Taking the good with the bad

Oh hello!

As much as we love social media and all the wondrous possibilities it opens up to us, there is a dark side that cannot be ignored. All too often we hear stories of tragedy as a result of bullies and extremists taking things too far on the internet because they feel safe and undetectable behind an avatar, or they have the support and encouragement of a community. What do you think provokes these attacks on social media users? Do we make ourselves too vulnerable by sharing too much in a public space?

(Source: Mejias, 2013)

Cyber bullying is bullying that takes place online - mobile phones, tablets, computers, social media, text messages and instant chat websites - and often occurs in conjunction with face to face bullying. Some consider it worse that physical bullying because it can happen 24/7, it can be an anonymous attack yet shared with a vast audience, and it can be difficult to remove degrading or abusive comments and pictures because of how easy it is to replicate once in cyberspace (stopbullying.gov, 2014). Check out the video below which compares cyber bullying to a virus.

(Source: Daniel Fraser, 2013)

e-Extremism is when extremist, hate groups take to social media sites as a means of "reaching an international audience, recruiting members, linking diverse extremist groups, and allowing maximum image control" (Gerstenfeld, grant & Chiang, 2003 p29).

Cyberterrorism is "the use of computer network tools to shut down critical national infrastructures (such as energy, transportation, government operations) or to coerce or intimidate a government or civilian population" (Lewis, 2002).

With the internet being so full of users who think this behaviour is acceptable, what does the future hold for social media? 

• Harsher penalties? Jail time, offenders names on a public registry, criminal record. Punishments need to be more severe so users are aware they cannot behave differently to how they would treat a person in real life.
• More loopholes? As technology advances, hackers, terrorists and bullies will find new ways to target their victims without getting caught. The tougher the laws, the harder they will try to get around it.
• Government control? Will allowing the Government to take more control over social media websites/the internet mean we are prevented from freedom of expression? 

Can you suggest ways to protect the rights of users but fairly punish those who offend? 

Bye for now,

Lisa

Reference List:

Mejias, UA 2013, The Dark Side of the Digital World, [image], utne.com, accessed 9 February 2014, <http://www.utne.com/science-and-technology/digital-world-ze0z1308zcalt.aspx>

stopbullying,gov 2014, What is Cyberbullying?, accessed 9 February 2014, <http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/>

Daniel Fraser 2013, Cyber Bullying Virus, [video], Youtube.com, 9 March 2013, accessed 9 February 2014, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmQ8nM7b6XQ>

Gerstenfeld, PB, Grant, DR & Chiang, C-P, 2003, ’Hate online: a content analysis of extremist Internet sites’, Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 1 December 2003, 3(1), pp.29-44, accessed 9 February, 2014

Lewis, JA 2002, 'Assessing the risk of cyber terrorism, cyber war and other cyber threats', Center for Strategic and International Studies, accessed 9 February 2014, via <http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=3552#fn9>

The neverending story

Oh hello!

You may have heard of the term produsage before, but is it merely another buzz word invented by new conventions of the digital age; or does it represent something much more? Rapid innovations of technology and the increasing prominence of the internet in our current digital age have given rise not only to an evolution of digital platforms themselves, but also to new concepts of how information or content is actually created and shared. 

Produsage merges the role of a producer and user into one 

seamless entity, allowing individuals to both create and utilise information simultaneously (Bruns, 2007). 

The most common online platforms are:

• Blogs
• Wikipedia entries
• Online forum communities
• Within the virtual realms of video games through player avatars

Every day we also encounter forms of produsage through social media platforms such as:

• Facebook
• Twitter 
• Instagram

Most social media users are engaging in produsage constantly - whether they read forum posts, research the blogosphere or browse other Facebook users photos, they are essentially feeding off this exchange of information (whether that’s  for inspiration, ideas or a second opinion) before producing their own unique content. This network is believed to operate in a fluid hierarchy where people are encouraged to contribute (Bruns 2007) and add value to projects by inputting their own interests, knowledge and personal skills.

 

(Source: n6884717, 2009)

Produsage has it's benefits and faults as the image above shows. It can stimulate the discussion of alternative views and opinions about culture, religion and politics, which can help to facilitate a better breeding ground for ideas. On the other hand, it raises moral and ethical issues about people sharing misinformation or attempting to twist stories (such as the war in Iraq) to their own agenda.

So, why does produsage even matter? As intelligent individuals, we should be constantly questioning our media sources...produsage allows us to do that and gives us the opportunity to become one of those media sources (Stewart, 2012).

Bye for now,

Lisa

Reference List:

Bruns, A 2007, 'Produsage.org: from production to produsage: research into user-led content creation', accessed 9 February 2014, <http://produsage.org/>

n6884717 2009, 'Wikipedia: Academia in Action', N6884717's blog, wordpress.com, 9 May 2009, accessed 9 February 2014, <http://n6884717.wordpress.com/>

Stewart, B 2012, 'What produsage is and why it matters', The Theory Blog, cribchronicles.com, 3 July 2012, accessed 9 February 2014, <http://theory.cribchronicles.com/2012/07/03/what-produsage-is-and-why-it-matters/>

Me, Myself and My Avatar

Oh hello!

Our reality is shaped by mass media’s perception of reality. Rather than forming opinions based solely on what is occurring around us, we base of our judgement on the carefully selected pieces of information fed to us by these large corporations. Some would say we now exist in an alternate reality particularly when the technology exists to create exact replicas of physical objects and experiences (jimbojimmothy, 2009). Our dependence on technology and the online world further feeds this theory that we all live in a hyper-reality….a simulacrum.

Simulacrum:

1.  "An image or representation of something or someone

2. An unsatisfactory imitation or substitute" 

(Oxford Dictionaries, 2014)

(Source: Elliot, 2011)

Considering what we know about the simulacra, and taking into account our fondness (or reliance) on social media, it comes as no surprise that within this alternate universe, we create avatars - digital versions of ourselves.

An Avatar is "someone who represents 

a type of person, an idea, or a quality"

(Merriam-Webster, 2014)

It comes at no surprise that so many people turn to avatars for pleasure, fulfillment, to belong to something. Unlike the 'real world', the role you play is almost entirely socially driven. Social World games "offer community, goals, commerce, and a structured method of interacting that allows players in virtual worlds to understand what needs to done" (Meadows, 2008 p35-36). 

The downfall with avatars though, is that there is no regulations on what likeness your character is to your real self. You could be a 20 year old woman pretending to be a 45 year old police officer and father of 2. Scarily, you could be a 50 year old man befriending 14 year old girls. People can begin to lose sight of reality and determine success on what level they have achieved in a game, their popularity based on how many Facebook friends they have, and their attractiveness based on how many people re-Tweeted a photo they posted of themselves on a recent holiday. 

Personally, I don't play computer games and I am very private about who can access my social media profiles so I feel confident I haven't lost sight of who I really am in an online sense. Do you think it is OK to create a avatar that doesn't reflect who you really are? Do you think avatars contribute to simulacra and a lost sight of reality? Share your comments below.

Bye for now,

Lisa

Reference List:

Jimbojimmothy 2009, Philosophy & Religion: Jean Baudrillard, youtube.com, 15 March 2009, accessed 7 February 2014, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETykZgS176M&list=PL0D68D318CD96BC58&index=1>

Oxford Dictionaries 2014, Definition of Simulacrum, oxforddictionaries.com, accessed 7 February 2014, <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/simulacrum>

Elliot 2011, Jean Baudrillard Analyzes American Celebrity Fans of Arsenal, [image], Futfunatico, 29 September 2011, accessed 7 February 2014, <http://www.futfanatico.com/2011/09/29/jean-baudrillard-analyzes-american-celebrity-fans-arsenal/>

Felluga, Dino 2011, Modules on Baudrillard: On simulation, accessed 7 February 2014, <http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/postmodernism/modules/baudrillardsimulation.html

Merriam-Webster 2014, Definition of Avatar, merriam-webster.com, accessed 8 February 2014, <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avatar>

Meadows, MS 2008, 'The roles of social worlds and the rules of game worlds', in I, Avatar: the culture and consequences of having a second life, New Riders, Berkley, CA, pp.34–51, accessed 8 February 2014, <http://ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/login?url=http://onlineres.swin.edu.au/1738063.pdf>

Someone call the plumber!

Oh hello!

So this post is about WikiLeaks...get it...plumber...leaks. OK, I admit that was a dad joke. But WikiLeaks is not a joke, especially to this guy (below) who is battling allegations against rape and sexual assault in Sweden, can't leave the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he was granted asylum, and facing poltical persecution by the US Government for leaking secret documents (Charter, D 2014).

(Source: Sherlockian Mind, 2013)

"The Robin Hood of Hacking"

Australian born Julian Assange began hacking computers at the age of 16, before escalating to hacking the master terminal of a Canadian telecom company, Nortel, at age 20, landing him 25 criminal charges (Harrell, E 2010). In 2006, Assange created WikiLeaks, the website which gives the public access to classified documents.

Julian Assange might be the public face of WikiLeaks, but we shouldn't judge the organisations beliefs or credibility on the actions (or alleged actions) of one man. According to the WikiLeaks official website, the main principles are:

• "Defence of freedom of speech and media publishing...
• The improvement of our common historical record...
• The support of the rights of all people to create new history" (wikileaks.org, 2013)

Given that our Government sensors so much of what is released into the media, organisations like WikiLeaks have taken it upon themselves to ensure there is transparency which results in a better society for all people (wikileaks.org, 2013). Yes, we are entitled to know the truth and we deserve to receive new information in a non-biased form, however the Government are also entitled to their own level of discretion. Advancements in technology have rendered social convention, law and regulation powerless to this demand for information (Sifry, M 2011).

There must be a balance between transparency and discretion, and perhaps, although good intentions, WikiLeaks is focusing too much on providing transparency to it's readers without taking into consideration the political and social implications. What do you think?

