Article Analysis Essay on Your Digital Detox Isn't as Radical as You Think

Introduction

The article Your Digital Detox Isn't as Radical as You Think, as written by Megan Ward and published on 30th July 2017, by The Washington Post. Ward explains the use of the term "Luddite," a term used to describe the people who are opposed to new technology and its use. As she explains, the terms old fashioned. History shows that it was commonly used in the nineteenth century to refer to people who destroyed machines, due to the belief that they were robbing them of their jobs. These people were against the idea of greater profit, which often meant compromising the quality of goods produced, as she explains. Ward points out the importance of understanding the work of these people, and the propaganda that was brought out against it, as a tool to help preserve the economic system in a fashion that puts more value to efficiency over human labor. She explains the fault in those against the Luddites in failing to condemn the Luddites' acts of destroying machines, but reproaching the claimed fear of technology by the Luddites. The Luddites. Ward sees the Luddites' protests as against the capitalist system of the time other than the fear of technology. The author then connects the 19th century Luddites to the people today who seem to oppose the encroaching overreliance on media such as email and social networks. According to her, the ability to detach oneself from social media is increasingly becoming a privilege other than its acclaimed rebellion. In this way, it has been commercialized, as seen in the companies that she mentions which include Digital Detox, and the Luxury hotels which move on to offer service in monitoring and holding the customers'' digital devices such as smartphones for a fee. In this context, she quotes a documentary labeled Offline is the New Luxury, which depicts the ability to "unplug" as purchasing power. She then shows how the change in the perspective of resistance to technology has changed the meaning of the term "Luddites" in today's generation. Ward concludes the article by mentioning that profit drives all products including our digital activity and our efforts to detoxify from the media.

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If you know someone who eschews smartphones, steers clear of Facebook and regards postcards as an on-the-fly communication technology, then you probably know someone who claims the deliberately old-fashioned label of 'Luddite.'" In this part, the writer is age biased. The author regards the term "Luddites" as old-fashioned, identifying herself with the modern age, a setting in which she bases her argument. As shown in her article, she discusses the current situation concerning overreliance to media and social media addiction and compares it to the behavior of the "old-fashioned" Luddites.

Instance of Biases

There are various instances of biases in the article based on life and her love for technology and history. I find instances of biases in how she addresses her topic. The topic is bias and more of an argument to support her own opinion and interest in writing. The author is biased with her love for history "Luddites" and connects this with how she feels about being a Luddite today and its significance. This is a very bias approach and It lacks sensitivity in its own sense (Ward).

There is another instance of biases in the article. "The ability to unplug is increasingly a privilege rather than a rebellion. Discussions of digital detoxes - which, of course, often take place online - frequently feature the word "connection." Feeling too "connected" to email, social media or other online networks" (Ward) the author at this instance is biased because stating that to unplug is increasing becoming a privilege clearly shows her support for the topic with the need for evidence to support the reason for the statement. Using words of course clearly illustrate the lack of objectivity in the topic and this clearly implies that the author is more sensitive to the topic. Another instance is when the author states that "If this comes to pass - if unplugging becomes a luxury good - then "Luddite" may no longer refer to disgruntled, radical and ultimately powerless workers, but to those in command, consumed by the very forces that the original Luddites fought so hard to stop. If only the wealthy, self-proclaimed Luddites can truly unplug, then they replicate the same power structure the original Luddites fought against." The statement is quite sensitive to hence we can refer to it as bias (Ward). This because when the author claim lacks supporting evidence that makes her point more objective rather than the aspect of generalization being highlighted in the article. The author lacks self-awareness of her audience and this makes her topic a more personal matter instead of an evidence-based paper.

"If you know someone who eschews smartphones, steers clear of Facebook and regards postcards as an on-the-fly communication technology, then you probably know someone who claims the deliberately old-fashioned label of 'Luddite.'" (Ward) In this part, the writer is age biased. The author regards the term "Luddites" as old-fashioned, identifying herself with the modern age, a setting in which she bases her argument. As shown in her article, she discusses the current situation concerning overreliance to media and social media addiction and compares it to the behavior of the "old-fashioned" Luddites.

