Final Exam Post and Presentation

 Blog #11

Nathaniel Bryant

April 30, 2021

Final Exam Post: My Digital Footprint

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An idea most seem to forget is that the internet is permanent, especially in terms of keeping and logging data about you from searches and social media posts in relation to a person's "digital image" or "footprint". When being searched or observed on the internet, what a person does on the internet leaves a mark or "footprint" that is left there and be used and viewed by all who have access to it. In analyzing what a "digital footprint" is, it is paramount to discuss one's relationship with media and technology and how they interact. 

From my perspective, I would say my digital footprint is very small, at least compared to most. The role of media in my life is very limited. If anyone was to look me up, there would not be much to find. My role in social media is very small as I only have Snapchat and Instagram. Even though these two social media companies are very vulnerable and have limited privacy, I do not use either of them frequently. I have not posted anything on Instagram in over 7 years and I do not use it often. I've often considered deleting it as well. In terms of Snapchat, I do not post anything on my "story" to be viewed by others and it is not my primary source of communication. Social media-wise, the most open information on me is on my LinkedIn profile. I have my email, college location, my major, my resume, and my past works and accomplishments. I have tried to avoid platforms like Twitter and especially Facebook, which near infamous for its egregious infringements on user privacy. 

Despite not using social media much, there are other ways to be vulnerable and open enough online to leave a digital footprint. Another main concern involving how a user is portrayed or seen online is through a person watches their privacy online. Online user privacy, like Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook said, is no longer a "social norm". In today's online environment, the most dangerous information is not something you post openly, but it is what you don't post. 

Privacy is something violated constantly and is the "technological gold" of companies to use for profit by monetizing users' data for algorithms and ads. In regards to Mark Zuckerberg, and Facebook, which are a common example of how digital footprints can be more centralized on personal and private data. Rather than a bad photo of you in college with a bad tattoo resurfacing, it would be your credit card information, personal messages, the way you message people, buying patterns, and personal proclivities. This goes outside Facebook and is prevalent in many companies, and is how most make their profit. With this new refocus on how data is collected, it is important to watch where you stick your "digital foot" and to be able to know how to handle and combat these invasive methods.

Google Fined $5 Billion for Incognito Mode Tracking

In regards to my privacy, I have moved off of most major big tech companies or platforms where my
data is vulnerable. I have moved off of sites like Google, who even take information on incognito mode, taking private information and use it for monetization as well as shifting information accessibility. Google CEO, Sundar Pichai said in a court hearing that search engine information is algorithm-driven. The article on Observer by Sissi Cao explains it as "the fundamental reason for its biases is its artificial intelligence-powered search result customization". Because of this search result "customization", users are getting different feeds of information so they will always have different perspectives on certain views which can be helpful for some topics but more polarizing for others.

Observer.com | Result Customization Hearing

Staying off most major companies' sites is a great way to get away from most privacy infringing platforms. In regard to my own digital footprint, I did notice there were some things I needed to change in my own "online presence". I noticed I need to change is getting a VPN for my laptop.

As technology and media become advanced and more integrated with our daily lives, there is some debate on whether it brings more positives or negatives. 

With media becoming more advanced it makes it easier to communicate with others, stay on top of new developments with peers and family, and have sources better catered to users' needs. In today's society, whether most people like to admit it or not, media is nearly essential to communicate with others regardless of whether they like it or not. If it is not for personal or peer-related purposes, then it is work-related. Accessibility is key in media use and now people are accessible from many media platforms. If you wanted to make a business social media account to make yourself stand out more, you boost our image and make yourself visible to a wider audience, of those who might be interested in working with you. Even beyond usage for posting, data collection is favored by many who want a more accessible and user-centered platform. Comfort is a driving factor for tech company data tracking and is beneficial for both parties, the user and technology.

 

The darker side of technology and the role it plays in our lives is not just tech companies taking our data and how it affects us but also how users, as individuals are affected. Deciding whether to stay on or off of social media adds tension to the idea of the debate between Accessibility and Privacy. While some might rather have their information private, they are more likely to feel left out on interacting with others. In the position of a kid in school, being one of the only kids without Snapchat or Instagram could make a person feel lonely, missing out on everything that makes social media a media-wise inside joke and can add pressure onto a kid. Even beyond kids and adults, some might miss out on keeping up with friends who they can no longer reach and lose people over time. These problems create feelings of isolation and sometimes depression out of a lack of connection with others.

