The following data is deduced from an interview with five people selected to represent the general society’s use of the internet and social media. The 5 interviewees are chosen from across all ages to represent society as a whole. Two of them are aged 20-28, two are aged 35-50, and the other one is between 55 and 70 years old. The interviewees are selected on informed consent with an assurance of anonymity of the information they provide.
Hours Spent on the Internet and Social Media
The young adults between age 20 and 30 spend approximately 6 hours on the internet and 2 hours on social media in a day. Middle-aged adults between 35 and 50 years old spend 5 hours on the internet and 1 hour on social media daily. The older generation of age 55-70 spends 1 hour on the internet and 1 hour on social media.
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Contact People
Young adults age 20-28 have an extensive network of contacts both in the United States and outside the country. They have a network of 500 people in the US and 200 people outside the US. Adult aged 35-50 are in contact with 300 people in the US and 150 people outside the country. People in the age of 55-70 are in contact with 200 in the US and 50 people outside the US.
Topics of Discussion
All groups discuss current issues in society on their social media platforms. However, young adults engage mostly in topics related to future trends in technology than older adults. Older adults discuss the impact of social media on society.
Subjects of Interest
Young adults of age 20-28 have an interest in technology and education subjects. Adults in the age of 35-50 have an interest in the matter related to socio-economic and political development in the society. Older adults are interested in the subject area of health maintenance and social, political development.
Analysis of the Data
Technology has introduced advancement in human socialization and essential information that helps society achieve its goals. Despite the broadness of societal objectives, relationship plays a significant role in accomplishing the objectives. In today’s society, technology has enabled people to connect more easily to each other and on a broader scale. The social interaction of people on social media relates to human nature of socialization. Sociological features of social networks have enhanced people’s influence on each other on a great extent. As the popularity of social networking increases, so does time spent on the internet and social media. Young adults have more desire for interactivity, which makes them spent a significant of their time on the internet and social media. The broad access to social media also increases interaction within the US and outside the country. Both young and older adults can socially interact with others in the broader world society. The topics of discussion have replaced the interpersonal nature of communication in society. Topics of discussion on social media also vary in different age groups just as any other social group. The young adults being the most affected by social media focus on the future of the internet while the older generation mostly discusses changes experienced in society due to social media interactions. Socio-economic and political issues have also taken place on social networks dominated by adults above the age of 35.
Companies and Brands
The three products at home include an Apple iPhone, General Motors’ Chevrolet sports utility vehicle (SUV), and a Samsung television.
Apple Inc. is a multinational technology company based in Cupertino, California, in the United States. The company majors in computer software and consumer electronics such as iPhones, iPods, and Mac computers. Apple Company was founded in 1976 in California. The organization founders include Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in California.
General Motors (GM) is a US-based global corporation with its headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The largest automobile company in the US and one of the world’s biggest, GM was founded on 16th September 1908 in Flint, Michigan. GM manufactures, designs, assembles and sells vehicles and vehicle parts.
Samsung Electronics is a South Korean based global organization founded in 1938 in Daegu City. The company’s headquarters are located in Suwon, South Korea. It manufactures and sells electronic components, such as televisions and smartphones.
Number of Employees
The three companies Apple, General Motors, and Samsung, have a large number of employees both in their headquarters and other countries where they operate. Apple company has approximately 132, 000 employees, according to the 2018 fiscal year report. GM, on the other hand, has 170,000 employees as at the 2018 fiscal year. Moreover, Samsung Electronics leads with approximately 309 600 employees worldwide.
Other Locations of the Companies’ Operations
Apple Inc. verifies all its products at its headquarters. However, the tech giant has manufacturing jobs in other countries such as China, Mongolia, and Taiwan. General Motors also is one of the most diversified companies globally, with manufacturing and assembling plants in countries such as Egypt, France, South Korea, and Canada. Moreover, Samsung Electronics runs manufacturing firms in six other countries, including India, China, Brazil, and Indonesia.
Working Conditions
Though the three companies deal with different products, employee working conditions are almost similar. However, Apple Company has in recent alleged to neglect employees’ needs. Employees have reported complaints about noise and terrible dormitories without hot shower. GM, on the other hand, has received credit for favorable working conditions for employees. Employees have the freedom to exercise their skills with minimum supervisions. Still, Samsung Company has been reported to exploit its employees through overtime of up to 3 hours a day.
Products manufactured by Apple (iPhone), GM (vehicles), and Samsung(televisions) have a significant impact on the environment. Both iPhones and TVs contain mercury and cadmium components which release toxic substances on air and water when improperly disposed of. GM products release a significant amount of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Cultural Values of the Products
Material culture involves physical ownership of products of culture. It is the aspect of social reality formed in the physical objects owned by people. These products, iPhone, televisions, and vehicle are quantified based on their monetary values. Ownership of these material products derives social heritage in society. These products also hold value and meaning through their utility. They carry communication between people through speech and gestures. Televisions and phones carry a message between time and space and people at a far distance.
Recent Scandals
In recent years General Motors has not been involved in major scandals in its operations. However, Apple and Samsung companies have been faced with different issues. Apple Inc., for instance, was accused of exploitation of workers in its China firms in 2018. Employees were reported to stand for up to 10 hours daily handling dangerous chemicals without safety garments. Samsung was also in 2017 accused to have played a political role in South Korea through funding a non-profit foundation in exchange for political support.
