Chu Jing Blog 2022

Hey and Welcome to My Blog 👋🏻

[chujingblog2022]

Global social media: China

Overview Of The Great Firewall Of China

The Golden Shield Project, sometimes known as the Great Firewall of China, is an internet censorship program that blocks users from visiting certain foreign websites (Schmitz 2022). When it relates to knowledge of democracy, free speech, and human rights, for example, the Chinese government utilizes this to restrict online content that it finds unsuitable or politically sensitive. The Ministry of Public Security controls the firewall, which prevents users from accessing certain websites, social media networks, and even search engines including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google Search, and many more.

The Ways China’s Great Firewall Works In Blocking Social Media Access In China

IP Blocking

The Great Firewall of China uses the well-known and widely used method of IP blocking to block access to multiple IP addresses (Schmitz 2022). The router can be set up to stop all data packets from going to a website's IP address if it is found unwanted (Benetti 2022). Routers immediately discard any packets going to IP addresses on a blacklist of unwanted addresses. This technique is named "network black-holing" (Demakis 2021).

DNS Poisoning

Any request for a website first goes to the DNS server to get the IP address of the website before accessing it at the address that is returned (Schmitz 2022). However, if the DNS server has been hacked, it will give the user a false IP address and direct them to a different website that has material that differs from the original website (Benetti 2022). To block access to websites like Twitter, China purposefully tampers with its DNS caches (Hoffman 2017).

Deep Packet Inspection

A content inspection technique called deep packet inspection can be used to search through unencrypted packets for sensitive information. Intrusion Detection Systems as known as IDS components are used by deep packet inspection (Demakis 2021). Data packets going to and entering from a server are examined by software. The packets are then duplicated, and any banned keywords are checked for. If the URL or meta tags contain inappropriate words, the software breaks the connection (Benetti 2022).

Negative Effects Of The Social Credit System On China Citizens

Chinese individuals are negatively impacted by the Social Credit System in several ways. The system is intended to keep tabs on and regulate how its residents behave by providing the government access to private data about them that they would not typically have. The social credit score, which the government can easily manage, is based on information gathered from a variety of sources, including internet usage history, financial transactions, public documents like court cases, and more. In addition, the Chinese government will be able to compile a list of individuals who are "untrustworthy" in order to restrict them from leaving the country or even being hired there. People who require loans in order to survive or even grow in their lives may find it more difficult to obtain loans as a result of their social credit score. Some employers would not accept a job application from someone with no credit history or bad credit history. If the person's social rating is too low, they may not be able to rent an apartment in some cities or counties. A person's family members may also be impacted by their poor social credit score if they have one. It impacts not only the private lives of individuals but also businesses that conduct commerce with China and other places with which they have trade deals.

Bad Consequences Of Social Media Surveillance On China’s Public Health

Social media monitoring by the Chinese government not only compromises individuals' privacy but also has bad consequences for the general public's health. The first effect is that it discourages individuals from obtaining timely medical assistance. People who are subject to governmental monitoring avoid discussing sensitive matters online and as a result, fail to get prompt medical attention for their disorders. For instance, Chinese individuals find it challenging to discuss HIV-related topics because they are concerned about being punished if they publish sensitive information on social media.

Patients also have restricted access to information about their own diseases and therapies, which further prevents them from obtaining prompt care. This is because many doctors are reluctant to share patient information online out of concern that they would be tracked by the government. Additionally, this has resulted in a reduction in the amount of information available on specific topics. Suicide is one of the main causes of death in China, hence the Chinese government also keeps an eye on internet discussions regarding mental illness and suicide. Some persons may be discouraged from seeking assistance or confiding in others as a result of this surveillance.

Furthermore, under the system of China's national system for the prevention and control of illness. As a measure to keep track of its people’s behaviours, the Chinese government is attempting to social credit scores to access several services, including travel or even healthcare services, which will be refused if the person has a poor social credit score. Because they don't want sick individuals spreading illnesses or being infectious, the government can easily hunt down those who are ill and prevent them from receiving healthcare services.

