Thursday, May 1, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Photo Mapping & Geotagging: Are You Aware that Your Pics Form a Location Map?
The
biggest danger people face when using new media is “photo mapping” and
“geotagging;” in other words, the user’s location is attached to each post or
photo unless the settings are changed.
Most people are aware of this location tagging when it comes to posting
written posts or having the location on or off when messaging on Facebook, but
most people are unaware that location information is also attached to pictures
taken by cameras on cell phones.
Geotags are inserted into the
picture and are embedded data that become easily accessible on the Internet
once a picture is posted (www.fishnetsecurity.com). Once posted, important pieces of information
also become available along with the image, like the date and time the photo
was taken and the exact location (within a few feet) (www.fishnetsecurity.com). As scary as this may be for anyone, it may be
particularly disconcerting when children are involved.
Instagram is a popular new media
site where children and young adults use their real names and post pictures of
themselves and their friends, totally unaware that Instagram creates a “photo
map” that can show anyone their exact location through where each photo was
taken. It is important for parents and
children to be aware of this, so they can turn the photo map off and avoid any
potentially harmful situations. With
Instagram, parents can take it a step further in protecting their children by
making their child’s account totally private.
In this way, the account can only be viewed by those whom their child is
friends with, and anyone who follows their child needs to be approved prior to
gaining access to their child’s pictures and posts. Facebook is another new media site that also
started using photo mapping when they updated the Timeline feature, creating a
map of geotagged places.
Furthermore, pictures that parents
take while they are out with their children (for example, at the park) are also
geotagged and can give criminals their location, daily patterns, or even inform
others of when they are out of the home.
The only way to ensure this embedded information does not get posted
with pictures on new media sites is to follow the directions of the cell
phone’s manufacturer to turn that feature off (Apple, Samsung, Windows, etc.)
since each “settings” is slightly different and requires specific steps (see “Links
for popular cell phones in changing geotag settings” at the end of this post).
The aforementioned concerns with
geotagging, photo mapping, and new media may seem like precautionary tales;
however, it has been proven extremely detrimental in the case of a few members
of the United States military while on active duty. In 2007, four United States Army helicopters
were taken out by Iraqis after the US soldiers posted their pictures on the
Internet (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17311702). Staff Sargent Dale Sweetnam, the head of the
Online and Social Media Division, stressed that soldiers need to think before
they post and ask themselves “Who really needs to know this location
information?” (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17311702). For example, the Timeline feature on Facebook
can further reveal the routes and patterns of soldiers to terrorists, hackers,
etc. (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17311702). A preventative measure that the British Army
took against the dangers that geotagging and photo mapping create was to ban
the use of all cell phones while in “operational zones” and warned soldiers
about the dangers of taking pictures on smartphones in any situation (http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17311702).
Smart phones are getting smarter so
to speak, with the continuing evolution of the Android systems and iOS. New media is continuing to expand, with
children gaining access to various sites at younger and younger ages. Due to these reasons, I do not foresee a
typical solution to this problem. In
other words, it is not going away any time soon. So, the other alternative is to increase one’s
awareness and to simplify the settings on phones and devices that track and tag
through pictures and GPS. For example,
when someone purchases a new phone and starts to go through the motions of
setting it up, informational boxes pop up to help lead the person through the
setup of the new device. I think that
all phones should have an informational box that pops up when a photo is taken,
making them aware that location information is on and giving them the option to
disable it from the beginning.
Personally, I have a Samsung Galaxy 4 and this text box popped up the
very first time I took a picture. It
stated that the location where I took the picture along with the weather for
that day will be embedded with the photo and that I can choose to disable this
feature now (if I ever change my mind, it explained that I can go into “settings”
to enable the location for my pictures); however, I know that not all phones
make it this simple. Or, some people may
not fully realize what this means and unwittingly enable the location to be
transmitted through every single picture they take.
I have included a few links to help
people locate this setting in their phone and to disable it. Having peace of mind and protecting your
children and your loved ones are a lot more important than announcing to the world
your exact location. In this day and
age, being aware of photo mapping, geotagging, and how new media sites enable
the GPS on your phone to determine your exact location are things that should not
be taken for granted. It is better to be
proactive before something frightening or horrible happens.
Links for Popular Cell Phones in
Changing Geotag Settings:
The
above links include instructions for various models of the iPhone, iPod,
Blackberry, Android, and Samsung.
Sources
used in the writing of this post:
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17311702.
US Army: Geotagged Facebook posts put
soldiers’ lives at risk. March 9, 2012.
Web. Accessed April 20, 2014.
https://www.fishnetsecurity.com/6labs/blog/what-geo-tagging-securing-yourself-your-family-and-your-assets.
What is geo-tagging? Securing yourself,
your family and your assets. Web. Accessed April 20, 2014.
http://gcn.com/articles/2012/12/10/how-to-disable-smart-phone-geotagging-feature.aspx. How to disable geotagging feature on smart phone. Web. Accessed April 20, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjSoawiupE0.How to disable geotagging from your iPhone's pictures. Video. Accessed April 21, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXPX-5Y8V0E. Geotagging settings for Androids. Video. Accessed April 21, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZiuXXGYMvg. Disable geotagging on iPhone. Video. Accessed April 21, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dngFdFEskiI. How to turn of geotagging. Video. Accessed April 21, 2014.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Digg.who?
Within
the realm of the “smaller potatoes” of new new media, I think that digg.com is
the most superfluous and expendable site.
