Saturday, December 13, 2014
New Media and Society
The effects of new media on society has literally changed the world as we know it. Before the emergence of the internet and new technologies the world was an extremely different place. Although 9/11 only happened 13 years ago, think about what would've happened if the attack on the World Trade Center happened today. Before going there, remember what it was like, being an individual living in the Tri-State area I remember it perfectly- no one knew what was going on, we accounted for our loved ones ensure that everyone was safe, and everyone heard a million different stories of what had actually happened. Now-fast-forward 13 years, what would it be like today. First off, if you search YouTube for World Trade Center 9/11, you will get approximately 350,000 results of tributes, video footage from that day from all angles, and interviews following the day from survivors and individuals who lost people. Now if it was today, there would be billions of videos on YouTube alone. Imagine the videos we would see? We live in a society where we are tied to our cellphone so imagine what the footage would be?- videos from people on the street from their phones, individuals running out from the building to try to save their life, and worse-video of individuals who unfortunately perished. The screams we would hear, the cries, and the silence of the aftermath of their untimely death. We would also would see billions of Tweets, Facebook and Instagram posts, which could have helped individuals locate their loved ones faster, we could have had a more unified grieving period where we would all be there for each other in another sense by speaking with eachother through social media and text messaging, and we could have a little more piece of mind when going to sleep that night. Sure, new media has given us many pros and cons however it has also revolutionizing the way in which we interact with eachother, the way in which we find news out, and more importantly, has given us a new way to live our life, in a more informed, more unified way.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Privacy and Confidentiality
As I spoke about in one of my previous posts, individuals in our modern day society have become obsessed with social media to the point that if they leave their house and forget their phone, an anxiety comes and they feel as if they are being left out and forgotten. With the new smartphones and social media sites, there are many points and times where the devices and applications ask for your personal information and it has been found that they are selling their personal data such as your email address, address book, and many other things which you at one point might have authorized without permission. In a recent article posted in the Atlantic, it was found that Facebook "access basic information and it now includes...passing your current address and mobile phone number to whichever application is trying to gain access from it." Scammers, he states, are impersonating real applications and are taking your information from Facebook and selling it to advertisers, spammers, and scammers. The only advice he offers is to simply disconnect yourself entirely from the site.
This unfortunately is just one aspect to a very controversial subject. For instance, recently it was found that AT&T employees were infringing on their costumers rights and were stealing their personal information including their social security numbers, addresses, and other personal data which should remain confidential and should not be even able to be accessed by any employee.
Although AT&T's hacking was indeed horrible, they are not the only one. Notable hackings of other networks include, Apple's iCloud, Sony's Network, Target and the stealing of credit cards and many many others.
By allowing such information to be so accessible are we thusly allowing ourselves to be so naive to think that there aren't a few bad apples who will hack the content and use it against us? The problem is that we'd like to think that companies and corporations are trustworthy enough not to expose our confidential information but unfortunately thats not the world we live in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/07/att-data-breach_n_5943138.html
This unfortunately is just one aspect to a very controversial subject. For instance, recently it was found that AT&T employees were infringing on their costumers rights and were stealing their personal information including their social security numbers, addresses, and other personal data which should remain confidential and should not be even able to be accessed by any employee.
Although AT&T's hacking was indeed horrible, they are not the only one. Notable hackings of other networks include, Apple's iCloud, Sony's Network, Target and the stealing of credit cards and many many others.
By allowing such information to be so accessible are we thusly allowing ourselves to be so naive to think that there aren't a few bad apples who will hack the content and use it against us? The problem is that we'd like to think that companies and corporations are trustworthy enough not to expose our confidential information but unfortunately thats not the world we live in.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/07/att-data-breach_n_5943138.html
The Next New Thing
Since our culture has become so engulfed in pursuing different identities while online, I think a creation of a virtual reality where individuals were put in a real life situation and they had a decision to make that would alter the world in a better way. When I say a real life situation, I mean a current controversial issue that is going on currently, and that will help alter the way in which they judge what is going on. For instance, imagine putting someone who is so pro war in a situation where they are actually in the war and its done so well and real that it causes them to reexamine their beliefs on war and it literally puts them into the situation. By being able to have a software that allows one to live in another's shoes and experience a similar life to one they judge, maybe we could live in a country which their is less judgement and hatred.
