Digitally Woke

Some social commentary on this digital landscape we like to play around on. 

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Check out my Presentation on Crowdsourcing Digital Homies

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vS5lXfDaKrRFDafNnl-ID9Whw9a9t66FtLSjuSeQoobp4F7-aJ8SYR8mg2Ka8tM8oKJGEmf1MVrEn14/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000 

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What’s Xi Jinping got Against Winnie the Pooh?

*Pooh’s crash landing after being catapulted over the Great Firewall of China*

The beloved, Hunny devouring bear from Hundred Acre Wood has been banished to the dark side of the Great Firewall of China, and honestly I feel for him.

Look, Xi Jinping, I s’pose I get it. No one likes being compared to an animated book character, but goodness me has the micro-management of China’s government-mediated media access not been taken a step too far this time?

I appreciate that meme culture can be a vessel for bandwagon bullying and often the meme’s can be disrespectful, but honestly, the comparison of Xi to Winnie the Pooh really appears to me like a bit of innocent humour. 

Following the recognition of this meme trend, Chinese censors started banning the spread of these memes and comparisons of Xi to Pooh, whilst also banning the release of ‘Christopher Robin’ in 2013.

As much as this is a trivial example of the way in which China mediates their national media access, I think it serves as a metaphor for other more serious problems that underpin this kind of media control. The separation of Chinese Media from the rest of the world is a concept that I find difficult to wrap my head around. I cannot comprehend that a country with such an enormous population uses completely different social media platforms, completely different websites, and any other platforms/site variety that there is, to the rest of the world. It’s like a complete segregation of culture and society that the rest of the world are in no way privy to. And it goes both ways, there is so much going on in the world of social media across the world and so much information online that is all pooled and shared by different countries and cultures, but China is cut off from so much of that by the Golden Shield.

This kind of segregation i find honestly terrifying. I think global shared knowledge is one of the most powerful tools for all societies and cultures, and in the world’s ability to house us all harmoniously. But with such a huge segment of the global population being segregated in this way by differences in media access, i am left feeling honestly a little baffled and concerned.

Lastly, Pooh, just want to say, love your work. You are the cutest fictional character from my childhood. Secondly, Xi Jinping, you totally are not as cute as Pooh so i really do not get why this meme trend took off in the first place. I’M SORRY but its the truth. Love you Pooh.

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I Forced My 12 Year Old Cousin to Teach Me to Play Fortnite

This is actually not a lie. 

I’m not a gamer, but I kind of wish I was. I feel like gamers have this weird aura of superiority going on. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I want to be in the club. 

And that’s what it kind of is really, a social club. Groups of people with one very niche aspect in common, whether that aspect be Fortnite or another video game (or even non-video game for that matter.) And I want to be a part of it. I’m speaking from absolutely no experience, but I’m assuming that if people who play Fortnite love it so obsessively to the point where they spend most of their spare time playing it and/or talking about playing it, then it must be for a reason right?

Well, I’m not a sidelines kind of a gal, so I set myself the task of becoming a gamer. This process involved forcing my 12 year old cousin into teaching me how to play via the means of bribery. This was no easy feat (as his teaching me took him away from his own gameplay) but I prevailed in the end.

Firstly, it was hard. I’m going to say my dismal lack of skill was a result of poor training rather than inherent inadequacy, as my cousin whipped through the endless controls and objectives with lightning speed and little to no enthusiasm.

So picture it, I’m sitting there with the controller in my hands, Harry (said cousin) has the headset on chatting to his mates who are playing as other shooters on the battlefield. This wasn’t my idea of a good time. I wanted to be a gamer so I could be in the club, and I still wasn’t in the bloody club. I was just sitting there with a controller that I don't know how to use turning my head whenever Harry would start speaking, only to realise he was speaking to his mates over the headset about how shit I was at playing the game after I kept getting killed within 60 seconds of every round.

This made me think, maybe in some instances it’s not only the game itself that is so fun, but rather the community and interaction that it can cultivate. This scenario actually gave me a pretty good insight into this concept of Digital Community, and how gaming is actually more than just solo play. In some circumstances it is, sure, but it’s also communities and networks of players, it’s team play, it’s social interaction, and so much more.

So, I’m sad to admit that I doubt I will be trying my hand at Fortnite ever again. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still like to be a gamer, but I think maybe WOW might be more my speed. The pressure of the Fortnite arena left me feeling a little rattled. But I am not giving up on my dream of being a gamer! I will find my club.

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Yeah I’m a Gamer

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Insta’s Discover Page is the Cause of all my Insecurities

Anyone else with me here?

