Blog #12

Scrolling and Sharing: My Digital Life as a Social Media Marketing Minor

This semester has been an enjoyable journey through my evolving relationship with media, as much as through its history and theory, and it has made me look at my phone, which probably knows more about me than my mother does, in a new light. As a social media marketing minor i am always on my phone i use snapchat as a daily form of communication with friends and its practically my life line at this point, instagram for posting fun aesthetic photos of me and my friends and TikTok to keep up with current events as well as just having fun making videos. Creating this blog has been a big learning process. I usually go through everyone else's content. Still, I'm putting out content with my thoughts, which has been interesting, as it has made me question my place and what I'm doing in the digital world. 

Before taking this class, I hadn't considered my social media presence or overall digital footprint. I have always been aware of it, but I never gave it much thought. However, the things I learned in this class and the articles I have read have shed light on privacy violations, the harsh reality of Facebook's data collection policies, and even the thoughtful viewpoint of a 14-year-old who decided to unplug.

These stories have inspired me to reflect on how I utilize social media. Just think about all the data Snapchat has from having your location on, and how TikTok's algorithm probably knows me better than I know myself. Although I have not been the most active person on social media, I have become significantly more active since attending college it has also made me more aware of what I post on social media for the world to see, it has also taught me the importance of digital privacy and what that entails, especially when accepting terms and conditions for social media platforms that I will use in the future. 

When I consider the prompt of hopeful and pessimistic perspectives of technology, I find myself somewhere in the middle as a social media marketing minor; I think parts of social media are fantastic, snapchat for example allows me to know what my friends are up to or to make new connections worldwide, and TikTok provides almost unlimited knowledge from how to make a grilled cheese to how to learn rocket science while also encouraging creativity and being and outlet to learn more about current events for a lot of people.

At the same time, Instagram can help you gain opportunities and allow you to express yourself.  However, despite the positives, a handful of negatives are associated with social media, some of which include that it is very demanding of its users and can have a “dark side,” characterized by loneliness, FOMO, erosion of privacy, and more. However, this can all be avoided if you find a healthy balance, and for me, that involves prioritizing real-life relationships, aggressively protecting my digital privacy, and using technology deliberately.

Looking into my future in social media marketing, several topics covered this semester stand out as particularly prominent, including artificial intelligence, online privacy, and online censorship.  AI is such a big part of our world, and it's only growing.  Seeing AI produce content in a field that I will be entering in the near future is concerning and raises questions about authenticity and algorithmic bias. While AI is becoming increasingly powerful, online privacy for social media users has become a highly relevant issue, and although it's essential now, it will only gain more importance. Social and digital marketers need to be more transparent than ever with consumers. Furthermore, the complexity of internet censorship will significantly influence the very fabric of online communication, as it blurs the lines between platform responsibility and freedom of expression.

This also made me think about how social media and the internet have completely transformed mass communication. Anyone with two opposable thumbs and a brain can be a content creator simply by sharing their story and perspective on life online. So, bigger corporations are no longer looking at people with degrees in social media marketing because we have platforms like blogs or TikTok. The explosion of Facebook and Twitter has evened out the playing field. 

It has also made me consider how these platforms challenge mainstream media hegemony. Before this class, I didn't know how to spell hegemony or understand its meaning. However, it occurs when traditional media outlets attempt to assert dominance by promoting specific narratives. Social media has strayed significantly from these conventional narratives, allowing counter-narratives and marginalized voices to find an audience. These platforms have changed how we access information and who gets to share it.

For many people, including myself, social media has been a positive experience and a tool for empowerment. We can build communities around shared interests, advocate for our beliefs, and, if desired, even launch our brand or small business using social media. Using hashtags can organize movements or help creators make a living from their content creation on TikTok.

