New Media: Internet, Self & Beyond

My opinion on the lectures, readings and information on selected new media topics and issues...

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New Media Legal Issues

As Woodford (2012) posed the question, “are the general public aware” of the ownership and legal issues associated with their use of new media?

Although these terms of service are agreed to by individuals before internet use (such as joining a social networking site or creating a website) this does not meant that the terms of service are understood.

The language used for the terms of use, service and privacy agreements associated with personal use of Google, Facebook, Twitter and other new media is written in inaccessible language for the computer literacy level of the general public.

Yet, as Tranter (2010) described, humans have a responsibility for the maintenance of law and this is not different on the digital platform.

Therefore, although it may be time consuming to read pages of information on the terms of use of Facebook…if you choose to blindly click “accept”, you must also accept the ownership of this medium.

The ease of these digital agreements decreases the percentage of individuals likely to read them in entirety, differing from traditional hand-signed agreements.

Furthermore, I believe it is in the best interests of the consumer that these terms of service remain, as some would describe, long, laborious and specific.

This is for consumer protection. As Patel (2012) described, flexible and accessible language for terms of service can make user rights more vague and aloof.

This is important in relation to legal cases surrounding the ownership and further use of information posted on the internet.

Thus, like using an electrical appliance, we as consumers should read the online manual to make sense of what we are joining.

References

Patel, Niley. 2012. “Is Google drive worse for piracy than iCloud”, The Verge. Accessed May 6, 2012. http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/25/2973849/google-drive-terms-privacy-data-skydrive-dropbox-icloud

Tranter, Kieran. 2010. “Stories of Human Anatomy, Law and Technology”, Bulletin of Science Technology Society. 30 (18), 18-21. https://qutvirtual2.qut.edu.au/portal/pls/portal/olt_material_search_p?p_unit_code=KCB206

Woodford, Daniel. 2012. “KCB206 New Media, Internet, Self and Beyond: Week 9 Lecture notes.” http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_81726_1%26url%3D 

World Online Jobs. 2011. Terms of Service. Accessed May 6, 2012. http://www.worldonlinejobs.net/terms-of-service

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The New Media version of 'me'

As Thompson (2011) stated, “new media has created blurred distinctions between public and private lives”.

  This is because new media has created the ability for all individuals, not just celebrities, to promote a public image, by easing the publication and accessibility of this personal information. Therefore, a clear distinction between the private and public identities of individuals who participate in this new digital medium is unattainable.

  But, if it can be easily accessed through a simple Google search, it has been published by a known source.

  Society argues that the right to privacy is a basic human right. Yet, it is also beneficial for society to have access to information and a free media.

  So, if you want a distinction between your public and private lives YOU have to be instrumental in achieving this compartmentalized life.

  This was highlighted with Princess Diana, as Foley (1997) states “she became public property”, even before the proliferation of new media.

  He argues that Diana used the media to promote her activities that boosted her overall public interest. However, she then tried to deny access to her personal activities, which had since become public interest.

  This inability to compartmentalize ones personal and public life can be compared to individuals who aren’t hired, or in turn fired, due to their Facebook photos and twitter statuses. This is so common there are articles dedicated to retelling these stories!

  However, social media allows a projection of your private self on a public platform and individuals must take responsibility of how they use this new medium. If it has been published it can be deemed as “fair play” (Cross and Henderson 2004).

  After all, one’s public image is a reflection of their private identity and new media has just made this accessible on a digital platform. So was there really a clear distinction before the influence of new media?

    References

  Cross, Simon and Henderson, John. 2004. Public Images and Private Lives: The Media and Politics in New Zealand. Parliamentary Affairs. 57 (1): 142-156. Accessed April 27, 2012. Doi: 10.1093/pa/gsh012

  Foley, Michael. 1997. “The princess and privacy”. Index on Censorship, 26 (7): 162-163. Accessed April 28, 2012. DOI: 10.1080/03064229708536247

  Smith, Catherine and Kanalley, Craig. 2012. “Fired Over Facebook: 13 Posts That Got People CANNED.” Huffington Post, July 26. Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/26/fired-over-facebook-posts_n_659170.html#s118586&title=Juror_Dismissed_After

  The offline social network (Hungry Beast). 2011. “ABCHungryBeast.” YouTube video, posted April 21. Accessed April 27, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeP7AFwqHcQ.

