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Naked exercise #8Technology: The Fifth Wall

If you’re texting while on the phone while chatting via your webcam while reading this tip, you might be stuck behind the fifth wall of technology (and be very talented!). The Internet, cell phones, IM, video games, and electronic devices you plug in or charge create what is known as the fifth wall of technology. Physically you might be on campus, but mentally and emotionally you’re somewhere else.

This is an important Naked Exercise (not to diminish the importance of all the other exercises)! College can be an amazing experience, but it can also be socially uncom-fortable at times. Remember the 10 percent BS? When it arrives, it’s all too easy to run and hide in your comfort zone by using technology. I’m talking about things like calling home, texting old friends, hanging out on Facebook, surfing the Internet, and playing video games online with random people OTHER than people on campus.

Check all that apply and estimate (honestly) how much time on average you spend a day doing these things (your best guess).

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Technology Hours per Day

Talking on your cell phone with friends from home

Texting friends from home

Instant Messaging friends from home

Hanging out in chat rooms or playing games

Surfing the Web

Downloading music

Watching videos on your phone or other device

Watching TV

Hanging out on Facebook

Tweeting

Listening to music

Playing video games

Daily total:

Multiply this number by seven and you get the total for the week. (Whoa! That’s a big number.) Multiply it by 30 and get your total for the month. Multiply it by 365 and…oh my that’s an insanely large number! Can you believe you’ve spent that much time not talking to people face to face?

Here’s the MathLet’s just say hypothetically you spend 3 hours talking on the phone a day, 1 hour texting a day, 1 hour gaming a day, 1 hour of TV, and 1 hour of Facebook, that equals 7 hours a day, 28 hours a week, 1,456 hours a year. That’s over 60 days stuck behind the fifth wall of technology. And you wonder why some people don’t feel con-nected to life on campus…(or are single).

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the Big QuestionIs the majority of your time spent online connecting with old friends from home rather than helping you make new friends on campus? YES / NO

If yes, how do you think spending so much time communicating with people you already know (and who are no longer part of your daily life) impacts meeting new people on campus (yes, a loaded question)?

What steps can you take to use technology to communicate LESS with people from home and MORE with people on campus?

If friends, family, or significant others at home insist on pulling you back behind the fifth wall of technology, what can you say or do to set limits?

Social Networking No-NosJust in case you didn’t know, you can get expelled, lose a job, or miss out on a lead-ership position based on your social networking resume. Everything you say, write, and post online can be accessed by the world. It’s forever. Even if you set restrictions on who can read your posts, there are ways they can still get out—fake friends, jeal-ous exes, or strangers can share your information with the world (or TMZ). Make sure you answer NO to all the social media no-nos.

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•There are pictures of me consuming alcohol while underage online.

YES / NO

•People can gain access to my cell phone and address through Facebook.

YES / NO

•There are pictures of me doing something illegal online.

YES / NO

• There are pictures of me doing something that a professor, employer, or some-one I respect might consider to be in poor taste.

YES / NO

•People have posted incriminating info on my wall.

YES / NO

• I accept friend requests from anyone who requests me.

YES / NO

• I don’t have privacy settings in place.

YES / NO

• I post blog entries that share my personal information.

YES / NO

• I’ve posted hateful messages.

YES / NO

•There may be pictures of me with other people doing something illegal.

YES / NO

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• I change my password once a month.

YES / NO

What is the worst story you’ve ever heard about social networking gone bad?

List ten Internet safety concerns most students don’t think about when texting, Facebooking, and using social networks.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

k k k

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true or FalseAnd now some VERY difficult true or false questions about how you use technology to finish this Naked Exercise:

1. Texting in class is considered polite and respectful.

True or False

2. Taking and texting naked pictures of yourself is a GREAT idea.

True or False

3. It’s a good idea to accept anyone’s Facebook friendship request.

True or False

4. Facebook privacy settings will keep all of your information private from future scandal.

True or False

5. Posting your cell phone number will allow everyone who wants to harass you an opportunity to call and text you.

True or False

6. Everything you write, post, email, and say on social networking sites is available for the world to consume.

True or False

Naked Journal #8: The Headline CultureEver posted a status update that didn’t share the whole truth? Ever read a status update and think that everyone is having a better time than you?

We all make assumptions based on headlines and updates. Sometimes just look-ing at people’s posts can make it seem like everyone is having a better time than you are. But remember that when people send out these posts or statuses, they’re not telling you the whole story.

For this naked journal, post ten status updates that make the world think life is good. Then post the status updates that don’t make it out into the news feed.

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