Preview

Summary Of The Tethered Self By Sherry Turkle

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
546 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Summary Of The Tethered Self By Sherry Turkle
In the introduction to her book, The “Tethered Self: Technology Reinvents Intimacy and Solitude” (2001), Sherry Turkle, an MIT professor suggest that the online personas have negative effects on the growth of a healthy individual, healthy relationships, and a healthy community. The technology itself and the online personas provide the society a troubling effect.
She gives her readers a list of effects in the opening passage. Then, she looks at two examples, the technological devices, and online personas, to define the effects of the redefining human connection, relationships communication and the community. She does all this in order, to show how each effect of the online personas, she presents is missing some important element of it. At the end, she presents what she feels is a more definitive cause by showing us the outcome of online personas. Her audience appears to be anyone who would be concerned, about the technological devices and online personas with society and/or in themselves. They would have to agree that these online personas are a serious social problem that needs …show more content…
Some people will say, a healthy individual you are able to laugh every day and feeling a sense of purpose in life. “Marriage and family, ties to friends and neighbors, workplace ties, civic engagement, trustworthiness, and trust all appears independently and robustly related to happiness and life satisfaction, both directly and through their impact on health” (Helliwell and Putnam, 2009). In this quote, Helliwell and Putnam, talk about how the online personas become part of the society and it does have some strong effect on health. It does help the society because we can talk and communicate with everyone and everywhere. However, the impact on the growth of being happy is not supposed to be found in the online personas. You can be happy by being content with what you have and what's around you, but not because by technology
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Growing Up Tethered Analysis
    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Growing Up Tethered Analysis

    Children are kept track of by their parents using cell phones and vice versa. They use the term “Pathology” as if needing to have a cell phone is NOT pathology, “but an accommodation to what technology affords.” (435) Another thing Turkle refers to is “THE AVATAR OF ME”. The term “Avatar” (436), it’s just like the game The Sims Online, is where you can create a virtual self. It’s a virtual place where you can live without really living. It helps people detach from real life. “This kind of identity work can take place wherever you create an avatar.” (437) People create a “Persona” for themselves, not only as an avatar, but on their own personal online profiles, such as facebook. Children as young as 13 are making these online profiles and altering them the way they want to be. They use this all the way into applying for colleges. “Creating the illusion of authenticity demands virtuosity.” (439) Using these methods of communicating and making yourself who and what you want to be is what our generation does, virtually. Person to person has turned into texting instead of in person conversations. It may be a freer way of being who you want to be, but it might not exactly be who you…

    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Authenticity - Slater vs Turkle
    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Authenticity - Slater vs Turkle

    Both face-to-face interaction and social networking sites (including Myspace, Twitter, and Facebook) are forms of staying in contact with friends and family. While Nora from Turkle’s “Alone together” communicates her engagement and wedding date via email to her closest friends and family, she could have easily announced it face-to-face, at a party or through a Facebook event. While there are many ways of communicating information, the authenticity of these interactions as well as its importance is up for debate. For Turkle, face-to-face interaction is to social networking as the tortoise is to the robot: some can be moved by authenticity of the tortoise (face-to-face interaction) while others may find “a shame to bring the turtle all this way from its island home in the Pacific...[when] they could have used a robot.”(Turkle, 265) To be authentic is to be “accurate in representation of the facts; trustworthy; reliable”. It is an attribute that according to Turkle can only be found in face-to-face interactions. In calling social networks "a deliberate performance that can be made to seem spontaneous,” she adds another dimension to the definition for authenticity: spontaneity. Turkle finds that face-to-face interactions is marked by spontaneity, allowing you “to be upset in front of someone else” as opposed to giving you the time to compose your thoughts and thus hide your true feelings. (Turkle, 264) Ironically, Turkle’s notion of authenticity is more readily apparent in social networking than in face-to-face interaction; by giving control and fostering transparency, social networking builds more authentic relationships and diminishes the need for face-to-face interaction.…

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    PS300 Unit 4 Discussion Questions
    • 288 Words
    • 1 Page

    PS300 Unit 4 Discussion Questions

    In this article there are several examples of how the use of the web, as well other types or media, such as IM, FB and Instagram have changed the way people thinks. One example is a person who says “Texting and IMing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort,” a University of Maryland student wrote after being asked to refrain from using electronic media for a day. “When I did not have those two luxuries, I felt quite alone and secluded from my life.” (Greenblatt, 2010)…

    • 288 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summary of “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism
    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary of “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism

    Rosen then makes the connection from online identity to online communities. She notes what characterizes these online communities, depends on a number of things. Age, demographics, location and, pastimes. She states that today’s social networking sites organize themselves around the “person,” how we define ourselves online with millions of individual profiles that list interests, hobbies and the things that are important to us. She also explains how these online communities have affected our relationships in the real world. She gives the example of two users who announced their engagement over Facebook and the repercussions both on and offline when they announced it was not going to happen.…

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Impact Of Technology On Fahrenheit 451
    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Impact Of Technology On Fahrenheit 451

    In a recent study conducted by Matthew Brashears of Cornell University, 2,000 adults were asked the number of friends whom they share a close relationship with. The average response was 2.03 and it decreased from a similar study from 1985, which received an average response of three close friends (Silard. “From Face-to-Face to Facebook”). It is proven that humans thrive on human interaction, so cutting that face-to-face off could damage humans negatively by causing them to suffer more health problems due to physical inactivity and no interaction. “People who, like the Facebook COO, claim that we have never been so connected with each other are missing a vital point: the people making all these "connections" through the Internet and social media are, in the non-virtual plane sometimes referred to as "reality," sitting alone in front of a pixelated screen.” (Silard.). Even though we are able to interact with different of people from around the world, we become isolated from the people around us. People cut off their friends and family and would rather spend time on the…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Dangers Of Digital Distractedness Analysis
    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Dangers Of Digital Distractedness Analysis

    According to Lauren Shinozuka, in her essay, “The Dangers of Digital Distractedness,” we are a digital generation. She asserts we are celebrated for our aptitude in effortless interactions with society through technology. However, the author questions the effect that this mass use of digital media has on societal and personal interactions and suggests we are alienating ourselves from those around us. She offers the point that we have developed an obsession with high-tech communication and are afflicted by fruitlessly attempting to do too many things at once, as well as automating our interpersonal interactions, disconnecting from genuine contact, and promoting a falsified version of…

    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sherry Turgle Social Technology
    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sherry Turgle Social Technology

    With social technology’s advanced development, I believe social technology is evolving the ways in which people communicate. Many years ago, the ways people communicate were limited to face-to-face, letter or telephone. However, emails, text’s and internet (Facebook, chat rooms, etc), which are dominant in the technological medians have changed human lifestyles tremendously. People rather text than talk; use social technology to communicate with the loved ones whenever it is. In Sherry Turkle’s essay: “” she worries about human connection with social technology might have negative impacts to human intimacy. Naomi Klein, author of “” talks about both beneficial and destructive “fences” that are existed to keep people isolated from things that…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hate Speech And The Costs Of Keeping Quiet By Turkle
    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hate Speech And The Costs Of Keeping Quiet By Turkle

    Social media a toxic environment where humans, hide themselves behind a false identity to hurt one another and can get away with it. Turkle describes how technology has affected human interaction by providing a space to hide from the real world. Turkle writes, “We re-create ourselves as online personae in games or virtual worlds and give ourselves new bodies, homes, jobs, and romances” (Turkle 494). Turkle explains how technology allows humans to create a virtual reality that become a reality for them. In fact, when a human is affected by their virtual reality it is dangerous because they forget part of the real world. For instance, the awareness of how words can hurt another, persons emotions. This happens a lot where people do not realize the harm they cause online but there is also those that…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Is Effectual Diction In Alone Together
    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What Is Effectual Diction In Alone Together

    Turkle reflects on how “only a decade ago” teenagers would hang out in local shopping malls and parks to visit and talk to each other, and today people would rather tweet each other than go out with one another (Turkle 91). The use of the word “only” illuminates how we have become so engulfed in our devices today, and makes the audience feel a sense of remorse due to how distant we've become over such a short period of time. This helps Turkle present her ideas in a satisfactory way. She is able to play on the readers more sensitive emotions causing them to reflect on her ideas and feed into what she is saying. She describes technology as a “phantom limb” being that it is so much a part of people, and people can feel when their devices are alerting them even when not on their person (Turkle 92). The choice of words here describes how connected we are to our devices and how distant we are to people around us. Turkle uses the phrase “alone together” condenses her argument down to two words which, helps her audience fathom the points she is makes about technology distancing us from each other. Turkle also states that we start to see our “online life as life itself” (Turkle 92). By including this it gives the reader a chance to reflect on their lives and seek truth about Turkle’s ideas on technology. The diction of the phrase “life itself” gives off an intense emotion because real life is nowhere near real so, this gives insight as to how technology twists people’s perceptions of…

    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Getting Away With Hate Analysis
    • 194 Words
    • 1 Page

