Media ecology examines how communication media like social networks and smartphones impact human perception, interaction, and society. It studies the structure and content of communication environments and their effects. While technologies provide convenience and strengthen relationships, they can also weaken real conversation and reflection. Constant connectivity through devices may form addictions and prioritize machines over human interaction. Overall, different media influence how people understand reality.

1. Media Ecology
By Jake Tipton
S

2. A quick survey…
S 80% of college students use
Facebook and 54% use Myspace
(Kujath 2011)
S Hyper-texting = 120 or more text
messages a day, 20% of teenagers
(Goldsborough 2012)

3. What is media
ecology?
S the matter of how media of communication affect
human, perception, understanding, feeling, and value;
and how our interaction with media facilitates or
impedes our chances of survival (Valcanis 2011 )
S Ecology implies studies of environments; their
structure, content, and impact on people (Valcanis
2011).
S Media like communication technology causes social
change (Shaojing 2008).

4. Texting
S Weaken desire for having a real conversation and
to reflect when alone (Goldsborough 2012)
S Give human qualities to our devices
S “I find this conversation more interesting than
yours”
S Addiction = little hits of adrenaline from receiving
texts (Goldsborough 2012)

5. Social
Networking
S Global village – interconnected community where
the computer has penetrated human life (Valcanis
2011)
S Discussion format – organized, can post anything,
no duration, appears in real time
S CMC is an extension, not replacement of face-to-
face interaction (Kujath 2011)
S 90% of users are in new social causes thanks to

6. Cell phones
S Motives – social, instrumental, mobility,
immediacy, fashion, status (Jin & Park 2010)
S People need to interact with one another for
inclusion, control, and affection (Jin & Park
2010)
S Mobile relationships don’t extend, but
strengthen established relationships (Jin &
Park 2010)

7. Conclusion
S Printing press, computer, television, phones – how we
conceptualize reality and classify the world (Postman 1979)
S Texting and instant messaging = convenient. Phone calls =
intimate (Farber, Shafron, Hamadani, Wald, & Nitzburg 2012)
S FTF communication = sharing too much information (Farber et
al., 2012)
S Communication technologies = social with safe emotional
distance (Farber et al., 2012).