When digg.com was purchased for a measly $500,000 in July 2012 by
Betaworks (en.wikipedia.org), it should have ended right there, instead of
being revamped into the useless site it is today.
The sources used in the writing of this blog post include:
digg.com (front page and sign in page). Web. Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
en.wikipedia.org. Digg. Web. Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
Tassi, Paul. Facebook didn't kill digg, reddit did. July 13, 2012. Web. <www.forbes.com> Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
wowbored.com. Digg still sucks. Web. Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
I cannot say that I was an avid
digg.com user, nor can I say that I was even aware of this site prior to taking
this New Media class. This can lend to
my opinion that the site’s power and notoriety was already on the decline,
dwarfing in comparison to better known news sites like reddit.com and whichever
e-mail server you use (Yahoo news, Bing, etc.).
I can say that when turning to a particular site that is supposed to
deliver various types of news (headlines, trending, sports, entertainment, and
local), I am looking to read those news stories separate from social media
sites. In my mind, there is a difference
between a site I turn to read and/or discuss the news and social media sites
like Facebook.
After digg.com was made over and
re-released in 2012, it had a totally new look (www.forbes.com). The concept of delivering the news was the
same and the web address was the same, but that is where the similarities ended
(en.wikipedia.org). To sign into
digg.com, the user now has to link a Facebook, Google+, or Twitter account in
order to gain access (www.digg.com). For some this may be a hassle, especially if
you are just looking to catch up on some quick, trending news articles, and do
not wish to be tracked through one of your social media accounts, or maybe you
are one of the few who does not have an account with any of these social media behemoths
(www.wowbored.com). Furthermore, if you are into linking your
social networking sites with other media sites such as digg.com-like news
sites, then reddit.com would be more of a one stop shop since it combines the
functionality of social networking with group discussions and commenting that
are easily accessible without having to link a pre-existing social media
account.
If you type into Google search “why
digg.com sucks,” you will get pages and pages of reasons, mostly written by
people who were once hardcore digg.com users.
Digg.com’s fan based dwindled even before it was sold for what is
considered peanuts in the digital world of computers and applications, and
putting lipstick on a pig (so to speak) was not going to win them back (www.forbes.com).
Just like death is a
fact of life and Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” prevails, so it is in the
world of new new media. As technology advances
at ever increasing speeds and the needs and wants of the masses change, so will
their desires for particular types of media and Internet sites. Instead of attempting to come back from the
dead, digg.com needs to just accept their inevitable fate at the bottom of the
new new media food chain.The sources used in the writing of this blog post include:
digg.com (front page and sign in page). Web. Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
en.wikipedia.org. Digg. Web. Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
Tassi, Paul. Facebook didn't kill digg, reddit did. July 13, 2012. Web. <www.forbes.com> Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
wowbored.com. Digg still sucks. Web. Accessed Apr 7, 2014.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Blog Project
Based
on Alexa’s global traffic rank, ebizma.com has ranked Facebook as one of the
top social networking sites as of April 1, 2014. For this reason, I will focus on this source
of new new media for the focus of this blog.
As with anything concerning putting
personal data on the internet, a person should always proceed with
caution. Facebook is particularly
fickle, considering that the majority of young users aim for quantity than
quality (who can gather the most “friends,” rather than basing their fb friends
on those who they actually know).
Statistics gathered by Digital Marketing Ramblings has estimated that
the number of fb friends garnered by teens is 300 (www.expandedramblings.com). With that being said, I will delve into the
top ten things that I believe that anyone using Facebook should be aware of.
The dangers of taking “selfies” tops
the list: Taking pictures of yourself (aka "selfies") is a popular
trend on new new media, as can be seen throughout the many photos of Facebook
accounts (including a lot of profiles).
Selfies allows the user to control the angle, lighting, and expression,
thus leading often to taking upwards of 10 and 20 photos in order to arrive at
that one perceptually pleasing pic.
The bathroom mirror (home and
public) rates as one of the best places to take a photo of one's self, which is
definitely a lot safer than some places notorious selfie-takers use (www.buzzfeed.com).
If you use Facebook, you need to be
aware of the importance of responsible selfie taking. I am sure all of your friends want to see how
cute you manage to look while working it out on the stair climber at Planet
Fitness, or see your awesome outfit as you prepare for your 5k (turned half
marathon by the time it hits that Facebook post), but snapping these photos
while in action may come at a cost.
While being so focused on that perfect pucker as you gaze softly into
your phone's camera, you lose the ability to pay attention to your surroundings
and may end up running into a tree or falling right off the treadmill. One thing that is worse than snapping pics
while in action is taking photos while driving.
The trend of snapping one's own pic while driving should be avoided all
together. AAA mid-Atlantic reported this
dangerous trend of taking pics and even videos while driving, stating that not
only is that person's life at stake, but every life around them whether it is
passengers in the car or other drivers and pedestrians (www.baltimore.cbslocal.com).
A second point to be aware of when
using Facebook is the dangers of downloading the Facebook shortcut apps on your
phone and computer. Having this shortcut
available from the main screen of your phone allows quick and immediate access
to Facebook. Once installed, you have
the option to install Facebook widgets to grant faster access to the fb tools
you use the most (like new post and/or new picture). Warning: this may be highly addictive and
incredibly distracting. Checking the
time on your phone can lead to an hour long foray into Facebook world that
started with a little notification on the fb app, signaling new fb activity. 50 status "likes," 10 comments, 4
suggested links and 2 sponsored links later, at least an hour has passed with
your text books still closed on your desk, a dinner that is now cold, or an
angry customer that is silently steaming on the other side of the counter (www.statisticbrain.com).
