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Blog post 8 (missing)

In what ways does the author argue that Black Twitter functions as a form of resistance to mainstream media bias, and how does it empower Black communities to control their own narratives?

Lee argues that Black Twitter operates as a powerful, decentralized space of resistance where Black users challenge the racial bias and exclusion often found in mainstream media. She explains that traditional news outlets have historically misrepresented or ignored Black voices, especially when it comes to issues of police brutality, systemic racism, and Black cultural expression. Black Twitter provides a platform for real-time responses, community storytelling, and collective action. Lee shows how Black Twitter has become a digital counter-public , a space where marginalized groups can create and circulate their own narratives, free from the editorial control of mainstream institutions. Hashtag movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #SayHerName, and #OscarsSoWhite are examples she references to demonstrate how Black Twitter mobilizes collective voices, draws attention to injustice, and influences national conversations. One of Lee’s key insights is that Black Twitter does more than just critique bias it actively reshapes public discourse by centering Black perspectives. This space allows for humor, cultural affirmation, and solidarity, but also strategic activism and digital protest. It empowers users to name and frame issues in their own terms, rather than waiting for validation from mainstream gatekeepers.

How did digital communication technologies influence the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement?

Christian Fuchs critically examines the role of digital communication particularly social media in the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement, arguing that while platforms like Facebook and Twitter played important roles in facilitating communication, they were not the primary causes of these uprisings. Instead, Fuchs situates social media within a broader framework of “communication power,” which he defines as the ability to shape discourse and mobilize collective action. He emphasizes that deep-rooted socio-economic injustices, political repression, and systemic inequality were the actual driving forces behind these movements.

How does Christian Fuchs critique the concept of “digital democracy” in the context of the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement?

Christian Fuchs critiques the concept of “digital democracy” by highlighting the limitations of digital platforms in fostering genuine democratic change. While social media enabled rapid communication and mobilization during the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement, Fuchs argues that these tools alone cannot dismantle deeply entrenched political and economic power structures. He points out that digital platforms are often corporate-controlled and subject to state surveillance, undermining their potential to create lasting democratic change. Fuchs emphasizes that real democracy requires more than just digital engagement it necessitates systemic political, social, and economic transformation.

Fuchs, C. (2014). Communication power in the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement. TripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique, 12(1), 57-80. https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v12i1.

Lee, L. A. (2017). Black Twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(3), 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6030084

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Blog post 6 (missing)

How does Jessie Daniels illustrate the intersection of gender and white supremacy in online spaces, and what role does the internet play in both reinforcing and challenging these systems of oppression?

In Gender, White Supremacy, and the Internet, Jessie Daniels explores how digital platforms are not neutral environments but are deeply shaped by structural inequalities particularly those rooted in race and gender. She argues that the internet has become a powerful tool for white supremacist and misogynistic groups to spread their ideologies, recruit members, and organize attacks both virtual and real-world. Through platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and fringe forums, these groups amplify hate speech and normalize racist, sexist narratives under the guise of free speech or “just joking.” Daniels emphasizes that white supremacist movements online are often gendered; women are both targets of online abuse and, at times, participants in these networks. Misogyny and racism are frequently intertwined in the rhetoric and practices of these communities, making it clear that gender and race cannot be separated in discussions of online hate. She also highlights how digital media design such as recommendation algorithms and lack of effective moderation contributes to the spread of extremist content, often prioritizing engagement over safety.

How does Kate O’Riordan analyze the representation of gender within visual cybercultures, and what does her analysis reveal about the relationship between digital imagery, identity, and power?

