Blog Eleven: "Reclaiming Conversation" by Sherry Turkle (Cont'd)

This week, my partner and I will be discussing the second part of Turkle's book.  Several of the themes discussed in the latter portion of the book seemed to be more applicable to my life.  She discusses many topics, but the overuse of technology and social media within work and educational environments was mist interesting to me.  These two areas are most relatable for me, and I understood her examples most clearly.  

One major problem she addresses is the fact that so many people have become less likely to participate in one-on-one, face-to-face interactions (e.g. meetings, group work).  They would prefer to interact via email, text or social media.  She explains how losing these human connections are not only a problem for students and workers themselves, but also for the employers.  Employers are now charged with the task of gaining the attention of their employees and encouraging more personal interactions in the workplace.  

One of the main problems she addresses in the educational environment is students who text during class.  She states some statistics that prove that students are prone to checking their phone throughout discussions and lectures, and many of these students admit to doing so.  One interesting examples she uses is how one of her smaller, much more intimate classes she teaches allows for personal stories to be shared.  She discourages any use of technology during this time, but she has noticed that students have broken her rule.  She explains that she doesn't even have to patrol the classroom during this time, because students would come to her office hours to confess that they had been checking their phone while someone was speaking about his or her personal experiences.  Even the students understand and feel as though it devalues class time.  

Personally, I can relate to the whole "texting in class" epidemic.  I am also a student who feels as though technology is begging for me to give it some attention throughout my entire day.  Even during my most personal time, I feel obligated to open and respond to a text message. 

Turkle talks a lot about how multitasking is overtaking our lives.  She offers several steps to help reciprocate the problem.  Unitasking was my favorite tool she mentions.  She says we should focus on one thing and devote enough time to just that thing.  Even if it means shutting our phones off, it accomplishes the goal at hand.  She also says to "take our time."  She cites examples of how her research shows that students tend to look for the answer, rather than an explanation or the process behind finding that answer.  They are "always on," connected and engaged.  We are always rushed, and something "else" is always begging for our attention.  Where does this leave teachers?  How are they supposed to compete with technology? 

Reference:

Turkle, Sherry. (2015). Reclaiming conversation: The power of talk in a digital age. New York, New York: Penguin Press.

Blog Ten: "Reclaiming Conversation" by Sherry Turkle

This week's assigned reading, "Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age," by Sherry Turkle, reiterated what I have heard elders repeat over and over since the unveiling of smartphones - such impersonal devices continue to ruin how we communicate face-to-face.

It isn't very difficult to see how true this has become.  I, for one, have noticed it multiple times every day since I can remember.  For example, I worked in retail for a couple of years, and it is here where I noticed many people dependent on smartphones and less apt to engage in interpersonal communication.  Of course, in retail, associates are trained to engage with patrons, so it becomes difficult to do so when this is the new mentality.  A simple head nod is the extent of some, maybe most, of these peoples' one-on-one, daily interactions.  Even if I would strike up a conversation, many customers would find some kind of way to divert from having to speak, many times grabbing and focussing on their phone, as if they were about to miss something important.  This is when I realized that the Digital Age had brought with it major drawbacks for traditional communication.  

I have to admit that I am not a total exception to this phenomenon.  I notice myself gravitating toward Internet usage in restaurants, bars, doctor's appointments, etc.  All of these places offer face-to-face interaction with individuals who are sitting (maybe) three feet from you, but we insist on grabbing our phone instead.  We miss out in interpersonal communication which is what has stimulated humans since near the beginning of time.  For instance, if I was to engage with someone who is waiting on side of me in the doctor's office, I could learn more about that person, and he could learn more about me.  Without getting entirely personal, we could learn about each other while offering a listening ear and/or an opinion to each other.  There was a time when this was normal.  Turkle says the Digital Age offered more connectivity and less personal communication.  I agree completely. 

