Blog Post #12: Final Post

Reflecting on my relationship with technology, I think I am balanced with using some apps but not others. With Instagram and Snapchat, I have a healthy relationship because I use each one infrequently and for less than 30 minutes each time. I do not engage with these sites often or for long periods of time. However, there are other apps like TikTok, Netflix, and Prime Video that I use for hours each day. My overall outlook is that I need my phone at all times. Just a few days ago, I lost my phone. In the time it took me to find it, I realized just how dependent I am on my phone. I think it all goes back to childhood. My whole life, I have always had access to a tv, laptop, or ipad. Technology makes me feel comfortable. I love my phone and feel safe when scrolling on it. 

Reviewing my iphone’s screen time averages, I am consistent with using social apps for approximately 6.5 hours each day. I think a more appropriate amount of time would be 3 hours a day for recreational phone use, since I have to use technology so much for school and work every day. I feel like through TikTok and Instagram, I learn new things every day. Seeing videos about nature teaches me animal facts I would have never found otherwise. Popular restaurants and trending menus show me cool places to check out when I travel. Even with friends and family, I learn about what is going on in their lives, even if I haven’t seen that person in a long time. Some inaccurate information probably reaches me online, but nothing in particular stands out. That is why I don’t worry much about technology. For the most part, it helps me in life with relationships, school work, learning new things, and making connections. 

I’ve never fully quit social media. I do try to not go on apps so much and give myself a day or two of not clicking on that app. But I’ve never completely quit using it entirely. When TikTok disappeared in January this year, I went on Instagram reels instead. Switching to this app was less convenient but still effective for watching short videos and learning new things. While I am happy that TikTok was not blocked permanently, I wouldn’t cry over its ban, I would just miss it. I am happy spending time outside of my phone hanging out with friends and family, cooking meals, working out, and exploring new places. I think that makes my relationship with technology mostly healthy. I don’t use technology because I have to, I use it because I want to.

The information about me that lives online is not much and is certainly out of date. When searching my name, the results on Google show some pictures from my high school yearbook and a link to my LinkedIn profile. Even then, the privacy settings keep someone from seeing exact details on my public resume. These results give the impression that I don’t use social media much in a public way. I haven't really done anything to leave a stamp online, which helps my profession start off on a clean slate. Since I haven’t started my career yet, I am looking forward to building a platform in the future.

This semester, creating a blog helped me explore what it is like to create content online. I don’t think everyone should have a blog, but it is a good option for people who like writing and reflecting about topics. Creating a blog for Media Law and Literacy made me more thoughtful. I found it satisfying to research new topics, get pictures, and format the layouts for each post. Some cons of blogging or posting publicly on social media are that anyone can see it online. Sometimes people don’t like your opinions or don’t agree with you. Other times, social media can empower people, helping someone to feel motivated to take action. I learned that there are some limitations with posting online, such as figuring out how to navigate technical difficulties. This semester’s blog also took a lot of time and commitment in order to read, write, and post. For future students, I recommend that they make sure to put in effort and research everything they plan to talk about.

Blog Post #11: EOTO 2 Reactions

From another team’s EOTO presentation, I learned about confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is the idea that people tend to seek out information that confirms what they already believe. Oftentimes, rather than focusing on facts, people find evidence for what they already think. This affects people since whenever we receive information our brains have to determine if that information is okay. With confirmation bias, people are only focused on the things their brain cares about. They aren’t looking at the things they aren’t actively seeking.

There are both pros and cons in confirmation bias. While confirmation bias can feel calm and easy, some of the cons of it are that people don’t grow or learn. Confirmation bias increases self confidence because people are confident when they don't care about the facts that don’t support their belief. Confirmation bias happens so strongly in an opinion that it doesn’t even matter if new information comes up.

Confirmation bias can be concerning and dangerous because it limits open-mindedness and seeing new perspectives. It impacts your decision making and won’t let the person see the full picture. Therefore, their brain is missing out on learning and growing. People can hurt themselves and others because of their ignorance. This stubbornness can even extend to their jobs or relationships. A good example is anti-vaxx believers. These people believe they are right and that their opinion is the only one that matters. Anti-vaxxers believe that vaccines are going to kill people, put trackers in children, or even cause autism. Facts like vaccines helping prevent severe illness in babies, elderly populations, and cancer patients get ignored. An anti-vaxxer with confirmation bias might think, “chicken pox and measles are good for kids,” and then notice only the good things of a chicken pox party, highlighting that they are done with the illness and there were no negative consequences.