In Gender, Technology, and Visual Cyberculture, Kate O’Riordan critically examines how gender is constructed, represented, and regulated through digital imagery and virtual environments. She focuses on how cybercultures such as video games, virtual worlds, and online visual media often reinforce binary gender norms and reflect broader systems of power, particularly around whiteness, heteronormativity, and masculinity. O’Riordan argues that digital spaces are not free from the constraints of the physical world. Instead, they often replicate or exaggerate stereotypes. For example, female avatars in video games are frequently hypersexualized, while male characters are depicted with exaggerated strength and aggression. These visual cues shape how users engage with identity and influence how people are expected to perform gender online. This has consequences for inclusion and visibility those who don’t fit normative ideals are often excluded or marginalized. She also explores how technology itself is gendered. The design of platforms, the language of coding, and the imagery used in promotional media often frame technology as masculine, associating it with logic, control, and dominance. This contributes to the underrepresentation of women and queer people in both tech development and digital narratives.

Daniels, J. (2018). Gender, white supremacy, and the internet. In J. Daniels, K. Gregory, & A. C. McMillan Cottom (Eds.), Digital sociologies (pp. 107–120). Policy Press.

O’Riordan, K. (2001). Gender, technology and visual cyberculture. Edinburgh University Press.

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Blog post #3 ( missing)

How does digital revolution relate to historic forms of black media activism and resistance? And how does Everett describe the way race, identity and community are negotiated in online space?

Everett places the digital revolution within a longer trajectory of Black struggle and cultural resistance, drawing parallels between historical moments of Black activism like the civil rights movement or the Black press and current forms of digital engagement. Black communities have used whatever media was available (pamphlets, radio, television) to combat erasure and counteract dominant narratives. The shift to digital is not new in purpose, but new in form allowing for faster, wider-reaching activism rooted in Afrocentric perspectives. Everett explores how social identities, particularly Blackness, are expressed, reclaimed, and sometimes contested in digital spaces. The internet, especially platforms like blogs and forums, becomes a place where Black users form communities that resist dominant stereotypes and build solidarity. She shows how digital spaces can empower Black voices socially—through shared experiences, support networks, and grassroots organizing—challenging white-centric norms often embedded in mainstream media.

How do issues of access and digital inequality affect Afrocentric participation in the digital public sphere?

Everett addresses the “digital divide” , the reality that not all Black people have equal access to digital tools or platforms. Economic inequality limits access to devices, internet infrastructure, and media literacy. This disparity reinforces broader systemic inequalities. Still, Everett shows how, despite these barriers, many Black users creatively repurpose available technologies to tell their stories, engage audiences, and build alternative media economies.

How does Ruha Benjamin challenge the notion of technological neutrality in the introduction of Race After Technology?

In Race After Technology, Ruha Benjamin critically challenges the widely held belief that technology is neutral or objective. She argues that technologies are not just tools created in a vacuum but that they are shaped by the values, biases, and power structures of the societies that produce them. This means that technologies often inherit and reinforce existing racial hierarchies, even when they appear to be “colorblind” or “automated.”

Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after technology: Abolitionist tools for the new Jim code. Polity Press.

Everett, A. (2002). The revolution will be digitized: Afrocentricity and the digital public sphere. In L. Nakamura (Ed.), Race in cyberspace (pp. 125–146). Routledge.

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WEEK 13 Blog Post

How does Christian Parenti argue that fear was institutionalized after 9/11 to justify the expansion of surveillance in the United States?

In the article “Fear as Institution: 9/11 and surveillance triumphant,” Christian Parenti argues that the U.S government and related institutions strategically harnessed the public’s fear following the 9/11 attacks to institutionalized a massive expansion of surveillance. He then explains that fear was not just temporary emotional response but became a permeant feature of American political culture, used to legitimize policies that might otherwise have faced resistance. He suggested that the emergency where normal democratic checks were suspended, allowing for rapid implementation of invasive measures such as the patriot act, mass date collection and heightened police powers. Parenti emphasizes that the shift was not solely about responding to real threat but was also driven by political and economic interests including the growth of powerful surveillance industry.

How did the post 9/11 security measures reshape the relationship between citizens and the state?

