Blog #7

Diffusion of Innovations: Snapchat

When Snapchat was first introduced the concept was unheard of. It was texting but with pictures and videos that disappeared after you had sent them. This is what initially caused users to become early adopters. People are often threatened by the permanence of the messages that they send, snapchat took that worry away. Not only was snapchat used for directly sending pictures and videos you could also post to your story. Story posts are set to disappear after 24 hours once again touching on the non-permanence of messaging on this app. 

Additionally snapchat added fun filters for pictures and videos. People were influenced to download the app to try out these fun filters and send funny messages to their friends. Making snapchat super popular among teenagers and young adults. To keep users engaged over the years snapchat has added many other features including Snapstreaks and Bitmojis. 

The pros for snapchat can also be viewed as cons. The non permanence of messaging on snapchat led to an increase in cyberbullying. People could hide behind their screen and say hurtful things that they might not say to your face. They got the courage to send these messages because they knew that it would disappear after the recipient viewed it. Inappropriate content also became widely exchanged on snapchat, once again because of the lack of message permanence. 

Overall snapchat can be used as a fun and different way to interact with friends, but it is also important to not abuse the platform, and to be aware of the potential risks of using snapchat. 

Blog Post #6

ANTI-WAR VOICES

For this blog post I explored both https://www.antiwar.com/ and https://www.theamericanconservative.com/, before today I had never heard of these sites. As I was reading through and hearing anti-war voices in my head as I was doing so I started thinking about why we don't hear about this in the mainstream media. I think the United States as a whole is a very patriotic country and we take pride in our military forces, and highly respect veterans. Growing up we were always taught that the military fought for our freedom and that they were selfless people doing the right thing for their country. Which is why antiwar voices are silences, or at the least not published in the mainstream media. However I think that both things can be true, we can both value and support our military while also thinking objectively about whether we should be involved in a war or not. 

While scrolling through these sites and reading articles this one stuck out to me in particular. Why are we not hearing about a mass grave containing the remains of over 300 people. Instead the media is showing protests on college campuses about the war. Just today I have seen at least 5 videos on social media about the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi at UNC Chapel Hill protecting the American flag from being destroyed. So it's not that we aren't talking about the war, we are just not about the right things. People are dying and the media is covering the actions of fraternities on college campuses. Not only that but people are raising money to "throw them a rager" for their "bravery and patriotism." They have raised over $100,000, do you know how many starving people that could feed overseas? 

After reading the articles and information on these sites I am now much more aware of how ignorant the people of the United States are. I am also aware of how little we truly know about foreign affairs, unless we go find out information for ourselves. 

Final Blog Post - Our Relationship with Technology

 I got my first iPod touch when I was in 6th grade, and my first iPhone when I turned 13. Immediately I created accounts on snapchat and instagram. I wanted to be on social media because everyone else was, at the time I didn't know how much my life would change because of it. I quickly became obsessed with how many followers and likes I was getting on my posts, and I constantly compared myself to the beautiful Instagram models that were all over the internet. Looking back knowing what I do now, I was definitely way too hard on myself. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self that what you see on social media is not the truth. Those girls posting about traveling the world and not having to work a day in their lives is not the norm, and that is not what I should have been aspiring to be. Now that I'm older and have gone through high school and almost all of college, I know that people tend to post the good parts of their lives and leave out the bad. The content that is put out by influencers are highlights of their lives, not their real everyday experience. 

Even now that I am aware of how fake social media is I still find myself comparing my self to or being jealous of people that I see online. I also am still addicted to it regardless of how harmful it may be. Not a day goes by that I don't open an application of social media and scroll until I'm bored. Now with recent advancements in technology these apps show you exactly what you want to see to keep you engaged for as long as possible. Bringing you to a point where you don't want to ever put your phone down. 

This is a video that we watched in class from the 1964 World Fair, predicting the future advancements of technology. It's fascinating to see how the predictions made in the 1960s about the future have, in many ways, come to fruition. Concepts like space exploration, climate research, and advancements in transportation have indeed progressed significantly since then. However these progressions come with implementations. This video shows the good that can come out of technology, and none of the bad.

Another video that we watched in class showed the negative impacts of social media on society as a whole.

The people in this video are constantly looking at their phones and paying attention to absolutely nothing else. They wouldn't even notice a burning building unless it was sent to them on social media. The director of this video was able to get their message across to viewers by exaggerating the actions of today's society.  Although the scenarios in this video may have been exaggerated the points that it makes are all valid. Today people all over the world are constantly on their phones, rarely does anyone go anywhere without it. Some people can't even go to the bathroom without bringing their phone with them. This causes us to be less present in real life, and miss out on the things that make human life so special. 