    Getting Away With Hate Analysis

    Technology has introduced a new way of communication that has created a toxic environment for the human kind. Sherry Turkle a Social Studies of Science and technology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of, “The Tethered Self: Technology Reinvents Intimacy and Solitude.” Turkle writes, “Technology is the architect of our intimacies, but this means that as we text, Twitter, e-mail, and spend time on Facebook. Technology is not just doing things for us but, doing things to us, changing the way we view ourselves and our relationships” (Turkle 493). Social Media has opened a new place for humans to be bully’s and get away with it. First, Social media allows people to hide behind a false persona…

    • 194 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    English Paper About "Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism"
    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages

    English Paper About "Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism"

    Novelist, Christine Rosen, in her essay, “Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism” ridicules the use of online social networking in today’s society. Rosen’s purpose is to convey the idea that, online social networking is a dangerous manipulative addiction of self expression that is frankly a waste of time for all of society and a way to segregate your friends. She adopts a bashing tone to appeal to similar feelings and experiences toward her readers.…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Deception in Online Dating
    • 1298 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Deception in Online Dating

    Imagine scrolling through a multitude of single people on an online dating site. You find an interesting candidate; their profile catches your attention, their pictures captivate your eyes, and the smooth way they chat with you online keeps you fascinated with their persona. Since your conversation online was always a thrill, it seemed natural to set up a face-to-face (FTF) meeting. When you finally get to meet this wonderful person, who has been roaming through your mind since the first online date, your eyes are appalled to see the drastic contrast of their online and offline self. There is a significant error with the image you had in mind about what they would be like; their appearance is less attractive, their clothes were out of style, they smell and speak repugnantly, and their confidence they displayed online has vanished. This story ends with you running back home completely disturbed with how much deception was present. This situation describes the real problem with finding romance online. Even though the internet provides an efficient and prompt way of networking, those seeking long-lasting relationships should switch off the server. The intimacy between online daters is artificially produced with the internet’s ability to give users more control over presentation of self (Goffman, 1959), misrepresentation, and the deception that comes with these elements.…

    • 1298 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Isolated by the Internet
    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Isolated by the Internet

    “Isolated by the Internet” an essay written by Clifford Stoll pinpoints exactly what researchers believe the internet is doing too much of today’s society. Stoll explains in detail that Internet is breaking apart family values, slowing personal interaction, distancing reality, and robbing personal time. Clifford Stoll has provided evidence that the internet is breaking apart many families and distancing them from one another. For example, Stoll expresses that many parents bring their work home, and spend only six to eight minutes a day talking with their children (106). Furthermore, Stoll states that productivity in the home takes away from playtime that even in our alone time work seeps into even the most intimate of moments (107,108). Although internet is a fast, aid in society it can also slow basic personal interaction “These electronic intermediaries dull our abilities to read each other’s gestures ad facial expressions, to express our feelings, to strike up conversations with strangers, to craft stories, to tell jokes” (106). Clifford Stoll states that it causes a person not to learn basic skills such as how to interrupt, how to speak in front of a large audience, or worst when to talk or be silent. (107) He brings in psychologists and scientist points of view that contradict significantly with those of major computing companies. For example Stoll references to psychology professor Philip Zimbardo who states that technological advances cause shyness which is a basic lack of communication skill, where as Intel stated “This is not about the Technology, per se; it’s about how it is used (105,106). Stoll uses Zimbardo’s personal account to explain computer isolation, Zimbardo will occasionally walk down the hallway and say hello and to some this is shocking and feels it is invading their space (110). The inability to communicate is in part due to the isolation of internet. Clifford Stoll insinuates that…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Technology and Social Interaction
    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Technology and Social Interaction

    Throughout the years technology has gotten more and more advanced. The better the technology the easier it is for people to stay connected with each other. There are so many ways to contact a person now. You can call/text, email, or even video chat. Social Interaction is getting much better in today’s world of technology. In the past 15 years, the Internet has transitioned from a medium that’s interacted with strictly though desktop computers in homes, offices and computer labs to one that a growing number of people take with them everywhere they go. Whether via laptops, ever-evolving mobile phone devices or through Internet-connected workstations in the office and at home, many are online all the time. (Margolis)…

    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Is Facebook Making Us Lonely Stephen Marche Analysis
    • 1163 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Is Facebook Making Us Lonely Stephen Marche Analysis

    In the article written by Stephen Marche, the question of Facebook’s and technology in general’s impact on society is answered in various ways. One of Marche’s main points is that…

    • 1163 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics