I'm Eliza

Criminal justice major, server at Red Lobster, severe chocolate addict, 19 She/her/hers

[elizaorelijah]

Short-Answer Quiz #3

1. Determine what kind of social media site you are creating. Then answer the following questions, explaining your decisions. (Remember the key here is to create an ethical algorithm model).

The social media site I would like to create would be one geared towards safety and wellness. It would be a social media where videos could be posted and shared to express concerns, experiences, and tips to live a knowledgeable life. The social media site would include tips and tricks for life efforts that school didn’t teach you. In other words, it would be like Tik Tok, but without the jokes and memes. It would be like the informative blogs on Twitter, but video formats. And it would be like YouTube, but without the ads and shorter clips. On a spectrum of safety and knowledge, it would have a focus from how to change a tire to taking down an attacker.  

2. What will you measure? (ex: likes, hashtags, how long someone stays on a page, etc) Be sure to explain all your decisions.

The social media site would measure things like how many views a video would get, how long someone stays on the video, how many likes, the comments, age of user, location, etc. Many of the factors that add traction to the video and would help allow for others to view. If more people commented, liked, and watched videos completely, then others would likely have the video recommended to them. All the factors add to the algorithm of what is important for others to watch and what isn’t as much. Age would help videos come up that are significant to people of a certain age group. And location would help others see the important services/ service announcements around their area.

3. How will you weigh these factors? (rank factors from most important to least important)

The most important factor would be the number of likes a video would get. It’s important because it means many people would find the video interesting and or informative. The second most important factor would be how many views a video would get. The third factor would be location of the video posted. Location is important for safety and wellness because if there is a disaster or human traffickers in the area per se, more people are likely to stay safe and informed. The fourth would be the age of the user. I put the age of the user as important because situations differ with age. For example there could be a video explaining to users explaining what credit is, why it’s important, and how to use a credit card properly and safely. That type of video would be more useful for younger adults rather than people that are already familiar with and already know how to use their credit. The fifth would be comments. There could be a lot or a little amount and the video could still be popular. The least important factor would be how long each individual views the videos and comments. People could stay on a video to read all the comments, try to practice a self defense move over and over again, and those would just skew the algorithm. So in this case, the length of time a video has the attention of a user is important, but not the main decipher of the algorithm.

4. What factors will not be measured? (what will not be measured in your algorithm and why)

Factors that will not be measured would be anything other than the age of the user. For example, race, ethnicity, gender, religious affiliation, time of app use, etc. will not be used. I don’t understand why race and ethnicity of an individual is so important for other algorithms. In the case of the social media site, there will be no red flagging or preventing others from viewing certain videos. Each video that is popular should be available for all and every person has an equal chance of viewing. Gender will not be measured because at the end of the day, we are all human and may have similar situations. If guys see videos about information of the menstrual cycle, then let it be. Let them be more informed about a situation of others besides themselves. It is up to an individual to decide what they want to fully watch or what they would like to scroll past. Gender will not be a factor because health, wellness, and safety can be universal regardless of any other factors.

5. How will the model learn or adapt to new information? (this can include changes in language, etc)

The model will learn to adapt to changes in language by translating them, or by keeping the videos in certain regions. If there is any hate or sensitive material, the model will sensor it as well as flag videos as sensitive. Again, the location of where the video is posted will remain in the region where it concerns the surrounding areas. When a video has enough traction to go past the boundaries of borders, then the videos will have captions, translations, and other people to comment on videos to explain to others.

6. What biases will be built into the model? How will this change the algorithm’s outcome?

The biases that will be built into the model is anything and everything against hate. Social media is supposed to include informational videos and nothing about slurs or hate against any type of people or groups. If there is any of such the user will be warned, prohibited from commenting and from making videos, banned for a short period of time, then banned from the social media site period. There is only one warning before an individual is not allowed to discuss any further and only allowed to be a spectator. This will change the algorithms outcome because those individuals, their comments, and likes will not change the algorithm. They will simply be a ghost on the social media site with no impact.