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Working in New Media

“It is seductive to work in new media from the lifestyle it offers” (Leong 2012).

New media has allowed greater equality in the workforce. This is specifically in relation those in society who may not be physically or geographically able to maintain a typical job.

The increased ease of physical access offered by online employment, allows more job opportunities for these people who have a physical disability.

Similarly, those who live in remote communities where a job is geographically impossible, new media provides a viable alternative.

Through digital employment, hobbies can also become a source of income. Avid photographers can sell photos on their blog sit and generate income from this and advertisements. For example, Pete Carr’s photography blog.

Moreover, it provides a great opportunity for new mothers, who only have certain time periods available to work, which is not idealistic to maintain a 9-5 job.

These “mumpreneurs” (Zittrain 2009) can dual their role of mother and worker without leaving their homes.

  However, this highlights the main concern with the influence on new media on the workplace. That is, the blurred distinction between professional and domestic life. New media easily enables work to be done anywhere, anytime.

Thus, work time can now easily converge into private time, ultimately disrupting personal relationships (Sullivan and Lewis 2001).

Therefore, it is important to recognise the positive value of new media on those who, due to certain circumstances, cannot have a typical 9-5 job.

Yet, alike the influence of new media in other aspects of our lives, in the workplace it should remain in conjunction with traditional work formats.

References

Carr, Pete. 2012. “Little Time Machine.” Accessed April 20, 2012. http://www.vanilladays.com/

Health Trick – Health tips and news. 2011. “Multi-tasking in parenting triggers stress.” Accessed April 20, 2012. http://healthtrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mother-multitasking.jpg

Leong, Susan. 2012. “KCB206 New Media, Internet, self and beyond: Week 7 lecturenotes.” www.blackboard.qut.edu.au

Sullivan, Cath and Lewis, Suzan. 2001. Home-based telework, gender and the synchronization of work and family: perspectives of teleworkers and their co-residents. Gender, Work and Organization. 8 (2): 123-145. Accessed April 20, 2012. http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~tkennedy/Courses/2P26/Sullivan%202001.pdf

Zittrain, J. 2009. Minds for Sale. 16th November. http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/events/2009/11/berkwest.

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New Media - New Health Services

New media has enhanced the health service industry and overall well-being of the community.

If used appropriately with traditional health services (such as Doctors consultations) the “internet landscape is well positioned for public health” (Bennett and Glasglow, 2009). This is because it provides accessible and convenient methodology to diagnose and treat illnesses.

To exemplify this I will focus on the prominent community health issue of food intolerances.

Firstly, generally individuals feeling ill would see a Doctor and obtain the correct tests to confirm whether there was a wheat allergy.

Secondly, the patient could also see a nutritionist to obtain a ‘wheat-free diet plan’ for treatment.

However, I would argue that new media has added a new first and last step in the traditional health process.

Now “73% of patients search for medical information online before…doctors visits” (Odden and Misukanis). From this they individuals can determine whether their symptoms match those described, and can base their decision on whether to see a doctor on this information.

Even youtube has a health diagnosis channel. 

Thus, doctors are only sought on serious health matters, saving consumers time and money and decreasing the overall public health cost.

Moreover, new media has enabled a final step in the health process – maintenance and support of conditions.

For those diagnosed with a wheat intolerance, there are blogs such as ‘Cara's Cravings’ and ‘Gluten-free Goddess’ that provide recipes and tips for a gluten-free lifestyle.

This has created a society of more “self-managing health consumers” (Lewis 2006) who are more health conscious and focused on their well-being.

Do you agree that individuals should take more control over their health?

References

Bennett, G and Glasgow, E.. (2009). The Delivery of Public Health Interventions via the Internet: Actualizing their Potential Annual Review of Public Health, 30 (1)

Cara. 2012. "Recipe Index", Cara's Cravings Blog. Accessed March 31, 2012. http://www.carascravings.com/.

Karina. 2012. "Recipe Index", The Gluten Free Goddess Blog. Accessed March 31, 2012. http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com.au/.

