News Article Genre
The genre analyzed in this documentation is a news article written in the New York Times by Caroline Crosson Gilpin on 24th February 2017. The text is formatted in aligned paragraphs and includes transitions from one section to the next. The length of the article is approximately two pages. The author uses a formal language to communicate the information in the text. For instance, in the opening statement, Gilpin asserts that social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have been integrated into the culture of teenagers (Gilpin n.p.). The content included in the article reveals the effects that these social media platforms have on the college performance and career objectives of students. The content that the author has omitted in the texts includes the potential advantages associated with social networking such as the enhancement of social integration among the online users. The purpose of the Gilpin’s article is to elucidate the readers about the harms of the excessive use of social media platforms (Gilpin n.p.). I know this because the title of the article suggests so. In addition to this, the author has elaborated her main argument regarding this issue by asserting that students do not necessarily need online networks to attract new opportunities in the marketplace.
The intended audience for this news article includes college students who belong to one or a variety of the social networking sites mentioned herein. The rhetoric strategy that Gilpin has utilized in the text is the appeal to the audience using Pathos. For instance, she argues that when students spend too much of their time on online networks, their brains develop the need for quick stimulation when the students get bored thus reducing their concentration ability (Gilpin n.p.). In the analysis of this article, I am hoping to determine whether the author convinces the readers to reduce their reliance on social media platforms by revealing the most significant information.
In a more conceptualized way, the author does not take edges in addressing the issue of the social media influence on the performance of the students. According to her, the social media plays a very significant role in expanding more opportunities for them by way of escalating on their social links with others across the internet. Consequently, this makes them to increase their chances of being absorbed in the current job market in an easier way. She adds that the social media makes a student more valuable in the society and more attractive (Gilpin n.p.). Altogether, this adds up to the competitive advantage of the learner in the marketplace as one becomes more exposed to the ongoing changes and demands of the competitive market. However, the author argues that, despite the fact that there are better prospects that arise out of being valuable through exposure on the social media; students should limit themselves as to the amount of time they dedicate on the internet forums. In support of this assertion, she argues that one does not necessarily have to use the social media to appeal to the employers. However, her main point is that a student can be more attractive in the job market even without the use of the social media.
However, she tries to object the motion that much social media portrays as harmless to the individuals. In her objection, she argues that the social media is very addictive and deprives the students their ability to recapitulate clearly the slightest things they have been taught as well as viewing life in a broader perspective (Gilpin n.p.). According to her, the more one becomes used to the social media, the more the person becomes weak in thinking.
Additionally, the author argues in the article that, the social media tends to divert learners from the main thing. As such, the internet is displayed to play a negative role to most of the students by making them loose their concentration levels (Gilpin n.p.). Ultimately, a majority of the students get carried away by the internet even in the most serious occasions that they do not pay attention to the main agendas. Accordingly, due to much exposure to the light emitted from the screen of the various gadgets, the consequence is brain damage and eye problems.
On the other hand, Patrick Gillooly looks at the social media influence on rather a more optimistic way. According to him, the social media is as good as the meal people take every day. Notably, the social media plays a very critical role in enlightening the students about every day happening thereby keeping them updated (Gilpin n.p.). As such, he argues that the presence of the social media is an important tool that is used to educate people on essential things that happen within and around them.
Additionally, Patrick argues that the social media helps in marketing an individual to the global market. In doing so, the individual establishes external links with other people from beyond the borders and this may lead some benefits accruing from mutual relationships from abroad. As such, he emphasizes a lot on what people post on their social media forums such as in Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and many other social forums such as Whatsapp (Gilpin n.p.). Imminently, there is a lot of power harbored in the social media, and the materials people post on them can greatly impact on them either adversely or positively. At some instances, there are some posts people make on their walls that they would not like their potential employers to see. Remarkably, many of the employers use tools and equipment that links them to the job seekers. Outstandingly, when potential employers have access to an individual’s account on the social media, they go for the behavioral conduct to evaluate the kind of person they are likely to employ. The information they get about oneself helps to determine the kind of mutual relationship to expect when they hire such an employee (Gilpin n.p.). Therefore, people have the responsibility to control what people see to attract potential employers. Evidently, the social media provides a forum where individuals can display their qualities. However, when they overdo it, it can be dangerous as it can come back haunting on them. Nevertheless, when potential employers do not find anything about a person on the social media, the chances may somehow diminish the chances of securing a job with them.
In conclusion, therefore, it is evident that the social media is like a two-edged sword due to the fact that, it can be used for positive or negative gains. As such, it is the responsibility of the involved individuals to regulate their interaction with the different forums provided in the social media. Moreover, it has been revealed what most employers look for when they want to hire individuals in their organization and as such, people should be cautious about their behavior exhibit on the social forums since they can be the source of success or pull back factors.
Works Cited
Gilpin, C. “Will Social Media Help or Hurt Your College and Career Goals?” New York Times.. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/24/learning/will-social-media-help-or-hurt-your-college-and-career-goals.html. Accessed April, 2017.
