#thisisforaclass

[charleetyger]

Social Media Conflict: Ah! Run away!

Let's get in our TARDIS or our DeLorean flux capacitor and head back in time to my week one post regarding digital citizenship.

Digital citizenship is the 'responsible use of technology by anyone who uses computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level' (Zook, 2023).

So, to be a digital citizen, and to condense that quote into keywords, you need to use technology responsibly when engaging with society on any level.

Responsible. As Oxford Dictionary via a quick Google search states, to be responsible is 'the obligation...to care for someone.'

SO BASICALLY...DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP INVOLVES CARING. FOR OTHERS. Caring. For Other People. Simple!

Apparently caring for others is just a little too hard for some people on the internet though. That's where conflict begins.

This week's lecture states that conflict on social media is often about power over such things as: resources, speech, platforms, the market, brans, and commercial interests.

Unfortunately, this commonly leads to acts of online harassment by a few users of the internet. Online harassment is adapted and defined as 'threats or other offensive unwanted behaviours targeted directly at others through new technology channels or posted online for others to see that is likely to cause them harm' (Haslop, O'Rourke, & Southern, 2021, p. 1420).

Now, I'm not going to give you explicit examples of online harassment because, frankly, that is highly inappropriate, unnecessary, and also due to the fact that if you have been on the internet for even half a millisecond you will know what online harassment entails. It's not pretty, that's for sure.

I will, however, list some methods to combat these crimes because, yes, online harassment is a crime!

1. Take Legal Action.

Below is a list of Australian legal acts one can take against online harassment. These acts offer protection against online abuse, image-based abuse, child cyberbullying, and other seriously harmful and dangerous content, a few examples of such include:

The Criminal Code Act 1995

The Australian HUman Rights Commission Act 1986

The Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015

The Online Safety Act 2021

2. Advocate For A Safer Online Space

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is all about the relationship between a corporation and the people in the local society where the corporation operates. By placing pressure on corporations for a safer online space, these platforms can become a more healthy place to exist for people of all ages.

3. Take A Humorous Approach

Remove the power the online harassers think they have by making jokes to raise awareness and to resist and fight back with intelligence and dignity.

Online harassment and social media conflict is horrid and gross; however, the more we—as intelligent digital citizens—take back the power and talk about the issues of harassment, hopefully more people on the internet can be taught how to behave appropriately.

Be nice to one another, y'all!

References:

Haslop, C, O’Rourke, F, Southern, R 2021, #NoSnowflakes: the toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture, Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, vol. 27, no. 5, <https://iam.atypon.com/action/saml2post>

[charleetyger]

Social Gaming: Makin' Friends, Havin' Fun, and Gettin' Paid.

"Playing a game is the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles."

(Suits 1978, p.41)

It is kind of funny to think about games like that. A voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles. As humans, we do all we can to avoid obstacles, unless they're games. Ha!

As of this year (which is 2023, for you time travellers reading this from the future), the amount of gamers worldwide lands juuuuust around the 3.22 billion mark (Josh Howarth, 2023).

Let's be honest, the gaming community is typically viewed to be dominated by white or East Asian men; however, I believe that there are more gamers than what meets the eye.

I mean, and in my opinion only so gamers don't get mad at me, if you play any sort of video game—you're a gamer. If you play Crash Bandicoot, Dora the Explorer, Mario Kart, Overcooked, Stardew Valley, Minecraft, Rocket League, Overwatch, or ANY OTHER VIDEO GAME—you're a gamer!

A lot of those games listed above—almost all of them—can be played with other real gamers. Locally, meaning you can play with your friends who are right next to you; or online, meaning you can play with your friends who are across the globe in another country. That's so cool, right?!

I, for one, like to play games locally and socially with my friends and family. As a result, I seem to have found my very own gaming community.

A gaming community is essentially a group of two or more people who have a flow of communication over a shared interest in video games. Games are something people can bond over, skipping that otherwise awkward silence on some occasions.

