Monika Ryniewicz

[monikaryniewicz]

Participation #5 - Social Media Reflection

If there is one thing COMM 2P91 has taught me, it is the strong influence social networking has over individuals in their day-to-day lives. During lecture, students were given the opportunity to connect with one another through websites like Twitter without having to turn around and verbally speak to one another. We have access to communication at our fingertips, and oftentimes forget about this fact. In addition, feedback and information is spread quicker than ever through the digital world, therefore, it has become evident our society has began to gear itself towards a more virtual environment.  The most interesting topic covered in class was the 'WikiLeaks' documentary, and the governments involvement in this scandal. Prior to this class, I had no idea how much power the internet had when it comes to connecting users from around the world, and how important it is to do so. All in all, my view point of the media has most definitely changed when comparing it to the beginning of class. The World Wide Web was released to the public in 1993, exactly the same year I was born. Therefore, being raised in a generation where the internet was growing as the same time we were, it is easy to forget how big of a role social networking plays. There is so much offered on the internet, that it is up to us to keep these websites alive and value them.

[monikaryniewicz]

"Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Whose time... Is now." When #KONY2012 was released, people from all around the world began to get involved in the campaign by forwarding the video through any social networking website they were a member of. Although raising awareness did not make much of a difference in regards to changing the situation of whats going on in developing countries, it sparked interest in numerous people who began to seek ways to aid those children who couldn't help themselves; whether it was through donation or any different approaches. The video became a viral hit, and proved that social media plays a big role in spreading a message across the globe. In addition, Facebook and Twitter also were noticed as being two of the largest online media websites that could connect users faster than any other page. Just like we mentioned in lecture a few weeks ago, communication between consumer and company is essential to have, and the same applies for people living in different countries. It is in our nature to discuss ideas amoung each other in order to build a stronger community. Some benefits would be how the video can reach individuals from opposite sides of the globe. Also, how through the video the children of Africa are given a voice. A constraint would be not getting the full side of the story. Since the video is created by one individual, generally it can be seen as a bias opinion. When reading Zuckerman’s blog post it becomes evident that he focuses on both sides of the spectrum, and does not make it seem like "everything is okay", however still maintains a positive tone throughout the page. The comments vary from constructive inputs, to quiet mean ones as well. Some bash him for not truly making a difference, while others are grateful he did what he did. Through the #KONY2012 a lot of eyes have started to focused on the evil doings of this man. Many fundraisers and protests were held in honour of the invisible children in hopes of them being freed from slavery. Living in a first world country, it is easy to forgot about the hardships others are facing on the other side of the world, therefore by having someone like Zuckerman shed some light on society, lives can be saved through the power of social networking,

[monikaryniewicz]

PA #4

With an increase of users on the Web, more individuals have been gaining access to communication amoung companies and buyers. One of the most popular social networking websites would be Twitter. Nowadays, if a customer has a complaint, they have the opportunity to simply tweet at the buisness and recieve feedback faster than ever. When comparing this to a few years back, the process was much more difficult and took longer when trying to get in touch with another person. In addition, social media is shaping user behaviour for consumption by allowing access to quicker advertising of a certain product. For example, if a teenager using Twitter suddenly notices a lot of contacts on their timeline tweeting about a new phone they have been purchasing, chances are that person will look into buying that item as well. As long as a positive message is sent out, sales will go up.  The role of consumers in the consumption process is to spread the message of a product. The more constructive feedback there is, the more likely the product will become a success. These ideas more definately reinforce the culture industry. By having a source of communication amoung eachother at the touch of our fingertips, it allows both consumers and companies to build themselves for the better. 

[monikaryniewicz]

Stolen Twitter Username

Personal Branding is a key factor when maintaining an image for yourself online, especially in the 21st century. Naoki Hiroshima underwent a huge scandal a few months ago when his twitter account was hacked into and stolen. His username was one of the rarest ones on the internet - @N

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26349212 This proves to show how much value a username can hold.

[monikaryniewicz]

Who Are You?

Who Are You?

As a person who has been actively using the internet since the age of 12, there is no doubt that the online world has many old websites of mine, scattered throughout the web. When I googled my name, strangely enough there were not many photos of myself. Instead, an ex-participant of American Idol - Drew Ryniewicz, took up the majority of pictures. After scrolling down a bit, eventually there were a few display images of mine that I used for an old Twitter account, as well as a couple from Facebook. When I began to search for the link to my main Facebook account, I could not find it (maybe because I managed my profile and made it preventable for random people to look me up), or maybe because my name itself was not that common. Strangely enough, a wide variety of different websites from Poland were the first to pop up on google’s search engine. By using a fake name on social networking areas like Instagram and Twitter, there is no chance of looking myself up. However, in terms of Facebook if one were to really go in depth when searching, there is a high probability of being found. Social media reflects on elements of early lifecasting mainly through work, or in a more basic term - the hiring procedure itself. When recrutting a new employee, it has become very common to first search them up online, to see if they have any past situations that may have an effect on the company’s image if that person became a part of the team. All in all, I have came to the conclusion that before posting anything online - make sure its something you’re ready to have the whole world to see. Regardless of managing ones settings, every user has a way of looking up someones history. Nothing on the internet is ever “private”.