Advice to Brooklyn College
If I were hired by Brooklyn College, there would be a number of things I would have them change.
1. Social Media- I would increase their presence on social media websites by about 9 billion percent. There is literally zero presence on any of the social media websites and if their is one, its unrelatable to the average student, impersonal, and lack any substance. If I were in charge I would constantly be interacting with students and having contests for specific prizes. One of the most important things about college if not THE most important parts is learning how to network and gaining a good connection with your school. At its core, that all social media sites aim to want. I would post on Twitter more than when there is only a snow-day or a program, I would Tweet to students, post different contests like a daily trivia question about the school wins a ten dollar gift card to Starbucks. In short, there are many ways to improve their presence.
2. Modernization of the use of texts within the school- Every time I go to the school I cannot believe the amount of paper they waste on syllabuses, texts, tests, and other handouts. Although I can honestly say I am not an environmentalist, I can say I am someone who believes its time for a modernization. We live in a time where you can send an email and receive it in less than a second, so why not use it? I would tell Brooklyn College to buy each student some tablet and have the teachers send all documents to that tablet. This will not only fare well for the environment but will save the school money in the long run.
1. Social Media- I would increase their presence on social media websites by about 9 billion percent. There is literally zero presence on any of the social media websites and if their is one, its unrelatable to the average student, impersonal, and lack any substance. If I were in charge I would constantly be interacting with students and having contests for specific prizes. One of the most important things about college if not THE most important parts is learning how to network and gaining a good connection with your school. At its core, that all social media sites aim to want. I would post on Twitter more than when there is only a snow-day or a program, I would Tweet to students, post different contests like a daily trivia question about the school wins a ten dollar gift card to Starbucks. In short, there are many ways to improve their presence.
2. Modernization of the use of texts within the school- Every time I go to the school I cannot believe the amount of paper they waste on syllabuses, texts, tests, and other handouts. Although I can honestly say I am not an environmentalist, I can say I am someone who believes its time for a modernization. We live in a time where you can send an email and receive it in less than a second, so why not use it? I would tell Brooklyn College to buy each student some tablet and have the teachers send all documents to that tablet. This will not only fare well for the environment but will save the school money in the long run.
Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds
It's kind of creepy what has emerged since the rise of the internet. There have been many different websites that have shown how weird we all are as humans. Between virtual reality, social media, and other websites that allow us to escape our reality, we can see how that the internet has birthed a new reality, a reality in which individuals are able to become someone they aren't in real life. This can be seen on Facebook where more times than not individuals show a different side of themselves. Just look at the numbers- ,
Facebook is not only the largest social networking website but also has the
second largest population in the world to China. As of July 2014, Facebook has
an estimated 1.3 billion active users, has over 600 million users active
through their mobile devices, and is now translated into 70 languages. Of all
statistics, the most daunting is that which shows that collectively; users
spend approximately 640 million minutes a month on Facebook.
Now, one can effectively ask what bearing does this have on ones own personal identity.According to Kathryn Brown’s “The Risk of taking Facebook at Face Value: Why Psychology of Social Networking Should Influence the Evidentiary Relevance of Facebook Photographs,” studies have found that users present both “online and offline identities.” More so, Brown cites another study, which states that users display only certain pictures which “presents user as attractive… shows user in a humorous shot… and shows off user’s romantic relationship.” This study suggests that individuals tend to present themselves only at their best to make it as if their lives and experiences are better than their peers.
Additionally, In Yin Zhang, Leo Shing-Tuan Tang, and Louis Leung’s recent study they tried to answer this exact claim. After conducting studies, which measured one’s self-esteem levels as well as other parts of the psyche, results showed that “users adopted Facebook to seek social information, get recognition and support from others, maintain and extend social connections.” The studies also showed that these user’s lives were affected both behaviorally and psychologically. These users would also feel out of touch or lost if they had not spent their usual time on Facebook updating and getting updated, suggesting a reliance and addictiveness to the site. Additionally, one could look at another study conducted by Junghyum Kim and Jong Eun Roselyn Lee which shows how Facebook contributes to psychological well-being and how the amount of Facebook friends and self-presentation can affect one’s subjective well being. Not surprisingly, these studies found that the number of Facebook friends one has at a given point will indeed affect one’s self esteem, self perception, and change the way they act . The affect which Facebook seems to have on ones own life seems daunting. Everyday millions upon millions log onto the site and escape into an alternate reality where they can act and show themselves to others in a different light.