7. How will the model live out the (un)ethical practices we have discussed?

I never understood how people were allowed hate speech on social media and allowed to continue. With that said, there will be none of that on the social media site. The algorithm will not allow it. Consider it a kindergarten class posting videos online where everyone is your friend, everyone is equal, and “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.” The media site is supposed to be a guide to living and knowledgeable and safe life, there should be no form of hate, misconduct, or red flagging. All types of people are allowed to go on the site and post their tips and tricks without backlash or being prevented from seeing videos. The model will be the way social media should be.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 12- Creating Virtual Communities

Is it unfair that White people are profiting off of Black womens’ hair care products?

White-owned companies like L’Oreal and Alberto Culver dominate and control more than one-third of the black hair market (Lee, 2015, p. 6). It indeed is unfair to women of color. They are told by white people from schools to jobs to the military that their hair is styled in unacceptable conditions. With this said, Black women aim for a smooth and sleek look that requires them to spend an unnecessary amount of time and money fixing their hair to the standards given to them. It is unfair that these people expect the women to spend more and more money to abide by the outrageous standards that don’t exist to anyone else other than Black bodies. The people that should be making over one-third of the profits of Black hair care should be Black bodies or women in particular. White people profiting off of them and their ‘insecurities’ of some does not sit right with me.

Are people narrow-minded and racist if they believe long weaves increase attractiveness?

Yes. Patti Stanger is one of the many people that urge Black women to straighten their hair to “improve” their appearance. Patti is a matchmaker that has her own TV show and told one of her guests to “weave her short afro…in order to become more attractive” (Lee, 2015, p. 9). She is one of the many people who do not believe that Black hair is beautiful, leaving a bad impression on many. These people that prefer long weaves are the same people with the racist mindset that believe natural hair is ugly or unattractive. By wanting Black bodies to change their hair inorder to conform to their perspectives of beauty, these people are close-minded and racist. They are racist if they think that there is no other beauty aside from “white girl hair”. People with a spotlight like Patti should use their influence for good instead of telling her viewers with similar hair that the way they were born isn’t beautiful. All hair and people are beautiful.

Why are age, religion, ethnicity the ties that bind a community together?

Age, religion, and ethnicity are the factors that create communities because they are the strongest ones. These factors are the ones that offer the most shared interests and stories for others. It makes sense that two teens are going to get along and have more in common than a teen and someone in their mid 80s. People are more likely to interact with each other and build more relationships if they have shared backgrounds and interests (McLaine, 2003, p. 7). There is going to be more to talk about and the individuals will enjoy the other(s) presence and what they have to contribute. Ultimately, these three factors are what contribute to the strongest communities.

How do video games like Animal Crossing teach about the real world and commodification?

At the start of the game, Animal Crossing has people take out a loan to pay for a mortgage of a house they cannot afford. In terms of the real world, it teaches younger generations the negatives of loans and the hardships of paying them off. It may even give them a bad representation of loan by allowing them to think that taking out more than one is a good idea. Nonetheless, they learn more about earning and spending money than in school. As for commodification, users can take advantage of the soil around them and turn it into capital. It teaches people to make and share items of value to others for money. They can exchange items for economic value.

Bogost, I. (2020). The quiet revolution of Animal Crossing. The Atlantic.

Hathaway, J. (2014). What is gamergate, and why? An explainer for non-geeks. Gawker.

Lee, L. (2015). Virtual homeplace: (Re)constructing the body through social media. 91-111.

McLaine, S. (2003). Ethnic online communities: Between profit and purpose. 233-254.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 11- Digital Activism

Why is the internet important in serving as an alternative news or information source?

The internet is important in learning about certain issues/circumstances because main media outlets may be incorrect and biased. Oftentimes news sources will tell stories based on a racist perspective or leave out crucial information to make people of color look bad. They may also portray people of color as criminals or scary to grab audiences attention and gain more views. Whereas if you go online, there are certain people or groups whose goal is to report on issues the proper way. They will give other perspectives and information that media outlets do not use. Internet sources can be more helpful in terms of reporting on news without misrepresentation.  