Confirmation bias happens in our daily lives and everyone has some bias on something. It is interesting to me to see what people’s biases are. Yet, extreme beliefs with confirmation bias lead to conflict and prevent cooperation.

Blog Post #10: Age of AI

 Frontline’s documentary, Age of AI, was an informative video discussing changes in artificial intelligence, technology, and the economy in recent years. Interviews in the documentary mentioned how jobs held by women are at greater risk of being taken over by technology than jobs held by men. It described how fewer jobs contributes to the rich getting more rich and the poor getting more poor. It is dangerous what can happen to people’s livelihoods and their ability to afford food and housing. Even at the time of filming, “half of Americans couldn’t afford a $400, unexpected expense.”

I was surprised to learn that inequality has been on the rise in the United States for over 20 years. In the graph they showed in the video, it is clear that more Americans experience inequality than not. It frightens me to think about how much power just a few entrepreneurs and businesses hold. For instance, Google and Meta own the majority of artificial intelligence technology. These large companies use algorithms to track each of us online every day. As the video shared, anyone with enough money can buy the data and tools to manipulate the public using this information. Even if surveillance capitalism can help user experience and make people’s lives easier, it also opens the opportunity for this misuse. It scares me that it is uncertain who will influence the public and how they might do so.

Not all the developments of artificial intelligence have been bad. There are good parts of its development, like how technological influences can be used to make positive change. It impressed me that in 2010, Facebook added an “I Voted” button that actually had an effect on getting more people to vote in midterm elections. If this power is used for good, then will the world with surveillance capitalism really be so bad?

Blog Post #9: EOTO Social Credit Score

 China's government attempted a thing called a Social Credit score.The idea is that, similar to a credit score, the government gives you a number value to describe how trustworthy you are in society. In 2014, Chinese government officials announced a six-year social credit plan to build trustworthiness in society. However, it was very difficult to implement nationwide. China ultimately saw social credit scores emerge in some local governments as trials to see the good and the bad during the process.

So how does it work? The Chinese social credit systems use information technology to rate Chinese citizens, legal institutions, government agencies, and private businesses. Having social credit scores aims to discourage illegal activities like: “corruption, telecom scams, tax evasion, false advertising, academic plagiarism, product counterfeiting, pollution” (Yang, 2022). Although it had noble goals, the social credit system actually created a lot of confusion and harm. For instance, one province in China tried to mix social and financial credit by rewarding people with financial credit for donating blood (Yang, 2022). This was too confusing and abstract to really work. Even with just social credit considered, it was impossible to standardize scores the way the United States does with credit scores. 

In trial systems, other mishaps happened concerning privacy and finances. People described the information technology tracking as creepy and a violation of their rights. Studies showed that it was difficult to implement a social credit system fairly, which could “further widen existing economic and societal gaps,” making poor people even more poor (Loefflad et al., 2024). This can happen when someone struggling financially isn’t granted a loan because they are biased in terms of their “trustworthiness.”

Some initial ideas of a social credit system was to create punishments and rewards according to the financial and legal records of each citizen. People who acted poorly could lose the ability to fly on a plane. People who did well could send their kids to private school or receive special treatment from the government. One platform would keep all social, financial, and government records openly available on a website called Credit China (Yang, 2022). Although apps and websites in the United States like Uber and Airbnb will rank and score individuals on their behavior, these platforms are not unified outside of each account.

A lot of people hear “social credit score” and think it will be like financial credit scores with a simple range and calculation, but that isn’t true. Social credit scores are not exact, direct numbers. The scores are actually mostly determined for businesses and not individuals. Artificial intelligence does not rank every person’s action at every moment. The calculations use different information technology that has been in development for decades by actual human beings.

Overall, trying out a social credit system was highly controversial even in China. Although they tried to create a national system, it never happened. Some cities had plans that they didn’t actually try out. Other cities did trial runs, but they didn’t go well so they stopped. Today, social credit ratings are still useful for businesses rather than individual people. It functions similarly to the Better Business Bureau in the U.S., trying to help people know what companies are risky or not. Still, even bad companies got good scores, and no companies get blacklisted or shutdown, so the usefulness of the system is debatable.

