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Nº8- The Great Firewall of China

Can you imagine yourself to function without Facebook, Instagram or Youtube? Yes! It seems pretty extreme depressing! How would we connect with our family, friends? How would keep our relationships alive, follow the news?? LIFE would end.

Chinese Internet user population extended to 650 million which is “nearly twice the population of the entire U.S.” (Spencer, 2015) Their censorship laws prohibited all those users from participating in the social networks.

Michael Anti in his TED talk claims that China, maybe has a lot of Internet restrictions, but in the same time a lot of alternatives as well. He states that “hundreds of millions of microbloggers are in fact creating the first national public sphere in the country's history, and shifting the balance of power in unexpected ways.” (2012)

Chinese, use mainly their phones to connect with others. According to Chiu, Lin & Silverman 2012, their main alternatives are Sina Weibo (Twitter), Renren and Kaixin (Facebook), Qzone (Myspace) Baidu (Google), QQ Mail (Gmail) and YouKu  (Youtube). Well, in my opinion, all these Chinese alternatives might be a good solution but it connects the community not Chinese with the other countries. How can they follow the speed of the changing world? Impossible! 

It is a sort of Chinese bubble.

What so they do to go around it?

Obviously, Chinese citizens and tourists visiting China are looking for a way to connect with the social media. The best solution to bypass the Firewall would be a VPN and proxy connections since the servers to which we connect are abroad.

How Chinese users access Facebook?

To prove dissatisfaction on the Chinese people toward this issue I will bring up the case study of the train collision in Wenzhou on July, 23rd 2011. 

This accident leads to 40 deaths & injuries. (Branigan, 2011) This accident got a lot of attention because of the ignorance of the Chinese Government which ignored and didn’t want to take the responsibility in addressing the issue, which in return end up in the Sina Weibo and was widely shared. Most of the tweets were full of anger towards Ministry of Railway and the Government to the public about what happened.

I really hope that the perception of the Chinese goverment will change and they will make the social media available to everyone in their country, with no restrictions whatsoever. 

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Nº7- Addictive world of online games & gambling

I remember myself spending the whole summer playing video games. I could imagine myself being unbreakable and strong as Lara Croft in the Tomb Rider or I would build my dream house and pretend that I create my future life in The Sims game. I did not want to eat I did not want to sleep- I just wanted to play.

How about my friends? They would play too and “gadu-gadu” (Polish communication platform) would be the place that we meet- in the online world.

Now, I’m an adult and have a bit different perception on the games in the digital world. My trip to Tokyo was an eye opener. I remember days when I would have to commute by tube to get to work or school. Every single Japanese would be literally so absorbed by his/her phone that the whole world would not exist anymore. Usually, they would play a different kind of games. I asked myself a question- where the future is going and how it will affect our social interactions, our relationships? Tokyo is one of the most advanced places in terms of technology. I guess, nowadays, the situation is very similar in other parts of the world.

In Korea, online gaming is as important as a sport- e-sport.  

It is a fact that gaming reached a really dangerous place.

According to Lee (2015):

“At the top-end of gaming, the players are undeniably well looked after, healthy and happy - even if the gruelling routine means they clearly don't enjoy playing anymore. It's work. But for the non-professional, the impact heavy gaming is having on the health and social lives of young Koreans is of great concern to many.” 

All professionals have special cages-like places with computers, boxes full of pictures of their family and gifts from fans. I ask myself a question. Should it be acceptable?

Another important issue to discuss is an online gambling. Digital gambling is even more addictive than casino as you can enter it anytime. One click and you are there- spending and hoping to win this time again. It is anonymous, Karter states that “In digital life, you can create your character; you can become someone stronger. In pay-to-play games, you buy virtual ammunition; living life online as a warrior feels better than being a victim.”

There is no denying that games the online world is as dangerous and full of temptation as the real world we live in. We can use social media platforms as a tool to get better results at work, stronger our relationships but from the other hand there is also the dark side.. It is so easy to lose the balance and get lost in the online reality of games and gambling.

REFERENCES

Lee, D. (2016). The real scars of Korean gaming. Viewed on 20th of May. Available at: <http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32996009>

Karter, L. (2016). Only emotional intelligence can save children from online gambling.Viewed on 20th of May. Available at: < https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/01/children-online-gambling-addiction-digital>

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Nº6 Public Health Campaigns & Communities

Public health campaigns have saved millions of lives on the Globe. Because of the raising power and accessibility to the social media, the effectiveness of such movements highly increased.

What is the role of social media in the public health?

In my opinion, social media plays a huge role and even dominate as a platform to run a successful campaign. From the other hand, there is a distorted image of how we should look and live. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook feed our mental health problems especially in regards to eating disorders and cutting. Depression and even what’s funny a social anxiety is a huge problem that a lot of teens and adults have to face.