How do personal experiences and stories benefit Black Twitter and its users?

The sharing of personal experiences lets others on Black Twitter learn more about everyday racial bias and discrimination. The stories become popular and shed light to a bigger audience allowing them to open their eyes to the “disparities of race and inequality across the United States”(Lee, 2017, p. 11). Not only do these experiences spread awareness, but they also create a sense of safety within a community. To let others know that they are not alone. Black Twitter creates a safe space for others to express their anger and frustration of real life events without criticism, but support. Black Twitter is also able to expand the number of supportive users by creating a safe zone on the internet. Black Twitter is necessary for people to know that the way minorities are treated today is unacceptable and should not at any means be considered the norm.

Which form(s) of Internet activism is more likely to be successful?

It is no doubt that all forms of online activism help spread awareness to specific issues. But the categories of internet activism that can be more effective are mobilization and lobbying. Advocacy campaigns that combine different types of lobbying and mobilization are proven to be more productive(Vegh, 2003, p. 4). With the strategies listed, coordinated action is called allowing for people to get together either online or offline about a specific issue. The forms of advocacy help influence opinions worldwide which in turn, allows for more support and awareness.

What is the difference between hacktivism and cyberwar?

The two forms of hacking are alike, but the difference lies between the levels of engagement. Hacktivism is “a politically motivated single-incident online action… to express disapproval or to call attention to an issue advocated by the activists”(Vegh, 2003, p. 10). In other words, hacktivism is relevant to online advocacy of any given issue, whereas cyberwar is focused on subverting a political system of ongoing militaristic campaigns and conventional war. According to Vegh, cyberwar is “when hacktivism is elevated to the state level and when it becomes a sustained engagement between parties connected to an ongoing conventional armed conflict the goal of which is domination over the adversary, hacktivism becomes cyberwar”(Vegh, 2003, p. 10). As one can see hacktivism is not as serious as cyberwar. Hacktivism is advocacy that does not involve states and above whereas cyberwar does.

Fuchs, C. (2014). Social media and communication power. In Social media: A critical introduction (pp. 69-94). London: SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9781446270066.n4

Lee, L. (2017). Black twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(1), 26. doi:10.3390/socsci6010026

Vegh, S. (2003). Classifying forms of online activism: The case of cyberprotests against the world bank. In M. Mccaughey & M. D. Ayers (Eds.), Cyberactivism: Online activism in theory practice (pp. 71-96). New York, NY: Routledge.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 10- Trolling/ Hate Crimes in Digital Spaces

How does trolling create distrust among people online?

Trolling means that someone can create a persona of themselves as to how they please. They do this in order to cause conflict for the purpose of their own entertainment(Phillips, 2015, p. 60). With this in mind, trolls can smuggle their way into an online community based off of lies. Individuals cannot trust others online because of these reasons. Nowadays, it is nearly impossible to trust that anyone is who they say they are because of the small percentage of trolls online. If everyone who went online were to identify as themselves, and themselves only, then there would be an online world where people could trust each other. But until then, trolls lying about who they are with their thoughts and beliefs will prevent people from trusting one another online.

How can memes unite online communities?

In order for a meme to gain popularity, it has to be created based on a well known topic. If the joke about the topic is well known then more people will understand and add to the meme. With this said, memes are great at uniting online communities because it brings people together when making a joke about the popular topic at the moment. Many people will have their own inside joke with the users of the internet since they are all aware of the memes created. They also allow for everyone and anyone to create a meme or add onto one. Memes are a good way to have a good laugh with many people together despite differences.

How can trolling be a form of expressing one’s self identity?

Some people may want to feel seen and or heard. With trolling they can be such. With creating, commenting, and sharing outrageous posts/ideas, they may receive the attention that they did not get before. They admire the support they obtained and long for agreement from many others. A troll may be able to gain the popular status that they may not have achieved on their own in person and can do so behind a screen while still being anonymous. The attention and everything given to that person will give them the idea that they are surrounded by friends and people that like everything they share. There is no doubt that trolling is a way for the user to gain attention that they could not in the real world.