I found it particularly interesting when Turkle mentions how humans readily admit that they would prefer am email or a text message over a phone call or a face-to-face meeting.  Once again, her example rang true with me.  I tell people all the time that "I don't like phone calls; I prefer texting."  What does this say about me as a communicator?  My coworkers are the same.  We all tend to sigh aloud when we read that we have an upcoming meeting.  Many of us even say, "Why can't he or she just email us?"  

Turkle says that reclaiming conversation won't be easy, because we usually resist.  She continues to explain how computers stay out during meetings, and constant interruptions interrupt group work.  This sounds familiar to me too; in my classes, my laptop is usually out, just in case I receive a text message or an email and someone needs me.  The only way to cure this problem is to actually try.  We must put away the digital tools in order to at least try to reciprocate the problem.

Surfing the web was another one of Turkle's major points.  She says that particularly among college students, they surf the web to avoid boredom.  This plays into the whole "interruptions" theme at school and in the classroom.  This is another guilty pleasure of mine (and my friends).  If the class material is not the most exciting, we simply engage in online surfing to make up for this boredom.  Imagine the amount of information we would retain if we closed the laptops and were somewhat forced into hearing the information presented in class.  The Digital Age has offered students a way out actually learning.  It has offered ways to navigate around areas of study that may or may not interest them at all.  I am guilty of doing this, and I find it extremely dangerous.   

I could discuss so many areas of the first half of this book in this post, but I'll save more for next week.  This topic has been the most relatable for me, and I'm looking forward to reading and discussing more next week.  

Reference:

Turkle, Sherry. (2015). Reclaiming conversation: The power of talk in a digital age. New York, New York: Penguin Press.

    

Blog Nine: Privacy & More

This week's readings opened my eyes to the privacy issues dealing with big data collection and more.  Before reading these articles, I was unaware of how effective such campaigns really are.  I have always understood that my activity online had the potential to be tracked by marketers, etc., but never did I believe that the tracking could (or should) be done to this extent.  It made me take a step back and realize just how effective these targeted messages are, along with their potential going forward.  

One part of me, while reading this material, asked the question, "What's the big deal?"  As I continued reading, I felt as though many of the tactics used by professionals to gain users' data are driven by the desire to learn more about such users without having to ask a single question.  In my opinion, this is dangerous.  In other words, there is no true consent.  The amount of online tracking by these professionals exceeds the "marketing" threshold and inches into intentional violation of personal privacy among online users.  For instance, I do not mind marketers understanding my likes and dislikes, based on my online activity.  This does enable them to create messages that are more tailored to me.  I then begin to see more of what I enjoy seeing in advertisements, etc.  This becomes a problem when the online tracking is done for various other reasons that are less for such reasons.  One example of this would be tracking someone's online use for the sole purpose of persuading him or her of one political ideal or another.  This tracking has now begun for the benefit of political campaigns.  In my opinion, this is alright to do to gain knowledge of the voter base, but politics should not be a subject that allows for online manipulation, based on a person's online activity. 

I agreed with dana boyd's article, when she said that we should find a happy medium on this subject, rather than ruling out all surveillance technology.  I believe she is correct when she says that new technologies can and should be embraced, but there is a line drawn between helpful and harmful surveillance.  She also says that many people cry for help via social media.  If there is not a pair of eyes looking for signs of this, many peoples' calls for help would go unnoticed.  This put the online tracking into perspective for me on an entirely different level.  

I believe that Kevin Kelly sums it up best when he says, "If today's social media has taught us anything about ourselves as a species it is that human impulse to share trumps human impulse for privacy."  This made me take a step back and think about my own thoughts on this topic.  Do I have the same concerns as I had while reading these articles when I'm posting Snapchat stories about what I'm doing, where I am, and with whom I am doing these things?

There is valid cause for concern in some aspects of this data collection and online surveillance, but I think it begins with consumers themselves asking questions and taking a stand, prioritizing personal privacy over social media use.  