I feel lucky to have grown up during the time that technology was evolving into what it is today. I'm glad that I wasn't an "iPad kid" and that I played "house" with my friends instead of watching YouTube together. As I reflect on how far technology has come I am impressed however I am also disappointed. In the future I want to be a mother, and I do not want to raise my kids on social media. I am disappointed in parents all over the world for not protecting their children's childhoods. I want my kids to grow up playing outside, playing board games, being part of a sports team, riding bikes, etc... I don't want them to be watching a Youtube video of Ms.Rachel on an iPad while we're at the beach. 

Blog Post #9

 Privacy: 

Have you ever been scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, and a video or post pops up about something you were just talking to your friends about? Whether that be speaking to each other aloud, or through text. It has happened to me more times than I can count. Before I watched these videos I had a general understanding of why this happened, I knew that these apps were collecting my information however I didn't realize how serious it actually is. After watching these videos it became apparent to me that I care way too little about my privacy, especially when it comes to technology and social media. I also feel that my friends and family care too little about their privacy. 

When it comes to posting on social media I feel that my friends and family may share too much of their lives. Our generation has become a little bit too comfortable with the internet and social media. We tend not to think before putting things out there for the whole world to see. I think that we often believe the only people paying attention are our friends and followers, however that is far from the truth. We are always being watched, and every internet search that we make is being monitored. We also blindly agree to terms and conditions of apps and websites constantly without a second thought. Clicking "accept all cookies" is a daily occurrence for us. We don't even bat an eye at putting our phone numbers and emails onto online stores for a discount. We don't perceive these actions as threats to our security, however we should. 

I personally had my social security number stolen, and someone filed taxes in my name. I then had to jump through hoops with the IRS for months to get the issue resolved. There is no doubt in my mind that my information was retrieved off of the internet somehow. 

The government should be protecting our privacy however they are also the ones violating it. The government keeps close tabs on those that make odd searches on the internet. They monitor web searches to see who poses a threat to society or to the government itself. 

To protect ourselves from the danger that the internet poses we should be cautious of the information we share on the internet, and what we agree to when using certain applications. Beware of using public wifi, be cautious of phishing, create strong passwords and don't use the same one for every account. These are just a few ways to protect yourself. Most importantly stay educated and aware. 

Blog Post #10

 EOTO Learned Terms & Concepts: Propaganda 

Propaganda is misleading or biased information, often used in political campaigns, advertising, legal arguments, etc... Some propaganda stays prevalent for generations after it was released to the public, take Rosie the Riveter for example.

 

Rosie the Riveter was used to encourage women to join the work force and fill the positions of the men that were off fighting in World War II. She is seen as an iconic symbol of women's independence and capability. Many women would go on to fill positions in ship yards and factories while the men were at war. 

Propaganda is still prevalent in society today, recent examples including:

       

Propaganda has many effects on society. With propaganda biased information spreads extremely quickly, causing individuals to develop opinions based information that may not be accurate. It also creates disagreement between both sides of the argument. Propaganda also deliberately targets emotions and plays off of them. It is used to persuade people in drastic ways and can often mislead them to believe things that may not be true. Propaganda is used to push agendas, good and bad. 

I found propaganda to be particularly interesting because it is prevalent not only in our society, but all over the world. Along with being prevalent all over the world it has also been used consistently over the course of history. Propaganda is now published through many channels including news websites and social media, which are where most people get their information in today's day and age. Instead of being printed and distributed propaganda now circulates even faster than it once did. With the outbreak of COVID-19 we saw many examples of propaganda all over social media. Expressing the opinions of those who thought it was dangerous and those that thought the world was over reacting. This caused a huge divide within our society and set many individuals apart. 

Blog Post #8

 EOTO Terms & Concepts: Echo Chamber 

An echo chamber is an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered. 

Echo chambers are often compared to a bubble. People surrounded by opinions and view points that mimic their own. This leads to lack of information and often misinformation because the whole picture isn't put on display. A lot of the time people are unconsciously part of an echo chamber, especially in the age of social media. Social media users tend to follow and engage with content from creators that have views and ideas similar to their own. This contributes to the spread of misinformation because they blindly  follow these influencers who sometimes have no information to back up their opinions. It is easy to believe something that an individual says if you have the same views as them, you are less likely to question the validity of their opinion. 