Why do trolls choose to treat people with such distaste?

Trolls would never want to be treated the way they treat others online. The reason they are not on the receiving end of being trolled is because they are on the attacking side. They do so because they don’t want to be the victims and like the reaction of being the troll. Since trolls are the ones that are unaware of the feeling of being the victim, they continue to keep doing so. They are privileged. Privileged because they do not have to deal with internet trolls. Because they do not know better, they will continue to do with what they want when they want until they feel otherwise. They first need to experience the trolling themselves if they choose to limit and or stop their doings.

Bergstrom, K. (2011). “Don’t feed the troll”: Shutting down debate about community expectations on Reddit.com. First Monday, 16(8). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i8.3498

Duggan, M. (2014), Online Harassment. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

Phillips, W. (2015). This is why we can’t have nice things: Mapping the relationship between online trolling and mainstream culture. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 8- Formations of Digital Gender

How are online women-only groups significant for defying hypermasculinity?

A ladies-only group is significant in allowing for women to have a voice that will be heard in a white male dominance internet. Oftentimes in groups with all genders, women are ignored or overlooked. They are too shy to ask a question or respond to a post since men normally have the authority in online groups. With the safety of a group aimed solely at women, they can express themselves, their stories, and confessions without becoming vulnerable and receive actual responses. Having control over something as simple as an online group can give these people the power that they do not hold in the real world.

Why do you think white males are usually the perpetrators of cyberbullying?

White men have the sense that they are in charge of everything and anything. They think this way because we have all grown up in a society where they are far from disadvantaged. They can say and do what they want without the repercussions. With that said, it is easier to say mean things to another person behind a screen than it is in real life. They have these big heads thinking that they are superior to all other races, ethnicities, and genders, and mix up their idea of superiority with privilege. If they weren’t privileged then they would most likely not be the main statistic of cyberbullying perpetrators. But as of right now, it is easier for them to get away with whatever they want, and that’s not the way it should be.

How can the bodies of virtual characters affect young children negatively?

Characters in simulations are dramatically shaped so that the users can easily identify the characters. One avatar can have bigger boobs and one avatar may have a bulge in between their legs. With these dramatic shapes are unrealistic and impossible standards of what a body is supposed to look like. For children playing video games, it can translate to the real world. Through games, children may believe that the characters with the impossible-to-achieve bodies is what someone’s body is supposed to look like. They can become more judgemental of other people and themselves for not complying with the unrealistic standard. If games or any other simulations depicted people with realistic body standards, then there would be no potential hazards for children.

In simulations, why is it important for female characters to be young and white?

When reading O'Riordan's text on virtual personae in simulations I can tell you I was displeased. According to O’Riordan, if there is a female character in any simulation, she has to be young and white in order for a “familial relationship of fathering” to be invoked (O’Riordan, 2006, p. 247). In other words, if the woman in the simulation is not the adjectives listed previously, consumers will sexualize and eroticize the girl. My initial thoughts were to question guys in general. There isn’t a time when a fairly attractive girl is not talked about inappropriately by simulation users. A woman’s body seems to be the only thing a guy is interested in when there’s a female role in online technologies. Personally, I believe it’s a little off-putting that the only way creators can make a character not be sexualized by others is making the woman a little girl to be fathered. I was immediately reminded of the video games “The Last of Us” and “The Walking Dead” where the main characters are two little girls just trying to survive.

Daniels, J. (2009). Cyber racism: White supremacy online and the new attack on civil rights. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Haraway, D. (1991). Simians, cyborgs, and women: The reinvention of nature. New York, NY: Routledge.

O'Riordan, Kate. (2006). Gender, technology, and visual cyberculture: Virtually women. Brighton, United Kingdom.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 7- Formations of Digital Race (con’t)

Are white people racist if they don’t believe they have privilege?

Yes. The short answer is that all white people have privilege regardless of their economic, social, or educational status. They will always have privilege over other races and ethnicities because we live in a country created and run by racist white men. The privilege is built into the system of the US so white people believe how they’re treated is normal when in reality everyone should be treated equally. White people cannot agree that there is an inequality among races and say that they do not have white privilege. Staying silent and ignoring the fact that white people have more opportunities and benefits over another race/ethnicity is the same as saying they’re inferior to others.

