Final Blog#12: Society and My personal Relationship with Technology

The 64-65 New York World’s fair FutuRama video, gives insight on how technology can help people in every aspect of life. Each part of the ride has shown how advanced technology can improve and make life more efficient. In a way, it was scary because so much of the stuff in the ride happened in real life, the exact same way shown in the ride. 

As the world continued to grow, technology did as well. Technology has developed many things in life such as social media, communication, faster agriculture and more tests on science. Specifically social media is one of the most successful forms of technology in the world. 

There are many apps that are very popular among millions of people like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Social media is very entertaining but can be addictive but that is not the only relationship that it has with society. It can alter one’s mind to believe that untamable beauty standards can affect an individual’s way of thinking. It can be very harmful with the youth because they do not have a strong understanding of how social media can be dangerous to themselves. 

Social media can affect one’s view about their body image. According to the National Library of Medicine, “In the present study, the prevalence of BDD in adolescents in Jammu is found to be 29.45%. Greater frequency of social media usage, i.e., greater than four hours a day, social media practices like taking more selfies, excess use of beauty filters, and sharing of pictures on a regular basis” (Kajuria et al).

It is called body dysmorphic disorder, which is when an Individual's mind makes them believe that their body is bigger than what it actually is. Also, it makes them perceive themselves as unattractive. It can have very drastic effects on someone’s mental health and using your smartphones for an excessive amount of time can make it worse.

3rd Grade

I am very passionate about this effect on people because I was once that young child who was going through an identity crisis. It was because of my unlimited amount of access to social media leaving me vulnerable to harm. My personal relationship with social media is interesting as I reflect on this prompt.

I was always quiet when I was young, I was basically mute. I was in 3rd grade at the time. I did have any friends or want to communicate with others, sometimes even my own family. I remember when I got my first phone, it was like my best friend because of its ability to make me feel relaxed and accepted by the people on social media. I fell in love with my phone as it allowed me not to feel weird or judged for being quiet because I did not know how to communicate with people but did not know how.  

6th Grade

Social media helped me become more social and open up to new experiences. It helped me learn that I love art and music, specifically a genre called K-pop. Also, that I love video games helping me decide my career in the future and challenge myself with puzzles. This led me to finding my two best friends and still best friends now because we all liked the same things. So, it was easy for us to become friends. Social media helped me break out of my shell as when I was in 6th grade. 

However, when I got older, even when I had friends and found new interests. I started to hate social media because I saw pictures of people who were perfect and skinny like models. I was the complete opposite, and I despised that and began to compare myself to others. I wanted to be perfect like the girls on social media. There were trends on social media platforms that really affected me such as the "glow up trend" and "Light Skin vs Dark Skins trend".

12th Grade

I cried and began to hate myself because I was a bigger sized girl. It was not until I got therapy and started to take a break from social media where I realized I was much happier. I do not mind social media now and it does not affect me like how I am now.

I set my own pace when I used it and because of this discipline, it helped me become top of my class in high school which was a big accomplishment for me. As I was never really good at school back in 3rd grade, well at least did what I had to do to get by. Social media has helped me a lot as an individual by helping me create my own identity. Social media promotes Individualism but be cautious on what you consume because it can hurt you. I learned that social media can be helpful, but it is okay to take breaks.

A current event is that I found my old Musically account, this was the only thing I found when I searched my name to check my digital footprint. My digital footprint is good as most of my accounts are private, but I would say this one is embarrassing so I got it deleted recently. 

Blog #11 EOTO #2 Reaction

A presentation that I found interesting was Propaganda. When I think of propaganda, I always think of something negative or a serious political issue. Propaganda is the use of symbols, images, and information to influence opinions. I learned that propaganda is not just in politics, it is in everything in life. 

Propaganda is mainly used in a negative sense especially to divide people or promote stereotypes about groups of people. It can be used to make people feel emotional or even challenge their beliefs. Mainly because of its connection to many wars and political matters such as WWII, Pearl Hober, Cold War and many more. I often connect it to division and violence.

