Introduction
With the digital revolution, communication media technology is bringing a generation of disembodied users who are detached from the physical body and its limitations. This change has paved the way for a new wave of digital culture in which humans are disconnected from their bodies (Gershoni, 2020). Due to the increasing role of technology, people tend to become increasingly less physically active, yet the presence of unlimited access to relevant information also enhances their understanding of their understanding of the subject matter, which entails a rise in embodiment and disembodiment based on a combination of the educational and alienating effects that social media produces.
Analysis of the Arguments
Technological advancements change people’s relationship with technology. The Digital Self is less embodied than in previous generations of technology (Gershoni, 2020).. Gershoni (2020) argues that because people rely on digital technologies for their day-to-day needs, they do not have time for themselves anymore. Therefore, people tend to be significantly less aware of the physical needs of their bodies on a biological level.
However, to counteract the specified outcome, a surge of educational material regarding the human body available on social media and supplied by healthcare organizations should be mentioned. The described resource opens unlimited access to health education and the cognition of one’s own body. As a result, social media also supplies a broader array of opportunities for self-directed health education (Loon, 2008). The specified aspect of social media contributes to the embodiment experience and the resulting relinquishing of the mind-body connection.
As technology has progressed, people have become more disconnected from their bodies and physical selves and, therefore, more reliant on their online selves for identity-building and self-definition. This trend is evident in how people communicate with each other (Nunes, 2013). Most people spend more time communicating with others through text or email rather than face-to-face conversation. One can use an app on their phone to order food from a restaurant across town without being present where the task needs to be done.
Application of the Arguments
According to these articles, media technologies are becoming more and more immersive, which is why keeping up with the latest tech is important. At the same time, their detrimental effect on people’s understanding of their physical needs and connecting to their physical selves is apparent. Therefore, a compromise involving a change in the paradigm of social media usage must be considered as a solution.
George’s article (2020) discusses how technology has a huge impact on society and politics, which should be considered when choosing what kind of media technologies one wants to use in one’s life. Technology affects people’s bodies in many ways. People have sensors attached to their skin that monitor their heart rate and wear glasses that monitor eye movement (Gershoni, 2020). These sensors can potentially cause damage if people are not careful about how much time they spend using these devices. Therefore, the opportunity to expand one’s experience and knowledge by sacrificing one’s health does not seem reasonable, which is why a viable solution to the problem at hand must be provided.
The digital self has been described as a disembodied user because it is not connected to the body and its surroundings. It may be disconnected from the physical world and is, therefore, attached to technology (Loon, 2008, p. 26). The author argues that this disconnection from the physical world makes it easier for people to create new identities through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter (Loon, 2008). Users constantly change their identities because they want to appear different from what they are (Nunes, 2013). This change makes it difficult for people to discover that they are online because there is no connection between their real selves and how they appear online.
Conclusion
The convergence of communication media, embodiment, and disembodiment has been common throughout history, yet it has become particularly apparent over the past decades, which is why moderation in the usage of social media must be encouraged. In the modern day, the progression of communication media has increased the gap of (dis)embodiment. The process through which this phenomenon occurs is complex and multifaceted.
The sight of disembodiment has become normalized in society today without notification. These developments have been used to create new forms of communication, expand human knowledge, and spark social change. However, it risks creating a disconnect between people by steering away from human empathy towards technical intelligence.
References
George, Ã. (Ed.). (2020). Digitalization of society and socio-political issues 1: Digital, communication, and culture. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Nunes, M. (2013). Ecstatic updated: Facebook, identity and the fractal self. In Wise, J. M. (Ed.) New visualities, new technologies: The new ecstasy of communication (pp. 7-26). Taylor & Francis Group.
Loon, J. V. (2008). Media technology: Critical perspectives. McGraw-Hill Education.