Viral Links

When I first read the Viral Links assignment details, I was a little unsure of what exactly to do. I've never used social media to try and be as popular as I can or spread news around, but rather to check up on what my friends were doing. I was timid to start posting on Facebook because I haven't had a status update (other than when I've been hacked by friends) since I found out I got into UF. 

In order to spread the word about my video concerning technological addiction in our generation I used facebook, twitter, and vine. All three of which I mainly use to observe (I guess I like to keep my thoughts to myself). 

Let's see how things turned out...

Vine:

Vine is one of my favorite social media sites. Its simplicity, I believe, is what draws me in. Some 6 second videos make me laugh more than comedies do. In order to make vines about my video, I thought that trying to add some humor would help viewers want to pay more attention. 



For this vine (see left) I wanted to show something we see everyday. Walking around campus or hanging out with your friends, people are on their phones EVERYWHERE, including myself. I decided to show some of my friends in the locker room 'hanging out'. I chose to put popular hashtags along with my #putitaway hashtag that I used for my video in an attempt to gain more views from more efficient circulation. 


In an attempt to keep humor an aspect of my vine videos, I kept up the theme of adding memes or GIFs (see right). With so many viral videos alive today, most of the memes or GIFs in circulation are recognizable by your average social media user. In studying my own habits of vine use, I noticed if I recognized part of a vine I felt more connected to the video and would watch it for multiple loops. After showing this one in class I got good feedback, so I guess I did okay!



Facebook:

As I said before, I RARELY ever post on facebook. Maybe a few pictures here and there, but this would be the first status update/post in a couple years. I actually got a few messages wondering if I'd been hacked or if I was okay. Am I okay? I didn't know making a facebook post would render the thought of me being in danger, but hey it's good to know people care about you. 

After that incident, I began putting a note at the top of my posts indicating it was for this class, so hopefully that cleared up any confusion. For this post (left) I wanted to use a famous quote to try and draw in any curious browsers of the news feed. In an effort to create dialogue/controversy with my viewers I added some questions at the end. I did receive a decent amount of likes, but when I saw it was some of my closer friends I became suspicious of 'pity likes'. 

I knew going in that facebook wouldn't be the best brand of social media to try and spread my video, for many of my friends are on there for the same reason as me, to simply 'observe'. I wasn't able to gain too much attention as far as likes or comments go, but it's also
hard to tell how many people actually saw the post. 

Twitter:

Going in, I thought twitter would be the best way to increase the popularity surrounding my video. A huge factor that hurt my ability to do so was that I created my twitter account at the start of this class. As of now I have 15 followers...not exactly the amount of exposure I would hope for my video to get.

For one of my posts (see left) I found an interesting article about our body and these "phantom vibrations" that happen to people. Our body creates, what feels to be, a vibration that our cell phone would make. The only difference being that when that person checks their phone it won't show any updates or messages. I thought the article would spark some interest in the subject of technology addiction.     


Another post (see right) inspired one of the vines I made. I think memes are great because they poke fun at things that happen on a daily basis to many of us. With only a picture and brief explanation we're able to get a point across. 

Infographic:

Using the infographic, I wanted to specify one of the points of my video in how we're not letting our minds wander as we used to (without smartphones). Einstein was a firm believer in the power and creativity that our minds have when we're able to think (a large reason I've mentioned him multiple times). Had I been more skillful in creating infographics I think I could have maybe done a better job than the one I chose, but it still addresses the issue I want to portray. 


In Conclusion: 

I'll admit, I wasn't very excited when I saw this assignment. I've never been a huge fan of promoting myself or my ideas of social media and normally watch from the sidelines, but this assignment took me out of my comfort zone. A lot videos become viral by chance, but what separates them from the others? This assignment made me realize that there truly is a 'social media science' and companies are in dire need of people with expertise in this field. No matter what you think, social media is going to continue to grow as a part of our society. It's somewhat scary for me to think about, but it's also too intriguing not to study the patterns of social media worldwide. We're more connected than ever before, and it seems that we're only scratching the surface. 

The "Science" Behind Social Media

Let's face it, social media is now the hotspot for advertising and increasing your brand's popularity. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of the technological revolution or not, but if your company doesn't effectively promote itself it will be swallowed up by the newsfeed. Brands can make the mistake of being too aggressive in their social media endeavors as well as too timid. There's a happy medium between the two. More importantly than just how often you post, the content and strategy of each post is crucial to having social media success. "It’s about having a strategy for making your company or organization more like a person and less like a machine. It’s about humanization" (Jay Baer). So how is this done? Well everyone likes scoring a deal, no matter what the circumstance. Offering discounts or free accessories will always help gain popularity, but what separates the most successful social media users from the rest? 
Companies today employ people for the sole purpose of social media exposure. These people meet and discuss the best ways to promote their product on various sites. As said before, offering free deals or discounts is a great way to up your stock on social media, but there's something else that takes the connections with your customers/followers deeper. With so many different social media types, it's crucial to find what's best for your company. For example, vine may be a great way of promoting a sports team, but not for a furniture store. Choosing what's best is also impacted by the audience you're trying to reach. Linkedn is great for companies in search of employers as it's a much more formal type of social media, whereas twitter isn't the ideal place to search for potential employers. 
There are endless strategies to becoming successful on social media, but one of the crucial things to remember is to not overthink it. It only takes a few shares before something can be spread all around the world. Be as personable as you can to create a connection with your audience, and don't post too often, maybe then you'll be able to stand out. 


When someone famous mentions you in a tweet or has some type of personal interaction with you, you get excited, right? The more personal connections a brand can make with their customers, the more loyal they'll become. We'll be content with winning a free prize, but we feel appreciated or cared about when a more 'human' response is given. Even if it takes a split second for a company to tweet at someone, it goes a very long way. For not only does the person mentioned feel like an appreciated customer, but if they are to retweet or reply, all of their followers will see it as well. Making one connection can lead to hundreds, even thousands more. 

Screen Story

In making this video, I wanted to show people (even myself), that we all spend way too much time on our phones. I thought Louis C.K.'s Conan episode was great, I just couldn't show all of it. We're losing the ability to be content with our thoughts. We're so afraid of being alone that the second we feel it we reach for that thing in our pockets. Our imaginations have been tainted because we don't allow ourselves to be one with our thoughts nearly as much as in the past.

I chose to use textual, image and auditory modes to portray the issue I wanted to bring up. I did so because I didn't want to solely use one of the modes, for I thought the viewers could lose interest if they only saw pictures or had to read words on the screen the entire time.

The tone used was more humorous than serious. If the first scene is a video clip from a Conan interview I'd say it's definitely more humorous than any other. I thought this was a good way to attack the technology issue. To be able to hear Louis C.K. poke fun at a problem allows the audience to be more open to listening about the topic. If I had used intense music or dark imagery to show the problems with technology, people might think I'm taking it a little too far. When we laugh at the topic at first, we're more accepting to learn more (at least for me). We're all guilty of being addicted to technology, but we're being told in a much friendlier, comical way.

Throughout the video, the text I used was always centered. I tried to avoid any fancy designs or words flying across the screen because I felt it would've been 'too much'. I thought that the scenes from Conan were enough flash so I decided to keep the text and transitions simple.

One section that wasn't my favorite was the time lapse of checking my phone in the morning. I liked the start, but should've had more information to put in while the video was going. I felt that there was too much of a delay between scenes, but I could probably fix that. The music addition helped the delay slightly, but more information would be of more help.

And who doesn't like a good quote from Ferris Bueller's Day off?

https://twitter.com/AndersonProctor 

For my live tweeting event I attended the James Franco interview at the O'Connell Center. I'm not much of a 'twitter-er' so the assignment was a little awkward for me. I was more focused on listening to the interview than tweeting about the event. A problem that I didn’t realize until after the event was that half of my tweets didn’t get sent through because of the amount of phone activity going on at the O-Dome, but I won’t let that get in the way of me reflecting on the experience.

Going in, I wasn't aware who James Franco really was outside of his acting career. I had no idea he directed his own movies and was as well educated as he is. Having studied at Columbia, Yale and UCLA, he definitely is smarter than he might appear in many of his movies. Upon hearing about how he teaches a creative writing class at UCLA currently, I began to think of our own class. I'm sure there are some similarities, probably less technologically based material in his class but similar ideas and ways of expressing rhetoric. 

Anderson Proctor‏@AndersonProctor

I bet @JakeGreeneteach would like to take @JamesFrancoTV 's creative writing class

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5:21 PM - 25 Feb 2015

During the event they allowed a Q & A session to the public. The questions varied immensely. Some were specific questions about events in Franco’s life and required genuine answers. Unfortunately, there were some people I’m embarrassed of for Franco. One girl asked if she could take a ‘selfie’ with him. I was in shock when I heard this—a girl 18 and older asked to take a picture during a seemingly serious Q & A like she was a tween at a boy band concert. Following her question, the entire crowd began to boo her. I feel bad she most likely had her self-esteem knocked down a few notches, but honestly she needs to think before she speaks next time she’s in that large of a crowd.

It was comical to hear Franco speak of his past mistakes. Flyboys was a common theme among his mistakes. He explained that he was pretty desperate for roles at the time and he thought he had to take the part. Looking back, though, he said how he doesn’t think he should do it, for eventually you find something you like.

Anderson Proctor‏@AndersonProctor

"The only way we learn is through mistakes" @JamesFrancoTV

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5:29 PM - 25 Feb 2015

I don’t know how much truth there is to that. Well I know there’s some, but I know that when out of work it’s hard to turn anything down, even if it’s a part you’re not fond of.

The interview was shorter than I had expected, but I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was going to be a more comedic talk with Franco, but on the contrary it was on a much deeper level than I could’ve ever expected.

Anderson Proctor‏@AndersonProctor

Never saw "Flyboys" but it looks like I won't because of these reactions #jamesfrancoUF

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6:08 PM - 25 Feb 2015

Annotated Bibliography & Abstract

Annotation

Bennet, Shea. "Is Social Media Making Us Antisocial? [INFOGRAPHIC]." SocialTimes. N.p., 15 June 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/antisocial-media/465663>.

Bilton, Nick. "Reclaiming Our (Real) Lives From Social Media." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 July 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/17/fashion/reclaiming-our-real-lives-from-social-media.html>.

Dockterman, Eliana. "Kim Stolz: How Social Media Is Ruining Our Relationships." Time. Time, 24 June 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://time.com/2917916/kim-stolz-how-social-media-is-ruining-our-relationships/>.

Griswold, Alison. "Are Smartphones Ruining the Restaurant Experience?" Slate. The Slate Group, 14 July 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. <http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2014/07/viral_craigslist_post_on_smartphones_in_restaurants_is_tech_ruining_the.html>.

• This piece concerns the restaurant business and how, with the addition of social media/increase in smartphone usage, restaurants are becoming less efficient.

Keller, Maura. "Social Media and Interpersonal Communication." Social Media and Interpersonal Communication. Great Valley Publishing Co., Inc., June 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. <http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/051313p10.shtml>.

"Social Media and Its Impact on Families." Macleighob. N.p., 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 Feb. 2015. <https://macleighob.wordpress.com/social-media-and-its-impact-on-families/>.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNyN2lAszWs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl0JojWH1rQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2V9-3ZwnIU -this video had a deep effect on me

Abstract

In my video, I want to show how unaware we have grown of our surroundings in society due to smartphones and technology. How at dinners people are simply staring at their phones instead of engaging in conversations, how relationships are kept together from texting rather than face to face conversation, even talking on the phone. I also want to show how they're making us anti-social. I imagine filming a bus ride in the morning, or people walking through Turlington plaza. I know people look at their phones or act like they're on the phone to avoid awkward interaction with people (even though it's not awkward at all), especially those who are trying to throw brochures in our faces. Furthermore, I've been thinking about showing a relationship dynamic between two people and the typical day-to-day conversation a relationship holds through texting/social media. Because I want to show so many aspects, I think it might be wise for me to use the people in the relationship as examples in each situation I want to show. I have thought of even filming myself as I go about my day and how often I use my smartphone, and periodically showing my surroundings. I believe I can get very creative with this idea and I'll definitely mold my strategy as I begin filming.

"END7: How to Shock a Celebrity"

This video was moving. From the start, the title catches your eye. The content of the video could be unknown to many, but the idea that 'celebrities' are in it draws a lot of curiosity. As it shows the faces of multiple celebrities watching a video, making the viewer want to know what it is exactly that these celebrities are watching.

It's evident that what they're watching is disturbing. I'm not sure what it is in our brains, but humans always want to see something, especially if they know it could be disturbing, for we want to know if we will have the same reaction as others (more so if they're celebrities).
I felt the tone was rather somber and depressing throughout most of the video, but at the end a large feeling of hope came over me. Something was different about this video compared to the normal TV ads throwing Sarah Mclachlan music at you and want you to donate money. This video seemed more REAL. Real in that you could visibly see the effects that the video had on the celebrities faces as they watched it. There weren't any special camera angles used to show sad children or dogs that needed money, but REAL diseases and their REAL effects on people.

Another improvement to typical charity ads, all they're asking for is 50 cents, compared to the monthly payments and membership subscriptions many of the other charities and support groups require.

The flow of this piece was, I thought, pretty flawless. It wasn't too long of a video, it brought you in immediately, and finished with a feeling of reasonable hope. Each disease was shown briefly, but long enough to have a lasting impact on my memory. The music rhythm was spot on. At the beginning it was more slow and quiet, quiet enough to hear the breathing of the celebrities watching the footage. Towards the end, though, it picked up pace and volume that had a hopeful and more positive feeling.

I would say for my Screen Story I should use the same type of style. I like informational videos that change often, that keep the viewer intrigued with new things and not the same footage being shown. The way the music was used in this piece is also something I definitely will pay attention to when making my Screen Story.

