Social Media to the Rescue September 29, 2009

Freedom leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest for the past 13 years by military junta.

After my last blog on net neutrality, I got to thinking about the strict internet censorship that is already in place in many foreign countries. In Burma, citizens have access to mere dial-up internet. Even then it only connect them to a small collection of information that the military government finds appropriate. Burmese citizens are subject to one of the most harsh and strict censorship regimes in existence. The OpenNet Initiative (ONI) ran tests against the Myanmar Internet and the results are shocking. From a list of high impact website compiled by the ONI, it turns out that 80% were blocked. Not only that, but there was concrete evidence of Burmese government officials tracking emails and monitoring possible political opposition movements.

Burma’s system of Internet control shows no signs of lessening, and may worsen as it moves to a more sophisticated software product and as the state moves to tighten on-line restrictions

So how can we use social media to help Burma and Burmese refugees when this harsh internet censorship is in place?  National campaign websites and organization website are obviously blocked and monitored. Well, of the websites tested against the Myanmar Internet, among those not highly blocked were blogs. So using personal social media we can spread the word. And here in the United States and more fortunate countries, we have to make sure that everyone understands what is going on. Just take  a look at Rwanda or Darfur. The media played a huge role in people learning about the extremely heart-wrenching conditions.

So with all this talk of net neutrality I can’t help but think to myself. Why is there always so much of a struggle among ourselves. We create new technology, we innovate, we share all these new ideas. Then when things reach a certain point, when they start to peak, people get frantic. Either they are scared of the “newness” or they are the ones scrambling around trying to figure out how they are going to make money of it. I know it cliche but “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” The Internet is not broken (which in itself makes no sense) but the Internet provider companies are. So instead of creating issues and dilemmas so that executives make more money,

we should be using the Internet – the most powerful tool we have – to help countries like Burma in a time of need.

I can’t help but find it utterly ridiculous that illegal music download lawsuits or inappropriate You Tube videos make the news over crimes against humanity. Well at least me and many of my fellow students are on the right track. We are learning and practicing creating social networks overnight. We know how to connect. We are well-versed. We are a generation who is not scared to take a stand and make change.

#netneutrality September 28, 2009

Just what the heck is net neutrality? Up until last week, me – the emerging media student – was still pretty confused as to what this term truly meant. I had heard the term brought up in conversations, listened as politicians discussed it. But it seemed sort of distant. Like it was a surreal topic that wouldn’t actually effect me personally. Needless to say, I couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“The Principle of Net Neutrality states that if a given user pays for a certain level of internet access, and another user pays for a given level of access, that the two users should be able to connect to each other at that given rate”

Since it all began, internet users have been in control  of what content they view and what content they produce on the web. Recent news stories and political campaigns have spread the word about certain broadband companies (such as AT&T and Comcast) trying to limit consumers choices online. In the companies’ opinion they laid the pipes and fiber optic cables so they should get to control what passes through them. But these companies did not “invent the internet.” I do believe they have the right to provide us with this connection and I do not disagree with paying for my internet connection. I do disagree with them only allowing us to connect to their approved websites or being constricted to a certain amount of bandwidth. I think the internet should remain open and free because after all, most of the content that is frequented is completely user generated. In a recent news story, AT&T called Google a hypocrite regarding the net neutrality issue. However in my opinion, this is just a first in a series of big companies trying to distract from their bigger plans.

My life sans an adequate internet connection is boring and SCARY. For about four months my boyfriend and I lived without cable or an internet connection. I know what you might be thinking. “Oh boo hoo, you poor thing. How did you ever survive?!” And my answer to any snide or sarcastic remarks such as that would simply be, “It was complete and utter torture!” The whole cable thing I could do without. Television isn’t really my thing, never has been. But from an early age the internet has been my refuge. I fondly remember sitting next to my sister in front of our old Compaq as AOL would not so quietly dial up to the internet. In an instant (okay, sometimes it took five minutes or so) we were connected to world! Fast forward to today. I am a young college student relying on the internet to provide me with music, videos, social networks, book, and last but not least my school library.

“To be without all of this made my life extremely disorganized and stressful.”

The key thing to note here is that I turned off my connection by choice. Had my personal/financial circumstances been different I could have easily signed up with a carrier and got an internet connection that met my needs. That is why I am an advocate for net neutrality. The only choice I should have to make as a consumer is whether or not I want that internet connection. I shouldn’t be forced to choose between

The two videos that sparked this blog post:

Net Neutrality

The Future of the Internet & How To Stop It – Johnathan Zittrain

New Age of Democracy September 22, 2009

“To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative.” – President Obama, April 25, 2009

Throughout Barack Obama’s campaign I was constantly thinking to myself how much it reminded me of John F. Kennedy. I think all of us have seen those infamous clips of the television debate between Nixon and Kennedy. Even in the grainy, black and white picture, you can make out a pale, sweaty Nixon contrasting with a young, tan Kennedy. Both sides have their take on the events. Whether you want to argue that Nixon was sick, or Kennedy’s medicine gave him the appearance of being tan, this debate had an unforeseen impact. The television brought them into American’s homes. It was a new, up close and personal approach to the presidential campaign.