Lewis, T. (2006). Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria? Media, Culture and Society, 28 (4)

Mobile and Ubiquitous. 2011. "Internet Health", Accessed March 31, 2012. http://flatclassroom10-1.flatclassroomproject.org/Mobile+and+Ubiquitous

Odden, Lee and Misukanis, Susan. 2010. "5 examples of social media in Health-Care marketing", The Top Rank Online Marketing Blog. Accessed March 30, 2012. http://www.toprankblog.com/2010/01/social-media-healthcare-marketing/.

Youtube. 2011. Diagnosis Health. Accessed March 30, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/user/DiagnosisHealth/feed

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Advocacy in New Media

I would argue that the internet (as a form of new media) is similar to the role of journalists in traditional print media; to provide information.

However, instead of ‘objectiveness’ as a core attribute, the internet allows for advocacy, described by Louise (2012) as “an alternative perspective that challenges existing views, seeking ultimately to persuade and change opinions”.

Although unethical behaviour can also be easily promoted by the underlying characteristics of advocacy on the internet, I agree with (Hamelink 2006) that deceit remains in many facets of society - if people choose to engage in that behaviour.

Shirky (2011) states three main positive perspectives of new media advocacy:

 Greater access to information

Individuals with strong ethical beliefs easily share their perspective with people with similar interests that may not necessarily be their best friend or neighbour. For example, “GetUp! Action for Australia”.

Greater opportunity to engage in public speech

Through a more informed public sphere.

Greater ability to participate in collective action

Wider audiences can be easily mobilised from the immediacy, large scale of western use of the internet and the replicability of information (Louise, 2012).

Are you more informed, engaged and mobilised from the advocacy in new media?

References

CSE. 2011. “E-Outreach : New media technologies for advocacy and strategic communication.” Image. Accessed March 23, 2012. http://www.cseindia.org/content/e-outreach-new-media-technologies-advocacy-and-strategic-communication-0

GetUp!. 2012. Accessed March 25, 2012. “Getup! Action for Australia”. http://www.getup.org.au/

Hamelink, C. (2006). The Ethics of the Internet: Can we cope with Lies and Deceit on the Net? In Ideologies of the Internet, K. Sarikakis & Daya Thussu, pp. 115-130. New Jersey: Hampton Press.

Leong, Susan. “KCB206 New Media Internet, Self and Beyond: Week 4 lecture notes. Accessed March 24, 2012. http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_81726_1%26url%3D

Shirky, C. (2011). The Political Power of Social Media: Technology, the Public Sphere, and Political Change in Foreign Affairs. Volume 90, Issue 1.

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New Media - Public vs Private Identities

“Naturally, when you look at someone’s music, you make judgements.” (Levy, 2006)

  New media technologies connect us, as individuals, to a wider community.

However, despite the public and social nature of these new media technologies, I would argue that personal media choice has become increasingly private to individuals.

Coherent with Levy’s (2006) perspective, iPods are “emotional fingerprints”, and can say a lot about your personality.

  The audience defines the popularity of this new media (Leong, 2012). So, we as both consumers and the audience must selectively choose what media to consume, in order to publically portray a fashionable identity, in a wider, judgemental, ‘techno-savvy’ community.

Yet, although people can use these devices to extend their true identity, others can create false alter-ego identities (Levy, 2006), to conform to ‘techno-cool’ trends.

Nevertheless, I would argue; what is so wrong with using new media as a way of fitting in?...Ultimately, isn’t fashion equally as much an expression of identity and ALSO a mechanism to conform?

New media has publically entered our culture, been publically embraced into our culture, but has privatised ‘real’ personal media choices.

  Are you afraid of the potential public judgement from your song preferences? 

References

Leong, S. 2012. KCB206. New Amusement Arcade: Music, Games and Films: Week 3. Accessed 16th March 2012. Lecture notes. http://blackboard.qut.edu.au

Levy, S. (2006). The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture and Coolness, New York: Simon & Schuster

Further Reading

Lesley Cowie wrote a great commentary piece on the latter view, which can be accessed at: http://lcowie.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/social-medias-influence-on-adolescent-identity/.

There is also a great article on Forbes online magazine about the many facets of personality one can have on the internet:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2011/01/26/multiple-personalities-and-social-media-the-many-faces-of-me/ 

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