There were so may public health campaigns but the most effective ones were not necessarily high tech. It’s not about the companies behind it but the overall impact that the campaign has- it increases the social awareness about the disease; teaches how to prevent them plus raise money for the research. I will introduce some past public health campaigns that wouldn’t draw as much attention without the social media coverage.

#IceBucketChallenge

This campaign doesn’t really have to be introduced. Who wouldn’t dump a bucket of ice on the head for the ALS campaign… and maybe for some attention?

The #icebucketchallenge was a successful viral social media based fundraising campaign that completely changed the way we look at the ALS. It all started in Boston then went viral across the globe. The main objective of this movement was to raise awareness of a “ neurodegenerative disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord, leading to paralysis” (Wien, 2016) The outcome was outstanding!

“Two and half million people nationally donated to the ALS Association, which earmarked $77 million of the $115 million total for research like the work of Project MinE.” (Canal,2016)

MOVEMBER

It all started in Melbourne in 2013. Two friends decided to grow mustaches for charity. Again, the idea was brilliant and quickly adapted around the world. It has not been long since the start, “the charity has raised £402m and funded more than 1,000 projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.” (Isaac, 2015)

Referenes:

Canal, E. 2016. Ice Bucket Challenge Funds ALS Breakthrough, Proves Skeptics Wrong. Viewed on of May. Available at:<http://hipporeads.com/icebucketchallenge-do-social-media-campaigns-really-spread-public-health-awareness/>

  Wien, M. 2016. #IceBucketChallenge: Do Social Media Campaigns Really Spread Public Health Awareness?. Viewed on 7th of May. Available at: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilycanal/2016/07/27/ice-bucket-challenge-funds-als-breakthrough-proves-skeptics-wrong/#584e865a1e96>

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Nº5 Crowdsourcing in times of crisis

Years ago, we would listen to the radio or watch the TV to get an instant source of information about the accident.

Social media is not just a superficial world, dominated by celebrities. It is actually a really useful tool for communication in case of the crisis such as earthquakes, flooding or terror attacks. By citizen journalism, information about the accident can be easily spread and shared through many platforms, also can be directed to people who might be in the dangerous territory.  By use of hashtags, it is easy to navigate and understand what is happening. It is also crucial for our own safety.

Jeff Howe was the one who created the Crowdsourcing term. It can be explained as managed, focused crowds. What’s more, “it is when the company takes a job that was once performed by employees and outsourced it in the form of an open call to a large undefined group of people generally using the internet.” (Howe, 2008) Because of the progress of the internet, we are able to create the virtual crowd. What’s more, create groups (communities) with people who share the same interest as we do, even if they are on the other side of the planet.  

Ushahidi is a perfect example of the crowdsourcing.

 According to Bunting, in 2008 a group of bloggers in Kenya came up with an idea to create a crowdsourcing portal to track a “fast-moving crisis”. (2011) This site allows people to create a content and updates the online map with images and important information regarding the crisis. This site adds an impact on communities of the BP oil spill, also “irregularities in the Nigerian election and Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.” (Jeffery, 2011)

Crowdsourcing in times of the biggest disasters and accidents makes a positive impact and literally saves people’s lives. It is easy to navigate and monitor of what is happening and manage these emergencies with help of volunteers, food supplies, and first aid help.

REFERENCES:

Bunting, M. 2011. Crowdsourcing put to good use in Africa. Viewed on 29th of April. Accessed at: <https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/19/crowdsourcing-good-use-in-africa>

Howe, J. 2008. Jeff Howe – Crowdsourcing. Viewed on 29th of April. Accessed at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-UtNg3ots>

Jeffery, S. 2011.Ushahidi: crowdmapping collective that exposed Kenyan election killings. Viewed on 29th of April. Accessed at:<https://www.theguardian.com/news/blog/2011/apr/07/ushahidi-crowdmap-kenya-violence-hague>

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Nº4 Trolling, bulling and sexism in the video games

More than 150 million Americans (44 percent of them women) play video games (Kelleher, 2015). Even though, that women play such a big party in the virtual game world, the way the are portrayed caused a lot of controversies, trolling and bullying. This issue became so big in the world that something had to be done to make some changes. That’s how the #gamergate was created.

The Gamergate controversy concerns issues of sexism and progressivism in the video game culture, stemming from a harassment campaign conducted through the use of the Twitter hashtag #gamergate. It relates to the issue that women are objectified and oversexualized in video games. It wouldn’t draw so much attention if the person who stands behind it was harassed, also had many death threats. The game developer Zoe Quinn wasn’t aware of the amount of hate and bullying she is going to receive when she started to fight for women rights in the industry. According to Kelleher, Quinn “lives her life under lock and key, at least electronically. Access to her computer server requires a key that she wears around her neck; its contents are backed up onto a computer chip implanted in her left hand.” (2015) 

There is a kind of cultural war in the word of video games that still continuous.