How do social media executives contribute to racism?

Social media allows for people to share certain posts as long as they follow its guidelines. Twitter is indifferent towards violent and hate-filled content. Twitter actually will allow for racism on the app because it brings in more traffic (Benjamin, 2019, p. 49). And with the more traffic on the app, the more money gained for the executives of Twitter. With this said, social media executives, like the ones of Twitter, contribute to racism because they allow such hate. Instead of banning someone that posts hateful content or deleting the posts, Twitter executives do not get involved. If someone sits back and watches someone getting mugged in the middle of the street, they are a bystander. It’s the same thing with the executives, they see the context, yet do nothing about it because it makes them money at the end of the day even if some believe it is wrong. The executives are selfish and indifferent towards people of color on the end of the stick of hate and harassment.  

Can multiculturalism contribute to the elimination of racism in the future?

It would take some time for sure. Generations after generations of removing racist mindsets would help. As long as we continue to incorporate people of color in tv, movies, government, occupations, it could be possible. White supremacists would have to change their ideologies and teach their children differently than they were taught. The exposure to people of color being everywhere should be considered the “normal” instead of white privilege being considered it. Multiculturalism would help, but it would take some time for people to believe that everyone is equal, because that’s just the way life is right now.

How does tokenism trick people into believing that people are equal?

By praising celebrities of color, some people believe that the world is one step closer to equality for all. What people don’t know is that tokenism consists of “black faces in high places… a key feature of society structured by White supremacy” (Benjamin, 2019, p. 55). Some want others to think that there is an equality amongst individuals if poc can become rich and famous. There are only a few poc that are “liked” by many, but if they didn’t have the high number in their bank account, the mansion, multiple awards, etc., it is likely that they would be treated differently than what they are now. Celebrities are acceptable because they’re famous, but if they weren’t famous, it most likely would just become another person giving weird looks by racists.

Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after technology abolitionist: Tools for the new Jim code. Medford, MA: Polity Press.

Hunsinger, J., & Senft, T. (Eds.). (2014). The social media handbook. New York, NY: Routledge.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 6- Formations of Digital Race

Nowadays children grow up with technology at the tips of their fingers. How can access to technology provoke racist thoughts/ideas for children exposed to such?

Children today have the luxury of new technologies that others didn’t have access to in the past. This means that when children are old enough to click a button or a screen for their entertainment, they can use whichever technologies are available to them. With children being able to use technology, they are exposed to racist systems and or people in many different ways. It can be as simple as playing a video game. For example Jeffrey A. Ow “analyzes the game Shadow Warrior and argues that the game forces the player to occupy a racist, violent, and colonialist subject position”(Kolko, 2000, p.10). And with such a young age, children may interpret this as a normal way the real world interacts with each other. Another example includes choosing an avatar when starting a game. The default characters tend to be lighter people and when scrolling through avatars, there are only few characters representing people of color. And often in games, the ‘bad guys’ are normally minorities giving children a racist perspective of such people.

Today, young men grow up with technology at the palms of their hands. How can access to technology influence sexist behaviors for boys?

With the available technologies children grow up with today, it is easy for them to be influenced by what they see online which may promote unhealthy thoughts and behaviors they may act on. Their behavior can be influenced by video games, adult websites, and movies where women are thought to be submissive, helpless, naked, and essentially just for show for men to toy with. An example of sexism in video games includes Ow pointing out the idea that women are in video games just to be looked at, insulted, then killed while doing nothing as a battle breaks out (Ow, 2003, p. 59). The gross behavior of young boys in games could converge to sexist behavior in real life. Sexist behaviors are not dealt with when women are disrespected by being naked background characters in video games and movies for show. Young boys are given the idea that it is okay to do what they want to women in games and adult websites because they think it’s okay since they see those interactions online. Since boys are not taught that such behaviors online are unacceptable at a young age, they could grow up with that mentality and continue their sexist behaviors as in the future as men.  

