Some of the most beloved features of the app Snapchat are its streak and memory features. Both of these features function as a way for Snapchat to contain past experiences, and also control future ones. This combination leads to a highly addicting experience.
On December 31st, 1999, Yale Professor David Gelernter released his thought-provoking work “The Second Coming - A Manifesto.” In this text, Gelernter laid out his views on the future of technology and information in the new millennium. Gelernter talked extensively about the way in which future technologies would involve time and manipulation of time.
Since its release in 2011, Snapchat has gone on to become one of the most popular apps of recent memory. Snapchat has in large part become popular because of the way in which is manipulates time in order to attract and addict its users.
Since its release in 2011, Snapchat has gone on to become one of the most popular apps of recent memory. Snapchat has in large part become popular because of the way in which is manipulates time in order to attract and addict its users.
Gelernter wrote “In the beginning, computers dealt mainly in numbers and words. Today they deal mainly with pictures. In a new period now emerging, they will deal mainly with tangible time - time made visible and concrete.” Snapchat stands as one of the best examples of the emerging entanglement of technology and time.
Gelernter wrote, “A lifestream is a landscape you can navigate or fly over at any level. Flying towards the start of the stream is 'time travel'.”
In referring to a 'lifestream,' he meant a sort of digital version of human life. Memories allow users to time travel within their 'lifestream.'
Snapchat continues to grow in popularity, thanks in large part to its time control features. Going forward, it's important to consider the implications of Snapchat's success and the accuracy of Gelernter's predictions about time technology.
I really love connection you made between the reading and Snapchat because it fits so well and is so relevant/relatable for our generation. Overall, this is a great post. It flows well, and I like that you used a lot of relevant pictures. I am curious to know what you think are the "implications of Snapchat's success" that you mention in the last paragraph and "troubling developments related to time technology" in the fifth paragraph. How do you think the addictiveness is impacting users negatively? This is something you could elaborate on if you were to revise this post; I would love to know your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI love how you reference Gelernter's work early in your post and continue to reference it throughout, comparing the aspects of how Snapchat works with the model Gelernter has laid out for a new age of computing. The way in which you describe how Snapchat "manipulates time" in your post sometimes feels more literal than figurative which can be a little confusing, but I feel this could be easily fixed in a revision. In addition, perhaps a comparison to how Snapchat may improve or even disprove some other aspect of Gelernter's works might be another worthy addition.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is really interesting but I feel like I would want to see more about what your thoughts are, how do you think Snapchat is harmful to the user?
ReplyDeleteYou've made a great connection with Gelernter's prediction, and maybe you could include how Gelernter would think of snapchat's success. Also, it might be helpful to merge some of your paragraphs.