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"Death & Grief in the Digital Age" from Social Work Podcast

The Social Work Podcast is a wealth of information. In particular, I'd like to draw attention to their February podcast on Death and Grief in the Digital Age: Interview with Carla Sofka, Ph.D.

There are a number of points I'd like to spend time with and highlight in this post, as per usual this post is initially in a "notes to self" kind of form... To be updated in hopes it proves useful to others.

  • Consider: Technological advanced directives and digital dust
  • Just as there is sex education in schools, consider death education (see: Tu Nudito)
  • Dr. Sofka "also recommends including technology assessment in the standard biopsychosocialspiritual assessment"

Ding, ding, ding, all these comments excited me as they rang so true... I've been thinking along the same lines for some time now and it's awesome to hear others feel the same.
Below is a rough sketch of just such an assessment, I had the idea several months ago and just began actually writing out ideas last week.

Biopsychosocial Assessment of Social Media Effects (6/19/17 Draft)

Biophysical Dimension
  • Pros
    • Access to workout videos --- may lead to increased exercise
    • WebMD, nutritional info, and other physical health support and education --- may lead to informed medical decisionsCons

  • Cons
    • “Tech neck”
    • Sleep disruptions - melatonin, 
    • Vision implications
    • Vascular health concerns from prolonged sitting
Psychological Dimension
  • Pros
    • Identity formation pros and cons (Second Life etc)
    • Anonymity pros and cons, pros being ability to seek help without same level of shame
    • Self-help options increased
    • online resources, e.g. counseling
  • Cons
    • Cyber-Hypochondriasis 
    • Addiction ~ habit forming, gaming vs gambling, potentially blunting dopamine receptors
    • Pornography - sexual expectations
    • See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Facebook#Psychological_effects
Sociological Dimension
  • Pros
    • Net or tech etiquette or lack there of
    • Connecting with people, well-matched, can foster encouraging relational habits
    • Social disinhibition can help people open up 
    • option to be thoughtful in responses and less reactionary
  • Cons/Dangers

Spiritual Dimension
  • Much of the spiritual dimension is interwoven with above domains
    • access to free information and education about spiritual philosophies
    • guided meditations and mindfulness practice tools
    • religious communities can share materials in creative ways
    • grief share groups

Technological (Business, Government) Dimension
  • See:
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdWords
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_aspects_of_computing




Singer, J. B. (Producer). (2017, February 19). #109 - Death and Grief in the Digital Age: Interview with Carla Sofka, Ph.D. [Audio Podcast]. Social Work Podcast. Retrieved from http://socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/2017/02/digital-death.html


Comments

  1. TJJune 23, 2017 at 7:18 PM

    https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/how-social-media-is-changing-the-way-we-approach-death/278836/

    ReplyDelete
  2. TJJune 23, 2017 at 7:21 PM

    http://www.npr.org/2017/02/13/514164179/there-is-no-good-card-for-this-what-to-say-when-condolences-isnt-enough

    ReplyDelete
  3. TJJune 23, 2017 at 7:24 PM

    https://medium.com/@MrsTDJ/stop-read-this-before-you-post-another-rip-on-social-media-4c879cf69c5b

    ReplyDelete

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