Why does the government allow white supremacy groups to assemble if the groups encourage violence, harassment, and even death?

It is to no surprise that the founders of the United States were not all-inclusive when creating basic inalienable rights for its citizens. The fundamentals of the United States were written by racist, white males of whom some were slave owners. There was no true equality with the people then nor today. The government may choose to ignore the issues going on and pretend that they don’t exist like racism in cyberspace. And with times where Buford Furrow opened fire on a Jewish daycare center in 1999, wounding three children and two adults, the excuse is that the assaults are relatively rare (Daniels, 2009, p. 7). The fact that he got his tactics to commit a hate crime from a cloaked white supremacy group doesn’t matter to the government because he did it, not the group. My point is that there will always be an underlying factor of racism by the people in power. In turn, they will choose not to shut down white supremacy groups since it's their right to freedom of speech, regardless if there’s an inequality to others with their rights.

How has globalization led to an intensification of racism?

Globalization is “the movement of money (capital) and people (labor) across time, space, and national boundaries” (Daniels, 2009, p. 11). With the gaining of capital, only a few people really benefit from globalization and they happen to be the people in charge. The people in charge are normally the rich, white men of America with big egos so the moving of money across borders allows them to create the idea for themselves that they are better. Just because they have money does not mean that they are better than other races, ethnicities, or even people. The intensification of racism in North America is increased because the people who have power over others believe they are superior to others.

Daniels, J. (2009). Cyber racism: White supremacy online and the new attack on civil rights. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Kolko, B. E., Nakamura, L., & Rodman, G. B. (Eds.). (2000). Race in cyberspace. New York, NY: Routledge.

Ow, Jeffrey A. (2003). “The revenge of the yellowfaced cyborg terminator: The rape of digital geishas and the colonization of cyber-coolies in 3d realms’ shadow warrior.” New York, NY: Routledge.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 4- Using Social Theory for Understanding Social Media (con’t)

In a nation that ignores issues regarding minorities and women, what are the disadvantages of the digital divide?

Most powerful political leaders of the nation are and continue to be older white men. They are uninvolved and indifferent towards minorities and women. Many issues involving people with little to no voice go without being heard and the digital divide does not lend a helping hand. Issues of these people are having to be taken to the streets to be heard. The Civil Rights Movement, women’s suffrage, the Million Women March, etc., all had to be taken to the streets to protest for a solution. The Million Women March was successful because women who partook in the event had access to computers and printers at work. Those women took the opportunity at their workplace to spread awareness to women in the “‘hood” and other cities who didn’t have the same access as they did (Everett, 2002, p. 131). The digital divide does not allow for a representation of certain peoples to express themselves and have their voices heard. They miss out on rights white men are obligated to having.

How did the nation create the notion that black people were not involved with technology?

In simple terms, the internet was a predominately white place in the nineties. There was such a thing as a high tech space and a low tech space to separate then discriminate the white and wealthy from the minorities and working classes. The nation was ignorant and believed that black people were less advanced and not online, but that was not the case. In fact, they were “early adopters in the once superelite culture of the embryonic information age” proving to be sophisticated in many advances of newer technology (Everett, 2002, p. 136). There was an abundance of colored people online despite the idea that they were less technologically advanced and not as intelligent to be involved. Overall, the nation’s racism is what blindsided people into believing that others could not keep up with the new changes of technology.

How does being racially coded negatively affect families and generations after?

Being racially coded means an individual’s name or address explains their narrative to other people. Their birth-given name acts as a stereotype of what other people should expect from that person in the future (Benjamin, 2019, p. 23). Others already have a preconceived notion if this person is going to be lazy, if that person is going to be trouble, if that person is going to study hard and go on to college, etc. Once racially coded, it is difficult to start fresh from everyone’s opinions, let alone an entire family. It is possible to change a name or a zip code, but it takes time and people will always have their opinions. If people always assume who an individual is, then there’s a likelihood that the individual will have a more difficult time proving people wrong. And the cycle continues each generation due to the stereotypes and preconceived notions that others put on the individuals with names of culture.

