Hey He-Man, Pass the Weed

When I was a kid, He-Man was the Master of the Universe and doctors knew how to cure what ailed us. However, in our society today technology has made our doctors seem almost irrelevant, and He-Man has been replaced by the self-sufficiency of the Internet. We live in a world where the information is endless and “having easy and more private access to an online connection seems to lead to greater reliance on the Internet for health information.” (Rideout, 2001, p. 11)This information, although sometimes helpful, also has the potential to be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) has become a normal way of life, and we are no longer bound by the constraints of location, transportation, or social interactions. There is always an answer on the internet.If we have a problem we just Google it. In a sense we have become masters of our own solitary universes, only peeking out when it is absolutely necessary.

The side effects of a generation raised in a CMC environment are yet to be unveiled. Although there are benefits to limitless amounts of information, I believe that many of the new ways people are being reached through technology are potentially dangerous. A recent study suggests that regular text messages from informational sources could potentially help to reduce the use of cannabis in teens (Laursen, 2010).

However, is it possible to fight addiction through text message? Can we solve all of the emotional issues of a generation through technology rather than personal contact and face-to-face communication? Are doctors and psychologists becoming extraneous in our society?

Laursen (2010) suggests that it may be possible to influence the actions of young people through informative text messages. Although, there are still many variables which could potentially influence the research.

“Text messaging could prove to be an innovative way of reaching young people, but little is known about the actual effects of the text messages or the ways in which they are received.”( Laursen, 2010)

I do not believe that the consequences of this research have been adequately examined. Researchers need to isolate the variables involved in order to quantify their investigation. Variables such as age, gender and socioeconomic background are all factors that could potentially influence the interpretation of the messages. Misinformation or misinterpretation of information is not uncommon in young people, especially teens who have not fully developed emotionally. If a text message is not fully understood it is unlikely that a young teen would ask questions from a responsible adult. They would most likely seek information from an online source.

“If the quality of online information is not high or the source unknown, increased reliance on the Internet could lead to greater misinformation and skepticism.” (Rideout, 2001, p. 7)

Although I do believe in the benefits of technology, I also believe that there should be boundaries placed on the information that is available on the internet. I also strongly support efforts to increase communication with younger generations. However, I do not believe that adapting to their CMC lifestyle is always the best way to conquer critical issues. We no longer live in a world where He-Man is the Master of the Universe, but neither are we. It is important for all of us to identify the importance of our doctors and psychologists and the information they can provide.

References

Laursen, D. (2010), Counseling Young Cannabis Users by Text Message. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 15: 646–665. doi: 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2009.01510.x

Rideout, V. (2001, December). Generation Rx.com: How young people use the Internet for health information. Menlo Park, CA: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Accessed October 6, 2009 from http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/Toplines.pdf