In evaluating how I interact with media as well as the impact on others, it is easier to come to a conclusive answer on what the balance would be between having media play a role in your life. Media is an important part of society and should be used by all that want to reap its benefits. At the same, being cautious and knowing what is at stake or knowing how to protect your data is equally as important in order to have a good relationship with media in our daily lives.

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Sources

- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/11/facebook-privacy

- https://observer.com/2018/12/google-search-algorithm-bias-duckduckgo-ceo/

EOTO Presentation Reflection 2

 Blog #11

Nathaniel Bryant

April 28th, 2021

EOTO Presentation 2: Confirmation Bias

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Group 3 did a post about 5 Theories including Illusory Truth Effect, Confirmation Bias, Gatekeeping, Agenda Setting, Overton Window, and Spiral of Silence. Of these 5, I chose to evaluate Confirmation Bias and its impact on us and our society. 

Confirmation Bias is an the concept that we, as people, will look for information that will confirm what we already believe about about people, a topic, or an idea. Confirmation Bias has existed for many years and is something that goes hand and with information, disinformation, and misinformation. 

The impact of Confirmation Bias affects just all individuals. This concept reaches all age groups, race groups, and mindsets. Confirmation Bias works everyday through all people who feel the need to have their beliefs proved to themselves. Wanting to check the facts to prove if you are right is a common and rational thing to do and is important for holding beliefs. Confirmation Bias comes in where it becomes a toxic need, for example, citing a hate crime by a particular race or group as a basis of justified hate towards the race or group. This type of bias is extremely dangerous and radicalizes people while making them feel justified. This impact is mostly detrimental is just about every scenario because of how negatively it affects people. This can span from white to black, gay to straight, and old to young. With increased polarization it becomes harder to rationalize and reason with people, driving up tension with others.

EOTO Terms & Concepts

 Post # 10

Nathaniel Bryant

April 23, 2021

EOTO Terms & Concepts: Echo Chamber 

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In the "Mediasphere", there exists numerous concepts and topics that are seen in today's media whether in a public platform, journalism, activism, and influencing. Among these lies the concept of an "Echo Chamber". 

What is an “Echo Chamber”?

In daily life, it is common to be surrounded by people of all types perspectives and viewpoints that challenge your own as well as balance you to think about the mindsets of others. This opens up the possibility for you to develop more rational approaches to ideas and scenarios with others. In an "Echo Chamber", this idea is completely thrown out the window and ignored.

An Echo Chamber is a group or environment where particular ideas, viewpoints, and proclivities are reinforced through constant and closed off communication within a closed space of influence or a place without space for dissent. This closed off environment becomes a "chamber" where these similar ideas are repeated so often it appears as an "Echo" to anyone that might come in contact with this environment. 

Echo Chambers have some good and bad elements, that depend on the size of the group, radicality of ideas or people, and platform. For someone who wants to learn about a particular scholarly topic and got in contact with a collection of professors in a blog who all are informed on "said" topic would be a great environment for learning and meeting with individuals who can share great information in a constructive way. While this can be good, Echo Chambers tend to have more negatives on society.

Echo Chambers can be a place for individuals that rather ruins relationships with people and separates them for their isolation of thought. Echo Chambers are more likely to create polarization and push groups to the extreme. Whether you are someone who is not particularly informed on a topic, or someone who is informated and eager to share your ideas but have no one as radical as you, entering an Echo Chamber will equally polarize you. The issues where this is polarization has the most damage on our society is in issues that are social or political. The political and social divide between people continues to grow and rather than being able to communicate with others effectively, Echo Chambers poison whatever opportunity there is for rational communication.  

For example, say you wanted to learn more about abortion and you don't know much about either side as you scroll through twitter. You see a convincing post that is a pro-choice centered and decide to investigate. Though you might already be pro-choice, the environment appears to be more convincing that others. An interactive space where you can meet and share ideas is far more convenient than reading articles and watching deep reports and allows the you get more involved in being pro-choice, not just for the political knowledge, but for the people you have interacted with. As you learn you notice there are a myraid of people talking about the same idea over and over that you don't know about such as "late term abortion", and through being already connected with the "chamber" you feel somewhat obliged to agree and join them. This process continues as groups on either side continue to spiral farther from each other. Echo Chambers like this push the people in the center who can communicate and rationally listen to the far sides of the social or political spectrum. This divisiveness creates a wall between people based on the prejudices and opinions formed from these echo chambers. These environments are far more detrimental to society than helpful.