The readings for the week can be found here:

• http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/4901/4097
• https://www.wired.com/2014/03/going-tracked-heres-way-embrace-surveillance/
• https://thesocietypages.org/cyborgology/2011/11/09/sousveillance-and-justice-a-panopticon-in-the-crowds/
• https://www.academia.edu/2665899/The_Fan_Dance_How_Privacy_Thrives_in_an_Age_of_Hyper-_Publicity
• http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2013/09/24/monitoring-youth.html
• http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2056305117691545

Blog Eight - Affective Publics: Sentiment, Technology, and Politics

This week's primary reading, "Affective Publics: Sentiment, Technology, and Politics,"  focussed on emerging media that have given publics the power to become as involved as they would like with current events and online stories.  Zizi Papacharissi studies the balance between affect and ideology among publics.  She discusses the power behind both the technology of online networking and the narratives we create for ourselves.

What I found most intriguing about this subject was how newer platforms (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, etc.) have changed the ways in which news is distributed and consumed.  For instance, at one time, people would receive the news and comment among their social group what they thought about a given issue.  These platforms have forever changed the ways in which stories are told and narratives are created.  Papacharissi explains how individuals can now consume the news and present his or her own "take" on that particular subject matter.  

She even discusses how this opens up more discourse on subjects that at one time may have been too sensitive to discuss as openly as they are now.  The topic of Feelings is one of the major differences associated with these new media.  More of a sentiment of true feelings is present in narratives created today.  Social media has allowed for people to tell stories that have personally impacted them in one way or another, which creates stronger bonds among our networks.  

Papacharissi also mentions a couple of  more recent political movements like Occupy and explains how they are all different yet alike in some ways.  She says that emotion is the common denominator.  These movements, she argues, would not gain as much traction if they did not include the emotional factor presented by various online voices.  I agree completely with this.  One way of proving it is by looking at videos and articles that are shared the most online.  Most (if not all) of them have that emotional component mixed within, which is why so many people feel obligated to share it among friends.  

Research in the book suggests that social media increase feelings of engagement among publics.  Social media users are more apt to feel a sense of belonging and fellowship among their networks of friends and acquaintances.  This was not shocking, but it was affirming to know that research does actually back up that statement. 

The section concerning the hybridity of news storytelling practices on Twitter was interesting as well.  It was news to me that the journalistic conventions that I've learned throughout my education in journalism are upheld for the most part among mainstream media on Twitter.  The same virtues that are crucial to news are applied to Twitter streams as well.  I also learned that the characteristic of instantaneity that you would relate more so to Twitter is also closely related to the 24-hour news cycle.  They are both pushing out information as quickly as possible.  Twitter, according to the text, is still ahead of the game when it comes to disseminating news the quickest.

This book was a good read.  I feel like much of what I read were things that I had always thought about but had never seen research to which I could compare my thoughts.  I would recommend this book for anyone who would like to know more about the relationships we make online through social media and how such networks affect our ideologies and our storytelling.

The supplementary journal article, "The Affordance Effect: Gatekeeping and (non)reciprocal Journalism on Twitter," by Groshek and Tandoc, was complementary to the primary reading.  It explained, using examples of certain cases (e.g. Fergusson protests), how such events were tracked on Twitter based on networks and their primary thought leaders.  This further explained the emotional aspect of what gained traction online and how all of those voices were interconnected.  As a person who does not actively use Twitter, I found it interesting to learn about its huge network, all relying on the usage of just 140 characters per tweet.  Those 140 characters can have extremely powerful effects.  

Blog Seven - Indian Country: Telling a Story in a Digital Age

This book offers a new perspective on storytelling as we know it. Two different angles are presented. One is how the digital shift has changed storytelling and the other is how it impacted Native American communities (and journalism). It was an interesting read with insight from many Native American journalists' personal viewpoints. Most of them agree that the Native American culture with respect to the digital world has increased the distribution of such stories and had a positive impact on the culture itself.