In the article “Fear as institution: 9/11 and Surveillance triumphant” security measure fundamentally altered the relationship between American citizens and the state by embedding surveillance into everyday life. He explains that before 9/11 there was still a general expectation of privacy and limits on governments intrusion. However , the attacks created a political atmosphere where citizens were encouraged even expected to accept greater surveillance in exchange for the promise of safety. Parenti shows how policies like the patriot act dismantled legal barriers that once protected individuals from unchecked government observation, allowing authorizes unprecedented access to private communications, financial records, and public behavior.

What concerns does Michale power raise about the legal risks of social media use, and how does he argue that online speech is treated different,y from online speech?

Michael powers highlights the growing legal risks associated with the sue of Scilla media platforms like twitter. He argues that while people often online spaces casually as extensions of personal conversations the law does not. Power online speech is subject to serious legal scrutiny and can easily lead to criminal charges or civil liability. Posts, tweets and even casual comments can be interpreted as often with harsher consequences than if similar statements were made offline.

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WEEK 12 BLOG

Can there be racism towards hair?

In the article “(Re)Constructing the body through social media” by L.Lee we learn that Ashley Davis was told that she needed to cut her locks or she’d be at risk of losing her job. They said that “a professional appearance is necessary for the success of the company” implying that her hair was “professional” according to their standadrds. Then the article goes to give an other example of a teacher who sent a student to administration due to her hair. This time saying that the hair was a distraction in the classroom, causing her to straighten her hair to not get expelled. With these example what are the standards for professional hair? Is it every type of hair except afro hair? Are companies and institutions purposefully targeting black people and their hair? I do believe so because who gets to decide what professional hair looks like. And if a white person had messy hair are they getting threaten to lose their spot in a company or institution as well? In the 1970s any women was targeted if they had an Afro do to Angels Davis being part of the top ten most wanted. Mean they started to racially profile any women who they thought fit the description. It’s been proved that even now people are targeting black people and using hair as their excuse to threaten their position.

Are companies who are surveilling us really keeping us safe or are they using survillence to their advantage and using it against us?

In the movie during class we learned that pegaces was not helping keep countries safe but actually were hacking into people devices, listening to their conversation as more. Other countries started to use them to surveillance everyone and everywhere they went. They claim that the point of this surveillance is used so that they can know if a terrorist attack is happening or in case the country is in danger in anyway. When Spain found out that their privacy was not private anymore they protested and fought for their privacy rights.

How can #GamerGate help keep gamers identity safe from being harassed?Does this only happen if a gamer is female?

In the article “What is gamergate, and why? An explainer for non-geeks” we learn that gamergate is an online movement that is used to protect gamers identity. The tag started after a female gamer named Zoe Quinn started to get attacked. She’s gotten death threats and been harassed because she published Depression quest. Her threats were from men who had a lot to say about her article. After this many tumors started about her sex life and soon her address and phone number became public. They started making inappropriate jokes about her/to her. Threats became so bad that she left her house due to her safety. People who are with gamergate are people who believe the fight is important against corruption in game journalism. “Although their movement targets women specifically, #Gamergaters insist they speak for a victimized "demographic," and that anyone who opposes misogyny while making generalizations about gamers must be a hypocrite.” While maybe women are not the only ones they are the main ones.

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Is it possible to be harassed online? Who is affected?

Sadly in the world of media we live in today harassment online does happen. In the article “Online Harassment” by Maeve Duggan it’s says “Fully 75% of adult internet users have seen someone in some way be harassed in some way and 40% have personally experienced it”. Which is honestly not surprising given that people hide behind screen all the time. I kind harassment can happen in different environments not just specifically one. This all depends on age groups and gender mostly. Men are more likely to be harassed online with name calling due to them dominating the online gaming and comment sections. While women are more likely to get sexually harassed online. Men are still more likely to get harassed online than women. Men 44% and women 37%. They receive more name calling, embarrassment and physical threats. Overall social media will continue to be a big part of our lives whether we want it to be or not. So if you have the choice between being nice or mean to someone online. Always choose nice.

If the people don’t have their first amendment which is freedom of speech how will they be able to fight for what they believe?