Summary

I think China’s surveillance on social media provides more negative impacts on its citizens than protecting or saving their citizens, where citizens lack freedom from the control of the government based on the production of the Great Firewall of China, and the Social Credit System.

Reference List

‌Benetti, S 2022, The Great Firewall of China: What it is and how to get around it, EXPERTE, viewed 22 November 2022, <https://www.experte.com/internet-censorship/great-firewall-china>.

Demakis, R 2021, Understanding the Great Firewall of China, Demakis Technologies, viewed 22 November 2022, <https://demakistech.com/great-firewall-of-china/>.

Schmitz, M 2022, How the Great Firewall of China affects performance of websites outside of China, Dotcom-Monitor, viewed 2 December 2022, <https://www.dotcom-monitor.com/blog/2022/03/27/how-the-great-firewall-of-china-affects-performance-of-websites-outside-of-china/#:~:text=The%20Great%20Firewall%20of%20China%2C%20or%20as%20it>.

[chujingblog2022]

Social Gaming

Overview Of Social Gaming

Social gaming is a type of online, digital game that allows for social engagement and conversation about the game outside of the game as well as inside it. It may be played on PCs, game consoles, mobile devices, and other portable devices (Social gaming 2022). It applies to all online games on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. Rather than pitting one person against another, it's about sharing the joy and happiness of belonging to a community. Social gaming also refers to how players engage with one another and their gaming experiences rather than the actual game genre. For instance, playing Farmville on Facebook is seen as social gaming since their friends can see what users are doing and how far along users are in the game.

Examples Of Social Gaming Platforms And Social Games

Any online platform that enables users to play games with other people is considered a social gaming platform. The most popular ones are Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. These platforms, which include social networks, can be free or paid. Users of these platforms can build a profile page with a personalized avatar to interact with other users. Users may also communicate with one another by leaving comments on each other's postings, liking them, sending each other private messages, and sharing information from accounts they follow. Additionally, these platforms include games that users may play with one another in real time or with chat rooms. Also, enable players to compete against friends or strangers in the same city or country or even from other countries. The most well-known social games include Words With Friends, FarmVille, and more.

Words With Friends

A 2009-founded free-to-play online multiplayer word game where players take turns constructing words in a crossword puzzle-like way, much like other traditional board games (Welcome to words with friends 2022).

FarmVille

Zynga created the game FarmVille, which was released in June 2009 and is available as a Facebook application. It simulates various features of a real farm, such as caring for animals and plants as well as constructing structures and ornaments (Romano 2022).

Positive Impacts Of Monetization Rather Than Play In Gaming On Society

The first positive impact of monetization rather than play in gaming on society is that the rise of online games has created work possibilities for many individuals who would otherwise be unemployed. Also, people may generate money and sustain themselves via their employment in an atmosphere where they have control over what they do. Furthermore, game creators and publishers may build a diverse selection of material that is accessible to gamers all over the world. This content includes instructional resources like textbooks, reference guides, and other types of learning material; entertainment media such as movies and television series; social interaction tools such as forums; and even business services through which gamers may purchase virtual products or compete for prizes by playing their games. Gaming monetization also encourages gamers for the time and effort they put into games by providing in-game cash or products that can be used to buy other games. This gives users an additional method to assist game creators, who are frequently not compensated for their efforts. It also allows the game creator to earn more money, which they can then invest in improving their products and services.

Negative Impacts On Gamer If The Gaming Community Provide A More Toxic Environment

There are many opportunities for the gaming industry to grow and flourish. The gaming community may, however, be filled with negativity and hate speech. The player may feel anxious in this setting, which is the first effect. They may be more unwilling to participate in games either online or person since they don't want to be connected with those that spread discrimination and other forms of negativity. Gamers may also experience an increase in depression and anxiety issues like social anxiety disorder (SAD), particularly if they play online games. To avoid being criticised or harassed by other players, many people feel that they must cover their true identity while they play online games. Additionally, toxicity makes players completely withdraw from the online gaming world by creating an atmosphere that is unfriendly toward women and minorities, such as harassment or bullying. The loss of trust in a community would also have an impact, which would result in fewer people playing games and spending money on them. As a result of their dependence on this source of income for their business model, game creators may be significantly impacted.