An Example of propaganda being used to divide people is the United States-China competition. Media in the US has intentionally used information to demonize China for responding back with tariffs on America good. When the United States put tariffs on China first, now it has started a Trade War. Especially how the current president’s administration talks about China trying to get the public reaction.

The United States President, Donald Trump is now on the news trying to paint China has the problem and aggressor in this matter. It can encourage people to think negatively of China just based on his words to the public which is dangerous. As it can encourage people to start treating people of Chinese descent differently. I think hearing both sides can make a difference in situations like this. As words hold power to change people mind.

However, propaganda is not always negative, it can be used to spread awareness or encourage people to change unhealthy habits like Anti-smoking ads. It can help people stop their addictions and get help from therapy so they can improve their health. I also found that anti-smoking campaigns are the most successful in helping people realize that they are putting themselves in harm from that product.

This resonates with me because I know many people my age and family members who have been smoking for a long time. I remember always seeing those videos about people using a device to talk and it made me emotional for those people because they can never have a normal life again without a machine. It has even made me advocate for people to stop smoking because I don’t want them to get cancer and I want them to live a healthy life.

Overall, my perspective has changed about propaganda because I always thought of it as a negative thing like stereotypes, politics matters. However, when I actually think about it, there are some positive campaigns that actually aim to help people.

Blog #10 In the Age of AI reaction

After Watching the Age of AI video, it has definitely made me think a lot about how much access AI has to my personal life and social media accounts that I use daily. Technology has helped advance so much and it has changed the world so much that it has become a part of our norms in society.

I think this part was really important to me in the video when they mentioned the match that happened in 2016 South Korea between an AI robot and a professional go player. It was a program created by Google and it is an AI simulation of a popular game named Go.

The purpose of this match was to see how advanced technology can be and how it can learn more from humans. Another reason that scared me a bit was technology imitating human behavior and even making us learn from their moves. The AI robot won against the human, and it started a trend of the froth of technology being used in everyday life.

I think my main takeaway was when the author was being interviewed on the video and she said that “we think we are using technology when technology is using us” I learned about how tech companies have a lot of data and information on their user more than I thought. Especially when they used the examples of Google and Amazon. 

Google was a tech company that advanced people’s access to information and knowledge. The founders made lots of money, but investors wanted more money and kept competitors away. So, Google started saving user search history and even started making their own search engine based on predictions or popular search in order to make users use their platform more. It was spine- chilling to find that out because I thought it was to help people not to spy on them. 

Then the Amazon Alexa is used to analyze human behavior and develop data on their users in order to provide better users to keep their business running. I think that these instances are a huge invasion of privacy because most people do not know that they are being stalked by these devices. 

It is upsetting to hear that it wasn’t until a man from California proposed a bill in order to help people protect their privacy. I think that is a national security issue as well because it is easy for hackers or people with bad intentions to access this information. For example, Mark Zuckerberg was fined for selling his users data without user's consent in Europe. That is huge and just imagine what else social media promotes to people, especially young children. 

My personal experience after watching the video was more awareness about apps and my devices because I wanted my privacy and did not feel comfortable with someone having my personal data. Technology can have benefits like providing knowledge and creativity, but it can all be used against you. Overall, technology is not a bad thing but there should definitely be some regulation on companies and how much power they have over data.

Blog #8

Hasan Ibn al-Haytham

The camera was invented by Ibn al-Haytham. He is an Arab physicist who made the pinhole camera. Then made an analysis for the camera obscura. The camera is one of the most innovative inventions in the world. The camera was made using paper coated with silver chloride. It has permanently changed how people view the world and even interpret it.

 
This invention has changed the world globally in many ways such as memories, films, perspective, and experiences. Cameras have set the foundation for technology that is even still incorporated inside modern technology such as iPhone, Video game consoles, computers, and more. Camera has influenced so many in the world such as social media, smartphones, film, and technology as a whole. 

The first phone that consisted of a built-in camera was the Kyocera VP-210(1999) in Japan. It was adopted from Japan and its influence spread to America. The first smartphone in the U.S. that had a camera was Sanyo SCP-5300. 

iPhone have become the standard norm globally and a part of millions of people's routines. Smartphones like iPhone have progressive into everything we do in life and even creates our lives. Phones capture not just photos, media, and technology. It created and documented memories, milestones, history, and different ways of communication. 