According to the article “How the Internet Contributes to Civil Engineering and New Forms of Social Capital” by Larry Elin, “The United States was formed by protesters: The first Amendment protects them, and folks ballads celebrates them.” Protest have been done since the beginning to help voices feel heard. If we talk about what’s happening right now in politics , protesting can land you in jail and even deported. So if we can’t protest how do our voices get heard. Not being able to protest would lead to riots or probably even worse.

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If we had a merit system the ways “Nosedive” does (using their phone to give people stars) could our society improve?

If we lived in a merit system where we used stars to rate out interactions or impressions on each other I think that our society would go down. Like in the show Nosedive we see how fake they are to one each other trying to be someone that they are not . In real life I think this would cause a lot of unlikelyness in society and even bigger problems. A lot of people would hide behind a mask when outside in the world and a different one in their home. Which might already be the case but with this system it could be worse. This could also cause more division between races or social classes, again high already happens but if we’re constant rating people on apprentice it might be more divided. The constant fairness might cause people to explode from holding to much in like the main character in Nosedive did at the end. Our real life is already full of people trying to fit in or constant e liked, if we had a merit system where we can give or take stars from people would be trying even harder.

Do we have a similar ranking merit system we are not aware of ?

We in fact do having a similar rating system like in the show Nosedive, although no straight to a person but close enough. We use app where we leave star rating like any food delivery service, car service, Airbnb and yelp reviews. Our star rating determine whether one of this things is good or not. If some of these places/people have low ratings the app might not allow them to use all their resources. Where high ratings give them access to more resources. For a yelp or Airbnb review it could determine whether this places stays open or not. Like in the show Nosedive where people with higher ratings have more places or access to more resources then lower ratings.

Is white privilege still happening on social media?

When social media first started the intent was that only white people would use it. In the article “Race and Gender” it talks about how these apps had “pull-down” menus where the features assumed that all users were white by default. Again back to where the created of these platforms cause the app to be racist, just like any camera or AI that won recognize a darker skin tone. White privilege still exists on social media because they just assume that white people are the only ones and never have to be worried about getting mistaken on a camera.

Hunsinger, Jeremy, et al. “Race and Social Media.” The Social Media Handbook, Routledge, New York, 2014, pp. 107–125. 

Brooker, Charile. “Nosedive.” Black Mirror, season 3, episode 1, 2016, https://www.netflix.com/search?q=black%20mirro&jbv=70264888. Accessed 2025

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Why should we be more cautions with our information on the internet?

During our meeting we learn about the safety of the internet and how our information can easily be taken. Most people use the same password for every app they use or an easy passwords. Our phone hold a lot of our information but we don’t know who really sees our information. It’s important to be cautions and constantly update and change passwords. We tend to use our emails for everything , signing up for accounts , personal, and work. Which is why we get so many ads which are cookies. Because we put our emails and accept all cookies and then that’s how our information can be sent to other sites. We don’t have to accept but because we don’t want to read were to quick to consent we don’t know what we just did. This could be bad because if one day someone hacks into these websites they have get all your information. Something that we think is not really doing anything is our Face ID but everyday we huge access to anything by unlocking our phone.

How can we know we’re on safe website while on the internet? And how as students know that we are getting real information off these websites?

We tend to believe everything that’s online and just go with it, which most of the time can be false information. So then how can we know if a source is valid or safe for us to use? For the most part it’s simple. We can check if the website is secure seeing if there is a lock on the website, if there is it’s secure . If a website starts with htttps it is always secure. Something we can do that might feel like a lot is having different emails for different things ;work, school, personal , banking etc. we can always using a VPN some might even stop pop up’s for us. Instead of using bout normal phone numbers we can use alternative apps to text, and call. There are also website to fact check sources when we’re not sure if its a scholarly website for our essays in school. . Regardless of all the precaution we take , none of our information is safe anymore.

Are creators of videos games responsible for the racism in games? And are they portraying certain stereotypes and being sexist?

