“Convergence occurs within the brains of individual consumers and through their social interactions with others. Each of us constructs our own personal mythology from bits and fragments of information extracted from the media flow and transformed into resources through which we make sense of our everyday lives. Because there is more information on any given topic than anyone can store in their head, there is an added incentive for us to talk among ourselves about the media we consume” (Jenkins, 2006, p.3).
The problem is, whereabouts is this convergence leading us? Is the creation of an open media plain where everything is a simple free-for-all really a good idea for everyone? Is it safe for the individual?When considering it in an everyday sense, it would seem the answer to these questions is ‘yes’. I mean, how on earth could the internet and other interactive mediums really be detrimental to a human? Okay, certainly there are those people who are hermits, who would prefer to be left alone in a dark room with their computer, and really, in all honesty, the increasing availability of online communities and virtual cultures is most likely actually helping the social status of these people.
The one thing that I would really like to consider is those who are vulnerable. Those who are easily led and manipulated and transformed into what they consider to be ‘cool’. “Kids are in such a haste to look fashionable and attractive, that they are turning to binge drinking and drugs, becoming increasingly prone to such mental disorders” (Tiandian News, 2008).
My example of this are ‘thins-poration’ groups, young crowds of girls who get together to inspire one another to become anorexic and suffer depression one another. Many of these girls have taken up the role of “generation C” (Trendwatching.com, 2005), adding niche content in text, audio, video online to be shared with others.
Certainly, one might look at them and think ‘perhaps these girls are creating support networks to deal with their own personal issues’. In fact, it is much the opposite, with the sickness believed to be an elite social group, with people having ED’s (Eating Disorders) being the only ones allowed to participate. This is the kind of alarming activity that can ruin the young and lively nature of a teenaged girl and change the course of her life forever.
These ‘ana thinspo’ groups have taken over mainstream online broadcasting channel youtube (see video below), as well as other online communities such as myspace (for example, this profile) and facebook. They promote the image benefits of becoming anorexic, and how it will assist in creating social status within the ‘thin’ virtual world, Now, online group opinion leaders cannot be named as completely to blame. As usual, tabloid gossip magazines are still mentioning in grave detail the most recent of scandals, many portraying images of scrawny Lindsay Lohan, Paris or Nicole Richie in their most recent downsizing escapades. Not to say that this in any way excuses what these opinion leaders are doing, but it just creates another form of reaffirmation that what the young and impressionable girls are learning is socially acceptable.
It is simply the fact that these opinion leaders are able to exploit the innocence and naivety of many young and impressionable girls through virtual media and subculture contact and still come across as being a supportive friend. Now there is something very wrong with that.
I believe that it is very important that there is a level of screening involved with young and impressionable individuals when using interactive and produsing media forms. If there is no screening, it could very possibly lead to the demise of many individuals and an outbreak of mental and physical illness due to peer pressure.
References
Jenkins, H. (2006) Convergence culture: When new and old media collide. New York: New York University
Myspace.com (2008) An Oh Rex "SICK" Obsession. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=73440603 (accessed April 28 2008)
Tiandian News (2008) Peer Pressure Pushing Kids to Depression, Anxiety, Anorexia. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/peer-pressure-pushing-kids-to-depression-anxiety-anorexia-re-issue_10042550.html (accessed April 28 2008)
Trendwatching.com (2008) Nouveau Niche Part 1. http://www.trendwatching.com/trends/nouveau_niche.htm (accessed April 28 2008)
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3 comments:
Kate,
I love what you have done here! You took KCB201 content and applied it to something completely different, not to mention an important topic in its own right. Anorexia in young women, is an important issue to discuss and i think its very clever that you have addressed it in the way that you have.
You incorporated the social networking limitations, through discussing MySpace, you addressed shared networks through the inclusion of the Youtube clip and discussed the implications of online communities, through the condoning and supporting of these behaviours by girls on online networks. I am interested to find out whether you researched those key terms, like ‘anore-sick’ and ‘thins-poration’ or if you coined them yourself.
I would have liked to see your opinions on the male phenomenon of anorexia that seems to be emerging. Perhaps that could be the framework for another one of your blogs.
I found this link on male anorexia if you are interested.
http://maleanorexia.net/
http://www.anred.com/males.html
I also found this on Bigorexia, the opposite of Anorexia in men, the desire to put on weight in muscle http://menshealth.about.com/cs/menonly/a/bigorexia.htm
Feel free to respond to my comments at my blog http://atrueunderstanding.blogspot.com/ and thanks for the interesting read.
Sasha
Hi Kate,
I think what you have written here is so important, and you’re absolutely correct. The internet is hindering young girls (and boys) interpretations of themselves, and is assisting them in connecting with others who have the same illness and self-esteem issues. My sister was anorexic when she was 14 and I’m so thankful the internet was not an important part of our ‘social’ network back then. You talked about magazine articles and how these young girls aspire to be like their pictures, and while my sister was sick she had her whole wall covered in pictures of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Now if that isn’t enough proof, I don’t know what is!
You made some very good points in your post and there is certainly too much ‘freedom’ on the internet these days and its content is definitely not monitored enough. I remember back in high school when there were ‘pro-anna’ sites around, but they were all black-band and no-one could access them. Yet now there are such things, like your Youtube video, that go under the radar. You discussed the fact that some believe these sites ‘help’ those in need, but in fact these sites are contributing to their behaviour (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=21194).
I would have liked to have seen you include some references on why you think anorexics are using the internet and displaying themselves this way. You would have found that arguably, anorexia and bulimia is seen as ‘attention seeking’ (http://www.lilith-ezine.com/articles/health/Anorexia-on-the-Internet.html). That’s not to say it’s not a serious condition, but many argue it starts off as a cry for attention. Because of this, the internet is now feeding this attention, and the worst thing you can do to a person with anorexia is tell them they are ‘too thin’ (http://hubpages.com/hub/What-Not-To-Say-To-An-Anorexic) and these sites are doing just that! People are commenting these girls on Youtube and express their disgust, but it is simply fueling the fire!
Some other interesting resources you may want to read are;
http://www.backinskinnyjeans.com/2007/08/anorexia-and-an.html
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,169660,00.html
Bree
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