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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Social media and the military: The value of not knowing

Dan Webster

One of the toughest aspects of military duty involves foreign assignments. Being away from friends and family long-term assignment is typically tough on everybody. But it's especially tough on those personnel who are married and/or have children.

During the Vietnam era, for example, phone calls were basically unknown (though if you were on R&R, you might — for a price — find a way to call home). So communication was confined to letters, which — depending on how remote your outpost was — might come once a week.

Today, of course, the situation is far different. Internet access, and the whole range of social, has changed pretty much everything. But is that change all for the good? Lisa Silvestri would say no. Ot at least not necessarily.

Silvestri, an associate professor of communications at Gonzaga University, is author of the book "Friended at the Front: Social Media in the American War Zone." Silvestri will read from her book at 7 tonight at Auntie's Bookstore.

During her reading, Silvestri will no doubt explain what she sees as the downside of social media as it affects military personnel. But as a preview, consider this quote she provided to the University Press of Kansas website: "I’m most worried about the broad emotional spectrum they are forced to occupy; thinking about OPSEC and mission safety on one hand and about how their kids got in a fight at school on the other.  In previous generations, our troops were more 'protected' from home-front concerns."

Being "protected from home-front concerns" of course, is a euphemism for being kept ignorant. Who knew ignorance was a gift?