Summary

In summary, social gaming offers players many advantages, particularly in monetization. For example, it can provide employment opportunities for many people who would otherwise be unemployed, create a diverse content collection that is available to players worldwide, and reward players for the time and effort they put into games by offering in-game currency or products that can be used to purchase other games. However, the gaming community could be widespread with negativity and hate speech, leading to a rise in depression and anxiety problems including social anxiety disorder (SAD) and generating an environment that is hostile to women and minorities and can lead to harassment or bullying. So, to make gaming safer, the government and gaming organisations should work together and take real action.

Reference List

Social gaming 2022, Gartner, viewed 27 November 2022, <https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/social-gaming>.

Welcome to words with friends 2022, Zynga Inc, viewed 27 November 2022, <https://wordswithfriends.com/>.

Romano, L 2022, What is FarmVille?, wiseGEEK, viewed 27 November 2022, <https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-farmville.htm>.

[chujingblog2022]

Fandom

Overview Of Fandom

First of all, "fandom" is basically just another word for "fan culture." A fandom is a group of people who have formed a community or subculture around a specific activity of popular culture, like a band, book, movie, video game, comic, and so on. This group of followers is connected by a shared love of the original creation (Hundred Life Design 2019). Anyone can participate in fandom, regardless of age, gender, or religion. It is not exclusive to any one group of individuals. Fans of comic books are lovers of comic books, whereas fans of Star Wars are enthusiasts of movies and TV shows. Fandom can be reasonably varied; it's not simply about well-known subjects like sports teams or celebrities. It can also encompass passions like knitting or cooking and pursuits that seem weird to others, such as stamp collecting or board games.

Different Types Of Fandom Communities

Fanfiction Community

Fanfiction, often known as fanfic, is fiction that has been created by someone who is a follower of a specific television show, film, or book (Harmon 2022). The fanfiction community comprises people who like reading fanfiction or writing it themselves. They serve as gathering spots for fans to read and discuss other people's writing and their own. The stories can be written as parodies or pastiches, although they are typically written as original fiction. The authors don't anticipate making any money off them; they were written solely for enjoyment.

Fan Art Community

Fan art refers to any creation that is based on a persona or element from another piece of art. Drawing a picture of your favourite character might be as basic or sophisticated as building a completely new piece of art using the characters and setting from another story as inspiration (Kumar 2022). A fan art community is a place where people can share their fan art and discuss their appreciation of the show or movie they're painting. It's a terrific opportunity to meet others who share your interests in the same things you do, whether those interests are in anime, video games, movies, or sports teams. They also give artists a venue to exhibit their work and connect with others who share their enthusiasm.

The Ways Fandom Provide Online Community Support

Fans previously could only communicate with their favourite celebrities through various media sources and social media sites. But in today's world, fandom supports online communities in a variety of ways. The most typical method is to give fans a forum where they can discuss their favourite TV series, films, books, and other support materials. Additionally, there are forums where fans may discuss the most recent information about their favourite shows or characters. The show's actors and actresses, as well as writers, frequently engage with fans on these boards and respond to inquiries that have been made throughout time. Through social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, users may publish pictures of themselves decked out in outfits from their favourite shows or even share fan art, which is another way that fandom supports its members.

The Negative Impacts Of Online Fandoms On Society

Fandoms online have a wide range of negative effects. The lack of privacy is the first issue and can result in identity theft, stalking, and other problems. Some fans may even go so far as to create phoney accounts to gain access to their favourite celebrity's life, which only serves to exacerbate the issue. Furthermore, as a result of this behaviour, some celebrities' private data from social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have been taken. Social media's ability to propagate false information is yet another detrimental effect; fan fiction articles and images with fake characters are frequent examples. The last and most noticeable effect is how they might persuade people to take their own lives, particularly when they are victims of bullying or harassment by other followers. This is especially true for famous people who have experienced internet abuse and harassment. The fact that young women committed the bulk of these suicides, which indicates that the issue is considerably more pervasive than we imagined, should also be noted.