How does the United States continue to oppress people of color algorithmically?

The United States is all about the people being equal, but that is far from the truth. People of color are at disadvantages every day of their lives. It can stem from the color of their skin, to their names, to the location of where they live, to their income; there seems to be a disadvantage for everything. In Nobel’s novel, she continues the notion of how people of color automatically have the odds against them due to algorithms and redlining. With both, real estate agencies and banks can immediately flag an individual or make them pay higher interest rates simply due to the color of their skin (Nobel, 2018, p. 25). Online algorithms have shown to be racist and sexist against women of color in her text, yet libraries, schools, government agencies, and universities continue to use racist algorithms that continue to oppress people of color. Without a deep and secure transformation made to racist search engines, then that is how the inequality will continue to thrive in America.

Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after technology abolitionist: Tools for the new Jim code. Medford, MA: Polity Press.

Everett, A. (2002). The relationship revolution will be digitized: Afrocentricity and the digital public sphere. Social Text, 20(71), 125-146. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-20-2_71-125

Nobel, S. (2018). Algorithms of expression: How search engines reinforce racism. New York, NY: New York University Press.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 3- Using Social Theory for Understand Social Media

Do relationships to digital technologies differ based on where self-identified women live?

Some people benefit from technology whereas others don’t have as much. For example, women in China work in factories making microchips and women in India work at a call center don’t use technology the same ways one in America would. Those places are areas of work for women who deal with technology as a means of economic necessity (Daniels, 2009, p. 9-10). Whereas in the global North, women use the internet to identify the inequalities of women in other nations and as a safe space. Some younger, educated women in Iran, may also use the internet as a safe space to liberate themselves from the Islamic restrictions that they choose to resist safely online.

How do internet technologies help self-identified women create meaning for themselves?

Oppressed women have the ability to transform themselves via the safe space of cyberspace. With that safe space, women can create meanings for themselves other than a lesser gender or identity. Online, women talk about feminism, patriarchy, and gender politics freely without the criticism of others. The anonymity offers the liberating effect on the oppressed social identity. From loosening repressive boundaries online, women can be themselves completely(Daniels, 2009, p. 12-13).

In what ways can technological advances become dangerous for the poor and working class peoples?

In the intro of her informative novel, Virginia Eubanks states, “the new regime of data constricts poor and working-class people’s opportunities, demoralizes their potential organization, limits their movement, and undercuts their human rights”(Eubanks, 2018, p. 9-10). Discussing poverty management, Eubanks expresses the dangers of the recent policies implemented against the poor. Technology is advancing in a way that separates the poor from the rich in negative ways. It can become dangerous because predictive models and algorithms tag poor and working people as a risky investment discouraging and preventing them from receiving public resources that are necessary to survive and thrive.

Will invasive surveillance redirect focus from the working class to each individual alive?

Currently invasive surveillance, midnight raids, and punitive public policy are directed at the poor and working class. Each and every move someone with an EBT card makes is tracked by social services to make sure that the finances are being used in a wise way (Eubanks, 2018, p. 6). In the intro of the novel, Eubanks talks with a mother receiving help from the government stating it’s okay, but implying it won’t be long until the rest of the world is under surveillance (Eubanks, 2018, p. 6). It definitely is possible that each individual is being tracked and watched. There are cameras everywhere, phones that track the user, credit cards showing where the usage was at, etc. As of right now, people do not feel that they are being tracked, but if they are pinned as a threat or anything else, they will feel the pressures of being watched.

Daniels, J. (2009). Rethinking cyberfeminism(s): Race, gender, and embodiment. WSQ: Women's Studies Quarterly, 37(1), 101-124. doi:10.1353/wsq.0.0158

Eubanks, V. (2018). Automating inequality. How high-tech tools profile police and punish the poor. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 2- Defining Social Media

Do social media platforms influence more people to participate in slacktivism?