However, it seems like Facebook isn't the only platform in which we see how utterly strange we have become. In a recent NY Times article by Dave Itzkoff, he speaks about a new website called VLES which is a virtual reality of the Lower East Side. The site offers a "smurf village reduction of the Lower East Side, and yet instantly recognizable to anyone." We are all familiar with the Sims collects of games and although it was strange that one would actually play God, it was deemed acceptable since it wasn't a clear replica of the Lower East Side, it was a fictional area which was never misconstrued with real life. The problem is, individuals are getting stuck in this new reality thanks to VLES and it has caused them to ignore real life. Itzkoff shows this by stating that "despite knowing that its real-life inspiration exists right outside my door, I have spent the last few months making such visits to the Virtual Lower East Side (vles.com), a three-dimensional, Internet-based social network."
These examples above further demonstrate the fact that these social networking sites have created a new reality and has masked itself to seem to individuals as if its the real reality.
Now, one can effectively ask what bearing does this have on ones own personal identity.According to Kathryn Brown’s “The Risk of taking Facebook at Face Value: Why Psychology of Social Networking Should Influence the Evidentiary Relevance of Facebook Photographs,” studies have found that users present both “online and offline identities.” More so, Brown cites another study, which states that users display only certain pictures which “presents user as attractive… shows user in a humorous shot… and shows off user’s romantic relationship.” This study suggests that individuals tend to present themselves only at their best to make it as if their lives and experiences are better than their peers.
Additionally, In Yin Zhang, Leo Shing-Tuan Tang, and Louis Leung’s recent study they tried to answer this exact claim. After conducting studies, which measured one’s self-esteem levels as well as other parts of the psyche, results showed that “users adopted Facebook to seek social information, get recognition and support from others, maintain and extend social connections.” The studies also showed that these user’s lives were affected both behaviorally and psychologically. These users would also feel out of touch or lost if they had not spent their usual time on Facebook updating and getting updated, suggesting a reliance and addictiveness to the site. Additionally, one could look at another study conducted by Junghyum Kim and Jong Eun Roselyn Lee which shows how Facebook contributes to psychological well-being and how the amount of Facebook friends and self-presentation can affect one’s subjective well being. Not surprisingly, these studies found that the number of Facebook friends one has at a given point will indeed affect one’s self esteem, self perception, and change the way they act . The affect which Facebook seems to have on ones own life seems daunting. Everyday millions upon millions log onto the site and escape into an alternate reality where they can act and show themselves to others in a different light.
However, it seems like Facebook isn't the only platform in which we see how utterly strange we have become. In a recent NY Times article by Dave Itzkoff, he speaks about a new website called VLES which is a virtual reality of the Lower East Side. The site offers a "smurf village reduction of the Lower East Side, and yet instantly recognizable to anyone." We are all familiar with the Sims collects of games and although it was strange that one would actually play God, it was deemed acceptable since it wasn't a clear replica of the Lower East Side, it was a fictional area which was never misconstrued with real life. The problem is, individuals are getting stuck in this new reality thanks to VLES and it has caused them to ignore real life. Itzkoff shows this by stating that "despite knowing that its real-life inspiration exists right outside my door, I have spent the last few months making such visits to the Virtual Lower East Side (vles.com), a three-dimensional, Internet-based social network."
These examples above further demonstrate the fact that these social networking sites have created a new reality and has masked itself to seem to individuals as if its the real reality.
"Facebook
Statistics." Statistic Brain RSS. N.p., 23 June 2013. Web. 1 November
2014.