The impact echo chambers have on people have no limit to who they can influence. To limit the range of influence on Echo Chambers would mean there would be no groups in general for the many segments of people to meet up with. Whether based on economic status, gender, sexuality, there is a group of peoplwith similar thinking patterns that are closed off. 

Personall, I have not had man experiences being in an echo chamber. Not only do I not engage in social media often, I have been mostly an outsider in my closest friend groups in terms of opinions and values. As for my family they do not engage in social media as frequently as before which leaves them out of most echo chambers. 

The impact echo chambers has on this generation is the most detrimental. There are more people on social media than ever before and they have more influence of outside sources onto him. The lack of communication combined with the fact people are far more politically divided now makes communication between peoples and groups with dissenting opinions harder adding more stress. Echo chambers in short, are a major spot for polarization, breaking ties, and radicalization.

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Works Cited and Sources:

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/digital-media-literacy/what-is-an-echo-chamber/1/

https://advertising.utexas.edu/news/what-social-media-echo-chamber

https://simplicable.com/en/echo-chamber

Diffusion of Innovations on Current Media

Blog # 9 

Nathaniel Bryant 

April 19, 2021

Diffusion of Innovations: Facebook

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Most forms of innovation, either technological or idea-based, can be applied to the idea of "Diffusion of Innovations Theory", created by Everett Rogers. This theory essentially shows the change of influence, at a fixed rate, on how or why an idea or technological innovation might spread. 

Diffusion of Innovations Theory Graph

A great example of an aged technological innovation that has had to age to be evaluated is Facebook. Facebook has been around since 2004 and has been through various phases through its prevalence and advancements. 

Around the time Facebook came out, they had nearly no competitors except for MySpace. MySpace came out a year earlier and was seen originally as the main powerhouse in social media platforms until Facebook came in. They were out ahead and were getting investors and making large-scale investments and were making more moves to become a bigger platform.

 

So what had changed?

When Facebook originally came out it was originally started as a platform for young college students and which came off as a trendy and spiked interest in the development of Facebook since its early years. As it grew tremendously, investors started to look into the company. One thing Facebook did that  MySpace did not do that determined the future of who leads the social media industry.

As MySpace was purchased by news corp, they began to work on the future of the platform by planning ahead too far and trying to gauge their company on basically gambling on how the company would go. By doing this, they continued to fall short when compared to Facebook's plan. Facebook actually let the marketplace move and advance on its own, and would determine the company from there. In doing this, Facebook was better at catering to its users and was able to better build the company in comparison to MySpace, which was losing out based on its faulty planning,

As it continued to grow past the early adopters who were younger college students, it eventually started to push into the early majority as Facebook gained 12 million users by 2006. Facebook was starting to come up and become popular as it spread to more users of different ages. Now families were getting on to share posts and pictures with families. Soon they gained a news feed and were moving forward as they become a more accessible platform with more tools and features to keep users engaged. Even adding things like a like button in 2009 was enough to keep users engaged. 

As time went on, Facebook started to capture its late majority party. This group consisted of older users and began to become a platform for more older families and business. Facebook was at its peak here as it did have some new young and older users as well as a more mature group of users who had been on the platform for a while. It was one of the biggest platforms in the social media industry having over 1 billion frequent users in 2012. Now Instagram had just came out a year earlier and Snaphcat would come shortly after but they were far smaller than Facebook was.

The last group of laggards, or people who did not use the platform at all, had numerous reasons for their late or absent arrival. In today's society, Facebook is considered to be older and not as prevalent when compared to newer platforms. Most young people who get Facebook in this group are obligated to or almost never use it. Certain classes require one but so do other devices like the Oculus VR. There are many inactive users on Facebook in this group. The other half who did join or quit were deterred for privacy concerns. Facebook is infamous for their privacy infringements and data breaches. 