Blog #8: Diffusion Theory

Looking through the lens of the Diffusion Theory, it makes a lot of sense why airpods and other wireless earbuds caught on in recent years. Although they first came to market in 2015, wireless earbuds didn’t become as popular until a few years later. This was largely because there were issues that needed resolving regarding their battery life, connection to devices, fit in the ear, and sound quality. Once Apple helped market airpods as an accessory for iphones, sales really took off. The innovation itself caught on quickly because airpods are tiny, fit well in most people’s ears, and are easy to take on the go. They let users have a full range of motion without being attached to their phone or computer while they use audio and voice recording features. Airpods aren’t as big as over the ear headphones, but they still provide quality sound with the convenience of being portable.

The kinds of people who likely became early adopters of wireless earbuds were people who could afford them. Wealthy individuals were eager to pay the expensive prices when first introduced. They also were more likely to have a newer phone with the technology and software required to connect to them. Younger people were earlier adopters than older generations because they are tech-savvy and could learn how to use them easier than older people. Athletes like runners also may have become early adopters since it fit their active lifestyles.

Older people were late adopters of airpods because they are more sensitive to having things in their ears. They also have a harder time learning new technology and probably had older phones that didn’t need bluetooth accessories. Anyone who liked over-the-ear headphones for their plush comfort were also unlikely to adopt airpods early on. Anxious people concerned about hearing damage from airpods probably waited too. When the technology first came out, it was more expensive and people with less income couldn’t afford the early models.

There are pros and cons about airpods. When thinking about buying airpods, you have to think of it as an investment. You have to know if you will be responsible for keeping them charged and not losing them. You also have to be okay with the sensation of having it in your ears. There are lots of positives- like being able to find your airpod case with a tracker in your phone. Still, they are so tiny that they can fall out from your ears which is a negative. People might make the choice to use airpods or not based on how often they need headphones and what their lifestyle is like. For instance, my grandma loves listening to music but she would not know how to work airpods and connect them. Meanwhile, someone out and about all day can really benefit from having hands-free listening.

Blog Post #7: Progressive Era

Strong antiwar voices tend to exist within obscure websites such as antiwar.com and The American Conservative.. These two websites are leaning towards specific political views. Although they are technically non-partisan organizations, each presents values in line with progressive and conservative views. Antiwar.com promoted America in foreign policy debates. Meanwhile, The American Conservative promoted utopian economic theories and everyone getting along in global hegemony. These websites are so honest about certain things that they believe in, it can deter viewers who hold different opinions. Also, their pages and websites don’t look official. They look unprofessional and more like a regular blogger spewing their opinions. It doesn’t look like a trustworthy website, especially Antiwar.com with red font everywhere. Titles describing “killings” and “deadly attacks” are not appealing to read. 

I think you have to seek out obscure websites to hear strong antiwar voices because extreme opinions and websites aren’t popular. Leaning into political views means that you don’t get the whole picture of what’s happening in the world, and some people want the whole picture. You also don’t know who is posting the blogs, so how do you trust the information? Furthermore, legislation surrounding extreme opinions about war can scare people into not sharing their full opinions. In the early twentieth century, the Progressive Era saw many anti-war protestors punished, thrown into jail, and more. Congress passed the espionage act so the government could jail people who wrote against the war effort. They also passed the sedition act, which made it a crime to criticize the government. It is a delicate balance to allow freedom of speech, not have harmful consequences, and still make people want to use their voice. Websites like these strong examples are not popular or well known because of what they share. They can be well hidden to avoid upsetting the wrong people. 

Blog Post #6: Technology from EOTO

 

From today’s Each One Teach One presentations, I learned about the invention of the printing press in the 15th Century, and how it changed communication around the world. The printing press was a major game-changer for spreading religious ideas, political reform, and social movements. It led to freedoms from government and oppression, since people could access the means for expressing themselves when they could not easily or affordably before. Modern mass media would not have emerged without the printing press sharing information worldwide.

Before the printing press existed, people could only share information if they wrote by hand or copied types manually. Books were made using scrolls, papyrus, and parchment before there was paper. Monks in monasteries would spend everyday copying the writings in books to share with others. This tedious and lengthy process limited how many people could access knowledge.