Videos games are bouts therefor not humans who understand right or wrong. But can racism still be their fault. Creators of these videos games program these characters the way they want or the way they are. Meaning if the creator of a certain character I saying racial slurs or is dress a certain way it could be because who ever created them sees humans like that or uses slurs themselves. These video games are advertised to older people but obviously a kid is going to want to play these games. These games start teaching young boys racial slurs, bad words , and violence. In class we talked about GTA and how it based on LA and stereotype off prostitution , theft and all kinds of crime.

Jeffrey A. Ow (2010) The Revenge of the Yellowface

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Blog 2

What gets shown on TV about protests? Most of the time news channels will highlight all the bad things going on during a protest. When protesting most people like keeping it civil and actually advocating for what they believe is right while others think it is okay to get rowdy and cause commotion. For example, the LA protest was a big highlight this week, people were actually marching but the part the news showed was the people blocking the 101 freeway. Where on social media people who really were there to protest showed how they marched. In my city, we marched and protested on a sidewalk everything was good until the night came. People decided to turn the protest into a car meet and burnouts. Making all the hard work we had just done look like we didn't do anything.

Why are most people who are protesting Mexican? This all depends on where you live. For example, we live in California which means most people who migrate to California would be Mexican, whereas if we live in Florida we would see more Colombians. Although more representation of different immigrants would be great, the best we can do is represent ourselves. As I protested on Monday I was very bummed that most of the sayings were “viva Mexico” and never once changed to anything else, I'm half Salvadorian and wish this was more represented for things like this. 

Why doesn't racial recognition work on darker skin colors? According to the article “A false facial recognition match sent this innocent Black man to jail” published by CNN, Nijee Parks was falsely accused because of facial recognition failure. Facial recognition has become more accurate but normally fails when it comes to darker skin, but because there are no federal guidelines, it ends up being up to law enforcement to decide whether the match is close enough. I had a discussion about this in a class last semester but the question was “Is facial recognition racist”. We came to the conclusion that yes because whoever created facial recognition decided not to accurately detail or fix camera details for darker skin tones. 

Why are low-class neighborhoods surveillance more? Why do low-class neighborhoods stay low-class? It is supposedly said that low-class neighborhoods are watched more due to “higher crime rates”. According to “red flags” in the twentieth century, the poor class and working class were investigated by caseworkers and treated like criminals.  Public surveillance is taking away public resources from them and taking personal information without giving them anything in return. Digital tracking and automated decision-making hide poverty from the professional middle-class public, which leads to them deciding who gets help and who doesn't.

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Technology has evolved throughout the years. I mean look where we're at right now with all kinds of AI. It's no secret technology has failed many times and I can say it especially failed me. Not too long ago my family and I were on our way back from Mexico. I was in charge of the plane tickets. I saved my tickets to my Apple wallet and screenshotted them. I was ready, nothing could stop me from getting my family on that plane… or so I thought. As they started calling up groups to board the plane I started to grab everything together. As I tried to log into my app it started the loading sign. I didn't think much of it until it started to become more than ten seconds, more than twenty, and eventually more than a minute. I started freaking out! I kept opening and closing the app as if that would help, which in some cases it does but it wasn't working. I turned my wifi on and off and nothing. It wasn't working. I decided that powering off my phone would be the smarter thing to do. So start doing it by holding the button down and swiping power off on my phone. You might be thinking why didn't I just open my photos for the screenshot? Well, I can't give you an answer because I don't even know why I didn't open the photos. I had completely forgotten I had screenshotted, yeah I know how dumb of me. As I start to turn on my phone I realized it wasnt turning back on now. And now I'm really freaking out and stressing wondering if we're gonna get on that plane or not. Everyone is looking at me and it starts to make me more nervous now. Then it clicked I had printed our tickets 2 weeks prior in case of anything and put them in my backpack. I looked through my backpack and found them. We were really on board the plane. But my phone still didn't turn on. The moral of the story is always to be prepared because sometimes technology has a mind of its own.