"But Luddites weren't protesting technology or progress. They were protesting a capitalist system that valued efficiency over the quality of life and quality of the product." (Ward) The author clearly indicates an anti-capitalist nature, hence biased in that inclination. All through the article, she is against capitalistic tendencies such as efficiency in place of human labor, and mass production by the minority by the implementation of mechanization. She condemns these practices, which are often sought by growing industries and businesses. Anti-capitalism is a theme that is prominent in this article.

Instances of Neutral/Unbiased

The article presents a various instance of the author being neutral in her argument. Example "The term itself is borrowed from the past, referring to a group of 19th-century English laborers famous for breaking thousands of pieces of state-of-the-art factory equipment. Those Luddites were involved in a far more controversial project than technological resistance: They were fighting against the push to prioritize profits over the quality of products and the well-being of workers. Understanding their work, and the propaganda against it, reveals how resistance to technology continues to be invoked to preserve - not overthrow - an economic system that values efficiency over human labor." (Ward) We clearly see that the author used evidence to make her point clear. Her evidence is based on a past article review of the English laborers who first acquired the name "Luddites" in the first century. This evidence presents a piece of evidence which brings objectivity in her argument hence making her article neutral (Ward).

From her topic on a digital detox, she brings an evidence-based understanding of why she thinks digital detox is never as radical as you think. For example, "In a public "Letter to the Luddites," Member of Parliament William Cobbett diagnosed the Luddites' "error" as misunderstanding the economic structure in which they worked and, as a result, blaming their dissatisfactions on technology. He instructed the working classes to recognize that industrial technology was in their own best interests. Without it, he wrote, the English would revert to being "savages" or "barbarians." (Ward) This evidence removes her aspect of sensitivity to the Luddites as she bases her argument-based evidence from another author which can be considered as evidence and brings objectivity to the topic. There is also an aspect of being quite specific rather than being descriptive generally. "Indeed, choosing to unplug is its own form of purchasing power, as indicated by the title of a recent documentary, "Offline is the New Luxury." With more and more demands being placed on workers, unplugging is quickly becoming a commodity." (Ward) This is a very objective approach the approach is not based on her personal experience but she makes use of evidence to support her argument on why pulling the plug on social media. Hence from this, it's clear that the article is neutral and doesn't show any form of biases. "Their tagline reads, "Disconnect to reconnect." "Reconnect" here may promise device-free experiences, but a digital detox - like the crash diet it invokes - offers a vision of improvement that is premised on regression." (Ward) This statement comes as a comment on the hook of the company called Digital Detox. In this statement, the author shows bias when she regards to "disconnect" as a form of regression. As a person living in the 21st century, at this age, this statement shows her opinion on the role of media in our lives. Despite numerous occasions in which she shows the need to "unplug" from social media, she claims that "disconnecting" would be a form of "regression" (Ward).

"The term itself is borrowed from the past, referring to a group of 19th-century English laborers famous for breaking thousands of pieces of state-of-the-art factory equipment. Those Luddites were involved in a far more controversial project than technological resistance: They were fighting against the push to prioritize profits over the quality of products and the well-being of workers." (Ward) In this statement, the author states her place in the use of the 19th century Luddites, who were often criticized for their barbaric and violent behavior. Others saw them as advocates of labor rights for the workers at the time. In her statement, she acknowledges both the uncivilized behavior of the Luddites and their effort to fight for the casual laborers in the cotton industries.

Conclusion

In conclusion from the article, Your Digital Detox Isn't as Radical as You Think by there are many instances of both neutral and biases in from the authors perspective. For instance, as we have discussed the author has a various instance where her argument is neutral these are instances where she bases her argument with evidence that support her topic. These pieces of evidence bring objectivity and reduce generalization. On the other hand, as we have discussed the article also points out weaknesses with biases. From the topic sentence, we see the element of biases in her topic choice and sensitivity in how she addresses the topic. Article sometimes is not specific and hence the information becomes generalized. Overall, it's a good article I would recommend reading.

Works Cited

Ward, Megan. "Your Digital Detox Isn't as Radical as You Think". Washington Post, 2019, https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/07/30/your-digital-detox-isnt-as-radical-as-you-think/?utm_term%3D.0dccba3f8186&sa=D&source=hangouts&ust=1562018762659000&usg=AFQjCNFOmAdtw2-W-vVCof04mOdSlBEh2w.