Example 1: Personal experience response

One issue from the article that I’d like to discuss is the positive effect of using social websites. **Keith Hampton, a sociologist of the University of Pennsylvania says, “People who use sites like Facebook actually have more close relationships and are more likely to be involved in civic and political activities” (as cited in Gambino, 2011, p. 40). The author’s point is that after using social networking, people care more about the political events and the relationship between each other is also better.

In fact, the Internet and SNS have made us, as active citizens and “social beings” as Gambino says, more connected and united than ever before. I agree with his sentiment and can illustrate it with a personal example. When I first left my country to come to the United States to pursue my university degree, it was the first time ever in my life to be so far away from home to study without knowing anyone in a place. Fortunately, I got an invitation from Malaysian Undergraduate Student Organization of Madison to join their group on Facebook before I left my country. As a result, meeting other Malaysian students in Madison before I arrived, I felt much better prepared and more confident in my journey to next the part of my life. Even now, I use SNS to make new friends and stay in contact with my high school best buddies every day. Although I do not go out to bars or parties to meet new friends and I am miles apart from my high school besties, I am still able to interact and socialize with them as a result of technology and SNS.

Example 2: Agree/disagree response

Another idea I’d like to respond to focuses on how people rely on the Internet. Gambino (2011) states, “About 25% of those observed using the Internet in public spaces said that they had not visited the space before they could access the Internet there” (p. 41). In other words, people already take Internet as an important part in their life and expect to access it wherever they go.

I strongly agree with this argument. For example, I am taking six courses this semester, and three-quarters of my homework and readings are posted online. If the Internet is inaccessible in my resident hall, I will definitely consider moving out. Moreover, I only visit buildings on campus where the wifi signal is strong. Most of the libraries are good for this, but I found the connectivity in Van Vlek Math Building is not so good, so I don’t go there anymore. I am not a geology major, but my friend told me the wifi in the geology library is really fast, so now I study there in the afternoons. In short, I definitely feel that accessibility to the Internet heavily influences whether or not people will use a public space.

Example 3: Application response

One important topic that I’d like to address is how people use technology in public areas. Keith Hampton, a sociologist of the University of Pennsylvania said, “Laptop users are not alone in the true sense because they are interacting with very diverse people through social networking websites, e-mail, video conferencing, Skype, instant message and a multitude of other ways” (as cited in Gambino, 2011, p. 40). This means that people who use mobile technology in public areas in fact communicate and share information with people through social networking sites, video, e-mail and many other media, and hence they are not isolated.

This reminds me of why Mark Zuckerberg wanted to create Facebook. He originally created it to build connections among students at Harvard University, but it has grown to become a way to bring people together from anywhere in the world. By 2006, it became accessible beyond universities to anyone with an email address (Phillips, 2007, p. 1). What he initially thought would be just limited to one school has become a way for people around the world to connect with each other, and now most people seem to use it on their mobile devices at any time or in any place. Through Facebook, and other social networking sites, people do not have to feel alone any more, even if they are sitting alone in a Starbucks drinking a coffee.