Final Blog Post

Reflecting on MY personal life with technology, I think my relationship with tech has been a healthy one. Currently, I hang around the average of 8 hours a day, but this is simply my phone time, and doesn't account for the time I spend watching TV, using my laptop, and playing video games. I feel like I am in a very unique position because my digital footprint is basically nothing. Sure, I have an instagram, twitter, tiktok, and even a facebook account for the marketplace, but I have never posted on them. It does not matter how I search my name up, next to nothing comes up, (guess there’s just a lot of Benjamin Lasters in the world). My parents must have instilled some fear into me when I was getting on the internet for the first time because I was always afraid of some post coming back to haunt me. I have never felt compelled to post online in the first place, but as I venture into the job market I am sure I will start to post more and more, to show off what I have done in the past and what I am capable of for the future.

One of the biggest reasons technology has affected my life is by letting me stay in touch with loved ones no matter where I go. I have a girlfriend that lives in NC, and since I live in PA, we have to spend a few weeks apart each year whenever HPU has a break. I could not imagine going that time without instant communication between us, it is always tough when I have to be away from her and being able to text her instantly easily helps me to get through breaks. On the flip side, my family loves texting me whenever I am at school, helping me stay in touch and fight off home-sickness as much as I can.



I can definitely admit that the internet has made me complacent in life. I used chatGPT a few times in high school and college and each time I have used it and submitted an assignment it gives me a hollow victory. I came to college to learn and I squander that opportunity every time I use programs similar to it. As much as I try to stop using them, its convenience always seems to pull me back whenever I do not have the energy to write a short essay, or need to solve a few quick math problems. My chatGPT usage feels like a microcosm of my internet usage as a whole. I use the internet, and technology in general, to distract myself from the problems I face in the real world. Whenever I am sad, scared, stressed, whatever– I go on my phone to distract myself. Looking ahead to the future, I know I need to get better at focusing on and confronting the issues in my life. 



Overall, I believe the internet has been a net positive on my life, but I need to work on making it a smaller aspect of my life. I wish to lower my screen time and focus more on the things and family around me, and not use it as a crutch to escape my problems.

Anti-War

It's no secret to anyone who follows the news that war is practically a mainstay of the 24 hour news cycle. With the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Palestein, war is a near centerpiece of news stations that give the people of America near constant updates. Despite the reach and size of mainstream media, those who stand against the wars often find themselves exiled to small online blogs like antiwar.com. This injustice can be attributed to a combination of media consolidation, government influence, social conditioning, and the profitability of pro-war narratives.
(https://businessjournalism.org/2023/12/war-profit/)



Thanks to the news being controlled by the wealthiest people in America, you will barely see stories that deviate from what the common folk want to see. Massive corporations also have significant financial interests tied to industries that profit from military engagement, including defense contractors and technology firms. (It is always important for the wealthy to send the poor to die and for them to get richer.) Their coverage of war aligns with perspectives that avoid critical discussions of military actions, as that challenges the status quo. Antiwar voices risk undermining the political interests of the people running the show, and so they are excluded almost entirely from mainstream platforms.
(https://tobiasrose.medium.com/the-enemy-in-our-feeds-e86511488de)



Another reason mainstream media does not like to cover anti-war voices is really down to it just being easy for everyone, especially the Government. The US Government loves to use the media to promote narratives that justify military action, always saying its their duty to “spread democracy” to nations that need it. If you dare question them, you are labeled a threat to national security and silenced by any means necessary. In extreme cases laws and policies may be used to silence those who speak out against our wars. Due to all of this, those with anti-war views would rather report and discuss on their own websites than take the chance with the mainstream news.                                                                                   (https://news.gallup.com/poll/651977/americans-trust-media-remains-trend-low.aspx)



Another way we can understand the lack of anti-war voices is by looking back to our past and try to study our social conditioning. While I am not trying to say America is a strictly violent country, it cannot be denied that a vast majority of the population internalizes pro-war sentiments. Most of the time it is not even a person’s own fault, thanks to our historical narratives, our education systems, and the media portrayals of military power. This conditioning leads to a general acceptance of war as a necessary and even honorable pursuit. Antiwar positions, which challenge this ingrained belief, are less accepted by the broad audiences, and so they are less likely to receive mainstream attention. When you are a big news outlet that solely operates for profit, you will go with the flow and discuss the commonly held stance: pro-war.                                                                                                                                                        (https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/05/11/pro-war-movement-and-hazards-military-worship)
 

In conclusion, anti-war stances are not as represented in mainstream media because… well its just easier to not have them. It challenges the status quo, potentially upsetting the industries that benefit the most from having wars raging on constantly. And let's be honest, if the US pulls out of a war, then how is the FBI going to supply either side with firearms to profit off of them?