Based on Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation theory in connection with smart phones. The innovators like Nicephore Niepce and Steve Jobs continued to push the boundaries of science because they continue to make more versions of cameras that are improved than the one previously made. They created the idea or changed the idea of photography which was influential to the journalism and filming industry. 

The Early adopters would be journalists, hospitals, military, police, and government. The newly advanced iPhone would be used to start documentation and promote faster ways to communicate long distances. It would be helpful to these institutions because they have the ability to promote this to the public as the future and it would be beneficial to people because it gives them access to things that they never had before.

Cameron Diaz with a cellphone

The early majority would be rich people and celebrities promoting iPhones as a trend and need in order to influence the youth and impressionable. Also, people who are very interested in buying a new product. The late majority would be everyday people who need a cell phone but are curious about it because they do not understand technology. Then laggards would be elderly people who do not see the value in cell phones because most of their life, they were not around, and it is not a necessity to them. Until they are stuck something traumatic happens to them or they need to get in contact with their family or doctors. They will eventually get one.

My personal experience with phones: It has been around since I was born but I would say that I was a late majority because I had a phone but was never really obsessive over it. I was never the person who had to have the newest phone because it worked perfectly fine. Also, I did not come from a rich family so in order to get a phone, I would have to wait until the store had a deal or discount in order to get the phone. 

Overall, this theory highlights the different stages that an invention has to go through to be considered a success. It is also used to determine which products need to be improved in order for the company to make more money.

Blog #9 EOTO #2

The theories that I researched were Gatekeeping and Agenda setting. No, I am not talking about a place where you can get your favorite makeup and you are upset that it has become popular, but you wanted to gatekeeper it. Also, no I am not talking about how you can set your agenda for today’s calendar on what you did today. I am going to talk about how these two theories impact our life in multiple aspects. 

Kurt Lewin

Gatekeeping is the process through which information is filtered before spreading out. This theory was created by Kurt Lewin. He is a German Psychologist and studied Social Psychology. Gatekeeping is like instant messaging or a news channel without using visuals. It is the ultimate form of communication due to its ability to change a narrative, people's reaction, even how people interact with the issue. According to Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Gatekeeping is the activity of trying to control who gets particular resources, power, opportunities, and who does not”.

Gatekeeping occurs every day in friendships, Hospitals, Universities, Jobs, News, and even our own government. Out of most times, these instances occur because the person is trying to not make people afraid or feel worthless. Despite some examples having good intentions, it can also have negative impacts.

2020 Election Biden v. Trump

One example is News channels; journalist report about news that happens all over the world. It allows people voices to be heard and spread awareness about problems in the community. However, some journalists allow report or share information about matter based on popularity or what the public deems interesting which can be harmful as it can lead to agenda setting.

Incident such as the 2020 election, some news outlet focused on rumors or defamation on certain candidates instead focusing on the true intentions of the candidates and their policies. This is very harmful because they President position is an important job that effects millions of people every day and even the world. News channels would focus on candidate smearing each other's name by making meme and trying to get attention for their channel instead of focusing on the important things such as polices and future plans for the nation.

Photo of Blood Diamond mining

Another example of where gatekeeping is common is the government. The U.S. government hides important information all the time when it comes to addressing the public. It helps them set a narrative and control how much information that the public wants to have access to. Such as many people know about the conflict between Israel and Palestine but there are other wars that other people do not about the genocide and slave labor in Congo. 

Congo is a wealthy country when it comes to resources and trading goods. There are mining fields controlled by militia groups. It is called Blood Diamonds, where military officers force citizens to mine for gold, diamonds, and other types of jewelry. These people are restricted and subjected to brutal treatment in order to produce huge amounts of goods.

Photo of Blood Diamonds

They are slaves because they cannot rebel or get caught stealing diamonds as the consequence is limbs are cut off. This has been happening for years, and these diamonds are sold all over the world. Anyone in the world could be wearing a blood diamond and they do not even know because the government has restricted the media attention to this issue. As the benefit for this issue through consumerism. My question is why we know about Palestine v. Israel and Russia v. Ukraine, but not about the unjust slave labor war zones in Congo.