Over the years it has become quite ordinary to see the president on television. Whether he is addressing congress or it is a political campaign ad, we do not think twice about it when we see it. Well, just as television impacted democracy, internet too will change our lives drastically. Thanks to You Tube and Facebook, Senator Barack Obama launched himself into our daily lives and created an unbeatable following. Had it not been for the aid of the internet, we may not call him President Obama today.

I found an interesting article from back in 2008. Entitled How Obama’s Internet Campaign Changed Politics, this articles shines a light on what was about to become. I personally think the internet has had a positive impact on democracy. The most obvious example is Obama’s success. Many argue that Obama is spending too much time in the limelight. That he is more of a celebrity than a President. But I truly beg to differ. Haven’t we always adored our president’s and first families. The media has always wanted to know exactly what the president was doing, or what designer his wife was wearing at the last event. As with any change, people are going to be fearful. Especially when this change is directly affecting your nation’s government. Democracy is still going to have the same principles at its core. Instead of political cartoons we have Tina Fey impersonating Sarah Palin on SNL. Instead of Nixon looking pale and sick we had McCain looking old and outdated. The internet and all that comes with it is just going propel democracy to different places. It is our responsibility though to pay attention to the facts, make informed voting decisions and stay tuned to the current political topics.

There are always going to be those who do not care enough to vote, those who vote simply by party association, those who vote based on race or religion. But if we use the Internet to our advantage, we can strive to educate the American public and hopefully break the mold from this old way of thinking.

Interesting Links:

The White House Issues: Technology

“The Open Internet- Preserving the Freedom to Innovate”

A Dynamic Impact September 16, 2009

My professor shared the article 50 things that are being killed by the internet

Here are a couple things that used to play a vital role in my life. They have since been killed reinvented by my use of the Internet and related technology…

Libraries I used to read a lot,visit the library a lot when I was younger. I still read a lot of nonfiction books but I usually just buy them used off Amazon or have Overstock pick out some based on my past purchases. If I step foot in the library at school it is simply because I need to use the computer and get online. (Not one of those lone computers reserved for looking up books!) I am also asking for a Kindle for Christmas!

Cookbooks Like my mom I have a passion for cooking and baking. I love trying new recipes. My mom has an extensive cookbook collection that she started back in college. On vacations she would always make a point to pick up an authentic cookbook from where ever we were visiting. If I need a quick fix for dinner I just go to AllRecipes.com or FoodNetwork.com. Also you don’t need to bring your recipe list with you to the store – just have  the recipe pulled up on your phone’s web browser. Over the holidays I was grocery shopping with my mom. She forgot her shopping list and wanted to turn around and go back home. Instead I just Googled the recipe and we got everything we needed PLUS read some helpful comments from other users.

Brain Farts Plainly said, we do not have the ability to “blank” on bits of information anymore. Whether I am confusing a saying or forgetting the date of a historic event, I can easily find the answer online. There are millions of resources at my fingertips. I can Google “What year did Pearl Harbor occur” or “what was that actress’s name Juno?”

Overpriced Restaurants/Hotels Under Construction Remember when you tried that restaurant recommended by your best friend? The you get there and there are no prices on the menu. Yup, your in trouble. But not anymore. Now we can Yelp any restaurant business hours, cleanliness, menu and prices. I can also get online before vacation and make sure I am not getting swindled into a hotel in a shady location or they didn’t conveniently forget to mention that the hotel is being renovated.

Forgetting Bad Hair Days/Pretending to Forget that Night You Drank Too Much Don’t you just hate it when your hanging out with friends and there is always that annoying person taking about 1,000 photos per hour?! And you haven’t straightened your hair, your cute clothes are all dirty and you didn’t get any sleep. What about that night downtown you have tried to block out of your mind. Well now thanks to Facebook everyone (including your crush or potential employers) will see those beautiful photos minutes after they are taken!

Social Media Networks in the News… September 15, 2009

Are Social Networks Like a Mall?

This article from Wired takes an interesting standpoint on social networks, Facebook in particular.  It compares them to a shopping mall on Friday nights. The relaxed environment, hanging out with friends, and the  often intent of browsing not purchasing.

Nokia Deal With Plum Heats Up Mobile Social Networking

An interesting look at the ways cell phone companies are incorporating social media into their products. It is almost a given now that your cell phone must be able to connect you with Twitter or Facebook.

Why You Should Get Started on Social Media

A broad look at how companies these days are using social media to reach customers. A pretty introductory view. Likely an article to show to my dad or someone who is not familiar with the aspects of social media!