Thirdly, I do not advise anyone to
respond to posts that pop up on your newsfeed while angry or drunk (especially
if you are an angry drunk). If you are
commenting on a post, there is a good chance that the other person is someone
you actually know. Angry and/or drunk
posts WILL offend, will most likely lend to a public display that quickly
devolves to name calling and character assassination, and will end with you
against upwards of three people who have jumped in to defend the initial
poster, as well as an "unfriend"ing.
Once the words have been exchanged and you have thoroughly made a fool
of yourself despite your attempt to use three and four syllable words to one-up
the war you started, the other person wittingly "unfriends" you with
a possible "block" to end the ridiculousness you began. If you have a conscience, the next day you
will wonder why you even bothered to send that initial comment to begin
with. It is best to not even go there!
People put words out into digital
space via social media and Facebook without considering the implications and
ramifications all of the time. No need
to jump on that band wagon, especially if you are fueled by alcohol
(www.buzzfeed.com).
Yet another thing to aware of when
using Facebook is how annoying it is when a person over uses "LOL"
and "BWAHAHAHA," as in the expression of laughter (www.litreactor.com).
There is no need to begin and end your post with this. Once gets the message through and yes, you
are on the only one who finds it funny.
Unless I was there, and most likely I was not.
A lot of people
love delving into the personal lives of the rich and famous. They want to see what their houses look like,
know what they wore to the gym, and what they ate for breakfast; however, you
are NOT famous and no one wants a detailed account of your daily
itinerary! This leads to the fifth point
you need to be aware of when using fb: be aware of what you are posting and
where- maybe you need to keep your fb shortcut separate from your diary
app! Keeping them separate should help
to minimize posting every mundane detail from the time you woke up until you
had baked chicken with angel hair pasta that your husband cooked for dinner and
watched American Hustle before changing into your pjs, and getting into bed.
Facebook gives people the option of announcing to the world
if he or she is single, in a relationship, married, etc. Some devoted
Facebookers like to take it a step further and post intimate photos of them in
passionate embraces as they kiss their significant other. Going further, the
picture may be accompanied by mushy banter, as the love struck duo profess
their deep love for the other (www.yourtango.com). Moral of the story: be aware of boundaries
and a little acronym called "TMI." Most people do not wish to be
enlightened as to your amazingly perfect romance, especially when it was Joe
one month, Jason the next, & so on.
The jury is still out on number seven: posting gym statuses
and food pics on a daily basis. Some people devote their status to berating the
legions of people who want everyone to know that they are at Planet Fitness
(again) with the aid of the location feature via the GPS on one's phone
(www.living.msn.com). Pictures of
amateur chef creations seem to be the icing on the cake (www.living.msn.com). I propose that when using Facebook, be aware of
your audience and your circle of friends.
If they are like-minded individuals, then have at it. If your list of friends is long and diverse,
focused on quantity not quality, then there are groups/pages for that.
Facebook contains groups started by various people based on
different interests, from nutrition and exercise to cosplay (the practice of
dressing up as a Japanese character from a cartoon, movie, etc.) and
witchcraft. A group for exercise and nutrition can provide the
support, accountability, and a forum in which to post gym statuses and food
pictures without angry retaliation from those "friends" who are not
supportive and do not understand.
Please be advised that once you post something to fb, there
is no taking it back. Considering this,
you might want to think twice before hitting the "post" button (and
check your spelling too). Sure, you can
edit a comment, but then it is labeled "edited" and everyone will
know that you changed it in some way (unless that does not bother you). Yes, you can delete posts, but the words
appear within the digital realm within milliseconds (www.enwikipedia.org). Another Facebooker can view your words, save
the link, forward it, or take a screenshot within seconds- all between the time
you posted and deleted. So, you might
think it is gone, but the words or picture can still be available as a copy
(www.en.wikipedia.org). Even if it was not
copied, it still could have been viewed by someone and left a negative
impression. So for tip number eight, I
would definitely be aware of what and when you post, and to be aware of
spontaneous posting without much of a thought process being involved.
If you are in college or are combing the job market in the
hopes of landing employment, I would be aware of what kinds of social
activities you post on fb. Here is a prime
example of what I am talking about: a 22 year old female college student is
majoring in substance abuse counseling.
She posts about her classes and how she cannot believe that she is one semester
closer to being a drug and alcohol counselor.
In the meantime, she posts drunken pictures and comments on Friday
and/or Saturday nights and makes it a point to go out to get wasted every
weekend with her friends and "pick up" male bartenders. A person using Facebook should definitely be
aware of how a situation like this could possible affect future employment,
especially after putting in all of the effort into earning that degree. What may be worse is the possibility of
losing your job due to a thoughtless, spontaneous Facebook post (www.businessinsider.com).
Last but not least, if you use Facebook you should avoid
posting political comments, unless you are a politician and have some idea of
what you are talking about. Seriously,
everyone’s political opinions vary and it contains hot button issues that can
potentially light fires even when it was not intended (www.living.msn.com). If you wish to voice your opinion on these
matters, there are more appropriate forums in which to share (www.living.msn.com).
Whenever a person ventures out into the digital realm,
whether it is via a social network or some type of new media, a certain
etiquette and awareness needs to follow in order for it to remain a pleasant
experience. These ten tips in which to
be cognizant of when logging into your Facebook account are merely a slight taste
of the plethora of obstacles and issues that one can run into; however,
following these will definitely mitigate the damages and help you to maintain
the friends you have and not make any frienemies.
