Post 9- Privacy, Online & Off

            After viewing the provided TED talks, I began to think about my own life, how I communicate online, and how easily trackable I am. Quite honestly, it freaked me out. With technology so intertwined with our day to day lives, privacy is becoming rare. In one of the TED talk videos, the speaker mentioned how the concept of privacy will change and evolve as new generations are exposed to less and less privacy as they're being born into an age surrounded by online media; they've never known a time without the internet, so they don't know anything different.

            I then started to get frustrated; as mention in another TED talk, these companies are using us and taking full advantage of our data without our "informed consent." Nowadays, whenever you download or sign up for a new app, users have no choice but to accept terms and agreements, but these binding contacts are so lengthy and heavily worded that tech companies know users won't fully read the terms and conditions before clicking a agree. It's the purposely putting users in a corner forcing us to sign away our data that gets me most upset.

            In my own research, I found a TED talk titled "What tech companies know about your kids," which described the ways tech companies start building and collecting data on kids from the time they're born. As someone who was born after the creation of the internet, I found this particularly striking. The video explained how data collected about teenagers were being used and sold to educational data brokers who would give detailed information about specific students and their interests to give them to scholarship companies. This is just one example of the many ways data is being profiled. It's horrifying to think someone has a collection of all my data searches ever and can sort through and categorize them for specific uses unknown to me.

            Going forward, I'm going to be much more cautious and aware of my actions online. I don't have anything to hide, but I just find the use of our data wrong and just plain creepy. It's awful that most people haven't had their eyes opened to this yet. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVNHd8ZODio

Post 8- Diffusion of Innovations: Tik Tok

 

            Above is an image representation of Evertt Rogers's theory of Diffusion of innovation, which explains how the public perceives and accepts ideas, products, or technologies and how they catch on. The bell graph represents a series of stages describing at each point how and why ideas or products are spread and become mainstream in society.

To further explain this theory, I will be using the video app Tik Tok.

Innovators: Before Tik Tok became the popular app it is today, it went through many phases, beginning as two separate apps. The first version of Tik Tok was known as "Musical.ly," launched in Shanghai in 2014. A similar app to Musical.ly, Douyin was owned by ByteDance, and they decided in 2018 they wanted to expand globally, so they bought Musical.ly, joining together to create Tik Tok, which was then released to the public globally.

Early Adopters: Consequently, the first users of Tik Tok were people who already had Musical.ly accounts and therefore really only had Tik Tok accounts by default, after the merger between Musical.ly and Douyin occurred. But this worked to Tik Tok's benefit as immediately they already had app users, which help it start off in a good place.

Early Majority: Thanks to the COVID- 19 Pandemic that began this past spring, Tik Tok really gained its momentum and success during the months of quarantine. As people were stuck at home away from school, jobs, friends, and family; without anything. People craved something to laugh at and to provide comedic relief, filling that need was Tik Tok. Teenagers were the primary users and target audience utilizing the app as a way to express themselves and interact with friends from the safety of their own homes. Tik Tok has set records as the fastest growing social media platform in the world, "its videos garner 17 billion monthly average views with users spending an average of 46 minutes per day in the app." said an article by Forbes. 

Late Majority: As Gen- Z dominated the platform, millennials and older adults didn't feel there was much room for them on the platform, although towards the end of quarantine is when it started picking up popularity with other older generations as they too saw a need for comedic relief during these stressful times.

Laggards: Since quarantine ended, there haven't been quite as many downloads. However, existing app users remain consistent and keep using it with all the endless video content it has available. There are still people who have yet to join, but it continues to be relevant as people keep using the app.

            After looking at Tik Tok through the lens of the Diffusion of Innovations theory, I realized just how impactful the COVID- 19 pandemic was in making it successful. Had it not occurred, I'm not sure it would have skyrocketed in popularity.  

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53640724

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/349905

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2019/06/17/is-tiktok-the-next-big-thing-in-influencer-marketing/?sh=10e3713c13ba

Post 7: EOTO Com Tech Presentation- What I Learned

            Out of all the EOTO Technology presentations, the history of Google is what most stood out to me. Thinking about all the technology I use in my day to day life, I have to say that Google is something I would have a hard time not using. Even now at this moment, I'm using Blogger which is an extension of Google, while in a chrome browser. As someone who was born after the creation of Google in 2000, I'm not sure I could have gotten through school without the classic google search engine, it's so fundamental these days.