Summary

In conclusion, a fandom is a group of individuals who have created a community or subculture centred around a particular piece of popular culture, such as a band, book, movie, video game, comic, etc. Online fandoms have a variety of negative effects on society, even while they help online communities in various ways, such as by providing fans with a forum and social networking sites. Therefore, in my opinion, fandom shouldn't exist online to avoid the development of illusory expectations and the adoption of destructive behaviours.

Reference List

Hundred Life Design 2019, Fandoms: What They Are And How To Get Into It, Hundred Life Design, viewed 15 November 2022, <https://hundredlifedesign.com/fandoms-what-they-are-and-how-to-get-into-it-or-not/>.

Harmon, J 2022, What is Fanfiction?, languagehumanities.org, viewed 16 November 2022, <https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-fanfiction.htm>.

Kumar, M 2022, What is Fan Art ? | 10 Things you Should Know about Fanart, MadhansArt.com, viewed 16 November 2022, <https://madhansart.com/what-is-fan-art/>.

[chujingblog2022]

Crowdsourcing

Background Of Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing is the process of obtaining information, products, or services from a big group of individuals (Livescault n.d.). The crowd may be comprised of people or groups, and it may exist offline or online. The theory behind crowdsourcing is that by soliciting suggestions, feedback, or assistance from their consumers and employees, businesses may tap into the skills and knowledge of both groups. Crowdsourcing is more than simply problem-solving; it also helps companies better understand their customers and gives them information on which products are most well-liked by consumers. Because everyone involved in the decision-making process has a right to take part, crowdsourcing ensures that no one individual may arbitrarily decides on behalf of everyone else.

Overview Of Social Media Crowdsourcing Community

People who are enthusiastic about social media and actively involved in content creation make up the social media crowdsourcing community. They could be referred to as "citizen journalists" or "volunteers for social media." Members range from individuals with just a few followers on Twitter or Facebook to those with massive followings. Non-experts can contribute their time, expertise, and skills which often in new and interesting ways the solution of real-world problems through social media crowdsourcing. They receive comments, respect for their efforts, and backing from the audience in return. It is also referred to as crowdsourcing or group problem-solving.

Different Types Of Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing can be classified into two types which are online crowdsourcing and offline crowdsourcing.

Online Crowdsourcing

Online crowdsourcing is a way of problem-solving where you allow others to take part in your project and share their ideas with you through social media channels like Facebook or Twitter. With this approach, you can concentrate on what matters which is creating your product or service and instead of having to manage the crowd yourself. For instance, well-known crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe (Matt 2022).

Offline Crowdsourcing

Offline crowdsourcing, on the other hand, refers to going to a real-world event where individuals can come together and work on the same project at the same time and incorporate using human labor, either directly or indirectly. The usage of offline crowdsourcing, which entails a huge number of individuals cooperating to perform tasks, can be utilized to solve problems in the real world. Using surveys or polls to gather data and information is an example of offline crowdsourcing. A business might conduct this poll to learn more about its customers and how they see the business (Alyssa 2016).

Effects Of Fake News On Crowdsourced Information

Fake news has various impacts on crowdsourcing information. First off, since it may be difficult for individuals to tell the difference between actual and fake information, the growth of fake news may cause people to lose faith in information gathered by the crowd. Second, the propagation of false information or wrong opinions about politics and public policy may rise when fake news is present in the collective knowledge of a crowd. Finally, people may quit using these crowdsourcing sites completely if they don't trust the information, they receive from them. This might result in reduced levels of participation in online communities that depend on them for useful information, which would be harmful to businesses and their consumers.