Echo chambers can be particularly harmful to society, and often lead to extreme views and beliefs. When people are constantly surrounded by like minded people, opinions, and views they become less willing to hear the other side to the story. It also discourages people from fostering relationships with people that are different than them, decreasing diversity within society as a whole. People who are part of echo chambers have a hard time feeling empathy for those with opposing views whether that be about religion, politics, economics, etc... It can cloud the judgement of individuals and limit their ability to be open minded and susceptible to differing opinions. 

While echo chambers are mostly viewed as negative they do have some positive effects. They can provide individuals with a sense of community and belonging. It provides a sense of comfort for those involved, being surrounded by people that are similar to you can make you feel seen and valued. They can also play a role in creating a strong identity, especially for those who are part of an underrepresented or marginalized group. This could mean those that are part of the LGBTQ community, those with a low socio-economic status, cultural and racial minorities, etc... These groups can often be silenced by those with different backgrounds and opinions. Echo chambers provide these individuals with a safe space to voice their opinions and feel supported. 

My generation is particularly involved with social media, it has become part of our everyday lives. Tik Tok and Instagram are particularly popular among my friends and I. We all have creators and influencers that we follow closely and enjoy their content. Two of my best friends are particularly left leaning while the rest of us are more right leaning. We don't often discuss politics but when we do it can definitely create uncomfortable situations and feelings. When we get news from social media they are often tailored to our beliefs due to the algorithm of these apps. These apps intentionally show you content that you like rather than dislike because they want you to be an avid user. This creates a disconnect between myself and my friends that have different values and beliefs than me. Personally I would say that I am able to take a step back and see situations and discussions from a different point of view. However I have observed that some of my friends are unable to or won't allow themselves to see anything from a different point of view. Echo chambers on social media definitely play a part in this. 

Blog Post #5

 EOTO Technology Learned: Typewriter 

The typewriter was developed in the mid 19th century however it can be traced back as far as the 16th century. Instead of handwritten print, typed print became an option. It allowed for fast and legible written work, making it easier for audiences to read. This also made reading materials more accessible to those who struggled to read written scripts. The typewriter also contributed to the mass production of newspapers, magazines, and books, as well as journals and other written materials. Communication across the world was improved with the introduction of the typewriter. The impact on culture and communication was unparalleled. Even today the typewriter is viewed as a symbol of nostalgia and creativity. New job opportunities also appeared, when businesses started looking for people to type for them. Particularly women were affected by the invention of the typewriter. They were now given the opportunity to become typists and stenographers. This affected the world socially, changing gender roles and giving women more room to expand in the workforce. 

Further the development of the typewriter paved the way for mechanical advancements such as the electric typewriter and ultimately laid the foundation for the digital age. When you look at the keyboard on a laptop it is an updated version of the typewriter keyboard. The computer would not look the way it does today without this invention. The typewriter also played a key word in education. Typing became a skill that was taught all around the world. 

I remember in elementary and middle school we were required to complete an online typing certification. This certification determined how fast and efficient we were at typing. They would cover our hands with a cardboard box to make sure that we knew where the correct keys were without looking. 

Now that I’m in college the ability to type is essential, especially when taking notes. Being able to type fast and efficiently determines whether I have the correct notes. Having the correct notes directly translates to whether I do well on tests and quizzes. Therefore I can attest that the invention of the typewriter still impacts individuals today.

Blog Post #4

EOTO: The Telephone

The idea for the telephone came long before it was actually created. An Italian innovator, Antonio Meucci is credited with inventing the first basic telephone. He invented this phone in 1849. Following Meucci, a Frenchman, Charles Borseul created another version of the telephone in 1854. A little more than twenty years later Alexander Graham Bell received the first U.S. patent for the telephone in 1876. Graham Bell was only able to fully develop his telephone and bring it to the market, because he had financial backers that invested in him and his device. The first exchange was in operation two years later. By 1908 there were 5.8 million telephones in the system. 

https://www.elon.edu/u/imagining/time-capsule/150-years/back-1870-1940/#:~:text=The%20Development%20of%20the%20Telephone&text=While%20Italian%20innovator%20Antonio%20Meucci,for%20the%20device%20in%201876.