The
following sources were used in the writing of this blog:
Ebizma.com/articles/social-networking-websites.
Based on Alexa Global Traffic Rank. Apr. 1, 2014. Accessed March 30, 2014.
en.wikipedia.org.
Internet.Web. March 31, 2014.
Expandedramblings.com.
DMR Digital Marketing Ramblings. Number
of friends teens have on Facebook. Web. March 30, 2014.
Statisticbrain.com/social-networking-statistics.
Jan.1, 2014. Social networking statistics.
Web. March 31, 2014.
Hart,
Rob. Litreactor.com. Top 10 words that
need to die, immediately. Feb. 24, ’12. Web. March 31, 2014.
Lewis, Luke. Buzzfeed.com. 24 things you only do when you’re drunk. You
booze, you lose. Oct. 24, ’13. Web. March 30, 2014.
Living.msn.com.
Inspired Life. 20 things your friends
wish you’d stop posting on Facebook. Web. March 31, 2014.
Love,
Dylan. Businessinsider.com. 17 people who
were fired for using Facebook. May
11, ’11. Web. April 1, 2014.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
And Speaking of Facebook...
George Clooney once stated that he "would rather have a prostate exam on live television by a guy with very cold hands than have a Facebook page" (Hunt and Kessler 2013).
My guess is he does not "like" Facebook too much...
Also see: https://econsultancy.com/blog/4637-george-clooney-facebook-and-prostate-exams
Please refer to the previously posted works cited page for the source of this quote. Thanks!
My guess is he does not "like" Facebook too much...
Also see: https://econsultancy.com/blog/4637-george-clooney-facebook-and-prostate-exams
Please refer to the previously posted works cited page for the source of this quote. Thanks!
Works Cited for "Oh Facebook..."
Bunker, M., Corbin, S., Rejendran, K. (2013). The antecedents of satisfaction for Facebook "likers" and their effect on word-of-mouth. Marketing Management Journal, 23(2), 21-34.
Hunt, R., Kessler, L. (2013). Wanna be friends? The potential impact of lifestyle discrimination statutes on employer Facebook policies. Journal of Legal Studies in Business, 18, 45-68.
Labrague, L. (2014). Facebook use and adolescents' emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. Health Science Journal, 8(1).
Hunt, R., Kessler, L. (2013). Wanna be friends? The potential impact of lifestyle discrimination statutes on employer Facebook policies. Journal of Legal Studies in Business, 18, 45-68.
Labrague, L. (2014). Facebook use and adolescents' emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. Health Science Journal, 8(1).
Monday, March 3, 2014
Oh, Facebook! To what do I owe the pleasure?
Facebook has become a huge social phenom that has sparked debates over the usefulness of the new media social tool, and has been the focus of many research studies. There are both positive and negative effects that Facebook has imparted onto society, but with limited time and the wish to not reiterate what most of us already know about Facebook, only a few will be touched upon in the following.
What some may view as a negative, others might see as a positive regarding an employer's right to fire on employee upon specific misconduct that may reflect on the company that person works for (Hunt et al). Depending on the company (as far as status may be concerned, no pun intended), I think that it is a positive effect that Facebook may lend a window into a person's moral character. In the world of us average folk who work for employers where only a high school diploma or GED is "required" and experience is "preferred" (for example, the lovely world of retail, where the most interesting characters can be found and retailers prefer hiring people who receive social services benefits due to the tax cuts they receive), Facebook can reveal a lot more about a person behind that smile and the image they maintain throughout the interview until they are hired. It may make the difference between keeping or firing someone who airs all of their frustration on the social media giant, since they are not "friends" (literally and metaphorically) with anyone they work with.
Even though I personally think it would be beneficial for employers to use Facebook to know what they were getting into before hiring someone (or at least early on), I am pretty confident that this does not occur on a store level in Rotterdam, NY (unless the post includes a hashtag or other form of direct link to those aforementioned digital gods who oversee the "softer side of Sears" from their Chicago skyscraper).
On a lighter note, some employers do have policies addressing the use of social media (i.e. Facebook policies) for restricting the denigration of products or competitors and/or encouraging positive promotion (Hunt et al). Since I work for a company who is striving to become a digital leader among retailers, I found it fascinating that this policy was a part of the stacks of papers and acknowledgments I had to sign when I was hired two years ago (88sears.com).
Since I use Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ (just to name a few), I have used each of these sites to inform the public of specific sales events or a particularly great deal in my department. I am able to make these posts without fear of repercussion from my employer, and have received favorable responses from the ominous digital gurus on each platform.
Moving onto a Facebook effect that can be positive and negative depending on a person's situation: the "like" button. Aside from being able to follow all of the people, places, and things that one enjoys, it is kind of creepy that more and more suggested "likes" pop up based off of previous choices. Furthermore, companies track the people who are "liking" them for demographics and to cater more to consumers in such a way that can be deemed as too personal (Bunker et al). Some companies have been known to share "financial rewards" in their quest to gain more followers via the Facebook "like" button (Bunker et al.).
Facebook has also been correlated with possible negative emotional states, particularly in teenagers. A recent cross sectional investigation was conducted to see if the previous claim that Facebook usage in teenagers is related to a higher level of depression, anxiety, and stress was not validated; however, it did give rise to an equally alarming and important revelation (Labrague).