So, yes, my relationship with technology is good. Still, at the same time, the daily reality of Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, while I hope for a career in Social Media Marketing, has been transforming my trip through this semester. It has transformed me from a casual user to a more critical and intentional participant in the digital world. At the same time, these platforms are attractive and helpful, particularly in connecting people and disseminating knowledge. My future professional work depends much on privacy, authenticity, and the evolving ethical questions of artificial intelligence and online censorship. Understanding the power dynamics at work and how social media has democratized content production while concurrently addressing issues of hegemony and free expression is essential. I am resolved to be conscious, understanding both the empowering possibilities and the natural responsibilities accompanying the shaping of tomorrow's digital stories.

Blog Post #8

The Silent Revolution in Your Pocket: Understanding Smartphone Adoption Through Diffusion Theory

One of the most fascinating inventions in communication technology is TikTok. Over the past few years, this app has become popular much faster than any other social media platform, and Everett Rogers's Diffusion of Innovations Theory helps explain why.  TikTok became so popular so fast because it hit all the right areas. It had a tremendous social component, quick entertainment, encouraged creativity, and was easy to use. People enjoy following trends and sharing; TikTok made it relatively simple.

The early adopters of TikTok were mainly young adults and teenagers, which makes sense, as they were born into a more technologically savvy era, making it much easier for them to adapt to a new app. They appreciated how the videos were concise, engaging, and creative, making it easier to pay attention and fostering a sense of community among viewers. The app's algorithm was brilliant, as it paid attention to every user's interests and showed content that interested them, leaving them wanting more. While yes, these early adopters helped. 

Late adopters, conversely, either felt overwhelmed by learning another app or were dubious about TikTok's credibility (early on, data security and privacy issues raised questions). Still, some have decided not to use TikTok entirely. Their motivations might be worries about lost time, content quality, or the sense that they "need" no other social media app.

While TikTok has many positive aspects, it also has many downsides. The positives are that it's fun and creative, and can be an opportunity for people to show their personalities and innovate in their ways by sharing content. However, it can also promote many unhealthy habits and a sort of dark side, which can encourage binge watching, unrealistic beauty standards, misinformation, depression, and more. 

For example, I'm personally very cautious about how I spend my time on my phone because I know that I am very easily influenced and can be sucked into social media very quickly without even being aware of it. It can affect my mood and mental health. So, am I doing something beneficial for my health right now? Am I being productive or managing my time responsibly?  So I ensure the benefits of social media outweigh the negatives.  

With any communication technology, it is essential to be aware of your time and usage of the app and how it benefits you, considering your personal values and mental health.  Sometimes, you must decide to put your phone down for your well-being. 

Blog Post #7

 The Silenced Voices: Dissent, War, and the First Amendment in a Time of Global Conflict

The Progressive Era, which occurred around World War I, was a period in American history when many people opposed the country's involvement in war. These people would use their voices and speak out against it, but the government did not appreciate that, so they made laws that made it illegal to speak against the war. This led to many people being jailed for expressing their opinions. The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 were laws enacted by the government to suppress dissent and counteract efforts to undermine the war effort. This shows that it can be challenging, especially when the country is at war. It also leaves us asking how a nation balances national security with the fundamental right to free expression. 

Looking back, though, the difficulties of those early dissenters were not in vain. Their persecution helped shape our understanding of the First Amendment. Landmark cases, such as Schenck v. United States, introduced the "clear and present danger" test, which indicates when free speech can be limited. Justice Holmes' powerful dissent in Abrams v. United States introduced the enduring concept of the "marketplace of ideas," which holds that people should be able to exchange viewpoints freely, even if they disagree with some of them, as this process will ultimately lead to the discovery of the truth. The Gitlow v. New York decision was also pivotal, as it established the importance of incorporation, meaning that the protection of the Bill of Rights, which included free speech, was no longer limited to the federal government. They now apply to each state. The battles legally from the silencing of dissent ultimately laid the foundation for our freedoms today. 

