The Internet and social media are causing far-reaching changes in our attitudes and behaviour that we might not yet fully realise or understand. Here, we discuss an often observed phenomenon: where we seem to view our lives and that of those arounds via our smartphones and social media.

 

So many of us are all guilty of this. We are at an event, or witnessing some kind of spectacle, and the first thing we think of doing, is whipping out our smartphone to record (parts of) what is transpiring. Although I had made the observation some time ago, it was brought home earlier this month when viewing video footage – ironic, I know –  of the ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ concert, held by dancehall artist, Buju Banton, in Kingston, Jamaica.

This concert was the first time in over 10 years that Buju Banton had performed in Jamaica. Tickets were sold out within hours of going on sale. Fans flew to Jamaica from North America and Europe solely to attend the concert. However, at the concert, instead of fully taking in “the Gargamel’ in action, so many people were not only recording, but also viewing the concert via their phones!

Buju Banton Concert March 2019 Long Walk to Freedom Tour Jamaica (Soca Nation Live, YouTube)

 

Are we more entranced by watching an event on our phone, than experiencing it unfolding ‘live and direct’ right in front of us?

Another more recent incident that more forcefully highlighted what I am dubbing our ‘spectator mentality’ was a news item published in one of the Belizean newspapers. In the article. a woman was not only upset about the loss of her home due to fire, but more importantly, the fact that bystanders did nothing to help her:

When I saw the smoke I screamed for help and my sister and one of my neighbors ran to my assistance. Three of us women we ran up and down with buckets of water while screaming for someone to help us. We were asking for people to help us with a water hose, but nobody came to help us. The number of phones I saw them pull out…while we might not have been able to stop the fire, I know that if they had helped me I could have at least saved some of my precious belongings…

(Source:  Reporter Newspaper)

In the interview with the woman following her ordeal, the newspaper reported that she was of the view that “persons seem to be getting more uncaring and unfazed by the need to respond to emergency situation but instead feel a need to document the live action”. Is that who we have become? And if so, why?

The insatiable need for content

There may not yet be much definitive research on how we, as humans, are changing thanks to today’s technology; however, much of what is fuelling our behaviour is the sense of belonging that we have in the various social groups and networks of which we are a part. We can be completely alone physically, but we still feel connected. However, in order to be recognised or acknowledged in the group, we need to have something to say, such as via a post or tweet, for example, which means you need to have content.

We tend to get content in two key ways: either we create it, or we receive from others. However, content that elicits a response needs to be funny, eye-catching, or otherwise be able to stand out against the deluge of content we view every day. Hence, when a house is burning to the ground, what do we do? We pull out our phones, and film the incident to share with our friends. It may not even cross our minds to help.

Removing ourselves from reality

It is also curious that when such spectacles are being recorded, smartphone owners are viewing the event on their devices. In doing so, it can be argued that they are experiencing an incident like a movie – something that is happening only within the 6-inch (30 cm) screen of the phone.

In other words, we might be allowing ourselves to be removed from many of those scenes, and so, may not be in a position to fully take in the experience and appreciate their impact. As a result, and perhaps more importantly, we may be seen as being passive and uncaring, since although we might be physically present, we act as if we were not there.

 

 

Image credits:  SplitShire (Pixabay)