<http://www.statisticbrain.com/facebook-statistics/>.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Social Networking
There are many ways to incorporate social networking in ones business. One way can simply be by interacting with ones costumer base. For example, a couple years ago I worked by myself going business to business asking them about growing their social media presence. Many if not most had the same response, "what is that?" "why would I need to do that." My response was always this, "I'll give you one month free to prove myself and its value." 9/10 times, the business said they had nothing to loose and brought me on board as a consultant. Within that month, I used the site to post special contests daily, post many pictures of the products that were sold and specialized, and most importantly, interact with costumers. I would always comment on their posts, write to them, and start a relationship with the group itself. Within that month I was able to establish a bong between the costumers and business which never existed before thanks to social media. One can see the advantages listed in a recent article by Marguerite Reardon, where she speaks about how AT&T used Twitter as a means of communication with their costumers during a recent outage. Specifically, Reardon writes that "hundreds of messages were sent back and forth on Twitter throughout the day among angry customers looking for more information on what has been happening." At&T is not the first company to do this. I am currently employed by a family owned travel agency and American Airlines system was down and cancelled every flight. We had hundreds of passengers abandoned at the airport and the only way to communicate with them at the time was through Twitter. Through these means, I was able to stay in touch and get real time updates directly from the representatives at the airline rather than sitting around waiting and not having an answer for my costumers.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Examining Social media sites
Ever since I can remember I have been a big fan of social media. It all started when I was nine and I started to use AIM profiles to write about me and write different things about myself that I wanted to share with your buddies. As the times evolved so did social networking and I remember my first experience with the newest type of channel, Myspace. I got a Myspace originally to promote my band but I later used to to socialize with friends, meet new people, and share my life with others. I remember feeling so impressed with the way the website looked and the speed in which you could browse through someones profile and messaging them. Then the world changed forever, Facebook emerged and stole everyone from Myspace. I got a Facebook in 2006 and since then I never quit. the first time I used Facebook I remember thinking that Myspace was so outdated and the website which once impressed me so greatly was now an antique. Although i never used Friendster, I was excited we were assigned to look at this site because I never heard of it and I was even more excited to see what Myspace had to offer since I hadn't been on the site since 2006.
The standard for social media websites for me is Facebook. Facebook has constantly evolved into what the times called for and always kept a fresh face. Every few months we here a large public outcry of individuals complaining because Facebook changed the way they view their news-feeds, or see their messages or many other small changes that people seem to love to make a big fuss over. Yet, everyone continues to go on the website.
Myspace- When I first went on the site I was so surprised how much they truly changed about the website. It took me a minute to find how to log in but once I found it, I logged on and was up and running. Well not exactly, I had no clue how to access my old profile and once I did all my old pictures and messages were all deleted. The website was also really slow, was centered around music more then ever before, and it seemed like most of the active accounts were bots. Overall I see why I left the website to begin with, the site is boring, hard to navigate at times, and is EXTREMELY outdated.
Upon registering for Friendster I was left dizzy and confused. The website seems to be a hub for individuals who love to play games and incorporate social media. Ia m not one of those people other than if I am playing scrabble. Once registering (I felt like I was signing myself up for a virus), The website seemed hard to navigate at first and the odd mixture of colors made me a little dizzy and seizurish but I continued on. As I played a game and messed around with the websites, I got bored of the website very quickly by the amount of time it took to load content felt like I was getting nowhere with the website. I also felt like it wasn't as much of a social media website rather a gaming website where one was able to interact with another like the old website logo.
Overall it seems clear that Facebook continues to reign over all social media websites and it's obvious why they are so successful.
The standard for social media websites for me is Facebook. Facebook has constantly evolved into what the times called for and always kept a fresh face. Every few months we here a large public outcry of individuals complaining because Facebook changed the way they view their news-feeds, or see their messages or many other small changes that people seem to love to make a big fuss over. Yet, everyone continues to go on the website.
Myspace- When I first went on the site I was so surprised how much they truly changed about the website. It took me a minute to find how to log in but once I found it, I logged on and was up and running. Well not exactly, I had no clue how to access my old profile and once I did all my old pictures and messages were all deleted. The website was also really slow, was centered around music more then ever before, and it seemed like most of the active accounts were bots. Overall I see why I left the website to begin with, the site is boring, hard to navigate at times, and is EXTREMELY outdated.
Upon registering for Friendster I was left dizzy and confused. The website seems to be a hub for individuals who love to play games and incorporate social media. Ia m not one of those people other than if I am playing scrabble. Once registering (I felt like I was signing myself up for a virus), The website seemed hard to navigate at first and the odd mixture of colors made me a little dizzy and seizurish but I continued on. As I played a game and messed around with the websites, I got bored of the website very quickly by the amount of time it took to load content felt like I was getting nowhere with the website. I also felt like it wasn't as much of a social media website rather a gaming website where one was able to interact with another like the old website logo.
Overall it seems clear that Facebook continues to reign over all social media websites and it's obvious why they are so successful.
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