@World. #Who have we become?

The aspect of social media has shaped our generations culture. We find ourselves tweeting about restaurants we dined at, as well as current fleeting and possibly irrelevant thoughts about our busy lifestyles. Due to Facebook, the phrase “Long lost friend” no longer exists in our vocabulary anymore. But words such as “Fail, FML and BBM have become normal in our daily conversations. Instead of reciting the pledge of allegiance before our day begins, we tune into our Ipods and recite Glee songs. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have created a culture where one-way communication has become our greatest companion.
Are you hot with Bieber fever? If you asked Ozzy Osburn this question he would blankly stare at you. Even though that is nothing new for Ozzy, many older cultures would stare vacantly as well because they are unaware of our younger generations sophistication. The Best Buy Superbowl commercial that aired on Sunday confirmed the distinction of how culture has changed over the years. This commercial did a great job showing how trends as well as individuals interests alter overtime. Ozzy demonstrated the idea talked about in class about cultural reproduction. Ozzy has passed down his own system of beliefs and ideals relevant to his time and Bieber has altered them to make them current. The commercial stated, “We are going to lose Ozzy and bring the new one.”
Our culture is also being defined by the organizations we are building. Say goodbye to tiny cluttered cubicles and hello to free open workspace. Google began a culture as a carefree work environment where no barriers exist. Communication flows equally among members, which creates a positive new work environment. Members can sit in a hammock and eat lunch while typing up their next project. If an employee feels the need for a break, they can benefit from a bike ride or even enjoy a swim. Google is known for the philosophy of being serious without a suit. Many companies are following in Google’s footsteps, which are creating a new organizational culture in our world.
Our culture has fashioned the concept that everything is easy. You no longer have to go find the news or the movies you want, they will magically discover you. Prior generations would have never imaged a world without physically touching and folding a newly printed newspaper. Our culture just has to press the “On” button and our Ipads will effortlessly flash high definition videos of breaking news. Has our culture gone too far? Are we going to look back 50 years from now and wonder if we have lost everything we were founded on? Or better yet, are things such as Facebook and twitter helping us build a stronger connected culture than ever before?

By: Courtney Brennan