Limitations Of Crowdsourced Information During Times Of Crisis

In case of disaster, crowdsourcing can give useful information, but it cannot take the place of more conventional information-gathering approaches like questioning witnesses or carrying out surveillance. Because crowdsourcing depends on people ready to contribute their own experiences as they relate to the event in question, it is thus said that it has limitations. In other words, those who participate in crowdsourcing have a different degree of expertise than people who may be impacted by an incident. Because so many individuals are speculating about what has occurred or may occur in an event, crowdsourced knowledge can thus be manipulative and imprecise. This implies that the data might be entirely incorrect, which could provide issues for people who rely on it for planning.

Summary

Getting information, products, or services from a large number of people is referred to as crowdsourcing. Due to the fake news problem on social media and its restrictions on information sharing during disasters, in my opinion, crowdsourcing on social media may have worse than beneficial effects.

Reference List

Livescault, J n.d., What is Crowdsourcing? (in 2022), braineet, viewed 12 November 2022, <https://www.braineet.com/blog/crowdsourcing>.

Alyssa, K 2016, #Module 5: Offline Crowdsourcing, medium, viewed 12 November 2022, <https://medium.com/@AlyssaK_RU/module-5-offline-crowdsourcing-f01873c2d278>.

Matt 2022, 8 Best Crowdsourcing Platforms in 2022, Filmmaking Lifestyle, viewed 12 November 2022, <https://filmlifestyle.com/best-crowdsourcing-platforms/>.

[chujingblog2022]

Public Health Campaigns And Communities

Overview Of Public Health Campaign

Public health campaigns intentionally enlighten the populace about ways they might live better lives by fending against present health risks or promoting changes in behaviour (The Aspiring Medics 2020). Public health campaigns may, for instance, work to raise vaccination coverage, decrease teen smoking rates, promote teen safe sex practices, or encourage young children to eat healthily. Public entities, such as state and local governments, nonprofit groups, and for-profit businesses frequently deploy public health campaigns, which are typically promoted through considerable media coverage, such as radio, television, and print advertisement. In collaboration with other organizations like schools, companies, community groups, etc., it is planned by the local government.

Examples Of Public Health Campaigns Advertised Through Social Media In Malaysia

“Stop Smoking” Campaign

Through social media, the Ministry of Health (MOH) introduced its "Stop Smoking" campaign. Young people between the ages of 18 and 30 were the initial target audience for the campaign, but it has now been expanded to encompass all Malaysians, regardless of age.

‘Clean Air Week’ Campaign

The #MalaysiaHealthCampaigns and #MyHealthForUMalaysia hashtags were used in Instagram posts to support the "Clean Air Week" campaign, which sought to educate young people about the hazards of second-hand smoke (SHS).

“Kita Semua Boleh” Campaign

The "Kita Semua Boleh" campaign of the Health Ministry uses social media to encourage healthy lifestyle decisions including eating a balanced diet and exercising often to lower the number of individuals who suffer from diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses.

Social Media Platforms Used To Share The Public Health Campaign With Our Malaysian Citizens

The most well-liked platforms on social media for spreading public health campaigns among Malaysians are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. On these social media platforms, the campaign's information is also available in several other languages. For instance, public health messages may be available on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in Malay, English, and Chinese, respectively.

Advantages Of Using Social Media To Inform The Public About The Public Health

Social media facilitates the capacity to instantly contact a big wide range of people. Social media allows you to spread information and engage in discourse with a huge number of people, which may help messages spread quicker than conventional means. For example, it is simple for someone who has been impacted by a disease outbreak to share images and videos of the signs and symptoms they are experiencing online.

Furthermore, social media is a low-cost option to reach a big number of individuals with a message. It's also a good way to reach out to those who are already interested in health concerns. Social media can be utilized as a part of a larger communications plan or on its own.

Moreover, social media allows healthcare professionals to exchange knowledge, discuss problems with healthcare policy and practice, encourage healthy behaviours, interact with the general public, and instruct and communicate with patients, caregivers, students, and coworkers. Social media may be used by medical professionals to encourage patients, build a professional network, boost personal awareness of news and breakthroughs, and disseminate health information to the public (Ventola 2014).