The printing press was originally created as a movable printing press in 1439 by Johannes Gutenberg in Strasbourg, Germany. The printing press then established multiple different printing shops throughout Europe that would print opinions, papers, studies and more. In 1517, Martin Luther was able to publish and share his 95 Theses because of the printing press. This technology was an important part of the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution. 

During the 17th Century and 18th Century, printing technology expanded to Asia and the Americas. It allowed for the development of typography and fonts, since printing became more consistent across the globe. The press was a reliable, effective, and efficient way to publish and share. As such, the printing press made it easier to access information. Books and Newspapers were able to be shared because of the mass printing made possible by no longer printing manually. The printing press helped shape modern media and changed communication. It had some negatives like we experience now, for example: fake news, hate speech, propaganda. Even so, the printing press was a revolutionary and iconic communication development. 

Blog Post #5: Privacy Online and Off

 Issues of privacy online affect everyone in today’s world. Anyone can track phone calls or hack into text messages. Law enforcement can use Stingray technology to locate cellphones inside private homes. Sensitive information about personal lives can be overheard and ruin social relationships. Lack of privacy can even result in financial consequences like identity theft or fraud when a criminal learns what your credit card number, security codes, or account passwords are. 

I use apps and websites daily that collect my personal data. For example, TikTok will show me specific videos according to an algorithm that tracks what types of content I like and how long I watch videos in that style. Oftentimes, an Instagram ad will pop up not even five minutes after I mentioned something on the phone. These occurrences feel like being stalked. It is annoying and creepy to see all the ways my privacy is at risk from technology.

The government can accuse you of a crime that you did not commit. Or they can take very little information of what was done and make it seem bigger than it was. Government can invade your privacy. No one would watch me 24/7 in real life, but government officials have access to my online life any time of day. They can monitor my social media accounts, check into my banking account, control all of my personal information and who it gets shared with.

To prevent invasions of privacy, we can use encrypted apps and messaging services where others cannot look into conversations or what was said. You can try to create legislation. Even though there may be challenges to passing and enforcing laws about privacy online, it is still worth trying. This is especially true for examples like cyber harassment where people’s professional lives, personal relationships, and mental health get severely impacted. I think it was really interesting and useful to reflect on the dangers of the internet and being online. These TED Talk videos reminded me to make sure my personal information is as private as it can be online. 

Blog Post #4: EOTC Communication Technology Timeline

 An average pencil can write 45,000 words and draw a line that is more than 35 miles long. During the Civil War, pencils were given out as basic equipment. The most expensive pencil in the world was made with wood from an olive tree that was over 240 years old. It had white gold details and sold for almost 13,000 dollars. Each year over 1 billion yellow pencils are produced, and they could stretch around the Earth five times.

 In the late 1700s, the first early version of today’s pencil was created by a scientist in Napoleon's army. The pencil was a mixture of water, clay, and graphite. Over the next 60 years, Americans and people in Germany fought over who would get credit for inventing the pencil. When erasers were first added, they were made out of old bread. As the pencil evolved from Konard Genser’s design of a paintbrush filled with animal hair to Hymen Lipman’s version made out of wood with the added component of the newer eraser, it continued to change until it became what we know and love today. 

  For almost 200 years the ability to write was reserved only for the wealthy who used ink and feathers. With the more affordable pencil, people all over the world were attracted to this evolving invention. In America, pencils were made from cedar wood in Tennessee and California, where large forests helped make the materials more affordable. Soon pencils began filling every home and classroom, but some people did not like the new advancements. For example, teachers previously could see all of the mistakes students had made, but now with the eraser, teachers could only see the final version. Another concern was the dust created by the graphite which NASA solved with their first space pencil. Nothing could stop the use of a pencil. 

 Pencils gave everyone around the world the ability to write. This meant they could make lists, record their ideas, draw, communicate with other people and more. Pencils also impacted the art world because this was the first tool that allowed artists to edit their art work in real time. Imagine waiting for your paint to dry because you had to make a change versus now the ability to erase just because you don't like it. 

 Some people might think pencils are not as common because of the increase in technology; however, they are still being sold worldwide. For example, in elementary schools, students throughout the world only use pencils in classrooms. Standardized testing often requires not only a pencil but a number 2 pencil, which has harder lead and does not smudge, to ensure an accurate response. Ticonderoga is the largest manufacturer of pencils in the world. It makes over 1.5 billion pencils each year, of which two thirds are number two yellow pencils. By 2030, the pencil market is to be projected to be a $30 million industry.  

