This week in one of my classes, we are introducing the compare and contrast assignment with Pamela Haag’s “Your social life: Are you a fox or a hedgehog?” Not only does the article give an example of comparing and contrasting, but it also encourages students to think more deeply about themselves and how they interact with others. Now, Haag clarifies that she didn’t necessary come up with such an analogy: “Philosopher Isaiah Berlin used the fox and hedgehog distinction in his brilliant essay about Leo Tolstoy’s view of history and his longing for a unifying insight and understanding.”
Essentially, the fox is your social butterfly extrovert who mingles with the crowd. On the other hand, the hedgehog is the introvert clinging to one or two friends for support at the party, trying not to draw too much attention to themselves. Haag suggests that social media encourages us to function like foxes, expanding our networks while only learning small details about each other. She believes social media is leading us away from deep, meaningful friends in favor of being “liked.” The concept does beg the question about social media’s influence on social interactions in the digital age, but can we still be hedgehogs, too?
A handful of people I’ve met on social media have become close friends. We share similar opinions and tastes, and we’ve learned so much about each other. I believe social media can coexist with classic socialization — we just need to be mindful of how much time we spend scrolling on any given app or website.
