'Won T You Be My Friendster?'

Media plays an essential role in today’s society. The pros and cons of the media are a controversial topic. Brian Williams discusses the isolation that the media creates and concedes that the media are more democratic in his essay “But Enough About You.” Andie Wurster’s “Won’t You be my Friendster?” challenges Williams’ claims by discussing the countless opportunities the media offers.
Wurster begins her essay by sharing her initial disinterest in the “time-wasting mirror gazing” media. After giving into her own curiosity, Wurster admits that her prior judgment was spurious. Social media is universally shared by people of different cultures and tastes. This common denominator eliminates the confinement of one’s insular group of companions and creates a greater opportunity to interact with “potential pals [from] all over the world.” This challenges Williams’ claustrophobic views by proposing the possibility of making connections throughout the vast world.
Wurster experiences a multitude of new and different things at the hand of the media.
Social media exposes its users to unfamiliar ideas and viewpoints on topics such as music. An online friend of Wurster invited her to a local event in which she “attended a private listening party for a band’s soon-to-be-released album” and, by the end of the night, “joined a volunteer group” that she learned about from her new friends. This event exposed her to new music and gave her a chance to try something new. Wurster’s actions on social media lead to real-world experiences. Not only did Wurster try something new, she discovered a way in which she could selflessly help others thanks to social media. This refutes Williams’ self-centered perception of the
media.
Williams views the media as “limiting and claustrophobic” and would not agree with Wurster. Williams’ essay suggests that the media revolves around a single person- you. Social networks surround its users with familiarity; there are always “networks that already agree with your views, iPods that play only music you already know you like, [and] internet programs ready to filter out all of the news you want to hear.” Williams believes social media does not allow for diversity because society is “too busy celebrating [itself] and listening to the same tune [it] already know[s] by heart.” The lack of diverse thinking could cause society to “miss the next great book or the next great idea.”
Wurster’s essay challenges Williams’ essay to an extent. Wurster proves that the media can lead to great opportunities and supports her opinion through personal experiences. She establishes how vast the media can be and in doing so proves Williams view wrong. Wurster and Williams, however, both agree that the media isn’t as private or safe as it seems. Today, many people publish their lives on social media and forget that privacy is still important. Williams notes, “Diaries once sealed under lock and key are now called “blogs” and posted daily.” Wurster would agree with this notion and add that some people “post pictures of themselves scantily clad.”
Media is a part of everyday life whether society likes it or not. The “massive migration” to networking changed the way that people lived for better or for worse. Society continues to advance; one can either choose to adapt and learn from the advancements, or dwell on the change. Wurster is aware of the negative aspects that Williams sees within the media, she but chooses to acknowledge the positive aspects. Wurster believes that “the networks are a place to exhibit oneself, yes, but they are also a place for connecting.”