Alhtough the presence of depressive symptoms and anxiety may be higher in some young Facebook users, there are other factors that may account for these symptoms (stemming from biological and/or environmental components). However, this mode of thinking may help to identify troubled youth since Facebook tends to be the tool that is used to express emotional statuses (Labrague). The posts may implicate helplessness, hopelessness, and self-loathing (Labrague).
The latter may imply a positive effect of Facebook, seeing how troubled youth may be more easily identifiable, but I see it as a negative since these teenagers may believe that they have no other avenue but to deeply and darkly express themselves on a social media website. This line of thought will lead me on an entirely unrelated tangent about the breakdown of communication within the family, the family unit, lack of support system within the schools for troubled children, blah, blah, blah.
In general, I think that the positives outweigh the negatives. I personally like what I get out of Facebook, which is mostly comprised of a support system in specific "closed" groups that I am a part of. I enjoy the freedom I have with social media sites through my employer; however, I believe that India has the right idea in seeking to increase the age at which a person can legally open their own Facebook account. I do not think that most teenagers possess the emotional and mental maturity to navigate Facebook and post appropriately, and may find themselves in predicaments at too young of an age (heck, some adults cannot handle it either!). When a teenager is depressed, I do not think that expressing it on Facebook gives them a fair chance, and it often becomes an after thought in a sad story that ends up in the evening news.
What some may view as a negative, others might see as a positive regarding an employer's right to fire on employee upon specific misconduct that may reflect on the company that person works for (Hunt et al). Depending on the company (as far as status may be concerned, no pun intended), I think that it is a positive effect that Facebook may lend a window into a person's moral character. In the world of us average folk who work for employers where only a high school diploma or GED is "required" and experience is "preferred" (for example, the lovely world of retail, where the most interesting characters can be found and retailers prefer hiring people who receive social services benefits due to the tax cuts they receive), Facebook can reveal a lot more about a person behind that smile and the image they maintain throughout the interview until they are hired. It may make the difference between keeping or firing someone who airs all of their frustration on the social media giant, since they are not "friends" (literally and metaphorically) with anyone they work with.
Even though I personally think it would be beneficial for employers to use Facebook to know what they were getting into before hiring someone (or at least early on), I am pretty confident that this does not occur on a store level in Rotterdam, NY (unless the post includes a hashtag or other form of direct link to those aforementioned digital gods who oversee the "softer side of Sears" from their Chicago skyscraper).
On a lighter note, some employers do have policies addressing the use of social media (i.e. Facebook policies) for restricting the denigration of products or competitors and/or encouraging positive promotion (Hunt et al). Since I work for a company who is striving to become a digital leader among retailers, I found it fascinating that this policy was a part of the stacks of papers and acknowledgments I had to sign when I was hired two years ago (88sears.com).
Since I use Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ (just to name a few), I have used each of these sites to inform the public of specific sales events or a particularly great deal in my department. I am able to make these posts without fear of repercussion from my employer, and have received favorable responses from the ominous digital gurus on each platform.
Moving onto a Facebook effect that can be positive and negative depending on a person's situation: the "like" button. Aside from being able to follow all of the people, places, and things that one enjoys, it is kind of creepy that more and more suggested "likes" pop up based off of previous choices. Furthermore, companies track the people who are "liking" them for demographics and to cater more to consumers in such a way that can be deemed as too personal (Bunker et al). Some companies have been known to share "financial rewards" in their quest to gain more followers via the Facebook "like" button (Bunker et al.).
Facebook has also been correlated with possible negative emotional states, particularly in teenagers. A recent cross sectional investigation was conducted to see if the previous claim that Facebook usage in teenagers is related to a higher level of depression, anxiety, and stress was not validated; however, it did give rise to an equally alarming and important revelation (Labrague).
Alhtough the presence of depressive symptoms and anxiety may be higher in some young Facebook users, there are other factors that may account for these symptoms (stemming from biological and/or environmental components). However, this mode of thinking may help to identify troubled youth since Facebook tends to be the tool that is used to express emotional statuses (Labrague). The posts may implicate helplessness, hopelessness, and self-loathing (Labrague).
The latter may imply a positive effect of Facebook, seeing how troubled youth may be more easily identifiable, but I see it as a negative since these teenagers may believe that they have no other avenue but to deeply and darkly express themselves on a social media website. This line of thought will lead me on an entirely unrelated tangent about the breakdown of communication within the family, the family unit, lack of support system within the schools for troubled children, blah, blah, blah.
In general, I think that the positives outweigh the negatives. I personally like what I get out of Facebook, which is mostly comprised of a support system in specific "closed" groups that I am a part of. I enjoy the freedom I have with social media sites through my employer; however, I believe that India has the right idea in seeking to increase the age at which a person can legally open their own Facebook account. I do not think that most teenagers possess the emotional and mental maturity to navigate Facebook and post appropriately, and may find themselves in predicaments at too young of an age (heck, some adults cannot handle it either!). When a teenager is depressed, I do not think that expressing it on Facebook gives them a fair chance, and it often becomes an after thought in a sad story that ends up in the evening news.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Sears: Redefining the Online Shopping Experience
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
The Internet: It Is What We Make Of It
What I believe to be three of the most important advantages of the Internet include the ability to access information from other locations that would be impossible without cyberspace, instant communication capabilities (including group chat and video) and multi-tasking capabilities.
I was born in Italy where I started my schooling and I continued my education in the catholic school system upon arriving in this country. Despite the advent of technology, the importance of knowing how to do research and learning traditional methods was stressed. So in addition to having to study Latin (ugh), I had to learn the Dewey Decimal System and the Library of Congress system. We learned the old-fashioned methods from an elderly nun who used to fall asleep at her desk, and learned how to navigate the new servers that were dedicated to cataloging that particular library's contents from a young priest who was part of a diocese working towards modernizing our schools. Of course, this was before the time where each library's database was connected and you could reserve a book online from a neighboring library.