Agenda setting is the power that the media has to influence what people think by deciding the topics that receive attention. It was created by Maxwell Mccombs and Donald Shaw in 1972. Agenda setting is the media being able to shape a narrative and influence how their audience interprets an issue helping determine its importance in society. Similar to gatekeeping, Agenda setting also occurs in everyday life such as social media, political matters, Disease outbreaks, and activism movements.

A good example of agenda setting is the Black Lives Matter Movement brought attention to the unfair treatment toward African Americans by police officers. It made people think about the systematic oppression and double standards that people of color face due to stereotypes. It was not until the year 2020, this movement was on every single news outlet and even political figures discussed this issue inside the house and senate. This movement has inspired change and made people more aware about the importance of this issue to ensure that it does not keep happening. It set the standard of holding police accountable and protested for equality.

Both of these theories have many impacts on everyone’s life, positively and negatively. Both hold power to form how we think, act, and know about the world. They can inspire change, critical thinking, advocate, even shape our mindsets, opinions and beliefs. However, it can also censor and suppress minority voices, promote stereotypes and extremist thinking. Overall, these theories shape our society and show the true influence that words and media have on people.

Blog #7

 

The American Conservative and Antiwar.com are two websites that I never heard of until today. I was really surprised to read some of the articles because these are two drastically different parties, Right and Left. The Right wing is commonly referred to as conservatism which is individuals that value tradition practices. Then the Left wing, referred to as Liberalism, believes in protecting the freedom and rights of people. 

Even though these two political ideologies are complete opposites of each other, they do have a common ground in which both sides can agree on something being wrong. While researching through both websites, most writers despite their beliefs were able to recognize that War is inhuman and unnecessary. War has been around since the beginning of civilization. Wars have caused harm for millions of people in the world such as genocides, colonization, bombings, concentration camps, and Slave labor. 

Sadly, most wars in history continued for years and wars do not just stop because the government wanted to. Many wars were stopped due to advocacy and gaining media coverage through newspapers, radios, books, and journalism. However advocacy and speech can be powerful sometimes, and some governments have silenced activists who have pointed out to the public about the circumstances of these brutal wars. 

Photo of Charles Schenck

An activist that has been silenced by the government was Schenck v. United States (1919). Charles Schenck was accused of violating the Espionage Act of 1917. The Espionage Act is a law commonly used by the government to silence people who criticize their policies. He handed out leaflets of his criticisms of the military draft in WWI.

The government believed that Schenck's words would incite people to riot against the military draft, and they were worried because they needed as many people as possible to fight. The United States government would restrict Charles Schenck of his first amendment rights of freedom of speech just because they did not like his view. This is called viewpoint discrimination, which is when the government silences an individual because of not being in favor of their belief. 

The First Amendment protects an individual’s freedom of speech but when it comes to government action, wars and policies. The right of speech is limited This created the Present and Clear danger test which sets a standard for when speech is protected by the first amendment. This test is still used today and even impacts activists today. 

In the present day, there is a war between Palestine and Israel. Israel was attacked by a group named Hamas that is located in Palestine. However, there is a more complex history surrounding this event. Due to attack on Israel, the Israeli government has started a genocide against Palestinian people because of the attack. Palestinian people are not Hamas; they are people that are being punished for another group’s actions. Hamas is an organization that just happened to live in Palestine, but the Israeli government is using Hamas’ actions to target innocent people.

Many media outlets and activists have spoken and published articles about this conflict between these two nations. Propaganda and Political agreement have made nations like the United States take sides with Israel in this matter. This has caused the U.S. government to begin to silence activists who show empathy or siding with Palestine.

A Columbia University student named Mahmoud Kahil was arrested for being involved in Palestinian activism. The government is claiming that he is inciting riots and being antisemitic on campus when that is far from the truth. Also, the government is trying to silence him through taking away his green card and student visa. This is an ongoing issue, but I would say that I learn that speaking up is powerful. However, you have to be careful with your speech being it can be used against you to silence you.