Als162 - Mind over Mass Media Summary

Jishen Guo

10/14/2015

ALS162

Summary & Response

        In the article, “Mind over mass media”, Steven Pinker (2010) states the new media can keep us smart rather than caused moral panics. At the first, the author contradicts that the new media will cause moral panics. He demonstrates that the new media contributes to social stability and scientific development. Besides, the author cites some examples to prove the new media will not change our brains. Finally, the author considers that the new media is not the reason to lead us to distraction, we should solve this problem by self-control. Also, we can be smarter if we reasonably use the new media.

        In my opinion, I agree with the author’s point of view. Steven Pinker said “But distraction is not a new phenomenon. The solution is not to bemoan technology but to develop strategies of self-control, as we do with every other temptation in life.” That means the new media is not a major cause of distraction, in our daily life, we often be tempted a lot of things, not just by the media. So if we want to focus on one thing, we should incerea our own self-control. I agree with this point, and I also think the media is only a tool, so the influences of it to us are up to how we use it.

        In the past, people did not have digital media, but there were still a lot of people can’t concentrate on one thing and did a good job. Like many people addicted to gambling and drugs, because they do not have enough self-control. There were also some people always distracted by trivial of life. These situations illustrate that the phenomenon of distraction always existed. The new media has a lot of information, so I do not deny it is easy to distract people who without self-control. But we should know that the reason why distraction is our mind.