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Week 11

Global social media practice: case study China  

China has an Internet censorship operated by the government called the ‘Great firewall of China’ to “neutralize critical online opinion” and “Prevent it’s people from being corrupted by evil cultures” (Backgroundcheck.org). This includes disallowing people from going on social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. There are other websites that are very similar to these social networks in China but made only in China under their regulations. For example, “Chinese netizens use online video platforms quite differently from how Americans use YouTube. Rather than short videos of cute animals or silly domestic mishaps that may be popular among YouTube watchers, Youku and Tudou are filled with longer form content, up to 70 percent of which is professionally produced”. Then there is Twitter, “Similar to Twitter, Sina Weibo allows users to post 140-character messages, and users can follow friends and find interesting comments posted by others. Small but important differences in the platform have made some say it is a Twitter clone, but better. For example, unlike Twitter, Sina Weibo allows users to post videos and photos, comment on other people’s updates, and easily add comments when re-posting a friend’s message”. And then Facebook, “Throughout much of the West, particularly the United States, Facebook holds sway as the default social network, gathering all demographics. The same does not hold true in China, where a handful of social networks attract segmented audiences, ranging from upmarket urban youth to university students and migrant workers”. (Thomascrampton.com).

Source: Synthesio, 2013

It’s very amazing that China goes out of their way to make sure people can’t access these very popular websites, but still create their own versions that still receive hundreds of millions of users.

I don’t agree with Chiu, Lin and Silverman's (2013, p 1) claim that "Social media is exploding worldwide, and China is leading the way." My reason is because how can a country being so secluded in the internet from other countries be better and lead the way. When they are just copying everyone else. I find it very hard to believe that China is leading the way when they are just doing copy cats of social websites. I do find it fantastic that they attract a certain demographic for different websites. It would be 10 times better for the people of China to be able to connect with the outside of their country and learn about the different cultures. Not all of us humans outside of China live in an “Evil” culture. Imagine if YouTube was in China and they could learn so much about other people in other countries and people can learn about the Chinese people as well.

References Anti, Michael. 'Behind The Great Firewall Of China'. Ted.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 May 2015.

Chiu, C, Lin, D and Silverman, A 2012, 'China's social-media boom', McKinsey and Company, viewed 1 May 2013, <http://www.mckinseychina.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/McKinsey-Chinas-Social-Media-Boom.pdf>

Thomascrampton.com,. 'Social Media In China: The Same, But Different - Thomas Crampton'. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 May 2015.

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Week 10

Social gaming: playing the crowd 

Gaming can be a fantastic way to socialise with people. A game such as World of Warcraft is the most popular one. People can get so into the game that they are stuck in that social-sphere.  On the other hand people can become so passionate and have so much of hate on other people on the gaming world that they are harassing people. Someone like Zoe Quinn whom created the game Depression Quest that is played more than a million times has received many threats: “For the past eighteen months, the twenty-seven-year-old Quinn has received a cavalcade of similar threats, which have created an ambient hum of menace in her life, albeit one that she has mostly been able to ignore. But at the end of August she was “doxed,” a slang term for document tracing, which is when a person’s personal details—home address, phone numbers, bank details, and, in some cases, social-security number—are made public on the Internet. Doxing carries with it a tacit invitation to harangue and harass the subject. After the developer was doxed, the prank calls, threatening e-mails, and abusive tweets intensified to such a degree that Quinn, fearing for her safety, chose to leave her home and sleep on friends’ sofas. She is now working with authorities to find the faceless attackers.” (Parkin).  

The term ‘#gamergate’ is used to describe a group of people that gang up on someone and harass them. Suzor and Woodford explain how there isn’t much the government can do to stop these people that harass on people on gaming or even social media. “The legitimate resolution of disputes in online communities is dependent upon the consent of participants. The formal legal mechanism for identifying consent – acceptance of contractual terms – is not well suited to resolving disputes in communities where the contractual terms do not reflect the norms or rules-in-use of the community.’ (2013). This link looks at #gamergate;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYJ0idbQlU

Another barrier of sociality in gaming is not paying for your bill. If you don’t pay for a monthly bill and cannot play, you’re not able to communicate to other gamers and play. This can be very frustrating, as someone experienced: “The 29-year-old from Costa Mesa, California, said: ‘Supposedly, it was set up for auto-pay, just like any other bill in real life, but either that didn't happen or the money wasn't in the wallet, and then everything just escalated out of control from there.”

People that cannot through games may be in their own world, far from reality when doing it. But they should never exploit the social web and go out to destroy someone’s life and hurt them.

References Hathaway, Jay. 'What Is Gamergate, And Why? An Explainer For Non-Geeks'. Gawker. N.p., 2015. Web. 8 May 2015. Mail Online,. 'EVE Online Sees Biggest Ever Battle Involving More Than 4,000 Players'. N.p., 2014. Web. 10 May 2015. Nick Suzor and Darrel Woodford (2013) 'Evaluating consent and legitimacy amongst shifting community norms: An EVE Online case study' Journal of Virtual Worlds Research

Parkin, Simon. 'Zoe Quinn’S Depression Quest - The New Yorker'. The New Yorker. N.p., 2014. Web. 9 May 2015.

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Week 9

Visual Communities: Social imaging platforms

Being tagged on Facebook sometimes brings me anxiety. It could be your Mum posting a photo of you that you don’t want your friends to see. It could also be something that your mates tag you in that you don’t want your family to see. These are some of the first world problems our society deals with.  In the  ‘The Remediation of the Personal Photograph’ (2013) journal it points out those reasons. Sociality can really be difficult obstacle when being tagged. Thank God for Facebook putting a review system when someone tags you.  “Before this change, if your aunt, for example, had tagged you in a photo that was more revealing than you’d like, and her photo settings were such that anyone could see her photos, and people looked at your page before you saw the photo and had a chance to untag yourself, you might hear about that photo for years afterwards from readers of a popular legal blog you write for. You know, hypothetically. Now, that situation would be prevented by the fact that you’ll be able to review all photos before they’re published to your profile page. Thanks for finally coming around to common sense settings, Facebook.” (Hill).

(I2.wp.com)

I use multiple platforms to connect with others. I use Facebook to talk to others via messages mainly and to see the latest posts my friends make. I use Instagram to post photos of my life and to see what friends and famous people post. Twitter to see the latest news. And Snapchat for everyday use to send photos that are mostly funny, I connect with others by sending them photos and they respond.

(Footballscoop.coachingnewsnetw.netdna-cdn.com)

Snapchat is your instant maximum 10 second communicator of text, image, video and drawing. You can send whatever you like on snapchat and your friends will get it instantly. Unlike Facebook where you have to go through the process of posting something. No one can like or comment on anything you do on Snapchat. It’s the easiest, most fun way to communicate.

• What are Periscope and Meerkat? How do they work; how might they connect people visually; and offer access to everyday events in a way that differs to Snapchat? - look at this piece on Periscope; and explore recent Periscope links through Twitter (#periscope)

Periscope is a live streaming app where you can watch other people or yourself and you can also replay. Meerkat is nearly the same but not as good because you can’t replay live streams. It’s a big game changer because people can now connect to others LIVE and people can still like the video (multiple times too).  This link explores Periscope. http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/26/8293353/periscope-live-streaming-twitter-meerkat

The difference between Pericope and Snapchat is that Pericope is a live stream that lasts longer then 10 seconds and can be replayed. Things Snapchat cannot do.

References Footballscoop.coachingnewsnetw.netdna-cdn.com,. N.p., 2015. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. Hill, Kashmir. 'Facebook Finally Helps Users Avoid Being Tagged In Embarrassing Photos, But Also Expands Who Can Tag'. Forbes. N.p., 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. I2.wp.com,. N.p., 2015. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. The Verge,. 'Periscope, Twitter's Answer To Meerkat-Style Live Streaming, Is Now Available'. N.p., 2015. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. Vivienne, S., & Burgess, J. (2013) ‘The Remediation of the Personal Photograph’, Journal of Material Culture, pp 279-98.

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Week 8

Crowdsourcing in times of crisis

One of the greatest parts of social media is the communication of crowdsourcing. The definition of crowdsource via the oxford dictionary: Obtain (information or input into a particular task or project) by enlisting the services of a large number of people, either paid or unpaid, typically via the Internet (Oxforddictionaries.com). Social media needs crowdsourcing for people to find information on certain events. An example is the recent devastating Nepal earthquake. People used social networks to communicate to love ones. “We felt the earthquake in Gangtok, Sikkim, for a long time. My mum commented on its not being as intense as the one in Sept 2011. We couldn't contact any of my mother's family in Kathmandu, so I went on Twitter to see what was happening. It was awful–the first pictures were harrowing” (Global Voices).

(Global Voices).

https://globalvoicesonline.org/2015/04/26/global-social-media-lifeline-in-nepal-earthquake-aftermath/

Another example of social media being used is the 2011 Queensland floods where Twitter was the most used social network talking about the floods (2012).  “The use of these media during the Black Saturday bushfires of '08 – where a staff member used twitter to great effect – helped pave the way to making social media activity a more routine work practices. It became evident to the broader organisation that employing well-organised social media could have a profound impact in an emergency situation.” https://ilearn.swin.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-4771826-dt-content-rid-24643404_2/courses/2015-HS1-MDA20009-205704/Posetti%20%26%20Lo_Twitterisation%20of%20ABCs%20Emergency%20%26%20Disaster%20Communication_2012.PDF

CrisisCommons is an organisation that helps people through technology. “CrisisCommons actively supports CrisisCamp, a barcamp event, which seeks to connect a global network of volunteers who use creative problem solving and open technologies to help people and communities in times and places of crisis.”