[monikaryniewicz]

PMR #3 - Tattoos & Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo Traditionally, Americans generally views tattoos an a form of expressing yourself, and making your body stand out from the crowd. Oddly enough, the article focused on tribal groups, and demonstrated pictures of individuals from Africa, who were tattooed and pierced from head to toe as a method of sacred ritual. It was also said that those who had tattoos, were people who were serving time in prison. By getting a tattoo, upon release, the general public would be able to tell the difference between who is a criminal, and who is not. Wikipedia describe the procedure of getting it done, and traced the history of the earliest partakers of tattoo's, which dated back to the 18th century. The main themes were history, types, cosmetic procedures, medical treatments, the process itself, and removal of tattoos. The voice of these facts come from doctors, theorists, and people who have studied in depth the origin of this artwork. Wikipedia also included statements from people who have underwent this process and incorporated their own opinions of the outcome, and whether they regretted it or not. Since every person who has received one has went through a different experience, contributors to topics regarding tattoos are placed in a position where they are capable of saying anything they desire and being able to get away with it. The development of this article began by explaining how tattoos were received and given as early as the 1700's. It then later explains how it is done in this day and age, and contrasts the differences between the two. Fact: Receiving a tattoo in 2014 is much less painful than getting one back in the day. Many changes that were later included were sections like "temporary tattoos", and "removal", since these two options were not offered back in the day. With the advancement of technology, chances are a lot more is going to be added on within the Wikipedia article. Due to the fact that everyone around the world has the chance of experiencing what getting a tattoo feels like, or has been a witness to it, the majority of people who contribute to the content are a range of individuals. From young 18 year old teenagers, to experienced 80 year old men. As a student, it is very popular to use Wikipedia when looking up basic information for a specific topic you are researching. Because of the fact I am always looking it up to gain insight, I haven't ever corrected anyone's work, due to the fear of being wrong. There have been many cases where some people tampered with what was written, and sometimes get away with it for at least a solid week if the website is not being checked consistently. In terms of Wikileaks, I believe having websites that inform society on what goes on in the world is an essential feature to have. Many go on with their day, completely oblivious to what is happening just an ocean away from them. When the document was shown in class where the US military took the lives of innocent civilians in Iraq, it almost brought me to tears. The media has become comfortable with teaching viewers that it is the enemy who are barbaric and need to be attacked. Instead, is it us who have been monstrous, which is completely unfair to not only those fighting the war, but those believing that what they are doing is right.

[monikaryniewicz]

WIKILEAK

Wikileak - as explained in the documentary, is a website created to be used as a platform for a worldwide movement to spread information.

"We have failed as a country because we have not been sharing the information we needed" While one may argue that publishing information should be restricted, the documentary proved countries like Iceland, can face difficult hardships when a society keeps secrets. The power of information and the power of knowledge are two key factors that individuals should both possess.

[monikaryniewicz]

The Perks of Social Bookmarking

As a user who is constantly browsing through the web, it is very common to come across sites that are found to be highly appealing. What can you do when you have 45987 websites, and no clue how to save them? Two words: Social Bookmarking. When "Delicious" was introduced in class, I find it as a suitable source to use, especially when doing research on assignments. When asked to reference 10 different websites by a prof, students can often get overwhelmed with all the different information that is being thrown at them. By being given the chance to organize everything, I find it helps me feel like I am on the right track. Social bookmarking is efficient, organized and extremely helpful for any internet user who loves to learn new things online. Those who enjoy sharing things as well, like myself, can also make use of Delicious since you can find a community through it. Theres no question that this is the perfect way to spread new information! A few days ago during the Reading Week when I was surfing through social networking websites, I found myself bookingmarking a lot on StumbleUpon. Personally, I believe every single person who uses the internet will find themselves bookmarking at some point in time, without even realizing it. The web has no limit, therefore saving things that we believe will come into use in the future has become a natural habit. Social bookmarking has, and always will be, the best online organizer.

[monikaryniewicz]

THE PROBLEM WITH TWITTER

Just like Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and many other social networking websites; users can create false identites of themselves online without anyone noticing. People have the advantage of creating a completely fresh image of themselves without the risk of being questioned. It is the freedom to do whatever a person desires! This right here, is the beauty of the internet.

One must keep in mind that what is often being said through social media is not always true. The computer screen is a barrier for anyone and everyone, and oftentimes, people use it as a tool to hide behind when sharing any personal thoughts or feelings. This is very common on Twitter, where a member can tweet an event that "happened", and just see how many people they can actually convince through this. In addition, questioning a persons sources has become less and less popular. Numerous users are prone to believing what is thrown at them, apart from the few who choose to do the extra research behind the facts. Being a twitter user for over 4 years now, I have learned to validate any information that is being talked about, before passing the word on. Celebrity icons like Morgan Freeman have been rumored to be "dead" over five times now.