Being a 21 year old girl, I’m pretty privy to the damage that platforms like Instagram can have on people when it comes to body image, self confidence, and something I struggle with severely, the infamous FOMO (fear of missing out if you’ve been living under an Instagram sized rock and you haven’t experienced this phenomena.)

Most of us have heard the countless people preaching about the ‘highlight-real’ reality that Instagram portrays. Most of us are well aware that ‘face-tune’ has a lot to say when it comes to seemingly perfect airbrushed photos of people with the perfect skin, perfect bodies, perfect tans, and perfect hair. Most of us are pretty clear on the fact that the food blog’s endless stream of extremely healthy salad ideas are not the only thing that we are allowed to eat in order to not be revoltingly overweight. Albeit, I can guarantee that I am not the only one that ends up in a pit of self detriment after I’ve had a bit too much of a sticky beak on the Instagram discover page. When I’ve looked at photo after photo of various ‘perfect’ models and their ‘perfect’ photos of their ‘perfect’ vegan salad bowls and their ‘perfect’ birthday parties with the masses of ‘perfect’ friends that wanted to celebrate their ‘perfect’ life with them, I’m often left feeling rather inadequate.

There’s no doubt that this is an issue for many. unattainable perfectionism is one of the biggest epidemics that social media has played a role in, and I am no exception to its endless list of victims striving and failing to live up to unrealistic expectations. For me, this is something I can get over pretty much as soon as I step back into the reality of the physical world and go about my day. However, for some this can snowball into some pretty serious mental health issues.

Ironically, social media can also be used to cultivate positivity and bring people together who may be suffering from similar mental health problems and many other illnesses at that. Online support groups can play a huge role in people’s lives as they act as a place of belonging for many people whom otherwise might feel like an outsider. Social media can cultivate community, friendship, and support networks, and this is something that has served, and continues to serve, so many people that are going through the ringer.

So, I still think the Instagram Discover page sucks. But, fortunately I think the understanding that these portrayals of perfection are false is gaining more and more traction every day. And as much as social media can play a negative role when it comes to this issue, Social media can also bat on the other side and be a place of refuge from illness (both mental and physical) for so many, and that shouldn’t be overlooked either.

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Post Incoming

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Get Woke the World Needs You

Crowdsourcing. Anyone can do it.

Well, in a roundabout sort of way, yes. Crowdsourcing is one of the most incredible ways that social media can do some seriously impactful ‘good’ in this sometimes sodden world. 

Natural disasters are no ones cup of tea, and the consequences of serious natural disasters can be detrimental and many people have died as a result of these events. Definitely no joking around when it comes to the tragedies that have taken place in the wake of some of these disasters. However, when it comes to the fallout of international disasters, social media has been awarded with a pretty solid handshake for some of the work it has facilitated in the assistance of aiding affected communities.

Crowdsourcing is a process wherein the knowledge of people across the world is pooled to combat obstacles that otherwise wouldn't be jumped over by the people facing them alone. Networks such as Ushahidi.com are the workhorses behind this crowdsourcing phenomena. It’s true, the process is a little more challenging than making a messenger group and having a  yarn about everyone’s day before getting down to the nitty gritty of the task at hand. No. Programs like Ushahidi use the power of crowd sourcing in a much more methodical way.

An example of a method used for crowdsourcing (and adopted by Ushahidi) is crisis mapping. This involved the development of an online visual map with dots that mark locations that have been identified as crisis locations. The maps contain information detailing the type of crisis, the exact gps coordinates, and any other specifications that apply such as supplies that are required or whether or not people have died in the location etc. This information is received by the crisis mapping team via text message, usually, and if the message is in a foreign language it is then translated, before the data is loaded onto the crisis map. This network of inflowing and outflowing information is the process of crowdsourcing.

It may be slightly complicated, yes, but crowdsourcing is pretty wicked, and I don't think enough people know about it. These platforms have aided hugely in the management of deathly aftermath of countless natural disasters, and a lot of that can be attributed to the founders of these innovative programs, as well as the public who contribute information to form artefacts such as crisis maps.

So remember, folks. Social media is a very powerful weapon, and it’s power can be harnessed for much more than just group chats and photo sharing. Tell that to your parents next time they launch into a reverie about the good old days, before the inter-webs.

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Trolling with the homies

Disregarding the satirical heading above, the issue of trolling on social media is in many cases, not a light one, and certainly not an act conducted by one’s ‘homies’. There are many very serious and, at times, dangerous outcomes that can be inflicted as a result of aggressive negative trolling online.

Social media is scrutinised all the time for it’s role in the facilitation of incessant trolling or cyber bullying, and for good reason. It is these platforms that allow for online trolling to take place. My question is, are the bullies to blame? Or should social media platforms be given a slap on the wrist for standing by and facilitating?