Slacktivism means that anyone in the comfort of their home, can sign a petition, donate a dollar, be part of a livestream and be informed of social issues. He or she may feel that by doing so they are supporting a cause, but an effortless click does not do much. So, in a way, the wide variety of social media can allow for people to become lazier in participating physically. Media has a funny way of showing users what is important and what is not if there isn’t a lot of coverage in the real world. There can be thousands of likes on a post, but a protest with only a few people has the opportunity to get more attention if on the news. Again, social media platforms can prevent an individual from supporting a cause in person, by letting them think that they are making a difference, but it may not be enough.

Can critical theory be a possibility in today’s age?

Critical theory is about ridding the world of domination and exploitation to allow for a good life for all. In order for critical theory to become a reality, people with power over others would have to give that up. Man would have to be equal, no longer enslaved, and no longer neglected by those in charge. With that said, it is not possible to make critical theory a reality. There are too many people in the world that are obsessed with power and are not willing to pass that down even if it meant equality for all. Karl Marx asserts that the theory states what the world has potential to be in the future(Fuchs, 2014). That does not mean that it is going to happen today, but it could later on.

Why can social media platforms exploit users with little to no consequence?

Social media platforms can exploit its users without repercussions because the people in charge have power. Social media platforms gain attention and monetary value thanks to the users on the app or website, but the users receive nothing. The people in charge may care less because they have money and an influence over others. For example, the creator of Huffington Post sold her company for over 100 million and profited off of her users' articles, but those that participated received no compensation. The creator did not intentionally try to give back, and was sued. Facebook and Twitter were also capable of releasing private group information, livestreams and tweets to police for safety reasons. Despite those things being private to the user, the police managed to obtain that information without consequences for the platforms (Fuchs, 2014).

How does the government add to racial bias and segregation through the news media?

In the United States, people have the freedom of press except when it’s information the government does not want released to the public. The government works closely with news outlets to make sure they are abiding by their guidelines. The media will put out news to the public that will make their numbers rise and in doing so, news media use headlines where people of color “misbehave” to scare viewers. Powerful political people will do the same to get their voice heard, by using a racist headline to turn heads. The government will also use that opportunity to release information they want citizens to know. The government helps share racist views with discounted postal rates for newspapers, fast distribution of media that supports the government and more (Gonzales & Torres, 2011). All-in-all, the government helps add to racial bias or segregation by allowing the news media to share those stories as well as do the same.

Fuchs, C. (2014). Social media a critical introduction. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

González, J., & Torres, J. (2011). News for all the people: The epic story of race and the American media. Brooklyn, NY: Verso.

[elizaorelijah]

Week 1- Technology Fail

While in high school, I would stay up late doing homework every night. It was my biggest pet peeve when my mother would give me a chore to complete as I would do my homework, and insist that the task be done before I went to bed. One day, while sitting at the dining room table stressing over homework, she told me that the kitchen needed to be cleaned before I went to sleep. I was beyond annoyed by her constant requests that were made at nearly midnight each time. So I thought it would be a clever idea to post my future mischievous doings to my Snapchat story. I recorded myself banging pots and pans on the counters and when my mother yelled at me from her room, I said it was an “accident.” I continued to record myself slamming cabinets shut, turning the AC down to 40 degrees, flipping on and off the food disposal, clicking buttons on the microwave to make noise; doing everything in my power to bother my mother that night. And I went to bed unscathed by the wrath of what could have been an infuriated mother.

The next day went by without a hitch until 2pm in the afternoon, I received a text message from my mother stating she saw my Snapchat and that she was livid (She was the type of mother who created a Snapchat to befriend her children on the app and avoid using it further). The previous night I had removed my mother from viewing my Snapchat story before I posted anything just in case. I was not worried she’d view my videos by any means, because I had never witnessed her use the app before. With that in mind, I was shocked, embarrassed, and confused as to how my mother had seen my private story of which she was removed from. I was sure of myself that I did everything right to avoid her seeing my “accidents” that were in fact, not accidents. In hindsight, the only way to stop her from seeing my story was to remove her as a friend. With this said, this was the time technology failed me. I was grounded for a week and still asked of doing chores late at night.