(CrisisCommons)

Crowdsourcing gives people a great reason to be on social media. Rather then calling dozens of people to tell them you’re ‘ok’ you can just post it on social media and they can all see at once.

References

CrisisCommons,. 'About'. N.p., 2015. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

Executive Summary: ‘#qldfloods and @QPSMedia: Crisis Communication on Twitter in the 2011 South East Queensland Floods’, pp 7-10. Bruns, A., Burgess, J., Crawford, K., Shaw, F. (2012)

Global Voices,. 'Social Media Becomes A Lifeline In The Nepal Earthquake Aftermath · Global Voices'. N.p., 2015. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

Oxforddictionaries.com,. 'Crowdsource - Definition Of Crowdsource In English From The Oxford Dictionary'. N.p., 2015. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

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Week 7

Digital citizenship 2: activism & protest  

Greenpeace is a good example of how protests are used in social media. They are an organisation that aims to protect the environment. As their website says:

“In pursuing our mission, we have no permanent allies or enemies. We promote open, informed debate about society's environmental choices. We use research, lobbying, and quiet diplomacy to pursue our goals, as well as high-profile, non-violent conflict to raise the level and quality of public debate.”

(Greenpeace Australia Pacific)

(Junte-se-ao-greenpeace.org.br)

Greenpeace uses social media to raise awareness and get people to rally behind their causes. A great example Greenpeace has shown that relates to clicktivism is in 2010 when they campaigned against Nestle for using products that come from the rainforests in Indonesia. Nestle was causing deforestation and this Kit Kat campaign raised so much awareness that Nestle had to implement a policy to identify and exclude companies from its supply chain that own or manage 'high risk plantations or farms linked to deforestation'.

Facebook was used for the Kit Kat campaign where people left comments on the Nestle Facebook page. And people also changing their Facebook profile pictures to orang-utuns, rainforest and the campaigns Kit Kat ‘killer’ logo. Applying even more pressure onto Nestle.

(Blogs.monash.edu)

For the Kit Kat campaign Greenpeace uploaded a video onto Youtube that was deleted due to censorship issues but then re-uploaded onto Vimeo that was viewed over 1.5 million times.

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/kitkat/

The Kit Kat campaign by Greenpeace really does show how much of an impact social media can play on influencing the world.

Mobile devices and technologies have afforded citizens both real world and digital, the ability to garner worldwide support and enact a process of change.

With more and more people using communication technologies such as social media, especially Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, it enables various forms of activism to enable faster communication by citizen movements and the delivery of local information to large audiences.

I think that a way activists could use social media in the future is with live streaming protests that engages with the audience. This could bring more shock value. The Internet is always pushing its boundaries and the line will always be crossed.

References

Blogs.monash.edu,. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific,. 'Our Core Values'. N.p., 2015. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

Greenpeace.org,. 'Greenpeace | Ask Nestle To Give Rainforests A Break'. N.p., 2015. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

Junte-se-ao-greenpeace.org.br,. N.p., 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

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Week 6

Digital citizenship 3: trolling & social media conflict

Social media allows people to give their own opinions whether they mean it or not. People choose to say things on the Internet and sometimes in a negative manner. Then there are people whom like to voice their opinion in a negative manner for no reason just to troll that person. The affordance when it comes to trolling is that social media gives the platform for people to give their own opinions.  A poll on YouGov.com showed that 28% of Americans have trolled on social media .https://today.yougov.com/news/2014/10/20/over-quarter-americans-admit-malicious-online-comm/

This isn’t to say that these people are bad. It only turns bad when people cross the line. I recently saw a movie called ‘Unfriended’ and long story short its about a girl that committed suicide and comes back as an internet ghost to kill her friends that posted a video of her online which caused her to be trolled by thousands of people. What’s interesting about this film is that it can relate to todays society. Not the part about ghosts but how trolling can cause people to become depressed or suicidal. 

(Unfriendedmovie.com)

Having a cyber-safety can be good. It would be very hard to stop people from trolling. But I don’t understand why people can’t just turn off the computer and stop being trolled. I feel like people need to just realise that they have more control then they think on what happens on the Internet. (Cybersmart.gov.au)

The story on Kaitlin Jackson is an interesting one. I believe she done the right thing by reporting these trolls but at the same time dug herself a hole. These people were always going to try and find a way to destroy this woman. A cyber-safety that really dug into the feeds of trolling and stopped people from doing so would be amazing but impossible. Everyone can say his or her opinion. Stop people from making comments and saying tweets then you sort of stop trolling (The Daily Dot).