Sorry, but Robots can't be Humans

My curiosity endured when I first saw the movie Interstellar. The robots portrayed in the film contained the technology to fully communicate with humans, even as far as humor and sarcasm. This type of potential technology seems realistic to me beacause humans still have full control over them—being able to change settings simply with the command of their voice (robots are unable to resist authority). 

 

Robot "Lars" assisting on a mission in Interstellar

Up until recently I had thought basically anything was potentially possible for robots, as long as their main function was to serve humans. When seeing a movie recently, I saw a preview that intrigued me. The movie with the title Chappie, about a robot that is born with the ability to have feelings, to have a human conscience. He is able to learn, adapt, and form relationships with other humans, even love them.

"Chappie" displayed in the upcoming film Chappie

The preview shows the robot learning as a child, clumsily walking around, spilling drinks and knocking into objects. He's shown as shy and nervous of the new world he now resides in, just as a human would. His 'brain' is able to grow in all aspects, from artistic ability to style and music preference. He is programmed to be a potentially gifted 'person', as a child prodigy would be, and will be influenced in positive as well as negative ways as all of us are when we are young. Different from past films, Chappie has a soul, the first of any robot to have been shown to the world.

But is it really a soul? or simply programmed to represent certain emotions? For example, siri is a software developed by Apple to assist users in finding directions, knowing the weather, etc. The software has the ability to react to questions with humorous responses, almost an attempt to connect with us emotionally. A recent story came out about an autistic boy that became 'best friends' with siri.

The article describes how the boy took the programmed responses from siri as a deeper psychological connection. He connects with the software as Chappie is portrayed in the film: they have feelings that are recognized by humans.

After watching the preview, one simple question stuck out to me: Could this even be possible?

To able to replicate the human brain so effectively and produce something like the robot, Chappie, seems like an impossible feat to me. Our minds are so complex that we're still discovering new things every day about our brains.

R2D2 & C3PO of the Star Wars series

Technology already exists that allows machines to respond to humans with speech, follow directions and carry out tasks at the command of a voice, but how much further can we develop? The idea of artificially manufacturing a human being out of metal and wire is a bit ridiculous. Keep in mind, I do believe robots will be able to do a phenomenal amount for mankind in the future. We're on track for robots such as Lars to be a reality in the coming years. The game-changing factor for me is the ON/OFF switch. How can we manufacture something that makes independent decisions?  How can we develop a technology that allows a robot to think on its own, to make ethical decisions or appreciate life the same way humans do?

We've seen similar technology in movies before. The technology shown in Her is up to par with social interaction and comprehensiveness as seen in the robots of Interstellar. He is able to speak and converse with this digital response system as he would with another human, but still has the power to turn the system off. The machine doesn't function COMPLETELY independently, it's always at the mercy of the human being.

So, even if this technology WAS someday possible? Would it be wise to create machines such as Chappie?

The idea of NOT being able to turn off a robot is frightening to me. For something to be excessively more powerful and with the mind capacity and unpredictability of a human makes it a potential threat to society. With no OFF switch, we risk the unknown.





There have been plenty of movies about robots taking over the world or extinguishing mankind. This idea of fear has fueled countless movies, and why not? Society is intrigued by this idea. The future is everyone's own imagination, and many of us enjoy watching these 'possibilities' unfold on the big screen. I mean seriously, do we really need ANOTHER Terminator? But hey, I know when it comes out the movie will make millions, so I guess I really can't make any fun.


Would it be smart for us to make emotional connections with these robots and machines? Even in the movie Interstellar, humans are hurt emotionally when one of the human-like robots is sacrificed. It seems extreme to think that we would ever consider saving the 'life' of a robot rather than another human, but with these technologies becoming so lifelike it allows people to make these connections, and actually feel an emotional attachment of sorts.

At the end of the day, all of these movies are meant to do one thing: MAKE MONEY. So when I think of Chappie and this revolutionary technology that's being brought forth in this film, I think it is solely a gimmick. It's intriguing to society—the idea of a robot that's one of us? both emotionally and mentally? The idea has been thought of before, but not as in depth as Chappie is shown. It appears to be the most relatable to humans as we've seen yet, almost TOO similar, with the only difference seeming to be skin and organs replaced with metal and wires.

Some may believe it's a realistic view of what the future may hold, but I'm not as quick to agree as others are. I think it's a 'cool' idea for a film, and will gain attention from people solely on its futuristic theme, for all of us are interested in what the future has in store.

Some may believe it's a realistic view of what the future may hold, but I'm not as quick to agree as others are. Could technology advance so much as to make robots lifelike enough to have rights in society? Will they have powers similar to those of humans to vote, work, etc? Humans are already losing millions of jobs to robots that can do it for free, so I'd begin to worry if any of this software and technology does come to be. As for now, I think it's a 'cool' idea for a film, and will gain attention from people solely on its futuristic theme, for all of us are interested in what the coming years have in store.