Recycling, adjusting to life in cyberspace

Not a few will agree that it has not been easy adjusting to a lifestyle brought about by new gadgets, the social networks, a new malaise brought about by this new way of living. The young, especially, are the most vulnerable victims of this phenomenon. If it took decades for the industrial revolution to take effect, it has only taken a couple of years for cyberspace to rule our lives.

We have already written about how comments on Twitter, written in a moment of anger, have resulted in extended interchange of even more damaging name-calling with disastrous effects that could have been prevented. You all know how high-profile actresses like Sarah Geronimo, Cristine Reyes and Ruffa Gutierrez, have become victims of this, especially since they have hordes of fans and protectors who do more damage than good in getting into the fray themselves in defense of their idols.

Ruffa Gutierrez

And worse, victims are getting younger and younger as children are allowed access to the Internet by absentee parents busy with earning a living. Today, we read of what child psychologists have dubbed as Facebook Depression, or Facebook Anxiety where children become innocent victims of cyber-bullying as they are bombarded with negative and malicious opinions that can only trigger envy and discontent with one’s life.

In an article published by the Chicago Tribute website called Social Networks and Depression, Dr. Thomas Van Hoose wrote, “These sites promote an imprecise version of reality as people get to create new images for themselves, unlike in actuality that what you see is what you get.”

We are sorry, but our personal layman’s opinion is that we would rather see youngsters, and even children fight it out in the streets like uneducated urchins, than in the confines of one’s home slugging one another on the Internet. At least, this way, you are with your opponent whom you could scream at ’til kingdom come and both of you let out all those negative feelings face to face. And, at the risk of inviting contrary comments, we feel it better to clobber each other (ala Tulfo-Raymart?) on actual grounds than on cyberspace.

Cristine Reyes

Jessica Canaberal wrote, “Blogs are also sources of feelings of envy and depression from reading what people are up to as there are those who write without limits, openly expressing themselves in the Internet.”

In her piece titled Blogging 101, Vernie Española wrote on the do’s and don’t’s of blogging. “It can be an adventurous undertaking where you can publish articles that strangers would read…,” she commented. “The very nature itself can be terrifying and thrilling at the same time.” While stating that blogging is a way of expressing one’s everyday frustration and could have a therapeutic effect in lessening one’s stress, she warns: “Do not write anything that will haunt you back later; do not post personal matters about family, friends, or people you hate; do not post what is untrue. Be careful and responsible in keeping web blogs.”

But there are those who would go even farther. Anick Jesdanun of the Associated Press  published in the Manila Bulletin reports on millions who have resisted joining Facebook. In the piece, No Thanks, They don’t want Facebook, Jesdanun states that in 2004 when Facebook was started it had one million users; in two years it had 12 million; in 2010 it had 500 million; and by March this year more than 900 million.

However, two out of every five Americans today haven’t joined Facebook and don’t intend to. Even here in the Philippines, which could easily be the Facebook capital of the world, just as we are the texting capital of the world, and the capital of every newfangled fad that we embrace quickly, the attraction seems to have reached a plateau. There is also no indication of how many are active, semi-active or inactive. We have a Facebook account we look into possibly once a month when we need to search for someone. Pinoys are possibly waiting for something new to come up.

A young applicant to the Talentadong Pinoy Kid Edition

Talentadong Pinoy for kids

Even with the success of the Battle of the Champions on TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy recently, network officials have decided that three years of lording it over the airwaves is enough for the moment. Instead, they have launched Talentadong Pinoy Kids Edition as a spin-off. The competition that started last Sunday accepts entries from kids ages 10 and below. Mentorship will be given each kid accepted; a weekly champion will compete for the monthly title and monthly champions will compete to be Talentadong Pinoy Kid Champion.

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