One of the biggest viral public stances against trolling took place in 2016 when Justin Bieber threatened to make his Instagram account private in response to a huge influx of trolling and negative engagement on his profile following a feud with Selena Gomez. This was freaking huge and many people (including myself) nearly flipped their nut over the prospect of the Biebs privatising his currently extremely public social media life. 

Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook have slowly started to implement automated strategies to combat the wildfire that is trolling. Functions such as turning off comments, filtering content on the use of profanity or language so as some content won’t be shown in your personal feed, increased privacy settings, reporting users and comments, and so on. This in some ways allows users to control and mediate the way in which they interact with others online and vice versa, however there are many flaws in this technical based approach to mediation, and it begs the question, are platforms doing enough?

Unfortunately when it comes to trolling, many of the comments, references, or other elements of the content or information can be subject to hidden meaning or symbolism. Sometimes there may be no technologically detectable offence in a certain comment or piece of content online, but it’s cause or hidden meaning could tell an entirely different story, and online mediation can only do so much. Kids these days can be so cryptic with their lingo.

But seriously, this social media thang has changed the game in the bullying world, and I don't think the head honchos behind these platforms know quite what to do about it, so the best thing we can do is watch out for each other, report anything we see, and ultimately, address bullying at the route cause, the identifiable perpetrators. As the age old saying goes, the workmen’s tools are never to blame. 

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Why am I Only Ever an Activist Online?

Seriously though, is it just me or does the absence of human contact and the presence of a keyboard and an online platform suddenly ignite some seriously unprecedented opinions that must be shared passionately and immediately?

Surely I’m not alone here, however there’s no doubt that there are many ways that social media can facilitate activism in a really positive way. I also reckon that there would be many causes today that wouldn’t have gained nearly as much traction as they have without the presence of a good old retweet spree or a bulk-followed Facebook page.

Social activism is something that is so easily facilitated in our social media-driven society. Petitions are signed at the click of a link, activism/protest orientated pages can be liked and followed in seconds, viral hashtags can be shared like wildfire, all within minutes on any of the platforms.

However, like anything, digital communication and it’s immediacy is something that can cause as many issues as it does resolutions. It is easier than ever for people to throw their weight behind a cause of their liking that’s trending at any given time on social media. This can be an awesome thing, but at times, the indirectness and lack of physical contact involved in social media interaction can lead to increased volatility, especially when strong belief, passion or opinion is involved. (Guilty.) Not only this, but information on social media is shared so frivolously, and can be subject to extreme bias due to the social media environment, which is essentially a collection of information that anyone can contribute to, regardless of their knowledge on the topic or the accuracy of the information. There’s a reason why we were told never to cite wikipedia, and we should maybe be more conscious of adopting the same lens in a social media context, especially when it comes to strong opinions and movements of activism or protest. Yes mum, you’ve told me not to believe everything I read a million times over, please shush. But...as per usual Mum is always right. Social media has a tendency to cultivate exaggeration and dramatisation. Make sure to fact check when getting into heated discussions online, and report behaviour that is aggressive or abusive as hate speech has no place in activism.

I think that it is amazing that people are able to participate so easily in a cause that they may believe in, however, I can’t pretend that I never find myself feeling nervous about what mass congregation online in pursuit of common passion can create. (Especially, as mentioned above, when I’ve found myself running my mouth a little too liberally online.)

Activism is an important part of society, and protest serves an incredible purpose, but look out for your digital homies. Social media protests can have the same volatility as any street protest. Fight for what you believe in, but hate and disrespect have no place in activism, online or on the street.

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We all know a ScoMo

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Can someone tell me who Australia’s Prime Minister is?

Am I the only one in this boat? Admittedly, I rarely read or follow any political news content, so that is a definite contributor to my not knowing the leader of the country in which I was born, raised and currently reside. However, there’s no doubt that Australian leadership has been chopped and changed so incessantly that keeping up with something so basic as to who is at the top calling the shots requires at least mild attentiveness. As for all the underpinnings of these leadership overhauls, well, you could read up for days and still not have the beginner manual on the political movements within the parties.

I personally don’t tend to watch TV since I moved out of home, which is a shame because my engagement with politics has suffered as a result. I.e. I’m no longer forced by my parents to watch the news as we sit down and eat dinner. Nowadays, I find Netflix a more apt accompaniment to my meat and three veg. However, as I’ve come to realise, social media is flooded with so much information (however reliable) and debate surrounding the topic of politics, that maybe I could use it to keep up to date with my country’s politics, rather than rely on the traditional methods of news reporting.