        

Before the invention of the telephone the main form of long distance communication was through written and delivered letters. The process of sending letters back and forth was obviously much slower than using a telephone, and a lot more inconvenient. There was also a level of privacy that the telephone provided, people no longer had to put their thoughts in writing and worry about who else would see it aside from whom it was intended for. This invention connected people around the world and revolutionized the way that we communicate. Distance was no longer an issue and people could deliver urgent messages right away. This made a difference to many fields, especially that of first responders and medical personnel. People could now call the police or an ambulance, people who certainly would have died from their injuries in previous years were now given a greater chance of survival, fires could be put out faster, and criminals could be stopped before they did their worst damage. 

The invention changed our world in so many ways, some good, some bad. Socially the telephone brought people together and helped to foster a sense of community world wide. People were less lonely because they could talk to loved ones from far away, and relationships grew stronger due to the increase in contact. The business world was also revolutionized as meetings could now be conducted over the phone, and partnerships or deals could be confirmed without being in the same room, or state, or country for that matter. Along with the great impact to the business world the economy was effected just as much. Economic growth spread throughout the globe. Sales for various products could now be made over the phone. People were also spending money to keep their phone line working. The telephone also improved the access of information for government agencies as well as many other organizations. Those were some of the positive impacts that the telephone had on the world, however there are some negatives. These negatives include dependency on technology, loss of jobs, reduced travel, etc... However as a whole the world wouldn't be the way it is today without the telephone. The level of intelligence amongst individuals would be significantly lower, and communication across the world would be much more limited. 

Today the telephone is completely different from what it once was. The telephone was updated to become a cellphone, now landlines are almost obsolete. People bring their cellphones with them everywhere. Texting is now a feature on phones, as well as FaceTime. Now not only can you talk to your loved ones on the phone, but you can also send them short text messages at your convenience, and talk face to face from a different geographical location. We would not have reached the technological age that we are in now without the invention of the telephone. 

I am particularly grateful for the invention of the telephone because it means that I can come to school here at High Point University, and still keep close relationships with my friends and family at home. I also would have never chosen to come to school here if I didn't have the ability to call my mom at the drop of a dime. Meaning that I wouldn't be able to experience the things that I have, or met the people here that I love. 

Blog Post #3

 Out of the eight values of free expression I would say that individual self-fulfillment resonates most with me. I think that growing up I struggled a lot with who I was and I often silenced myself. As I've grown up and grown into the person that I am now I feel as though I wouldn't have been able to do so fully without the freedom to speak my mind. It is so important to me that my friends and family feel as though they are heard, and know that they can speak freely regardless of the topic. Freedom of speech has allowed myself and those around me to learn respect, and to learn to love those with different opinions than your own. For example one of my best friends has completely opposite political views from me, and we tend to challenge each other. However this is important because although our views are different we still listen to each other and hear each other the best we can. I can also appreciate that her views are a part of who she is, and I love who she is. It also makes us both think and sometimes realize that we are wrong in some situations. 

Seeing this topic through a larger looking glass I believe that society wouldn't be the same without individual self fulfillment. Without different views and different personalities the world would be a bore. A world where we all keep our thoughts and values to ourselves is not a world that I ever want to live in. The diversity that exists throughout society is what makes it function. 

Let's look at social media for example. Social media would not be as prevalent as it is without individual self fulfillment and the ability for people to share their views and values. Human connection is such an important part of cognitive development and society as a whole. Influencers and celebrities share their views and their lives on social media hoping that a certain audience will resonate with them. Certain people follow certain influencers for a reason. Even though we may not know these influencers personally, something about them draws us in and keeps us interested in the content that they share. this wouldn't be possible without individual self fulfillment. If these influencers didn't believe in what they put on the internet their followings wouldn't be as large and loyal as they are. The opinion of each individual distinguishes them from the next. The main purpose of social media is to connect people regardless of their geographic location. Connections between individuals all over the world wouldn't be possible without free speech and expression. 

Currently the government is trying to ban Tik Tok which is a very popular form of social media. Not only is it popular in the United States, but it is popular all around the world. It connects people of many cultures, ethnicities, geological locations, etc... Tik Tok is a platform where users post videos on various topics. The topics vary depending on the person that is posting the videos. Story-times are a very popular type of video that is shared on Tik Tok. I think the reason that people love these story times is because they get an insider perspective of someone else's experiences. If the government does end up passing the bill to ban Tik Tok it would impede on the individual self fulfillment of users all over the United States. Tik Tok is an outlet where people learn, share, and grow; which is why users love it so much. I personally think it would be a shame if it was taken away from us. 