The Law report article about an online social media commissioner I believe would not work. I think people may find it as an invasion of privacy. Plus it would be impossible to keep track of millions of comments made.

People should just get off of social media if they are being affected or work around trolling. Such as blocking the trolls off their social network (Radio National).

References

Cybersmart.gov.au,. 'Cybersmart - Internet And Mobile Safety Advice And Activities: Cybersmart'. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

Gammon, Anne, and Anne Gammon. 'Yougov | Over A Quarter Of Americans Have Made Malicious Online Comments'. YouGov: What the world thinks. N.p., 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

Radio National,. 'Can A Cyber-Bullying Commissioner Protect Our Kids?'. N.p., 2014. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

The Daily Dot,. 'Troll-Hunting Mom Falls Prey To 4Chan Trolls'. N.p., 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

Unfriendedmovie.com,. N.p., 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

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WEEK FIVE

Digital citizenship 1: politics & civic cultures

In todays society social media has taken over the world. Politicians will use social media as a podium to get messages across. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are the perfect options to advertise yourself as a politician because the chances of your audience seeing it are very high. Evidence proves this:

(Pjsandcoffee.net)

“The pew research centre found that nearly three-quarters (74%) of American Internet users went online during the 2008 presidential election to take part in, or get news and information about, the campaign. This was 55% of the entire population and it was only about passively receiving news” (Young).

Obama has taken full advantage of social media to express his views and help build his reputation. He is clearly a digital citizen just like most politics in today’s society.

But then there’s the other side of the spectrum. Tony Abbott in 2011 thought it would be a good idea to answer questions on Twitter. He answered them but with answers that made him look foolish and immature (Jericho). Tony Abbott isn’t as popular as he once was in Australia. Social media has even made fun of Abbott because of the mistakes he’s made.

(Resources0.news.com.au)

Social media will continue to grow and become bigger platforms for politics. Civic cultures are a must in today’s politics as it brings a more positive outlook for the culture.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-31/the-top-10-social-media-flubs-by-politicians-in-2014

Politian’s have made many mistakes in social media some funny and some are not.

I believe social networks are the number one podiums to reach target audiences such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Evidence has proven this.  

References Bloomberg.com/politics,. 'The Top 10 Social Media Flubs By Politicians In 2014'. N.p., 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. Jericho, Greg. The Rise Of The Fifth Estate. Melbourne: Scribe, 2012. Print. Pjsandcoffee.net,. N.p., 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. Resources0.news.com.au,. N.p., 2015. Web. 10 Apr. 2015. Young, Sally. How Australia Decides. Leiden: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print.

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Post One

‘Is Tumblr a blog or a social network site?’

First things first, what are the definitions of blog and social network site?  Well via Oxforddictionaries.com the term blog means “A regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style”. The term social network site is defined as “A dedicated website or other application which enables users to communicate with each other by posting information, comments, messages, images, etc” (Oxforddictionaries.com). By looking at these definitions Tumblr is evidently both a blog and a social network site.

(Bitrebels.com)

Tumblr is a phenomenon that has had people blogging since 2007 and still going strong. People feel the need to blog an opinion, an idea, a moment or just about anything. Blogging allows people to share their chain of thought with other people whether they know them or not. Bloggers want people to see what their saying. While doing that Tumblr blogs also allow people to communicate with each other creating social network. “Technology doesn’t simply break social conventions – it introduces new possibilities for them.” (Boyd). Tumblr allows new possibilities to be created from ideas of other bloggers.

(Catholictechtalk.com)

No matter what social network website your on everything you post online is public because someone else can see it. If you delete something off Facebook it is still there for the people of Facebook to see. Nothing you say is private. There are no boundaries. “A new sociality that blurs the line between public and private” (2012).

Tumblr isn’t like Twitter where you talk about something in short bursts, most of the time your writing paragraphs or even essays on something. There is so much thought and process that goes into Tumblr, so even though it’s a blog it’s a social network because your connecting and engaging with people.

Tumblr is a mixture of blogging and social networking site. But shouldn’t it just be a blog? Why can’t blogging not be a social networking site? It’s just the world we live in today.

References

Bitrebels.com,. N.p., 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.

Catholictechtalk.com,. N.p., 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.

Mandiberg, Michael, and Danah Boyd. The Social Media Reader. New York: New York University Press, 2012. Print.

Oxforddictionaries.com,. 'Blog - Definition Of Blog In English From The Oxford Dictionary'. N.p., 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.

Oxforddictionaries.com,. 'Social Network - Definition Of Social Network In English From The Oxford Dictionary'. N.p., 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.

Siapera, E. (2012) ‘Socialities and Social Media’, in Introduction to New Media, pp 191-208.