When I look at the world we live in today, it's filled with war, chaos, and violence. I feel a sense of unease as we repeat history. There is a lack of honesty in mainstream news. If I want to find someone who will speak freely about their viewpoint, I must actively seek them out. Many websites, such as ANTIWAR.COM and The American Conservative, often provide much insight into what mainstream media is saying, making me wonder why. Why do we have to struggle to find certain views or perspectives in this day and age? 

This topic prompts me to consider the reasons behind this marginalization. Several factors immediately come to mind that make sense. The first is increased media consolidation, where multiple larger corporations control what we hear, shaping our perceptions based on their desired narratives. Shockingly, this is still ongoing, and it is very risky to narrow the people's perspectives, as they don't want anything to be revealed that might harm their power or the status quo. 

There are also significant commercial pressures within mainstream media. After all, mainstream media is a business in its own right. Numerous controversial viewpoints can deter advertisers from associating, which is undesirable, as advertisers are crucial for the survival of mainstream media, as they can drive away specific segments of their audience. The mainstream media is a highly competitive market, so fostering discussions that may be challenging but beneficial is not done, as other priorities take precedence in their eyes.

The government cannot be entirely overlooked in these situations, as it has access to a significant amount of information from various sources, including the framing of narratives that are being disseminated through mainstream media, which individuals in power often shape. There is also immense societal pressure surrounding a single message, which can unintentionally suppress or downplay dissenting voices under the pretext of national unity and security. 

As discussed in the videos, the Supreme Court cases involving prior restraint, Near v. Minnesota and the Pentagon Papers, are particularly relevant here. These papers establish that the government cannot prevent something from being published before it is published. The bar for the prior restaurant is relatively high, with specific expectations such as obscenity, immediate threats to national security during wartime, and incitement to violence. The government must justify why these exceptions apply. These rulings undermined the role of the free press and the ability to hold people in power accountable, while also informing the public, even if the information is uncomfortable or challenges the narrative.

With all this being said, the suppression of anti-war voices historically and in society today reveals a sort of tension between the fundamental right to freedom of speech and national security, from silencing dissent, and then the progressive era, to powerful forces being involved in the mainstream media, ​​powerful forces—including media consolidation, commercial pressures. All of these factors influence how society is shaped today. The landmark Supreme Court cases have even clarified the importance of freedom of the press and how the government shouldn't restrict it as much as it does, and if it does, to justify the restrictions. Yet we still struggle to ensure that we have diverse viewpoints, particularly from individuals who challenge narratives of conflict and war. Emphasizes the frailty of these liberties and the need for constant awareness in defense of the First Amendment's values.

Blog Post #6

The Invention of Netflix and Streaming Services: What I Learned

I learned that in 1997, Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph launched Netflix, a company that would revolutionize how people watched and consumed entertainment. What started as something as small as a DVD subscription that would come to you by mail quickly grew into something massive. In the first decade of Netflix’s existence, it primarily focused on providing a convenient way to watch movies at home by having them delivered straight to your door, which gave other alternative video rental stores that were more traditional a run for their money. Twenty years later, in 2007, everything began to change when the company provided online streaming services, which made it easy to access a plethora of movies and/or TV shows whenever you wanted. 

The goal of this was shockingly straightforward, as they wanted to eliminate the usage of DVDs, as they were inconvenient to return. You had to go get them from a video rental store, and then you would have until the next day at a specific time before you would have to go back and return it, and if you didn't return it on time, it would charge you an extra fee. So the point of Netflix was to avoid all the hassle and make entertainment more accessible than ever. This made a huge difference as people started to stream their favorite show or movie at any time and from any place on any device. DVDs eventually ceased to have any relevancy and disappeared as streaming truly became the new normal, which set the stage for the digital entertainment era.

Netflix then became so popular that it gave inspiration to other companies to make their own streaming platforms, such as Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Peacock, Disney+, and Paramount+. Towards the end of 2013, Netflix had 34 million global paid subscribers. Fast forward about 11 years to 2024, and that number grew exponentially, gaining an average of 24 million subscribers a year from 2013–2024, becoming 300 million subscribers worldwide.