For years, Native Americans have told stories through words, art, medicine, and more. However, the book explains how, now, these stories are extended into the digital world. While many of these stories were simply shared communally, now such discussions can take place within Native communities or non-Native communities. This allows for the spread of such stories like never before. These stories are even offered a way into mainstream media. The authors make clear in the introduction that the Native American population is incredibly underrepresented and overlooked as a minority. I enjoyed reading how the rise of digital storytelling has helped this group of people gain access to a larger, more secular platform to share their experiences and their stories. I believe this helps incredibly when negating stereotypes that plague Native communities.

Politics play a roll in the Native communities as well. I found it interesting when the authors discuss how important it was to Native Americans in 2008 for President Obama to be reelected. They explain how they felt like relations with other Americans had improved, along with the improvement of gaming relations, under his first term. It is amazing how digital media allowed for this discussion to take place. Previously, this group may not have had such a loud voice in an election.

Another pertinent discussion was the renaming of the Washington Redskins. Many conversations were had about the situation among Native Americans, and trending subjects and hashtags were created and shared repeatedly. Here is another example of how a minority group could come together in solidarity to discuss something that may have marginalized their ethic group.

The existence of the Digital Age is helping to circulate stories on a bigger stage for all of the world to see. What I gained most from this book was an understanding of how important digital tools have become in storytelling - especially for Native Americans. This made me think about how other minority groups use social and digital media to share stories and experiences that have the potential to enrich others' understanding of such groups.

Blog Six: Discussion Leader

This week's readings:

• Digital Na(t)ives by Hargittai
• Content Creation on the Internet by Hoffman et al
• Mind the Skills Gap by Hargittai & Shaw
• Digital Inequalities and Why They Matter by Robinson et al
• The Digital Production Gap by Schradie
• Extending the Digital Divide Conversation by Eastin et al

The articles for this week's discussion had many overarching themes, but the one that stood out to me the most was the digital divide. This divide is made up of socioeconomic differences, along with many other characteristics (e.g. race, ethnicity, etc.). I had never taken the time to think about the digital inequality that exists today, because I take for granted my access to the Internet and the skills I've learned.

It was particularly disheartening when I read, "…as things stand, the more privileged stand to benefit from it more than those in less advantageous positions raising concerns about possibly increased rather than decreased inequality resulting from the spread of Internet use across the population” (Hargittai, 2010, p. 109-10).

I had always thought that the main problem with this divide had to do with access to the Internet. However, these articles forced me to look at it from another side. Many times, children may have access to the Internet but have no skills in this area. These two factors work together to form the digital inequality that exists today.

Initially, you would think that this inequality is only spread throughout different ethnicities and races, but as Hargittai and Shaw point out, gender is a factor as well. This was something that was a little surprising to me. I had never taken the time to look at Wikipedia to see who all was editing and creating content, but the article shows that it is primarily male-dominated. I would like to compare the levels of skill among those on social networking sites to see if the gender gap is as wide on these platforms. Do males or females create more content on sites like Facebook and Instagram?

Because I am one of the discussion leaders for this week, I will be presenting an in-class demonstration of a website that brings low-cost Internet to families. EveryoneOn.org also has a Knowledge Center that brings an understanding of how to use the Internet to these families. The two factors discussed in the readings (accessibility and skill) are brought together in hopes of closing the digital divide.

These articles opened my eyes to the digital inequalities around me that many minority groups continually face. These persisting problems must be countered if the playing field is ever going to be leveled for all players. I look forward to discussing my notes from each of the articles with the class this week.

Blog Five: "The Attention Merchants" by Tim Wu

Tim Wu's book offers incredible insight into the world of online advertising.  He explains chapter by chapter how individuals are targeted online for their attention.  Gaining this attention, according to Wu, has become the ultimate goal for online strategists - and they're extremely good at it.

Wu details information regarding what he refers to as "attention merchants," who have the sole responsibility of gaining our attention.  These merchants are at our every turn, especially with our increasing internet usage.  Advertisements are all around us, but those that are online are catered even more to a particular individual or audience.  Wu explains how we are not even in control of our own attention, because it is constantly being targeted as we spend hours online.  He encourages readers to take back their lives and to block out as much of this as possible.   