Dangers To The Public If High Reliability On Social Media For Public Health Campaigns

A high-reliability social media approach for public health campaigns poses the risk that it will be utilized improperly to influence people. For instance, if you want to utilize social media as part of a campaign to discourage smoking, but you also post on Facebook that "don't smoke because it will kill you," this might do more harm than good. Therefore, utilizing social media in this manner has hazards. There are enormous advantages too if they are utilized properly and ethically.

One of them is that individuals could put off getting medical help if they have a symptom or sickness if they fear that it will be posted online and spread among their friends, family, and colleagues. Infectious illnesses could spread more widely as a result of this. Concern has also been raised concerning the effects on people's mental health who believe social media sites have revealed their personal information.

Summary

Social media is a great resource for spreading the word and connecting with people. However, false information may spread swiftly as well, particularly when there are no checks and balances in place. Providing accurate and current information about public health concerns is the finest thing we can do.

Reference List

The Aspiring Medics 2020, Public health campaigns, The Aspiring Medics, The Aspiring Medics, viewed 5 November 2022, <https://www.theaspiringmedics.co.uk/post/public-health-campaign>.

Ventola, CL 2014, ‘Social media and health care professionals: Benefits, risks, and best practices’, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, vol. 39, no.7, viewed 5 November 2022, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103576/>.

[chujingblog2022]

Digital Citizenship 2: Activism & Protest

Overview Of Social Media Activism

The use of social networking sites and other online platforms to advance an agenda or cause is known as social media activism, which is a new type of political activity. It entails communicating with others through a variety of platforms, including blogs, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts, in order to raise awareness of a specific issue. The main goal of this kind of activism is to engage people to participate in the conversation by expressing their opinions on a particular issue. Social media activism offers chances for grassroots movements to emerge and develop. Successful social media movements include the Ice Bucket Challenge, #MeToo, and Black Lives Matter (Woods 2022).

Overview Of Social Media Protest

Social media protest is a type of social action that uses social media to plan, coordinate, and disseminate information about an occasion or cause. It can also be used to organize individuals around a particular problem. This kind of protest is frequently planned by organizations that were not initially present at the event but discovered about it through social media use.

Affordances Of Graffiti Or Street Art For Social Media Activism And Protest

Street art and graffiti are two approaches to public communication. They are also a type of protest since they criticize or are dissatisfied at the authorities. Graffiti has been utilized by revolutionaries like Che Guevara, who was well-known for his work on Cuban walls, to convey political beliefs in many other nations. Because graffiti is uncensored by governments or other organizations that regulate media sources, it can be considered an effective form of communication. It enables people to communicate their thoughts without worrying about facing consequences for doing so. However, activists frequently employ street art to express their views on political topics that they feel need to be discussed on the streets rather than in the congressional chambers or the local council.

Malaysia Youth Communities’ Activity On Social Media As Activists And Protesters

Young individuals who have grown up with cell phones predominate among this group of activists. The internet has made it simple for them to get online data from all around the world. Additionally, they are more at ease utilizing technology than prior Malaysian generations who were raised solely using landlines. Youth in Malaysia have organized protests in the past using Facebook and Twitter. For instance, "Bersatu," a group of youth activists, established a Facebook page for their movement during Bersih 5 in 2012. Additionally, they set up an online petition that attracted more than 100,000 signatures from Malaysians who agreed with their cause. A group of young people known as the Youth Coalition for Action (YCA) has also participated in the Bersih movement. To raise awareness of concerns like election reform and corruption, they have been actively involved in planning protests and rallies and maintaining their own Facebook page. The YCA also maintains a blog where they provide content on youth-related topics like politics, human rights, education, and social problems.