While Netflix and other streaming services have become very convenient, it has become a concern that the rise of streaming has created some issues that you may want to pay attention to, as this could help you or a loved one who may be struggling. Some of these concerns are binge-watching, as being able to watch every episode of a TV show back to back without any interruptions can lead to viewers spending hours on end staring at a screen, which can lead to many health problems, as physical inactivity can lead to heart disease, blood clots, obesity, and even diabetes.

Binge-watching can also lead to problems beyond just physical health; mental health and social effects can be big issues as well, as binge-watching can lead to a lack of sleep, vision problems, and increased anxiety. It can also contribute to feelings of social isolation and depression as people tend to prioritize life online rather than in-person relationships. In some cases, it can even lower productivity at a significant rate, which can interfere with one's daily responsibilities, such as work, school, sports, and social activities.

Streaming services such as Netflix have been a blessing, as it has reshaped digital entertainment into what it is today, but with this blessing comes high responsibility, as we can't misuse or abuse it, as it can become detrimental to our overall well-being. So we all must do our part to prioritize our health and wellness, enjoy content in moderation, and stay connected to the people around us in the real world.

Blog Post #5

Privacy Isn’t Dead—But It’s on Life Support

As a 20-year-old female college student who is from the West Coast, now living in the Southeast, these issues with digital privacy and online safety hit very close to home. As technology is such a vital part of our world, these issues are more real than ever—whether that's from the police tracking our license plates, our phones making us more vulnerable to surveillance, or the damage of revenge porn. There was one common theme that was made very clear: our privacy is constantly at risk, and the majority of people don't even realize how at risk we are.

Phone Surveillance

Christopher Soghoian’s talk about phone surveillance shocked me to find out how easy it is for the government and even foreign powers to be able to listen in on our phone calls, as he explained that it's all because of how phone networks are built. This hits very close to home for me, as I call home every day, whether that's FaceTime or phone calls with my mom and grandparents, some of which contain very personal information. So, to think that those conversations are being monitored without my knowledge is mind-boggling. Soghoian made it very clear in his speech that our phones are probably the most vulnerable point in digital security.

License Plate Readers

In Catherine Crump's talk, she mentioned that something as simple as driving around can lead to our movements being tracked without our knowledge. As the police can scan our license plates using ALPRs, which is a license plate reader, it made me think of all those times I’ve driven to work or to get groceries—those moments can be used to build a profile on me. Thinking that this goes for every citizen, that we are constantly being monitored with no clue it's happening, is unsettling. As a young woman in a different state, completely on my own, this is very unnerving. This shouldn’t be something we are doing to everyday citizens, as much as we should be using it for criminals who need to be arrested or illegal immigrants. But using this on people who are going to and from work just to support their families, or on young girls and guys who are just going to and from school—this shouldn’t be happening. It’s very unnerving to know that law enforcement does this.

Revenge Porn

Then there is Darieth Chisolm’s talk about revenge porn, which was eye-opening and heartbreaking as she was put in a horrible situation where she was taken advantage of during an intimate moment that she did not previously consent to, which almost ruined her life. It made me sad for all of the women who are put in so many tough situations that are humiliating and degrading. These issues affect everyone I know—from friends, family, to classmates. All of us live lives based on the internet. We use our phones to share photos by posting them, and we share our opinions, even though we sometimes don't think twice before sharing them online. But to think that someone could use very private images of me or the people I love to try and harm me is frightening. Things like revenge porn don’t just destroy the reputation of the victim; they can lead to so many other issues, like trauma, bullying, and sometimes legal battles that won’t get solved until multiple years later, when it’s sometimes too late. Chisolm’s talk just reminded me of how scary the internet can be for women, especially as we are more likely to be targets of this type of exploitation.