There are 14 billion sold each year. You find them in every country. You use them from Kindergarten until 5th grade and nothing else. You find them in every house. You use them to express yourself. Imagine a world without pencils. 

Blog Post #3: Eight Values of Free Expression

Freedom of Speech is a really important and well known right granted in the first amendment. The Founding Fathers had good logic and experience to put this in the Bill of Rights. Expression has evolved over time as our country has evolved. For instance, “press” used to mean town criers and printed newspapers. Now it’s cable news and twitter feeds, but the same values still shape the structure and integrity of the U.S. today.

The Eight Values of Free Expression represent reasons why the First Amendment is so important to the American people. The founding fathers wanted Americans to be able to share their opinions, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Allowing freedom of expression grants people a marketplace of ideas. It lets everyday citizens participate in government and serves as a safety valve to prevent violence. Free speech promotes tolerance, builds empathy, and encourages innovation. Freedom of the press lets Americans learn about abuses of power within government. It is extremely valuable to be able to criticize the government without fear of punishment.

Since all of these values apply to the entire U.S. population, I had a hard time personally connecting with most of them. However, individual self-fulfillment and self-actualization resonated strongly with me. Talking freely lets people discover who they are. You cannot form your identity without trying new things, learning from different perspectives, and growing from experiences. Without freedom of speech, you can’t freely express yourself and find people you connect with. I agree with self-actualization being an important value. Even though I don’t like to give my opinion in group settings, when I feel comfortable sharing my opinions I build stronger relationships with friends and family.

Freedom of speech and freedom of press are also so important for enabling the content I see online. I benefit from watching other people being creative throughout social media because it helps me figure out my own life. Watching TikToks helps me understand things going on around me. Seeing experiences on Instagram and hearing other people’s opinions helps me form my own. I get to see restaurants, tourist spots, things I want to try and explore. I get exposed to different people’s views on topics than I would get just walking around and meeting people.

For example, there is a limited edition restaurant in New York City called The Corner Store that I heard about online. I have seen photos of the food options, videos of the creative drinks, and reviews of what people thought. I visit New York City frequently, and without freedom of expression, I wouldn’t have this exciting inspiration for a new adventure to try. The self-fulfillment that others experience builds my own, and then as I grow I get to share things with other people in my life to build their identities too. 

Outside of my own life, there are lots of other examples showing how self-expression leads to self-fulfillment. Artists express themselves with music and lyrics and songs. Actors express themselves with their performance. Broadway shows like Hamilton aren’t allowed to be made or performed if citizens cannot talk about government leaders. Even movies talk about tough topics and make changes in the world, like the movie Bombshell revealing gender inequality at Fox News. Women in the workplace try to survive daily. They want to get ahead and do what they need to do. Without freedom of speech, working women wouldn’t be able to call out toxic behaviors, and the harassment would keep happening. There wouldn’t be change individually or systemically the way there is starting to be. 

Blog #2: Supreme Court

I learned that after deciding on a case, the Supreme Court Justices of the United States will publish an official opinion to explain how they decided to vote and to share their individual opinions on the decision. Drafts of these written opinions take approximately four week to write, and then they still can be revised for months before being published. The writings will be published at the end of June by the end of that court’s term. Copies of the written opinions get released to the press to be seen by everyone in the country.

The most important take-away point about the Supreme Court is that it has no secrets. Everything that is done in the Supreme Court is open to the public to see. Citizens can learn everything that goes on in the decision process. The transparency of the court is so important because we get to know exactly how the response was made. We get to understand how that decision will then change things throughout the country. Although the Supreme Court gives only thirty minutes to each side of a case to present their arguments, the decisions they make affect our lives for years. 

The most surprising thing I learned was that there was an unexpected friendship between Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia (Rosen, 2023). They hated each other politically and had many political disagreements, but outside of politics they were actually great friends. This surprised me because even though the two justices did not see eye to eye in the court room, they were able to put their differences aside to have a friendship. This surprised me, because it is not an easy thing to do. It shows that Ginsburg and Scalia were both really passionate about their opinions to be able to hold onto them and still be friends. 

 After watching these videos, my thoughts on the Supreme Court changed because I realized how difficult it must be for the justices to make their decisions in line with their political and personal values.