“smart mobbing”

This is my first blog entry and I am here for my first post on “smart mobs.” Where to start.. the idea of the “smart mob” is an increasingly popular idea that gives power to mobs of people through use of technology. In a society where many people feel it neccessary to stick up for their beliefs, smart mobbing makes this goal possible, all while maintaining peace and order. Although it seems harmless, and quite beneficial in some cases, it worries me a bit. It is amazing that the first head of state to be brought down by a “smart mob” occured all the way back in 2001, when President Joseph Estrada of the Philippines lost power when waves of text messages caused millions of Filipino citizens to peacefully demonstrate and stand up against Estrada. Although the overwhelming spread of technology and new smart apps can be used for good reasons, it can also be used for bad ones. Reading about the ImaHima (“are you free now?”) app that “enables hundreds of thousands of Tokyo i-mode users to alert buddies who are in their vicinity at the moment” is a creepy reality that shows just how much we rely on our phones. Instead of calling our buddies to see if they are near, we can now look on our phones to see which one we want to hang out with. Kids in today’s society are more lazy, more stupid, and more obese than ever and I do not blame smart phones or condemn smart mobs, but I do think they play a part in our increased reliance on technology. I’m not saying I do not love technology, I do. but… I could live without it and it saddens me that I know 9 year olds that cannot.

test Filed under Uncategorized | Tags: mobs, smart, technology | Comment (0)