The Broader Impact

These issues affect me, my family, and friends, as most of us are on social media and are chronically on our phones. We post pictures, share our personal experiences, and make connections online without always thinking about what the consequences could be. I shouldn't have to be worried about being tracked, what I should say on a phone call, or be scared of what might happen every time I post a photo online. I believe the government should take a stronger stance on this to protect our privacy and safety as individuals. First, I think we should have better laws around revenge porn, with consequences for the perpetrators and more support for the victims. I also think ALPRs should have stricter regulations and boundaries, as I think people should be aware that their data is being stored or tracked. Additionally, tech companies should be held accountable for what they are doing with our data, meaning they should have better encryption and privacy policies in their systems by default.

Taking Action

Although this does not just fall on tech companies or the government, as individuals, we have to do our part as well and take control of what we can. This means using apps with end-to-end encryption, such as Signal or WhatsApp, which are apps that make it much harder for communication to be intercepted. We also need to be smarter with what we post and how we manage our privacy settings. We also need to make sure to bring awareness to the people we love and also younger generations about digital exposure, the risks that come with it, and how they can protect themselves from digital exposure and take steps to minimize this.

Conclusion

The reality of this all is that we cannot control every aspect of our online lives. But there are things we can do to be safer, smarter, and more aware of our privacy. Our digital lives are like a permanent tattoo; no matter how hard you try to get rid of it, you can't always get rid of every single part of it. So, we need to stay informed and be aware of what we put out online, as well as offer support to anyone who has faced a hardship due to their online presence. We need to protect our privacy not only for ourselves but for the generations to come after us, as privacy is a luxury, and we must do everything we can to protect it. As our privacy is not dead, it's just on life support!

Blog Post #4

How the iPhone Changed the World: Innovation, Impact, and Consequences

History

In 2007, Apple launched its first-ever iPhone, created by Steve Jobs. This was a moment that would change the course of mobile devices and how people communicate daily. The iPhone had features like a touchscreen, internet access, and integration with the iPod. The iPhone quickly grew into something much more than just a phone; it became a life tool and a necessity. Apple continued to innovate and grow each model of the iPhone over the years, which eventually introduced so many new, riveting features that truly changed modern society.

Almost one year after the release of the iPhone, the App Store was introduced along with 3G connectivity. This allowed users to download third-party apps and led to a massive opportunity for app developers, creators, and businesses as it laid a foundation for the app economy, which has since increased employment, especially for digital developers.

Impact

A couple of years later, in 2010, Apple released the iPhone 4, which introduced many new aspects, including FaceTime and the Retina Display. FaceTime truly revitalized the world of video communication, making it so much easier to keep in touch with loved ones by making it easier to access and much more personal for users around the world. Then, in 2017, the iPhone X was released, which featured groundbreaking technology, including face identification technology and the OLED display. These new features also enhanced necessary things such as security and screen quality while also showcasing the advancement of smartphone technology and how far it has come.

The iPhone slowly became a hub for a plethora of entertainment sources, some of which include podcasts, music videos, games, and so much more, all of which were at the tip of their fingertips. So when users would do everyday tasks such as work, school, chores, or going to the gym, they could always enjoy some form of entertainment at any point in time. Additionally, Apple has also made a strong effort to bridge the gap of digital access and technology across the world, as they want to make it so all populations have easy access to technology.

Negative Effects

However, iPhone, with all of its greatness, does have faults. For example, there have been concerns over the years about digital privacy and where users' data is going and how it is being used. Another example is that there are a variety of health concerns that come with the prolonged use of iPhones, some of which are eye strain, negative impacts on mental health, anxiety, social isolation, and poor sleep. Experts have raised a sense of caution towards iPhones as they can lead to digital addiction, especially in younger generations, as they can decline real-life interactions, making their sole focus what they see on a screen.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the iPhone has undoubtedly been a groundbreaking invention that has revolutionized our society as a whole. It brought things such as easy access to communication, entertainment, productivity, and so much more. With that being said, it has introduced a lot of issues in our society that will need to be addressed. Especially as smartphones and the world of technology grow and change, it’s always important to find a neutral ground with technology. As we choose to embrace it, we also need to be mindful of how it impacts us and the people around us.