"My twitter is set on private - there NO chance anyone could ever see" As mentioned in the article, people don’t realise just how much information about them is publicly available. Regardless of how careful a user can be, tweets can be leaked easily with just a few clicks on a button. The key is to always be cautious as to what you choose to share with your followers, and always keep in mind that Twitter belongs to the Internet, and the Internet... Belongs to the world.

[monikaryniewicz]

PMA #1

When assigned the task create our own social network, the idea sounded much easier than it appeared to be. Differentiating 'somewhat close' friends, and 'acquaintances' has been difficult, and a real eye opener in regards to how social networking has enabled our generation to create numerous friendships in not only reality, but the online world as well. To begin with, the most commonly used ICT would have to be my cellphone; which is used to text friends, message contacts through sites like Facebook and Twitter, and view peoples photos via Instagram. Although the device used does change when getting in touch with other people, each method varies. For example, when speaking with my mother I use my cellphone to call her land line. When talking to friends, I either text them or message them through Facebook. On average, everyone in my network I see at least once a week (excluding my penpal from Australia, Caroline, whom I have never met and only see through Skype). In my opinion, how often I see them does not play a big role on how close we are. My mother is listed under my 'very close', and see her only on weekends, whereas my roommates I see on a daily basis, yet list them as only 'some-what' close. Social media plays the role of updating me on the lives of others in my social network. Oftentimes it is difficult to keep in touch with friends and family who live in different cities, or even counties. With the use of social networking, it allows easier access into each others lives at the click of a button.

When setting a border between very close, some-what close, and acquaintances, it is crucial to be aware of how much you know about each other before applying any labels. Updating a person on your day, and vice versa, is very different from sharing a personal secret with someone and trusting them not to tell anyone. Family normally is considered 'very close', due to the fact that have probably seen you at your worst, and still stick it out through the thin and the thick. 'Some-what' close, and 'acquaintances', all depend on how much you choose to share with them, and how much time is spent with one another.

When looking back at my social network, it is fairly diverse, since majority of the people listed know each other. Each individual, however,  possesses their own special area of interest, where it can be quiet benefiting. My bank teller can give me the best suggestions on ways to save money, whereas my friend Jackie would know the best salon to get your nails done. In terms of demographics, the age count would probably be the same, however the ethnicity ranges from Caucasian, African-American, to Asian. Most opinions and views that are shared are quiet different from one another, but also accepted. In a time of need, my 5 'very close' contacts would be called first. A few 'some-what' close may be contacted, but not as quickly as those who know me the best (apart from my penpal, who knows more about me than several of my 'very close' friends). When analyzing the chart on receiving and giving advice, the balance is quiet even. Personally, I like to associate myself with people where you "get what you give". In other words, both sides have to care for each other, otherwise the relationship is meaningless.

Social networking is a beautiful thing. If someone is looking for ways on expanding their social circle, seeking connections, or wanting to strengthen their relationships with others; the internet is a proper place to do so. Social media can help us get into contact with friends and family regardless of where they are in the world, and create bonds between people that are stronger than ever.

[monikaryniewicz]

My name is Monika Ryniewicz and I am currently a third year Bachelor of Arts student at Brock University. Being enrolled in a mix of courses that cover different areas of academic disciplines has helped open my eyes to what program is suited best to my abilities. The reason for taking this course is not only because I find communication programs interesting, but to benefit me in helping me to learn more about the use of social media within our society.

How Social Am I?

As a student, the most popular form of keeping in touch with friends and family is through the internet. It allows us to keep track of what goes on in each others day to day lives and simply be updated on what is happening. The three top social media sites that I use are Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. These three websites give me the world at my finger tips.

Convenience plays a huge role in why I enjoy using these social networking sites. While one may argue it makes us lazy, I believe that because we have the ability to make use of arranging dates and hangouts through Facebook, then we might as well do it. This network society has made everything more simple when interacting with one another, and at the same time created a whole new community in an online world. One of the features I dislike is how easy it is to have your identity stolen through lurking a profile. Due to the fact so much information is posted on there, a stranger has the ability of copy and pasting everything that is shown. Although setting photo's, bio's and other things as 'private' may set some limitations, that is not always the case, which is very unfortunate.

In my case, a major benefit is being able to keep in contact with people from across the world. For example, all of my family lives in Poland, so with websites like Facebook we keep each other updated on our lives by sending inbox messages and viewing updated pictures to see what is going on. A downfall is that the communication is not real, and by that I mean its easy to get comfortable talking to someone through a screen, but face-to-face interaction becomes less common. Although there is the option of turning on the video chat and seeing my family, I cannot touch, hug or kiss them. There will always be that barrier between us.

The importance of social networking ranks high when analyzing how much we depend on it in our day to day lives. Last semester in COMM 2P90, I chose to do the assignment where I was not allowed to use any form of technology for a week, and write about it in a journal. This was a big eye opener on how much we use the internet and cellphones to keep track of anything, from the time, to relationships. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow me to know what my friends are doing without having to ask them. They also keep me updated with what is going on in the world without having to read the newspaper. In terms of relationships, during that week of giving up technology I did not go out once, due to the fact it was impossible to get a hold of my friends. The network society keeps everyone connected just as easy as snapping your fingers.