Bye for now,

Lisa



Reference List:

Charter, David 2014, 'Swedish MPs urge end to Julian Assange impasse', The Australian, 5 February 2014, accessed 5 February 2014, <http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/swedish-mps-urge-end-to-julian-assange-impasse/story-fnb64oi6-1226818458690#>

Sherlockian Mind, 2013, Knowing vs Guessing, [image], accessed 5 February 2014, <http://sherlockianmind.wordpress.com/>

Harrell, Even 2010, 'Mystery Hacker: Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange', Time World, 26 July 2010, accessed 6 February 2010, <http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2006496,00.html>

wikileaks.org 2013, About; What is Wikileaks?, accessed 6 February 2014, <http://wikileaks.org/About.html>

Sifry, Micah 2011, WikLeaks and the Age of Transparency, BookMobile, USA, p9, accessed 7 February 2014, <http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qGMHADuyIQUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=wikileaks&ots=FlMOKS7hxq&sig=UY-cqj3DkGhox-Zz4t7eVWMOMR0#v=onepage&q=wikileaks&f=false>

Campaigning for your Facebook friendship

Oh hello!

I could list 10 brands Michelle Obama has worn to a public event in 2013 but I probably couldn’t list 10 former Prime Ministers of Australia. In fact, there probably aren’t too many 25 year old women out there that would say they luuurve politics (well, certainly none that I know). But maybe I’ve got it wrong, and maybe the negative stereotyping is all due to the way politics are presented by the media?

Introducing...the future of global politics!

(Source: BarackObamadotcom, 2012)

 

A successful politician is one that has voters, and how do you get voters? By exposing your message to as many people as possible. That's where social media comes in handy. 

"The main social media goals in the presidential campaign are to create content that people share, for fundraising purposes, and to gauge where the candidates stand in the race."

(Jerpi, L 2012)

the main social media goals in the presidential campaign are to create content that people share, for fundraising purposes, and to gauge where the candidates stand in the race. - See more at: http://source.southuniversity.edu/political-campaigns-and-social-media-tweeting-their-way-into-office-106986.aspx#sthash.NFVsaVjS.dpuf

the main social media goals in the presidential campaign are to create content that people share, for fundraising purposes, and to gauge where the candidates stand in the race. - See more at: http://source.southuniversity.edu/political-campaigns-and-social-media-tweeting-their-way-into-office-106986.aspx#sthash.NFVsaVjS.dpuf

the main social media goals in the presidential campaign are to create content that people share, for fundraising purposes, and to gauge where the candidates stand in the race. - See more at: http://source.southuniversity.edu/political-campaigns-and-social-media-tweeting-their-way-into-office-106986.aspx#sthash.NFVsaVjS.dpuf

the main social media goals in the presidential campaign are to create content that people share, for fundraising purposes, and to gauge where the candidates stand in the race. - See more at: http://source.southuniversity.edu/political-campaigns-and-social-media-tweeting-their-way-into-office-106986.aspx#sthash.NFVsaVjS.dpuf

Laura Jerpi (2012) believes that social media makes up part of the marketing strategy for any good political campaign due to it's low cost, speed of communications, and ability to engage followers. Unlike an official campaign website which only connects with an audience who actively seeks the information, any news shared on a social networking site can be seen by millions of people (whether they want to or not!).

So why mix politics with social media?

• Targets new demographics
• Connectivity between social media sites
• Element of control of what is published
• Politics can seem more approachable in a familiar environment
• Makes the campaigner more personable
• Vote for the person, not the policy

Who are the winners? Kevin07 certainly did a good job with his 2007 campaign, however it's hard to top Barack Obama with 34 million Twitter followers and over 30 million Facebook likes (Samuels, T 2013). Read a list of other successful social media politicians here.

While America remains at the forefront of politics in social media, Australia isn't too far behind with most traditional media outlets choosing to re-purpose boring facts into a more "immediate and interactive form with greater emphasis on breaking news, audio and video, and visual design" (Young, S 2010 p205). So basically, getting everyone involved in political conversation....and dare I say, entertained!

Do you think politicians are smart by creating awareness through social media, or setting themselves up for failure? Share your comments below.

Bye for now,

Lisa

Reference List:

 BarackObamadotcom 2012, "The Choice" - Obama for America TV Ad, YouTube.com, accessed 1 February 2014, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBorRZnqtMo>

Jerpi, L 2012, Political Campaigns and Social Media - Tweeting their way into Office, South Source: A Publication of South University, accessed 1 February 2014, <http://source.southuniversity.edu/political-campaigns-and-social-media-tweeting-their-way-into-office-106986.aspx>

Samuels, T 2013, Which Politicians Have Mastered Social Media?, Socialnomics.com, accessed 1 February 2014, <http://www.socialnomics.net/2013/08/04/which-politicians-have-mastered-social-media/>

Young, S 2010,  'News, Political Reporting and the Internet', How Australia Decides, p205, accessed 1 February 2014, <via Swinburn Restricted Library>