I never though I would ever be grateful for Sister Marie Claire, the snoozing librarian nun. She instilled in me a foundation, a skill to fearlessly tackle research, whether it be through books or virtual encyclopedias. She instilled in me a respect for knowledge that will forever leave me in awe every time I type a phrase in the search box and get pages and pages of results. Now I can sit at my kitchen table in Amsterdam, NY and browse images and documents on the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy, and feel totally transported in time and space; I can research psychology journals, view peer reviewed articles written by students in California, or search the catalog of the New York Public Library, wearing nothing but my underwear, a top hat, and smoking a cigar (if I really, really, really wanted to. But rest assured- I am fully dressed as I type this blog).
My earliest memories of instant messaging come with mixed emotions. AOL appeared to have cornered the IM market at the time, and cell phones had yet to get with the program as far as data packages and "unlimited" services. I was quickly hooked to IM'ing my friends down in the city and promptly had my cell phone privileges taken away after my father received a bill for over $300. That was almost ten years ago, and I just go my cell phone back in January 2013!
Instant communication has evolved tremendously over the years. Since the incident I previously mentioned, I did not begin to appreciate it until Facebook messaging- not only can I now contact someone I have not talked to since high school or message family in Italy and Puerto Rico, but I can still communicate with others without giving out my phone number! This makes me feel in control- I am sure we all know someone who we are not sure of that may exhibit psycho or stalker tendencies. Now I can just delete or "block" them, and not have to worry about them harassing me on my cell phone!
All of the major players have "instant messenger" or "chat," from AOL and Yahoo!, Outlook/Hotmail, Facebook and MySpace, to Google (Hangouts), Samsung's ChatOn and a bevy of others that I am missing due to my very limited knowledge of things that are not popular. Even Verizon offers their customers the ability to "text" other Verizon customers from the Web through their homepage. I am one of those people who would download the app or enable the feature because it is what is new and popular, then eventually end up deleting it because I never used it. Except for Facebook messenger, of course. However, I had totally "google-ized" my phone (those with Android devices know what I mean- Google tool bar, Google books, Google wallet... the list goes on and on) and Hangouts was a part of the Google makeover. When my online class began this semester, my professor encouraged us to open a Gmail account if we did not have one already, to make future group projects easier. I took it a step further and started adding classmates to a Google+ circle, then we all started "hanging out." It has been incredibly beneficial. Ten of us can study and contribute to group conversations instantly. I believe that this technology has brought us closer together as a class.
In the April 18, 2013 edition of digitaltrends.com, Drew Pindle rated Google Talk (the former Hangouts) third on his list of five of the best instant messaging clients, citing that the only drawback is that it only works on Windows-based computers. I think that is pretty good considering the amount of IM clients that are available and the fact that he is a tech guy and knows about other platforms that most people do not even know exist! Plus, Hangouts has been updated so much since April 2013 and can be downloaded as an app, used from a cell phone and can take over the text function on a cell phone. It might earn a spot higher up on that list now!
I am going to briefly touch on video chat (i.e. Skype, Hangouts). When my three year old's father went to Florida last month to visit his mother, video chat through Hangouts on our cell phones was a lifesaver. Johnny (my son) also Skypes with his grandmother in Florida and his favorite cousin in Buffalo. He uses Facetime on his iPod to video chat with my mom through her iPhone. Especially with family and people we are close to, there is a deeper connection that is better felt through seeing the person instead of just hearing their voice. It is also more- it is seeing where the person is and imagining them in their environment. It is looking into their eyes and seeing that smile as you hear them laugh, and it is all thanks to the Internet.
One of my personal favorites as far as Internet advantages is the increased ability to multi task. Now that computers (and cell phones) have multi window functions, I am elated. I do not have to completely finish watching YouTube clips or video links for class before taking notes or [gasp] have to take notes by hand. I can open up another window side by side, type my notes as I watch the video, then save it all to this ominous "cloud" that everything is saved and backed up to nowadays. I can schedule appointments, keep track of my homework,receive reminders for said homework (only works if I do not ignore it), make my grocery list, message someone on Facebook, post a status, and participate in my online class, ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Okay, that is not realistic, but I could if I wanted to!
The advantages I listed could arguably be disadvantages as well, but so that my blog post is even longer, I will choose three entirely different disadvantages that I see. One is that it can destroy intimate relationships (explanation to follow). Another disadvantage is that it can give rise to trends that are unhealthy and even illegal; and finally, the Internet can promote information overload if one is not careful or tends to follow along with everything that is put out there.
I stated that the Internet can destroy intimate relationships, but to clarify my point, the Internet makes it easier for a cheater to cheat. I have firsthand experience with this, after months of a secretive and intense relationship between my son's father and his laptop gave rise to an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. To make a long story short, apparently you can use Craigslist to find people who are looking to hook up for a night, so convenient for ski trips to Vermont, etc.
Apparently, I am not the only one who has fallen prey to a partner's use of the Internet to cheat. There are plenty of websites dedicated to the subject, from infidelityassistance.com/internet to a wikihow.com page entitled "How to Catch Someone Who is Cheating Online." Womansavers.com has compiled a list of statistics citing various sources, including evidence that there is a "high correlation" with internet cheating and resulting sexual affairs, and that 31% of people have had an internet conversation that has led to a sexual hookup. According to Divorcemag, less than 50% of men believe that online affairs are adultery. An article posted on csun.edu about internet addiction and relationships also lists a person's repeated involvement in online relationships as a disadvantage of the internet.