What is most interesting about Wu's findings is that from the early 20th century to today, this practice has become increasingly widespread.  He explains how advertisements were shaped during the early part of this period, to how they are shaped now.  It is truly astounding to see how these attention merchants take over our online presence and use it to their advantage.  It made me think about the advertisements I see while I'm on social media sites and on regular websites for leisure or shopping.  It is incredible when I think about how, for instance, many times the advertisements I see are for items in which I have just previously researched.  These systems analyze my data and present me with what they know I would be interested in.  This is amazing, but scary at the same time.  Have we as consumers dropped the ball when it comes to our awareness of these practices?  This served as a wake-up call for me.

Wu's epilogue spoke clearly to me as well, especially when he mentions the fact that millennials are growing weary of advertisements and do not mind paying for exclusion from such ads.  This rings true with me as well.  For instance, even the music I listen to on Pandora or Spotify comes with ads.  However, the option remains for me to remove these ads by paying for the service.  Wu explains how this is not good news for attention merchants.  They would like to have the most exposure possible for as many people as possible. 

Wu says that our attention has become a commodity, and professionals are constantly looking to gain this attention and to keep it.  He expresses the need for us to reclaim our own attention once and for all - to be more mindful of these attention merchants and their desire to take over our online thinking.

This book also pointed out the differences in how this attention was gained through other media.  For example, television advertisements were very much different from the ads we see online.  They were less tailored to specific individuals and more tailored for the masses as a whole.  

Wu says we must take back our online freedom and become more aware of these attention merchants who are around our every click.  He says, "And then we must act, individually and collectively, to make our attention our own again, and so reclaim ownership of the very experience of living" (Wu, 2016, p. 344).  

Ref.:

Wu, Tim. (2016). The Attention Merchants: The epic scramble to get inside our heads. New                               York: Alfred A. Knopf.   

Blog Four: "Analytic Activism" by David Karpf

David Karpf, in Analytic Activism, explains how analytics work and provides a base of understanding for a topic that can seem overwhelming.  The digital listening he describes is not extremely new, but more and more pollsters and political experts are turning to this as a real strategy.  Karpf provides an interesting way to look at this process.  We immediately recognize the opportunity for people to speak politically online, but we rarely take the time to listen to what is being said.  He explains how beneficial this listening can be.  He describes how these hashtags and other ways of communicating online make up a wide array of data.  This data can be used to understand political changes and desires among the people.

Karpf focusses on fundraising for a portion of the book, explaining how analytics are used to target certain groups.  This makes it easier to understand which members would be more apt to donate and which would not.  Before this technology, the opportunity to contribute was out there, but the motivations behind those clicking the button were not completely known or understood.  This was perhaps the most interesting part of the book to me.  It is amazing how this technology can target individuals (even me) to donate to certain causes that are part of my online footprint.  This makes raising money for political causes and/or candidates easier than ever before.  People behind the analytics can now know which candidate(s) or cause(s) to present online users with.  This is incredible.

Karpf also explains that "petitions are the most flexible and essential tool of analytic activism" (2016, p. 59).  He compares the difference of using social media to "like" or "share" material, versus signing an online petition.  The main difference is that when you "like" or "share" something on Facebook, it is signaling a person's stance on an issue, but it is not leaving behind as heavy of a digital footprint as if you sign an online petition.  When an online petition is signed, the user also has to type in his or her email address.  This is what increases the digital footprint and helps with the analytics.  

The use of big data, Karpf warns, can be overwhelming and at times not as dependable as you may wish.  He explains how it is not always a safe bet to make when depending on the numbers and that sometimes numbers are not fully representative.  He warns readers not to become overly reliant on numbers.  This reminds me of the reliance on numbers during the 2016 presidential election.  Many pollsters were led (by the numbers) to believe a different turnout on election day.  This data turned out to be historically inaccurate.