Role Of Social Media In Malaysia’s Digital Activism And Protest

In Malaysia, social media has become a significant platform for political and social activism. The country’s vibrant digital community can mobilize quickly and effectively through social media platforms. They discovered that in the Bersih campaign, the social media network of weak ties is crucial to maintaining the bonds between activists and participants. People can keep their Facebook networks up and running for almost free. People can be virtually immediately activated when the next campaign takes place. Many of the grassroots organizers of the global movement, known as Global Bersih, have never met one another. For notetaking, idea-sharing, and decision-making, they used Facebook and WhatsApp. Additionally, a global network of the Malaysian diaspora is actively supporting the Bersih campaign in Malaysia. At a rally in 2015, Malaysians living abroad organized parallel protests in more than 90 places throughout the globe (Leong 2016).

Summary

Social media activism is a new type of political activity in which people use social media to plan, coordinate, and spread information about an event or cause. It can also be used to unite people around a common cause. Social media has become an important platform for political and social activism in Malaysia.

Reference List

Woods, K 2022, Social media activism: This is how you start a movement, Sprout Social, viewed 17 October 2022, <https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-activism/>.

Leong, C 2016, Malaysia’s Bersih movement shows social media can mobilise the masses, UNSW Sydney, viewed 17 October 2022, <https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/business-law/malaysia%E2%80%99s-bersih-movement-shows-social-media-can-mobilise-masses>.

[chujingblog2022]

Digital Citizenship 1: Political Engagement

Overview Of Political Engagement

Political engagement is the act of citizens choosing and endorsing the rulers who control the government, including when they run for office themselves. A citizen's participation in politics can take the form of voting, running for office or expressing interest in doing so, or joining organizations that put pressure on elected officials and other public servants through civil society activism and demonstrations (World Bank Group 2016, p.55).

People Who Are Most Likely To Become Involved In Politics Or Community Service

Young people are typically more prone to get involved in politics. Younger Americans tend to vote more liberally and less religiously than older Americans, who tend to vote more conservatively and religiously. Additionally, there is less income inequality among young Americans than among older Americans. Compared to their elders, the wealth and poverty divide is substantially narrower among young adults. This makes logical given that wealth can be accumulated across many generations as people age through investments or inheritances. The majority of political volunteers are in their 20s and 30s, with around a third of all volunteers being under the age of 30. About half of political campaign volunteers have a college degree. High school graduates and those without a high school diploma are the two groups with the most common educational backgrounds. Some college or technical education is the next highest degree of education.

Malaysians' Use Of Social Media For Political Engagement

Social media is quite active in Malaysia. They use these forums to express their ideas and viewpoints on political matters, governmental regulations, and other topics that concern them. Many of them also share photos of themselves with political figures or the political groups they identify with. This demonstrates how invested they are in Malaysian politics. Allowing the public to speak with their leaders face-to-face, also fosters a closer bond between the people and their leaders. In Malaysia, using social media for political activism is nothing new. Bersih began integrating Facebook and YouTube into its communication and mobilization strategy in 2008. After Google, Facebook has the second-highest traffic in Malaysia. Only 17 days before the rally date, on June 22, 2011, the first Bersih 2.0 Facebook page, dubbed "Bersih 2.0 [Official]," was established. Within two weeks, it had amassed more than 190,000 fans (Lim 2016).

Memes' Proclivity To Aid People In Understanding Politics

Considering that memes are a pretty straightforward method of disseminating information, in my opinion, they aid in people's understanding of politics. You can easily communicate your ideas with others, and it doesn't take much work. When someone talks about politics, you don't need to read the article's content or watch a video to comprehend what they mean. When it comes to memes, all you need to do is a glance at the image, and if you find it amusing, you'll probably agree with what the individual is saying. This enables us to comprehend political matters more clearly and form our judgments about them.

Summary

Citizens elect and support those in power who control government through political engagement, including running for office. Young people are more likely to get involved in politics. Most political volunteers are in their 20s and 30s, and about a third of all volunteers are under 30. Malaysians are very active on social media. They use these forums to express their ideas and views on political issues, government regulations, and other important issues. Since memes are a relatively easy way to spread information, I think they help people understand politics.

Reference List

World Bank Group 2016, Making Politics Work for Development: Harnessing Transparency And Citizen Engagement, The World Bank, Washington.

