and see that jaw-dropping photo from your friend visiting a landmark, a well filtered photo of a meal, or a photo of a bodybuilder/model with each of these photos reaching hundered if not thousands of likes and comments. From these posts, emotions such as jealousy, envy, anger or even depression might subside. Little do we know that, that meal photo was heavily edited, and filtered to look the way it is and for some reason we don't see how manipulative these images can be just like a magazine. Personally, I have scrolled down and wished I could travel as much as one of my friends has, or have that beatiful car, yet I cannot understand the reality of those photos. What may look like a happy and cheerful post can only show half of the picture. When posting, a person can go to extreme lengths to capture the perfect photo, create a well worded caption and carefully selecting the appropriate filter. Why do we chose to do all of these things for a simple "Like"? Usage of Instagram creates a culture where everyone is interested in being accepted, trying to show how fun their life is and trying to recieve the most likes in comments to reassure sometime of insecurity. I can easily, recall seeing posts of my friends posting workout photos in which they would recieve praise or a photo of a girl after doing her makeup. It may not always be the case, but we seek acceptance and satisfaction through the certain amount of likes and comments we get on Instagram. When we go through the long effort to capture,edit and post the photo only to recieve 10 likes and 0 comments we feel like a failure, unaccepted, or unattractive. I feel as if moments that should be appreciated are no longer apprecaited because everyone is attempting to capture or record it to show off online. With this being said, I know I cannot stop using Instagram, it remains my go to application tos see how my friends are doing. I have however stopped and thought of the effects its usage can have on me.
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The day was November 27,2008, I was happily awaiting as my godfather and father set up my first computer. My godfather had just purchased a new computer and was handing down his old HP computer along with a desk to my family. I was fascinated with the internet and began playing games along with watching Youtube videos. Over time the computer began fuctioning slowly and I did not understand why. Previously, I had heard to not visit suspisicuos websites and to be cautious of what I am downloading in order to avoid getting a virus. With this being said, I asked the help of my uncle and cousin to take a look at the computer and see if they could help me in any way. Unfortuntely, their efforts were unable to solve the sluggishness of my computer but recommedned I either have a computer repair man to take a look or to take the computer to Best Buy's Geek Squad in Salinas. My father was able to reach out to get in contact with such a repair man but only diagnosed the computer and never returned for the repairs. Together my father and I drove up to the nearest Best Buy and waited in line in hopes of Geek Squad being able to solve our computer issues. As I loaded the tower on the counter, I informed the employee of the slowness. The employee began running a diagnostics while my father and I waited. It was not until that very moment that I realized, "Wait, how much will this cost?!" I immediately began searching for a menu listing the pricing but there was none around. It was then the employee notified me there was a virus and spyware within the computer and that removal would be priced around $200 dollars with a three day wait period. My heart sunk as I knew this was an outrageous amount my father would not be willing to pay for. Together my father and I left Best Buy with the slow computer and with the thought, "Wow, computer repair is expensive!". That event occured nine years ago, now as I am about to complete my college degree I reflect on all that I have learned. One of those things have been how to open a laptop and install ram. I had a similiar encounter with GeekSquad as I returned eight years later with a friend to purchase RAM. We asked how much it cost to have RAM installed on a laptop, again I was meet the outstanding reply of "$200 dollars". Wow, I could not believe that these prices existed. That evening I googled, "Geek Squad scam". Thousands of searches filled the screen with horrible customer reviews and expereinces of the Geek Squad franchise. One of those results was a news segment dedicated to putting computer repair shops to the test. With virus-free computer and an unplugged hard drive, a news reporter would drop off the laptop to several computer repair shops to see how much a customer would get charged for repairs. PCParamedics, was able to solve the problem within minutes at no charge. The reporter then took the computer to local GeekSquad. The technician there informed the reporter that he could not find out what was wrong with the computer and that they would have drop it off for a $70 dollar diagnosis. Two days later GeekSquad calls the reproter to inform her she has a "broken hardrive" and it would cost $580 to replace. Furthermore, at the store pickup the technician also informs the reporter of a virus as well. GeekSquad recommended several times to purchase a new laptop instead and that then they would be glad to help. $650 all for an unplugged harddrive. Reflecting on my experience and this news cast, should those who have an understanding of something take advantage of those who do not. There are thousands of stories online of GeekSquad memebers encouraging less tech savy customers to purchase a luxorious laptop. Seeing as how simple it was to replace RAM, I cannot think of paying $200 dollars for such a repair.
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AuthorFirst generation computer scientist that loves football. Archives
May 2017
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