When I think of certain videos that have gone viral and subsequent videos posted that mimic the degradation of the first one, I think that this tendency for a segment of the population to jump on the viral bandwagon is an unhealthy trend made possible by the Internet. YouTube is the primary vehicle used to get these videos out, and I think they are a sad commentary on today's society. For example, after the first video hit of teenage girls brutally beating up another young girl, recorded and cheered on by the mother, copy cat videos made by preteens and teens soon followed. Clips of a man guzzling hard liquor is another example of crude videos that are widely imitated; and lest we not forget the sex tape scandals, made popular by the famous and turned into sad, desperate pleas for attention by teenagers who are under 18.
The third disadvantage I see is information overload. This is such a broad topic that can apply to almost anything searched for on the internet, with the smattering of distracting advertisements to make the most focused person feel like they have ADD. I will use my mom for this example, since she is always researching and trying out everything she hears on the Dr. Oz show. There is so much information available online about diet, exercise, weight loss, nutrition programs, supplements, etc. If a person does not find one or two to focus on to see what works or does not work before trying something else, they end up like my mother- with cupboards full of every vitamin and supplement known to man, a fridge full of weird food (half of which ends up spoiling and being thrown out), and a pissed off daughter with an e-mail congested with links to a million different health pages and articles.
I think that the "Google Effect" can include that you no longer think for yourself, and Google makes your decisions for you. You begin to believe that Kim Kardashian really lost all of her baby weight by taking Garcinia Cambogia and Symbiotix, without any changes to her diet, and Beyonce is really upset that her diet secrets were leaked out! So you spend the money on silly supplements that you do not really need and are not "a miracle fat burner in a bottle."
As with most things in life, there will be pros and cons. Particularly with technology and the internet, evaluations of each will always be subjective, whether intentional or not- it is just the way it is, as far as opinions go. So whether the internet is a "vast wasteland," yanking the title Newton Minow bestowed upon television in 1961 is in the eye of the beholder (or the fingers of the Googler). What matters is how each of us uses it to OUR advantage in our daily lives, for better or for worse.
Works Cited
Pindle, Drew. "Best Instant Messaging Clients." digitaltrends.com. Digital Trends, 18 04 2013. Web. 11 Feb 2014.
womensavers.com. "How to Catch Someone Who Is Cheating Online." Web. Retrieved 11 Feb 2014.
I was born in Italy where I started my schooling and I continued my education in the catholic school system upon arriving in this country. Despite the advent of technology, the importance of knowing how to do research and learning traditional methods was stressed. So in addition to having to study Latin (ugh), I had to learn the Dewey Decimal System and the Library of Congress system. We learned the old-fashioned methods from an elderly nun who used to fall asleep at her desk, and learned how to navigate the new servers that were dedicated to cataloging that particular library's contents from a young priest who was part of a diocese working towards modernizing our schools. Of course, this was before the time where each library's database was connected and you could reserve a book online from a neighboring library.
I never though I would ever be grateful for Sister Marie Claire, the snoozing librarian nun. She instilled in me a foundation, a skill to fearlessly tackle research, whether it be through books or virtual encyclopedias. She instilled in me a respect for knowledge that will forever leave me in awe every time I type a phrase in the search box and get pages and pages of results. Now I can sit at my kitchen table in Amsterdam, NY and browse images and documents on the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy, and feel totally transported in time and space; I can research psychology journals, view peer reviewed articles written by students in California, or search the catalog of the New York Public Library, wearing nothing but my underwear, a top hat, and smoking a cigar (if I really, really, really wanted to. But rest assured- I am fully dressed as I type this blog).
My earliest memories of instant messaging come with mixed emotions. AOL appeared to have cornered the IM market at the time, and cell phones had yet to get with the program as far as data packages and "unlimited" services. I was quickly hooked to IM'ing my friends down in the city and promptly had my cell phone privileges taken away after my father received a bill for over $300. That was almost ten years ago, and I just go my cell phone back in January 2013!
Instant communication has evolved tremendously over the years. Since the incident I previously mentioned, I did not begin to appreciate it until Facebook messaging- not only can I now contact someone I have not talked to since high school or message family in Italy and Puerto Rico, but I can still communicate with others without giving out my phone number! This makes me feel in control- I am sure we all know someone who we are not sure of that may exhibit psycho or stalker tendencies. Now I can just delete or "block" them, and not have to worry about them harassing me on my cell phone!
All of the major players have "instant messenger" or "chat," from AOL and Yahoo!, Outlook/Hotmail, Facebook and MySpace, to Google (Hangouts), Samsung's ChatOn and a bevy of others that I am missing due to my very limited knowledge of things that are not popular. Even Verizon offers their customers the ability to "text" other Verizon customers from the Web through their homepage. I am one of those people who would download the app or enable the feature because it is what is new and popular, then eventually end up deleting it because I never used it. Except for Facebook messenger, of course. However, I had totally "google-ized" my phone (those with Android devices know what I mean- Google tool bar, Google books, Google wallet... the list goes on and on) and Hangouts was a part of the Google makeover. When my online class began this semester, my professor encouraged us to open a Gmail account if we did not have one already, to make future group projects easier. I took it a step further and started adding classmates to a Google+ circle, then we all started "hanging out." It has been incredibly beneficial. Ten of us can study and contribute to group conversations instantly. I believe that this technology has brought us closer together as a class.