Lim, M 2016, Sweeping the Unclean: Social Media and the Bersih Electoral Reform Movement in Malaysia, Global Media Journal, viewed 9 October 2022, <https://www.globalmediajournal.com/open-access/sweeping-the-unclean-social-media-and-the-bersih-electoral-reformmovement-in-malaysia.php?aid=83245>.

[chujingblog2022]

Is blogging still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram?

Overview Of Blog

A blog is a weblog that allows you to post entries, called posts. The posts are usually written in the form of a diary or journal and can include text, images, audio clips and video files. Blogs can be private or public. A personal blog requires you to register with an email address before posting content on your site; however, others can’t see your posts unless they have access to the same account as you do (for example if they know your password). A public blog does not require registration; anyone can view the content posted by other users without special permission.

History Of Blog

It’s generally recognized that the first blog was Links.net, created by Justin Hall, while he was a Swarthmore College student in 1994. Of course, at that time they weren’t called blogs, and he just referred to them as his homepage (Webdesigner Depot 2011).

Differences Between Blog Posts And Social Media Posts

A blog post is a single piece of content. It can be an article, a video or even an infographic. Blog posts are usually written with the purpose of informing and educating your readers about something specific. They are usually longer than social media posts because they have more time to explain their ideas in detail.

On the other hand, social media posts are short pieces of content that you share across multiple platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.). These types of posts are typically used for promoting your brand or business online but also for sharing interesting news about yourself or your company on Facebook and Twitter.

Overview Of Blog Community

Blogging communities are associations of bloggers united by a common goal, passion, or interest. These groups serve to link authors over traits and blog themes for them to grow as a community and learn from one another's experiences (The Scripted Blog 2015).

The Best Other Three Platforms For Writing Blogs

WordPress

WordPress is a great choice for bloggers who want to have complete control over the content, design, and functionality of their site. It’s also an excellent choice for business owners who want full control over the look and feel of their website without having to worry about technical aspects like server hosting or coding skills.

Medium

Because of its simplicity, ease of use and great features. It has a clean interface with easy navigation and an intuitive design. The content can be easily edited without any hassle. And most importantly, it allows you to create your blog in no time at all.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn has a lot of features that make it great for blogging. It's easy to use and gives you much freedom in how you want to present your content. You can create groups, pages, or just posts and share them with your network.

Affordances Of Blogging

The affordances of blogging are how it is possible to share information, news, and ideas. As such, they provide a means by which people can communicate with each other. For example, blogs allow for the sharing of personal experiences and observations as well as providing an avenue for individuals to express their opinions on various topics. Blogs also provide a platform for individuals to share content that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to disseminate through traditional media outlets (e.g., video).

Effects Of Blogging In The Public Sphere

The public sphere is a space for the exchange of ideas and information. Blogging can be a powerful tool in this space, where individuals from all walks of life can voice their opinions on issues that matter to them. In addition, blogging allows individuals to share their views with others who may not have an opportunity to read traditional media outlets or participate in political forums. Because individuals often blog without formal training or experience, it also provides an outlet for those without access to these resources.

Effects Of Blogging On The Networked Public

The idea that blogging is a way to create a community or build social capital is one of the most common arguments for why it should be done. But this assumes that people are interested in doing so, which may not always be true. Blogging can also help individuals stand out from their peers and make them more visible. This makes it easier for others to find them, thus increasing their visibility on the network.

Summary

In summary, I think blogging is still relevant in the age of TikTok and Instagram as they provide a great platform to express yourself and your thoughts easily and you can be anonymous if you want to be.

Reference List

Webdesigner Depot 2011, A Brief History of Blogging, Webdesigner Depot, viewed 2 October 2022, <https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/03/a-brief-history-of-blogging/#:~:text=It>.

‌The Scripted Blog, 2015, Connect and Grow With Blogging Communities, The Scripted Blog, viewed 2 October 2022, <https://www.scripted.com/writing/connect-and-grow-with-blogging-communities>.