Blog Post #2

 

The Supreme Court was established in 1789. The Supreme Court is the highest federal court in the country. The Supreme Court is also the head of the judicial branch of government in the United States. This court has jurisdiction over all laws. It is up to the Supreme Court to rule whether a law is constitutional or not. The Supreme Court also has the power to check the other two branches of the government. The Supreme Court has a duty to make sure the actions of the federal government are constitutional. However the Supreme Court doesn't just rule over the federal government, the court also has a duty to keep the state governments and U.S. citizens in check constitutionally.  

The Supreme Court is currently made up of 9 justices. The justices are nominated by the president and confirmed or denied by the Senate. There are 8 regular justices and one chief justice. The Chief Justice controls the agenda of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is also expected to sit on the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian. 

The Supreme Court doesn't see every case that goes through the judicial system, that wouldn't be feasible. To get a case to the Supreme Court it needs to go through an appeal process, and there must be a petition for the Supreme Court to hear the case. There are many important Supreme Court cases including Roe v. Wade, Obergefell v. Hodges, and Texas v. Johnson. Roe v. Wade ruled that women have a right to abortion, this ruling has since been overturned. Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same sex marriage across all 50 states. Texas v. Johnson ruled that flag burning and other offensive speech is protected by the First Amendment. Although these cases took place years ago they still hold great significance today. The outcome of these cases shifted the entire future of the United States. 

The Supreme Court plays an extremely important role in not only the U.S. government, but society as a whole. Society has changed in drastic ways since the Constitution was first created. The Supreme Court is needed to interpret the older meanings of the constitution and adjust them to rule on modern day cases. The Supreme Court makes social change possible because it gives people the opportunity to disagree publicly with the government or the laws made by the government. With the presence of the Supreme Court we the people feel as though we are heard. 

The videos and the article taught me that the Supreme Court originally had 6 justices. I originally thought that it had always been 9. I also learned that justices are expected to serve on the Supreme Court until retirement or death, they never have to run for reelection. This is an interesting concept because with most other government positions there are set terms of a much shorter length.  

Blog Post #1

https://www.apple.com/apple-news/ 

Apple News is my favorite and most used news source. This is because I have apple products, which makes Apple News easily accessible to me on all of my devices. I also like that there are many news types to explore within Apple News, including podcasts and recorded stories. Apple News takes the best stories from other news sources and compiles them into a "Top Stories" Category within the app. Beyond that it has news from every category, from politics to fashion. Every type of story that you could want you can find within this one platform. Getting news from here eliminates bias in a way because you are reading stories from so many different sources. I highly recommend apple news as a place to find important news and short leisure pop culture reads. 

I would say that my second most used news source is social media. This is because it is so easy to accidentally stumble across a story. Once my attention is caught I have to know the rest of the information regarding the topic. Whether it be a story about a pop star or senator, if I'm intrigued I will dive deeper. This causes me to click links bringing me to different social media platforms to get the rest of the story. I spend a decent amount of time on social media each week so I'm bound to read some news stories on these platforms. I like getting news on social media because I can see what other people think about these stories, and read their comments. This often makes me reevaluate or shift my perspective, I think it is important to challenge your own thoughts. 

https://www.foxnews.com

Fox News is one of the United States' most popular news sources. Millions of people choose to get their news from Fox daily. Fox News is known to be right leaning with its commentary and stance on certain issues. I would not consider myself to be a conservative however my views are predominately right leaning. With that being said I don't always agree with how Fox covers certain issues, or with the commentary that is had over said issues. Overall I do find Fox News to be reliable and to always have a story that is relevant. Which is why it is one of my most used news sources. 

https://nypost.com

I was born and raised in Vermont but I reside in New York now. My parents have a subscription to the post and use it as one of their main news sources. By association I gravitate towards the post for news. One of my favorite things about the New York Post is how their website is set up. You can find news of every kind, in its designated section, easily. The post also covers national news however I would say that a lot of their most popular stories are from the north eastern states because that is where most of the Posts' readers reside. I would say that the post isn't as reliable as Fox with news stories, however it tends to publish more pop culture news stories which is what I am mostly interested in. 

Finally I get a lot of my news from friends and family. Although they are not a primary source and there may be many holes in the stories that they provide me with, I tend to learn a lot from them. Especially my step father. He is constantly sending me news stories. For example before I went on spring break to another country he sent me many stories about spring break gone wrong, telling me to be safe and smart. I think I probably get most of my information from them.