This book was great. I believe anyone interested in political fundraising and/or polling should read it.  It offered in-depth explanations of subject matter that is usually drowned in numbers that are not easily understood.  Karpf explains the power behind this business, if used correctly and responsibly.  It opened my eyes to a different side of social media.  Usually I concentrate on what the masses can say online and not so much on what is being said.  It is important to listen to the masses, and this listening brings with it massive amounts of data.    

Ref:

Karpf, David. (2016). Analytic Activism: Digital listening and the new political strategy. New York: Oxford University Press.

Blog Three: Youth Involvement in Politics

By Any Media Necessary: The New Youth Activism discusses the fact that today's youth are more engaged with the political process than one would initially believe.  It challenges the argument that millennials are not civically involved.  

With today's technology, it is easier than ever for young people to be a part of the process, no matter how indirect it may be.  For instance, young people may not write a handwritten letter of grievances to congress, but they quickly share something pertaining to such a grievance via social media, bringing more awareness to the topic than ever before.

The authors explain how many millennials are engaged online and volunteering for many social causes, but because of their low voter turnout, even such engagement is somewhat marginalized.  I understand how this could be cause for concern.  I may share something on Facebook or Instagram, but I understand that any actual change goes beyond this social media post.  The actual change begins at the voting booth, and millennials could account for such change by taking that extra step.  

On the other hand, this book explains how even though these young people may not vote in elections, they are still responsibly sharing content among other voters who may take into account what their younger friends have shared.  This is actually a big step of the democratic process, and social media is intensifying the importance of such posts.          

The young people discussed in the book vary in age, from high school to college.  This is an interesting dynamic.  In a sense, the authors wanted a true picture of youth activism, even among those who cannot vote yet.  This gave their writing another element necessary for understanding youth activism.  Their civic participation is driven by a desire to seek real change.  Their efforts have the potential to make such change among their older friends who may read their posts and keep them in mind while traveling to the polls.  Some would argue that this young of a demographic should not have been included in the authors' research, but I disagree.  High school is where we initially develop ourselves politically, and we want our voices heard, even if they can't yet be heard at the polls.   

While many people believe that sharing political content on social media is not the right avenue to seek real social change, they should remember than many of the social changes brought about in the last decade have started online.  They should think about movements such as #BlueLivesMatter and #BlackLivesMatter as just a few of the examples of how effective social media can be.  These platforms not only increase the discussion about desired social change, but they also give more people the opportunity to freely exercise their First Amendment rights - at any age.  

This book provides the information that proves that the millennial generation has the power to change U.S. public policies for generations.  This stunning fact should speak volumes to older folks who are quick to judge what impact millennials are having on the civic process. 

Blog Two: Social Media Use Among Teenagers

This week's reading, "It's Complicated," peered into the lives of young people who use social media.  Many of the topics resonated with me.  Although I am no longer a teenager, much of what was discussed was around when I was a teen as well.  I could most definitely relate to the students' excitement toward using social media and technology for projects in school; my classmates and I were encouraged to do the same.  I am the first to acknowledge, though, that social media among young users is now higher than ever.  This book looks at these teens' networks and attempts to explain to older folks the motivations behind their use of social media.  

Interviewing students as candidly as boyd did was the proper way of gaining the insight needed to learn as much as possible among these teens.  This gave teens the opportunity to be as forthcoming as possible, leaving out the mundane process of say filling in a survey.  What was also pretty incredible about boyd's research was that she also interviewed parents, teachers, librarians, etc., which broadened her understanding of their viewpoints concerning teenage social media use.  boyd's research indicated that even though parents often look at teens' social media use as a negative, the opposite is often true.  For instance, she explains how this negativity often prompts parents to believe that simpler lives (without social networking) would be ideal, but this is not the case.  She also explores the notion that media tends to blow out of proportion the small instances of the negative aspect of social networking (e.g. online bullying).  This is just not always the case, and it was fitting that she pointed it out.  Would the internet be more inclusive if presumptions were nixed? 