            What made me the most curious about Google is how some college students created a platform in the 21st century that rivaled Microsoft, and its well-known search browser, Internet Explorer. as they soon surpassed this Microsoft superpower in usage. As my peer's presentation went on I soon began to realize the versatility Google has through its many browser extensions like Gmail, docs, sheets, slides, etc. These extensions are part of what makes Google so lucrative. 

        In more recent times they've even turned to developing their own phone and even a platform for virtual learning. Google created the teaching site Google Classroom in 2014 and their phone Google Pixel by 2016. As Google continues to grow it should be interesting to see which ways they evolve and capitalize on technology. 

https://www.mirrorreview.com/history-of-google-from-1996-to-2019/

Post 6- EOTO Com Tech Timeline

            Created less than 10 years ago, Snapchat is one of the world's largest leading social media platforms. Snapchat differs from every other social media platform as its core concept is the idea of sharing and taking photos that appear and disappear within moments. Whereas every other digital platform focuses on the idea of displaying and storing photos as keepsakes and memories. 

The Beginning: 

              Produced in 2011 by Stanford University college students Evan Spiegel, Reggie Brown, and Bobby Murphy; Snapchat was initially named "Picaboo," which is what influenced the app's ghost icon logo. Its initial goal was to mimic the way people communicate and engage in real life. Just like how person-to-person interaction only lasts a few seconds and then the moment is gone, the same goes for Snapchat photos.

- A year after its creation, the app developers added a video feature allowing users to send 10-second videos to each other that would disappear after the content played. Then in 2013, the app added a new "Snapchat Story" feature in which users could upload images or videos for all their SC followers to see for up to 24 hours and then the content would disappear. 

            Part of what made Snapchat so lucrative was its "deletability." Teens are always concerned with their online image and the way they're perceived. Whereas with this app, teens don't have the same worries and stresses about keeping up an "image" because none of the content shared is "permanent" for other users to go back and look at. It's a one-time exchange that limits the amount of time you're able to view the image or video. 

- By November 2013 the app had grown so much that Mark Zuckerberg offered to buy Snapchat for $3 billion dollars although they turned it down. A the same time, Google also put up a $4 Billion dollar bid which was also declined. 

Picking Up Momentum:

            In 2015 Snapchats usage rate reached 2 billion pictures and videos per day, following that, in 2016 it had 7 billion videos a day. Due to the immense growth, Snapchat created an official parent company; Snap Inc. which opened it up to the public market with an initial $25 billion dollar public offering that would begin in 2017.

- SC offers significant opportunities for business through its accessibility for advertising, as it generates millions of views per day.

           SC's current stockmarket share price is $14, and market experts project that SC will soon break even in the next year or so by 2022 and will earn an estimated profit of $48 million, after losses. This is quite impressive for a company started less than 10 years ago. As social media continues to expand and grow, so does Snapchat, changing, and adapting to the times, Snapchat isn't going anywhere anytime soon!

Sources:

https://www.buycustomgeofilters.com/blog/snapchat-history-and-updated-timeline

https://www.thestreet.com/technology/history-of-snapchat

https://www.businesschief.com/digital-strategy/curious-history-snapchat-and-its-increasing-importance-businesses

Post 5- Eight Values of Free Expression

               

  

              Within the freedom of speech and thought, there are eight main values of free expression, those being: Market Place of Ideas, Participation in Self Government, Stable Change, Individual Self Fulfillment, Check on Governmental Power, Promote Tolerance, Promote Innovation, and Protect Dissent. A crucial and fundamental part of being an American is the idea and belief of freedom of expression. The power to think and speak the way you want to without fear of government retaliation or censorship. Tying into that is the idea of promoting tolerance which explains that in societies where people are allowed to voice their opinions, even when they're unpopular "hurtful," the general public becomes more tolerant and accepting of hearing ideas even if they don't agree with them. 

              The ability to speak one's mind without repercussion for one's stance on a matter is a pillar of American ideals. It's the allowance of discourse between two opposing people that society can get a clear understanding of the sides and learn why one is inappropriate and should be ruled out, it's part of how a society is able to learn and grow with what's right and wrong. If a community didn't have the ability to express all ideas, those extremest thoughts would still be simmering under the surface until one day it comes to light and those negative and hurtful ideals "bubble over" and it's too late. But with Promoting Tolerance and allowing that freedom of speech society is able to get all ideas heard and expressed and then rule out the negative detrimental ones through spreading social norms that make something an outrageous concept that is condemned from society. 