The main downsides of Facebook are their constant and invasive data tracking tendencies. Whether it was taking private data, losing 530 million users' data in a breach and refusing to notify them, tracking users even after they log out, and the main issue that they continue to do these things despite being caught and manage to get away with it. Facebook is not the only problem because they control many other platforms such as Instagram. Recently they imposed some of the same data tracking for ads to Instagram in their terms of service. This is an example of how big companies can control the social media market.This is one of the main reasons I avoid Facebook as well as Instagram.

Now while I still have Instagram I try to not use it as much as there are numerous benefits to Facebook and their platforms. There is an opportunity for better communication, keeping up with peers and family, and for business. Still, what Facebook has can be found in alternative platforms with less risk. 

The cost benefit analysis of Facebook compared to a new company would be fighting on different aspects rather then the same. Originally, it is common to think the popularity of a social media platform is based off popularity. Facebook makes a majority of its profit from advertisements and would have to rely on its ownership of smaller platforms as well as the selling of private data. The newer technology would not only have to have popularity but also a form of algorithm to stay in the data selling game to compete with Facebook.

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Sources

- https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2011/01/14/why-facebook-beat-myspace/?sh=9bc1db4147e9

- https://www.npr.org/2021/04/09/986005820/after-data-breach-exposes-530-million-facebook-says-it-will-not-notify-users

- https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/timeline-facebook-s-privacy-issues-its-responses-n859651

Anti-War and the Media Narrative

Blog # 7
Nathaniel Bryant
April 18, 2021

The Disconnect between Anti-War voices and the Media Narrative

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In our current political climate, there seems to be a lack of emphasis or any talk at all on the topic of US war involvement, especially from an anti-war perspective. At the most, most topics are brought up to bash political figures rather than address the issues at hand. 

The American Conservative

Antiwar.com logo

This issue with stories related to US war involvement and our military actions not being frequently reported in the mainstream news has to deal with the narrative that is painted by these media outlets. Most reports like the ones found on The American Conservative and Antiwar.com, are almost impossible to find and almost seem unreal when compared to the indifference by the mainstream media to the stakes of these issues. Another reason why sites and stories like these are left out is that in terms of mainstream media, a majority tend to favor a more left-leaning side than a right-leaning. These include sources like CNN, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, The Huffington Post, NPR, and The Washington Post, while the most mainstream right-leaning source is Fox News. Though there is freedom of speech, it is not entirely out of the question that the government gets involved in the production of the news to fit a specific narrative. This narrative involves holding a grasp and control on what news is carried by other sources to frame a view on topics bringing a sense of relevancy and attention to issues that fit the manipulative purpose for the viewer to be influenced in a particular and set direction. Addressing real issues within US militaristic actions would bring people to focus on the government in a way that is undesired by those in power.

The search for real antiwar voices is rougher than most in the sense that it takes someone who is willing to be critical and focused on topics most others would be deterred from. Seeking obscure sites for info seems creepy and untrustworthy at first, but brings new clarity and focus to issues by those who are familiar with the state of how things are run.

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Sources:

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/

https://www.antiwar.com/

EOTO Presentation Evaluations

Post #6

April 14, 2021

Nathaniel Bryant

EOTO Presentation Evaluation: Drones

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In the EOTO presentations, numerous types of technological devices and advancements were listed throughout various groups. Out of these, one technological advancement in particular stood out. In Group 1's presentation, Morgan Schragger did a presentation of the history and development of drones. 

The idea of drones, were based on an entirely different set of standards. Early in time, any floating device that moved independently from human control was considered a "drone". They later got their names because they don't increase or decrease, they just "drone on". The early example of a "drone" was a prototype air ballon device that were invented in 1782, by the Montgolfier Brothers.

Overtime, drones continued to advance and develop to new lengths By 1862, the first flying machine was patented to drop bombs, surveillance, and combat missions. Drones had begun to expand to militaristic purposes. 

Drones had become device that were able to benefit many things to the world. Along with this came many negative aspects that came with these advancements. They fly too close to commercial aircraft presenting dangers in air for other aircraft. Another negative aspect of drones are also extremely expensive to manufacture for people and for the government. Drones becoming more advanced means they are more advanced for warfare.

Though drones now have become more technological, there are still benefits to them. Drones have become accessible to the public and used for numerous things. They can be used to deliver items, personal use, filming and photgraphy for projects. Despite their positive and negative advancements, drones have changed many things in our current world.