The Dying Youth? September 15, 2009

The youth today in America is being constantly criticized on their ability to concentrate on and retain information. Andrew Keen specifically addresses this issue in his book The Cult of the Amateur: How Today’s Internet is Killing our Culture. In the chapter The Great Seduction, Keen comments on the fictional characters now playing such a big role in children’s lives. He uses the example of Ricky Bobby (Will Farrell’s character in Talladega Nights) or Burger King’s royal mascot having their own MySpace page. He argues that children ignore real human interaction in favor of “fictional characters whose only purpose is to sell our impressionable kids more toothpaste and hamburgers”(Keen). Andrew Keen implies that kids these days are no longer able to think for themselves and rely solely on the internet and technology. “Cutting and pasting, of course, is child’s play on the Web 2.0, enabling a younger generation of intellectual kleptomaniacs, who think their ability to cut and paste a well-phrased thought or opinion makes it their own” (Keen). Keen also proclaims, “a survey published in Education Week found that 54 percent of students admitted to plagiarizing from the internet” (Keen). What I think Keen is mainly concerned about is children not receiving the same quality education as before, or them digressing instead of learning more and more. His concern here is admirable and well intentioned.

I am currently a junior in College. I got to experience first hand the integration of technology and the internet into my classrooms. In first grade computers served as reward for good behavior. The kids who were well behaved were allowed to take their spelling test on one of the four classroom computers. By fourth grade my friends and I were obsessed with AOL, chat rooms and screen names. Throughout middle school and high school I honestly do not remember being required to turn in a handwritten essay. I vaguely remember lessons on brainstorming and writing rough drafts but they are extremely distant. By high school I had learned how to assemble my “works cited” page within minutes. I would be sure to use the required amount of quotes from text and gather the rest of my information from Google or (dare I even say) “.com” websites! That was always a big one with teachers, “don’t use a website ending in .com!” But it was easy to outsmart my teachers. Just like Keen said, I admit to taking credit for some copy and pasted material. I mean I would never use an article word for word. But there were several late nights where I essentially just summarized what I had seen on a couple websites. It is this aspect of my education that I too believe causes some reason for concern.

There are many ways in which technology has aided my education as well though.

I believe that I was able to get away with lot of what I did because the students were far more advanced on the internet than teachers.

As this gap (hopefully) closes, students will be able to get away with far less because their teachers are more familiar with the internet. From personal testimony, I can say that as I reached my senior year in high school and during the last three years in college, I felt like I was on a more even playing field with teachers and professors. It seemed as if I had experienced the whole spectrum of student to teacher interactions. Its gone from my teachers refusing to accept homework via email to completing college courses that are entirely web based. If your going to compare the positive and negative effects the internet has had on my education, the negative effects comprise such a small portion that they are, well, negatory! Sure me and my friends get distracted at times by funny YouTube videos or fake Wikipedia entries but that is completely overshadowed by our genuine interests in gripping topics. We might Google some answers to questions

“but when we’re engaged by the assignment, we’ll point out objections, elaborations, and the unexpected connections” - David Weinberger, Everything is Miscellaneous

In fact, “some teachers have started classroom weblogs so there’s a place where students can share links to material related to the classroom topics, and together tease out the implications of what has already been understood. Classroom blogs are a place to be complex together.”

I can appreciate Keen’s arguments but I see them more as a fear of change. As with any progress or technological innovation comes the good and the bad. It is our duty as human, students, Americans, and internet users, to choose how we are going to use the internet. In Keens arguments he conveniently leaves out the fact that children have been targeted by advertisements since radios and televisions became part of our households. Children were cheating on homework assignments long before the computer was even invented. I plan to have children someday. And when my child comes home with math homework that looks like Greek to me, I can rest assured knowing that he/she can instantly connect with classmates or a math tutor online. The internet is not disintegrating education. It is actually expanding it and turning it into something that encompasses our lives 24-7, not just when seated in a traditional classroom.  I do encourage us to not only critique the internet but make sure we are not letting it control us. The internet is a tool that will allow us to achieve things we have not yet imagined and it is up to us to keep on improving it.

I like deep reading but not if Keen wrote it! September 2, 2009

Sorry, this song got stuck in my head as soon as I read the assignment

“Take a look! It’s in a book!” Or, on Wikipedia. Okay so Keen wrote this article called “The Great Seduction.” And in it he basically bashes everything about Web 2.0 from YouTube to Google. I had never heard of this Keen guy, but hey I enjoy reading so I decided to give it a shot. 4o minutes later I was a combination of annoyed, frustrated and confused. Annoyed because most of Keen’s arguments are  shallow and not fact based. Frustrated because all I really wanted to do was put the article down and stop reading. But mostly confused because I didn’t really know where he was going with all this. After reading the article and discussing it in class (yes I had not finished my blog post yet ), I still have a lot of questions about Keen’s point of view. But enough of that – shall blog/rant about him and others later on….

I really do like deep reading! When it comes to Harry Potter or new fiction I can’t put it down. If it is a enthralling magazine or journal article I find myself mesmerized. But I can honestly say what I consider as deep reading as it pertains to me was not what I experienced in the assignment. Even when I can’t put a book or article down I still find myself getting distracted by other stuff. Ill text a friend while reading or Google a term/word I don’t understand.  I find this much different than when I skim read. If I am skimming I usually just read headlines, bold words usually click every link that catches my eye. This assignment made me put my reading into perspective. I think that I would get more out of certain readings if I attacked them with a pen and paper point of view.