Summary of Updating to Remain the Same: Habitual New Media by Wendy Hui Kyong Chun

Dive into Wendy Hui Kyong Chun's 'Updating to Remain the Same' and discover how our habits shape our digital lives and interactions.

Welcome to the wild world of Updating to Remain the Same, where the digital landscape is so ever-changing that trying to keep up could make your head spin faster than a hamster on a wheel. Our guide through this chaotic adventure is none other than Wendy Hui Kyong Chun, who's here to dissect the relationship between our habits and the new media that keeps demanding our intense attention.

Forget what you thought you knew about technology-it's not just about sleek gadgets or apps that catch your fancy. Chun argues that our habits are the true culprits behind our digital lives. She lays down the law that in order to thrive amidst the constant churn of updates and innovations, we must first examine our habits. Yes, observe how we've turned scrolling into an Olympic sport, mindlessly tapping away while binge-watching our favorite shows for days straight.

Throughout the book, Chun explores a buffet of tech-related concepts, including habituation and digital behavior. But not to fret-she doesn't drown us in boring jargon. Instead, she frames her arguments around our daily interactions with media, showing how these habits transform not just us, but society at large. It's a bit like looking in a mirror and realizing you've been doing a ridiculous dance in public without even knowing it.

In a strikingly clear fashion, Chun dives into the historical impact of new media ("You mean this isn't a recent phenomenon?!"). She addresses how these technologies have evolved and how they continue to shape our perceptions and interactions. Spoiler alert: we're still not using the Internet wisely, and new media isn't going anywhere anytime soon!

She cleverly suggests that rather than trying to keep up with the unending cycle of updates-humans, stop stressing out over your social media feeds!-we should focus on understanding our reliance on these digital tools. The catch? It's less about keeping pace with the latest features and more about figuring out how to live with them in a way that doesn't drive us mad.

Chun also discusses the tension between our desire to be always connected and the deep-seated need for authenticity. In other words, are you really being "real" if your life is but a series of Instagram stories? It's a rhetorical question she plays with while providing some eye-opening insights into how these new media affect our identities and social interactions.

As we trudge through the pages of Updating to Remain the Same, we learn that the cycle of change is a two-way street: we influence new media habits just as much as they influence us. So it's time to swap those frantic update-checking sessions for a good, hard look at our consumption patterns. After all, mindlessly clicking your way through the digital landscape might just be the very thing holding you back from finding some real-world zen.

In conclusion, Chun's work is a wake-up call for anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed by the digital age. Updating to Remain the Same encourages all of us to examine our habits and consider how they shape our relationship with technology. So, take a breath, step away from the screens, and maybe-just maybe-evaluate how you can live with new media instead of being its slave.

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.