For example, my partner and I love to play Overcooked together and sometimes recruit my brother and his girlfriend for a bit of friendly competition—thus forming our own little gaming community!

Apart from social gaming, there is what is known as competitive gaming. I mean, I understand that games are competitive in nature; like...that's the whole point of games, right? to win? But, in this instance, we're going to be talking about esports (electronic sports) to win money and sponsorships and exposure!

The competitive gaming industry is an extremely lucrative one that is very closely linked to online live streaming— which is when someone live streams themselves and the game they are playing for live audiences to watch online.

Gaming has always had a massive come-togetherness vibe to it, in my opinion. From board games to campfire games, to school playground games, etc. We are now simply just living in a digital era and our gaming has moved online!

Howard, J 2023, How Many Gamers Are There? (New 2023 Statistics), viewed 15 May <https://explodingtopics.com/blog/number-of-gamers>.

Suits, B. 1978, The Grasshopper: Games, Life, and Utopia. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Viewed 15 May.

[charleetyger]

Living a Filtered Life: AR, AI, a-what-now?

Look, we don't have flying cars and hotels in the sky—but we do have augmented reality facial filters and artificial intelligence. Filters that can make you look like something you're not? Weird! But...Kinda cool? What are your thoughts on filters?

Yay or Nay: Filters

yay

nay

Voting ended onMay 13, 2023

Jessica Barker states that '[Snapchat] filters apply virtual accessories and modify facial features, enabling users to incorporate augmented reality into their daily sartorial practice and self-presentation' (Barker, 2020, p, 208).

If we compare filters to, say, a coffee filter, I feel like it's easier to visualise what exactly is happening. When the water is being poured, the white coffee filter paper stops the coffee grounds from getting into the smooth cup of coffee at the bottom, so that the cup of coffee is being served exactly how you want it to be served.

The Coffee filter acts as the Instagram beauty filter filtering out bags under your eyes or uneven skin (not that either of those are inherently bad things) so that the final Instagram or Snapchat post is curated exactly how you want it to look so that the audiences are seeing exactly what you want them to see.

Jill Walker Rettberg, in Filtered Reality: Seeing Ourselves Through Technology, explains how 'Instagram was one of the first sites to really popularise filters, and now they are everywhere, allowing us to make our selfies and other photos look brighter, more muted, more grungy, or more retro than real life' (Rettberg, 2014, p. 21).

Now, let's talk about...

Visual Filters vs Cultural Filters.

Jill Walker Rettberg describes the similarities between visual filters we put on photographs that we post on social media; the technological filters that are applied to our social media usages themselves; and the cultural filters (like expectations and norms) that teach us subconsciously how to 'mimic' models and influencers when we photograph ourselves. (Rettberg, 2014, p, 22).

The author goes on to explain how 'we don't just filter our images before we post them, though: filtering has become an important and far more general concept in today's digital culture. We filter our images, our emails, and our newsfeeds' (Rettberg, 2014, p. 21). 

Here we have an Instagram filter made by Kylie Jenner's team who have a filter that smooths the face, fills lips, and adds butterflies and blush that helps users look that tiny bit more like Kylie Jenner herself (although she doesn't go round with heart-shaped blush I'm sure, but you get it).

We are essentially filtering out ourselves to fit into society as a whole.

The Psychological Effects of Filters

People who are using these augmented reality filters are feeling 'detached from their natural faces' (Barker, 2020, p, 215) and are likening beauty filters to cosmetic surgery and virtual violence.

If used daily, Barker states that Snapchat's brand of 'unattainable and exclusionary beauty' can become internalized as they can begin detesting their very own beautiful features as they don't match the fake and filtered versions they are seeing through their front camera on Snapchat.

Users may result to cosmetic surgery as a result of feeling that gap between filters and reality. (disclaimer: not totally against cosmetic surgery).

Barker acknowledges that Snapchatters have 'confessed to mild identity confusion when comparing the unfiltered [versions of themselves] and the selfie-self' (Barker, 2020, p. 216).