In the April 18, 2013 edition of digitaltrends.com, Drew Pindle rated Google Talk (the former Hangouts) third on his list of five of the best instant messaging clients, citing that the only drawback is that it only works on Windows-based computers. I think that is pretty good considering the amount of IM clients that are available and the fact that he is a tech guy and knows about other platforms that most people do not even know exist! Plus, Hangouts has been updated so much since April 2013 and can be downloaded as an app, used from a cell phone and can take over the text function on a cell phone. It might earn a spot higher up on that list now!
I am going to briefly touch on video chat (i.e. Skype, Hangouts). When my three year old's father went to Florida last month to visit his mother, video chat through Hangouts on our cell phones was a lifesaver. Johnny (my son) also Skypes with his grandmother in Florida and his favorite cousin in Buffalo. He uses Facetime on his iPod to video chat with my mom through her iPhone. Especially with family and people we are close to, there is a deeper connection that is better felt through seeing the person instead of just hearing their voice. It is also more- it is seeing where the person is and imagining them in their environment. It is looking into their eyes and seeing that smile as you hear them laugh, and it is all thanks to the Internet.
One of my personal favorites as far as Internet advantages is the increased ability to multi task. Now that computers (and cell phones) have multi window functions, I am elated. I do not have to completely finish watching YouTube clips or video links for class before taking notes or [gasp] have to take notes by hand. I can open up another window side by side, type my notes as I watch the video, then save it all to this ominous "cloud" that everything is saved and backed up to nowadays. I can schedule appointments, keep track of my homework,receive reminders for said homework (only works if I do not ignore it), make my grocery list, message someone on Facebook, post a status, and participate in my online class, ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Okay, that is not realistic, but I could if I wanted to!
The advantages I listed could arguably be disadvantages as well, but so that my blog post is even longer, I will choose three entirely different disadvantages that I see. One is that it can destroy intimate relationships (explanation to follow). Another disadvantage is that it can give rise to trends that are unhealthy and even illegal; and finally, the Internet can promote information overload if one is not careful or tends to follow along with everything that is put out there.
I stated that the Internet can destroy intimate relationships, but to clarify my point, the Internet makes it easier for a cheater to cheat. I have firsthand experience with this, after months of a secretive and intense relationship between my son's father and his laptop gave rise to an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. To make a long story short, apparently you can use Craigslist to find people who are looking to hook up for a night, so convenient for ski trips to Vermont, etc.
Apparently, I am not the only one who has fallen prey to a partner's use of the Internet to cheat. There are plenty of websites dedicated to the subject, from infidelityassistance.com/internet to a wikihow.com page entitled "How to Catch Someone Who is Cheating Online." Womansavers.com has compiled a list of statistics citing various sources, including evidence that there is a "high correlation" with internet cheating and resulting sexual affairs, and that 31% of people have had an internet conversation that has led to a sexual hookup. According to Divorcemag, less than 50% of men believe that online affairs are adultery. An article posted on csun.edu about internet addiction and relationships also lists a person's repeated involvement in online relationships as a disadvantage of the internet.
When I think of certain videos that have gone viral and subsequent videos posted that mimic the degradation of the first one, I think that this tendency for a segment of the population to jump on the viral bandwagon is an unhealthy trend made possible by the Internet. YouTube is the primary vehicle used to get these videos out, and I think they are a sad commentary on today's society. For example, after the first video hit of teenage girls brutally beating up another young girl, recorded and cheered on by the mother, copy cat videos made by preteens and teens soon followed. Clips of a man guzzling hard liquor is another example of crude videos that are widely imitated; and lest we not forget the sex tape scandals, made popular by the famous and turned into sad, desperate pleas for attention by teenagers who are under 18.
The third disadvantage I see is information overload. This is such a broad topic that can apply to almost anything searched for on the internet, with the smattering of distracting advertisements to make the most focused person feel like they have ADD. I will use my mom for this example, since she is always researching and trying out everything she hears on the Dr. Oz show. There is so much information available online about diet, exercise, weight loss, nutrition programs, supplements, etc. If a person does not find one or two to focus on to see what works or does not work before trying something else, they end up like my mother- with cupboards full of every vitamin and supplement known to man, a fridge full of weird food (half of which ends up spoiling and being thrown out), and a pissed off daughter with an e-mail congested with links to a million different health pages and articles.
I think that the "Google Effect" can include that you no longer think for yourself, and Google makes your decisions for you. You begin to believe that Kim Kardashian really lost all of her baby weight by taking Garcinia Cambogia and Symbiotix, without any changes to her diet, and Beyonce is really upset that her diet secrets were leaked out! So you spend the money on silly supplements that you do not really need and are not "a miracle fat burner in a bottle."
As with most things in life, there will be pros and cons. Particularly with technology and the internet, evaluations of each will always be subjective, whether intentional or not- it is just the way it is, as far as opinions go. So whether the internet is a "vast wasteland," yanking the title Newton Minow bestowed upon television in 1961 is in the eye of the beholder (or the fingers of the Googler). What matters is how each of us uses it to OUR advantage in our daily lives, for better or for worse.
Works Cited
Pindle, Drew. "Best Instant Messaging Clients." digitaltrends.com. Digital Trends, 18 04 2013. Web. 11 Feb 2014.
womensavers.com. "How to Catch Someone Who Is Cheating Online." Web. Retrieved 11 Feb 2014.
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