Adults should also understand what boyd says about the reason that social networking is positive after all.  She explains that kids, at one time, could meet in public places available to them, but that now the dynamics have changed.  She uses the mall as an example.  At one time, she says, the mall was a place that teens could go to "hang out," but that now it is a thing of the past.  Such "loitering" is not allowed.  Social networking sites offer the same kinds of benefits reaped from hanging out at the mall.  I had never really thought about the logic here, but I agree.  There are very few places for teens to go just to hang out and talk.  I am in my twenties and I sometimes find it hard to "find something to do" or somewhere to go, so I can imagine how difficult it would be for a teenager to do the same.  At least I can drive to either a bar or a casino if I want to meet up with friends.  I can see more clearly now why teens would desire to be interconnected with friends via social media.  In the past, teens could ride a bike to a grocery store or to a library or restaurant, but now that is not an option due to safety issues that did not exist during that time.  It is important to realize how secluded teens could potentially be without social networking.

This book was great for explaining the motivations of social media use among teenagers.  It quite literally looked into the minds of teens and explored their desire for connectedness among friends.  This book changed my mind about teenage use of social media.  The negativity initially determined from this use has been countered with boyd's research.  I would recommend anyone in the field of communication to study her findings and to read the book.  

Blog One: MC 7019 Thought Blog

This week's readings are extremely relevant for understanding contemporary public discourse.  Cultural elements are among the most important topics discussed, along with the ways in which social media has altered communication as a whole.  Social media, social networks and social networking sites have shifted the ways in which information is dispersed and discussed.

I agree with James Carey's article, "A Cultural Approach to Communication," on many levels.  Carey highlights the failed ways in which we continue to communicate.  He says that rituals take place of culture in the communication process, which harbors thoughts of power and control rather than the communal aspect he feels is important to the process.  All you have to do is turn on cable news or look at your Facebook newsfeed to see that this is the truth.  Every opinion is pretty much one-sided and/or biased for one argument over the other, which only offers the reader that particular side.  This makes it difficult for readers to decipher for themselves which parts of the argument are upheld by the unbiased truth.  This article resonated with me the most because of the "fake news" epidemic.  This "fake news" took place before, during and after the 2016 presidential election.  This flawed information further deteriorates social media as a tool of communication.  Carey's article can be found here.  

Questions After Reading:

• What can we do to replace ritualistic  communication with culture-based communication?
• Why do we rely so heavily on science rather than data which allows for a broader understanding of other people's cultures?

Danah Boyd and Nicole Ellison's article, "Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship," explains how scholars are reviewing social networking sites now more than ever.  This was no surprise to me.  With millions of people currently engaged in dialogues via social media, it is necessary for researchers to take a closer look.  The influence of these social networking sites is astounding, and it is important to understand how to use it as an effective tool of communication.  I agree with them that it is important to study the engagement aspect of such sites. This helps with future research on the topic as well, offering a greater understanding of the ways in which friends (and strangers) meet and interact on these social networking sites.  This reading made me think about how many complete strangers with which I am connected on my networking sites and what motivates these connections.  Click here to read the entire article. 

Boyd continues the preceding thoughts in her article, "Social Media: A Phenomenon to be Analyzed."  She offered me a new way of thinking about such a large issue.  The fact that many people in the 1990's and the early 2000's only used the web as a way of checking emails and browsing forced me to realize how new the social media phenomenon really is.  Within the last decade, social media has gained momentum and influence and become the way in which many people communicate.  This is reason enough, in my opinion, to further research the social media users' motives and interactions.

Boyd's article, "Making Sense of Teen Life," was most relatable for me.  I completely agree that the age of technology has most affected people around my age.  We do not know what life is like without  having a smartphone nearby which offers us instant access to the internet. I never thought about it on the level of tracking a younger person's behaviors online and what a problem that may be; according to Boyd, younger people care about internet privacy and the trail they leave while engaged.  This makes it more difficult to examine.

All of the readings made me anxious to learn more about the motivations behind our social networking and our social media interactions.  I am looking forward to learning more about emerging media and how they will shift the dynamics of mass communication.