Jessica Barker on Snapchat Filters writes that these filters operate within a system of sociocultural issues as they attempt to implant a beauty ideal through the augmented reality technology—influencing the way people see themselves and one another.

Perhaps to be mindful about your own usage and the way we read into other people's photos—specifically when using AR filters—may help contribute to create 'a new standard of beauty and image of fashion' and to help foster an environment that is 'inclusive, respectful and empowering' to all users. 

[charleetyger]

Body Ideals, Body Modifications, and Body Trends: What Can We Do?

As digital citizens, we need to be mindful of our thoughts and catch ourselves before we slip down that slippery slope of comparison on social media.

Have you ever seen a microcelebrity on your daily Instagram scroll and think, 'Wow...I wish I were them! They seem to have their life together—and they look *amazing* doing it!'?

I won't lie to you, I most definitely have. Especially when, in recent years, microcelebrities have made it so easy to do so.

A microcelebrity is a relatively new form of identity that is linked almost exclusively to online spaces. (Senft, 2012). It refers to a person with a large following that creates and maintains an online identity that resembles a branded good in order to gain status through visibility online (Marwick 2013; Senft 2012).

To be a 'microcelebrity', one has to create an amplified version of themselves that adheres to aesthetic templates* that are endorsed by microcelebrity culture that have been put in place often through product campaigns.

*are poses, accessories, props, and bodywork that are often used for commercial benefits. Editing photos, posing intentionally, and even getting work done on your body (i.e., lip fillers, BBLs, etc.), are all examples of how someone can adhere to these aesthetic templates.

(Disclaimer: there is nothing wrong with getting bodywork done—gif below is exaggerated for comedic purposes only. You are amazing either way. Okay, you get it. Continuing now.)

In workplace settings, workers enact aesthetic labour by embodying attributes that will resonate with customers for commercial benefit (Dean, 2005; Witz, Warhurst & Nickson, 2003). This involves behaviour such as dressing professionally, smiling with sincerity, and attempting to form relationships in these short interactions.

So, we can see the similarities between these workplace aesthetic templates and these social media microcelebrities aesthetic templates. Because, at the end of the day, customers want to buy things and employees want to sell those things to them.

This gif here below shows you how to behave if you DON'T want to work with those aesthetic templates in mind...

The beauty standards that these microcelebrities are portraying through their adherence to their own set of aesthetic templates have recently begun to impact the viewer's mental health as the beauty standard is seemingly unachievable for the common folk. Without the cash flow that these influencers/microcelebs are raking in, we aren't able to spend the thousands that they do on clothes, beauty products, bodywork, etc.

So, what can we do?! How do we combat the ever-presence that is social media influences?

I mean, body dysmorphia disease (BDD) is at an all-time high. Himanshu states that to help the disease, we need to start by recognising the 'the increasing incidence and influence of social media [and] there needs to be increased awareness among caretakers as well as professionals working with adolescents like teachers to promote positive body image' (Himanshu et al., 2020, p. 567-570).

Not only that, but we—as individuals—need to hold ourselves accountable. The body dissatisfaction that is the byproduct of self-comparison of those on the internet is unhealthy and by becoming self aware of what our brains are thinking whilst scrolling—we can put a stop to those unhealthy comparisons to microcelebrities and those aesthetic templates they adhere to.

Below is a video that further explains the impact of social media on BDD:

Body dissatisfaction is largely a social issue that has the potential to slow down if we all agree that a mindset change needs to occur.

If you find yourself comparing yourself to another—opt for a social media detox, for example. I know we always get told to 'go for a walk, it'll clear your head' or to 'go spend time with your family'. But those seemingly silly suggestions can help a tonne.

Versions of your face have been loved by plenty of generations before you—you should remember that the next time you feel down about yourself. (Gosh, I sound like an INstagram quote from 2010 like 'keep calm and carry on' LOL. Okay, again, enough...cya next time!)

References:

Dean, D 2005, Recruiting a self: Women performers and aesthetic labour. Work, Employment & Society, 19( 4), pp.761– 774.