                A real-life example of this can be seen in what's referred to as "Cancel Culture," which is society's way of having a check and balance for what is and isn't acceptable or tolerable. Many public figures have had their status fall due to this phenomenon. Its typically caused by acts that aren't necessarily illegal but are deeply frowned upon by the general public; so instead of celebrities facing legal percussions, they typically face a deficit socially in which brands, sponsorships, and publications will drop and try to distance themselves from the public figures especially if they have been associated in the past. Back in 2019, Saturday Night Live announced that comedian Shane Gillis would be joining the cast. Although shortly after the announcement, SNL quickly revoke his role on the shows as social media was blowing up with many inflammatory clips of Gillis's past stand up in which he makes a few off-color jokes poking fun at Chinese Americans and LGBTQ+ people. It was then that Shane Gillis was "canceled" and SNL released the following statement distancing and separating themselves from him to save their public image:

"We were not aware of his prior remarks that have surfaced over the past few days. The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable. We are sorry that we did not see these clips earlier, and that our vetting process was not up to our standard."- SNL

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/08/us/2019-canceled-stories-trnd/index.html

https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/30/20879720/what-is-cancel-culture-explained-history-debate       

Post 4- Anti War

                War is a highly controversial and contentious topic. Deciding to engage and take part in conflict is a major choice "rulers" and governments make. Referring to American history and our decisions to take part in foreign affairs, many are divided on whether or not it's a good idea. After the founding of our country, many wished to stay out of wars since we had just declared independence and fought our own war against Britain. Even our first President, George Washington was anti-foreign affairs and getting involved with other country's conflicts. When leaving office that was one of the things he warned against, not to get caught up with war and intervene with other country's issues and interests. Yet, regardless of that, not too late after Washington retired, America became involved in France's fight for independence. 

                Considering the state of our nation now and our involvement with countries globally, Washington would not be pleased. The U.S has become entangled in many disputes throughout the world that we had and have no had business getting involved in, specifically in the early 1900s, during WWI American citizens first began to hold anti-war sentiments. The general public disagreed with the government and their decision to become involved in WWI and so citizens began to speak out negatively, which only made the government upset. In response to anti-war sentiments, the government passed the 1917 Espionage Act which silenced Americans and punished anyone who spoke negatively against the government and America's involvement in the war. This being inherently unconstitutional created a lot of tension in the U.S and fear around whether or not citizens had power for their voices to be heard and respected. After all, one of the bedrock principles of our democracy is to be able to criticize the government without fear of relation, this concept is more widely known as a Market Place of Ideas.      

                 Over time, the Espionage Act was deemed unconstitutional and the government is no longer allowed to silence you or throw you in jail for speaking against it. Today America upholds Market Place of Ideas and freedom to have meaningful discourse and criticize those in power... however it is hard to find alternative voices and sources that aren't as mainstream. In the digital age, it can appear that there are only one-sided opinions and it can be difficult to find less popular opinions. This is almost done purposely, the government wants to make it harder for you to think for yourself and create your own ideas about things because they don't want you to have an opinion opposite of theirs. So, although the government isn't silencing people for their anti-war views, they are censoring and making those ideas harder to be heard and expressed. 

Sources:

https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1045/espionage-act-of-1917

https://www.history.com/news/george-washington-farewell-address-warnings

Post 3- Six Freedoms in Relation to Black Lives Matter Protests

Black Lives Matter.

            Looking at the uproar and social injustice movement that has re-sparked after the death of George Floyd in the summer, there have been many protests across the country against police brutality. Most of which have been peaceful although the media likes to portray otherwise. According to an article by the Times, 93% of Black Lives Matter protests have been peaceful. With the other 7% only escalating after protesters have been prompted by police engagements and interference with protesters FA right to protest peacefully.

            Considering the BLM protests that did get more violent it was after protesters had been spurred on by police using unnecessary force using weapons such as "tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray or beating demonstrators with batons — in over 54% of the demonstrations in which they have engaged." Police even used this excessive force on journalists documenting the events, it's at this point that many people began to wonder if their FA rights were under attack. 

            In regard to the peaceful demonstrations, protesters were within and protected under their FA right to peacefully protest and assemble. Although the cases where stores were burned down and looted, protesters exploited and took advantage of the FA and those actions were not and are not permitted under FA protections. 

            As a whole, it is important to understand that the protests were not inherently violent and in the instances in which the protests turned violent, it was a response rather than initiating it as such. America needs to get better at communicating and listening to each other efficiently with open minds in a way where we can have meaningful discourse and learn from each other, after all this is one of the fundamental principles our country was founded on.