I was scrolling my youtube homepage this afternoon, skipping over my usual targeted content of makeup tutorials and shopping hauls, when I saw a video from ABC News that pretty much outlined how and why the heck Australia keeps changing Prime Ministers. A clear fault in youtube’s algorithm aside, I am grateful that this little tit bit of information about our countries politics fell into my lap. This YouTube video (however basic) gave me an outline of the dynamics behind how and why the constant leadership overhauls have occurred, as well as delivering the answer to my real question...I now know that our Prime Minister, is in fact, Scott Morrison (colloquially SCOMO) and I am forever indebted to the ABC News team behind this video for enlightening me so.

Here’s the thing though, If the information from this video had been laid out in a traditional News format I’m used to seeing on TV, I would not have retained any of the information it gave me. It’s ‘social media’ origin made it uniquely digestible for someone like me who is not usually ‘politics inclined.’ Not only was it’s presence on YouTube (rather than a more official media source like the onscreen news, newspaper or an article) the driving factor of how I even came to engage with this information, but it’s uniquely YouTube-esque format made it much easier for me to interpret and understand the information that the video contained. The narrator was colloquial (no monotone news reading in sight) and there was a plethora of visual media in the form of diagram’s and graphics that gave a visual representation of the changes that underpin the movement between Prime Minister’s in Australia since the last Prime Minister that actually completed his full term (John Howard, 2007.) 

All in all, I now know who SCOMO is, and am inherently concerned that he is calling the shots on my life, and the country as a whole...mostly due to his outrageous nickname. Hopefully he’ll stick around for a bit so I don’t need to learn a new Prime Minister title anytime soon. According to the video i just watched, I hear that laws have been amended within the liberal and labor parties so as to make this less likely, so that’s nice. On that note, I’d like to thank YouTube for being the how and the means behind my very limited political knowledge. But actually, the format, delivery, information, and production that is behind this short 5 minute video (short duration definitely played a part let me tell you) is the main reason why I now know that Scott Morrison is our Prime Minister. Big ups to social media to keeping me informed.

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Avoiding my other assignments and justifying it by posting on Tumblr like...

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Is Tumblr a blog or a social network site?

Blog or social network site? Both of these things are social in one way or another, the former being a slew of (mostly) word vomit, usually detailing one’s life/interests/uneducated opinions in a mildly entertaining way. The latter...well actually I suppose that same description could also apply. But really, that’s only the cynical way to look at it. In reality, blogs and social media have become signposts in the way that we operate as a society. Personally, I (digitally) woke up this morning, posted an Instagram photo of a cup of coffee, captioned it ‘Morning Fix’, checked a ‘tag’ notification from Facebook, quickly untagged myself as I looked mildly like a drowned weasel, read a blog about where to get the best Acai bowl in the South, and proceeded to get out of bed and begin my day approximately 43 minutes after I entered the social media wormhole. 

Aside from this time wasting role that social media plays, I must admit, I use these platforms for a lot more than just dumb entertainment. Whether it is orchestrating events, communicating with international friends and family members, sharing my passions for media and photography, writing my blogs on food and cafe’s, sourcing cool new restaurants to visit, reading the news, learning about how to travel Europe on a VERY tight budget, and everything in between.

So, we’ve established that social media is important and prevalent (we already knew that, I’m sorry, I have a habit about waffling on about useless shit), but is blogging really a separate entity to that? Anyone can make one, usually they’re published on PLATFORMS, people are able to comment on posts, interact with authors, share content that they enjoy. How is this different to social networking? Both social networking and blogging involve community members publishing content, sharing content, interacting with other content and interacting with other users of the platform. Am I missing something?

Perhaps I am misunderstanding the definitions of ‘social networking’ versus ‘blogging’, however, if we are talking about defining Tumblr, I think that both definitions would apply anyway. Compared to other traditional blogging platforms such as Wordpress, Tumblr seems to be much more of a configured, ‘social’ blogging space. I think that even if you were to isolate ‘blogging’ and ‘social networking’, Tumblr would be one of the few platforms that fits squarely into both. Now, having only just created my first account 24 hours ago, my opinion is not only uneducated but most likely invalid and if you are a die hard Tumblr user and I am offending you I AM SORRY (not really, due to my current seat at the ‘keyboard warrior’ table where no one can touch me and I can be horribly cruel, idiotic and senseless online with no tangible accountability.) However, if we look at it methodically, Tumblr allows messages, encourages content interaction, requires a cover photo and an avatar, as well as providing users with blogging space to share their unique opinions. 

In conclusion, Tumblr is both a ‘social network site’ and a blog. If I’m wrong, please socially network with me via the comment or message function and I will blog once more about this topic, and clarify that Tumblr is exclusively void of all social networking functionality. 

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HEY IT’S MY FIRST POST