Himanshu, Kaur A, Kaur A, Singla G. Rising dysmorphia among adolescents : A cause for concern. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Feb 28;9(2):567-570.

Marwick, AE 2013, Status update: celebrity, publicity, and branding in the social media age. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Senft, T 2012, Microcelebrity and the Branded Self. In Hartley, J, Burgess, J & Bruns, A (Ed.), A Companion to New Media Dynamics, Blackwell, UK.

Senft, TM 2012, Microcelebrity and the Branded Self. In Hartley, J, Burgess, J & Bruns, A (Ed.), A Companion to New Media Dynamics, Blackwell, UK

Witz, A., Warhurst, C., & Nickson, D 2003, The labour of aesthetics and the aesthetics of organization. Organization, 10(1), pp. 33– 54.

[charleetyger]

Welcome!

*Disclaimer*

'Portions of this site and the works within it are being produced with the intention of critique and/or educational use under Australia’s 'fair dealing’ exceptions to copyright (Section 40 & 41). However, if you feel your IP is being infringed, please contact my service provider (tumblr) with the appropriate DMCA requests, as I, the single author take full responsibility for the content of this site.’ - Digital Communities MDA20009.

[roamingwiththehomies-blog]

New Blog

Hello all!

Yep. This is another travel blog. My hope is to make this a little different than what everyone is use to. First off, I will post travel photos and blogs that I create. I also would like to accept submissions. Let me know where you all have been! I’d love, also, for us all to give advice to one another; what destination is worth the money, where should we go (i.e. so we don’t look like complete tourists!). 

My blog is Roaming with the Homies, basically I want us all to be friends. Let’s all travel the world together. 

[isaacperezfood-blog]

Sunday Breakfast

One of my earliest memories surrounding food deals with the quasi-ritualistic Sunday breakfasts my family and I would have. Every Sunday, my grandmother, grandfather, and oftentimes my uncle would join my more immediate family (my father and mother, as well as my two sister and myself) for breakfast. Barring some anomaly that came out of left field, such as a close family member getting sick, I could expect to hear my grandfather’s trademark knock on my front door. In he and my grandmother would step, my grandfather supplying the breakfast about half the time and my father taking that responsibility the other half of the time. The food would be set on the table in the kitchen, not the dining room table, possibly because it was a more informal, familial gathering rather than a refined affair. The fare was always more or less the same: Cuban bread, pastelitos, croquetas and other food typical of both the Cuban and more generally Latin American breakfast. My dad would often make eggs, preparing them with some combination of ham, green peppers, chorizo and cheese. I can say with no small amount of confidence that this happened some ninety percent of Sunday mornings between the times I was four and sixteen. Since then, naturally, things have gotten more complicated; my sisters and I have grown up, my family moved, and my grandparents have gotten older. We don’t really get together for Sunday morning breakfasts any more, though we do see each other often enough.

I recall that at one point my sisters and I were growing tired of the routine. Why not have some breakfast that was more American? We wanted pancakes-- maybe just because we craved variety or perhaps because we simply thought they were better-- but it made no difference. I made a comment in passing about how it might be nice to try and switch up our typical routine, if not in terms of time and place at least as far as the food went. My mother and father listened, but nothing changed. After all, they really liked Cuban breakfast, but didn’t care so much for the American variety. They never said as much, but I think it may have gone deeper than that. Both of my parents were born and raised in Cuba, as countless others’ parents were, and maybe they saw these Sunday morning breakfasts as a way of inculcating some of their cultural heritage into their children-- their children who in too many ways spurned their background in favor of a whitewashed one, who spoke better English than they did Spanish, and who (if not properly educated) were doomed to forget their own history before they properly learned it.

Then again, maybe my dad just really hated pancakes.

[aportablelaptopcharger-blog]

If you are sick of trying to find an outlet to charge your laptop, then you should definitely buy the P.L.C.

Our portable laptop charger lets you charge your laptop with no need to connect it to an outlet.  It works like a portable phone charger but for laptops.