Technology Analysis: Facebook

Blog #6
April 14th, 2021
Nathaniel Bryant

Facebook: Timeline, Pros, and Cons

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Whether you use it or not, Facebook is a well-known platform for numerous activities as a social networking website as well as a social media platform. Posts, pictures, videos, and news are only a few of the numerous sites listed here. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO, and co-founder of Facebook had created his platform in 2004 with some help as well as some obstruction.

 The History of Facebook

The upbringing and arrival of Facebook began when Mark worked with Divya Narendra, and the Winklevoss brothers: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss to discuss a social media platform with Zuckerberg called Harvard Connection in 2003. Unfortunately, Zuckerberg quit and hid on his own to start a prototype called “Thefacebook” that same year. He then sought to employ the help of his new friends Andrew McCollum and Eduardo Saverin for the project. As the platform developed and launched in 2004, it began to grow rapidly already achieving 12 million users by 2006 and open its News Feed section. Now you could easily access news through the platform, giving more incentive to stay on the site. In 2007, Facebook opened its Marketplace, people could post to sell goods and services. Also in 2007, Facebook finally went mobile and began to offer its services to handheld devices all around. 

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Timeline

• 2003 - The idea of Facebook originally started when Mark Zuckerberg first worked with Divya Narendra, and the Winklevoss brothers: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, on a project that was similar to Facebook called Harvard Connection
• 2004, February 4th - The first version, called the “Thefacebook” is invented 
• 2004 - Harvard Connection changes to ConnectU and sues Facebook (for stealing idea)
• 2006 - 12 million users
• 2007 - Facebook launches Beacon*
• 2008 - A settlement is decided on the matter involving Facebook and ConnectU
• 2009, February - The like button is created 
• 2012 - Facebook reaches 1 billion active and frequent users 
• 2012- Facebook becomes Public
• 2017 - Facebook Spaces is created

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As many more benefits appear, a bump in the road occurred. In 2007, Facebook also launched Beacon and ad system that presented security and privacy concerns with its intrusive data tracking and monitoring. In 2008 with a settlement with ConnectU resulting in Narendra, and the Winklevoss brothers receiving $1.2 million dollars in shares.

Facebook continued to expand and grow through the years with only a few bumps in the road. Even smaller updates continue to have a big impact on the platform as the like button is created in 2009. Also in 2009, Facebook shuts down Beacon as it proved to because of too much controversy and be a threat to personal privacy, even tracking even after users were logged off Facebook. Still, Facebook would grow and reach even 1 billion active users on their site. They also became public that year, as they dealt with numerous shareholders and smaller company issues. A new feature to Facebook that is more technological is Facebook Spaces. In 2017 Facebook Spaces was created as a (Virtual Reality) VR app for people to meet up online and converse. As the history of Facebook was a timeline of struggles and triumphs, it has more to it beyond its conception and development to its issues and benefits that are tied with the company.

Pros and Cons

Facebook was a revolutionary and important part of social media and helped change the way people would interact for years to come. Though Facebook may not be that prevalent in this current generation, it provided numerous features and techniques that laid the groundwork for other companies. 

With Facebook, you can communicate with others, share a funny or serious video with friends, a family photo with relatives, and reach out online to other people you would never approach. This platform is easy, accessible, informative for its news section, and strengthens social skills. Facebook also is beneficial for social networking and jobs. The site allows the user to create a profile that can be used for networking for job positions or to get your name out on the public platform. 

While Facebook has numerous benefits, it has by far some of the worst problems that set it far from many other platforms. Facebook has been known to have numerous and egregious infringements and violations of user privacy on NBC news, they give a timeline of all of Facebook's privacy violations. The main issues on this timeline were not that they were doing it, but that they got caught. From tracking every piece of information in messages, searches, and personal data, they have collected all this for ads and creating algorithms for their users. Even now, they just paid a record $5 billion in a fine to settle some privacy “concerns” for taking private data of 87 million users on Facebook (BBC).

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Sources:

https://www.brandwatch.com/blog/history-of-facebook/

https://www.infoworld.com/article/2642560/connectu-suit-against-facebook-continues.html

https://www.officetimeline.com/blog/facebook-history-timeline

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/02/business/facebook-history-timeline/index.html

https://www.cnet.com/news/three-reasons-facebook-has-to-go-public/

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/timeline-facebook-s-privacy-issues-its-responses-n859651

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49099364