On one side we have feminists that play games and for them, it is scandalous how women are portrayed in the games. They want to show that world of the video games is dominated by the male audience who love sex and violence.

One the other side we have aggressive trolls that want to prove that world of the video games is a victim of the feminist movement. In their opinion, there is nothing wrong about women being exposed in a sexual way, with extremely long legs- being often inferior to the men.

Probably, no one would be interested in that problem and it wouldn’t get as much media coverage if one of the trolls wouldn’t go a bit too far.

He threatened another leader of the Gamergate- Anita Sarkeesian. It was quite serious- he said that if she is going to attend the event organized by Utah University.. she will have to take the responsibility for the biggest school shooting in the history! The thread was that serious that Anita refused to take part in this event.

Sexism in video gaming is just another form of bullying.

The solution for that could be that every game user would have to be identified by the real name or Facebook profile so there won’t be a possibility to hide under any aliases. That would reduce trolling at least at some point.

REFERENCES

 Susan Kelleher, 2015. ‘This has got to change’: Women game developers fight sexism in industry. Accessed on 22nd of April. Available at: <http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/game-on-women-are-developing-new-video-games-and-a-new-culture/>

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Nº3  Digital citizenship 2: activism & protest

Activism is a movement that unites people with the same purpose and perception regarding a certain problem. Since the social media has broadly developed, social activism got many additional platforms to inform and influence like-minded people to make a social change.

The Liberate Tate is a group of artists and social activists that decided to protest against BP’s relationship with Tate Modern- one of the biggest and reputable modern art gallery in the world. 

This network was founded in January 2010 and is dedicated to art and activism and the environment. They describe their social activism through a form of art and performance. Their main objective is to influence Tate in such a way, that they will drop its oil company funding. The Liberate Tate (2016) portrays BP as: 

“company that knowingly feeds our addiction to fossil fuels despite a climate crisis, a company whose greed has killed twenty-one employees in just over a year, a company that continues to invest in the cancer-causing climate crimes of tar sands in Alberta, Canada. By placing the words BP and Art together, the destructive and obsolete nature of the fossil fuel industry is masked, and crimes against the future are given a slick and stainless sheen.”

According to Khomami (2016), BP played a big part in Tate’s sponsorship as in total they received “£3.8m, given in annual amounts varying between £150,000 and £330,000 – an average of £224,000 a year.”

To stop this oil hell, the Liberate Tate organized their most noticeable and shareable protest called “The Gift��. Activists portrayed it as an art performance rather than a protest. 

Tate has to accept every art piece and then consider it to their collection. 

Who would expect that it will be A 1.5 ton, 16.5-meter long wind turbine blade? They put presented it as a birthday gift from” the future”, where alternative energy sources are on the forefront. As it was not enough (after that action PB still remained a sponsor) they planned more social activism acts. According to Vidal (2012), the Liberate Tate “have released helium balloons with dead fish attached, imported melting Arctic ice, covered themselves in oil and poured gallons of molasses down the stairs.” Vidal (2012)

In the end, the social change was made as the awareness of the damage on the environment from the oil companies was covered in a lot of articles. What is more PB is no longer a sponsor of Tate.

The main reach of Liberate Tate to their target audience was through Twitter and Facebook. They also created a YouTube channel and posted a video with planning, preparation and execution of Liberate Tate's.

The attention, numbers of likes and awareness of the social problem overall would never reach as high spectrum by use of traditional media. 

REFERENCES

Annonymous. 2017. About. Accessed on 8th of April. Available at: <http://www.liberatetate.org.uk/about/>

Khomami, N. 2016. BP to end Tate sponsorship after 26 years. Accessed on 8th of April. Available at:

<https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/mar/11/bp-to-end-tate-sponsorship-climate-protests>

Vidal, J. 2012. Tate Modern considers activists' wind turbine for art collection. Accessed on 8th of April. Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/aug/30/tate-modern-activist-wind-turbine>

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Nº2 Politics and Civic Engagement

Isn’t naive to base our opinion regarding politics or social issues on social media platforms? Is it reliable what we read, like and share? It takes a second to retweet or repost someone’s opinion and at the same time adopt it as our own.

This tendency of getting lost in digital space is nothing new anymore, spending hours on FB wall, scrolling down the feed of our “friends” is really addictive. Everyone has experienced it at some point. According to Jericho (2012; 298),

“The platforms of social media are built around weak ties. Twitter is a way of following people you may never meet. Facebook is a tool for efficiently managing your acquaintances, for keeping up with people you would not otherwise be able to stay in touch with.”

What someone just said, can be translated and reshaped in a way that it loses its value and meaning.

BUT

There are certainly positive aspects of the social media platforms, there are being used by politicians, their parties and supporters as part of campaigning and communicating.    

Let’s have a look at Donald Trump’s example.

He had the worst publicity amongst all other world-famous politicians but he still managed to become a president. The social media allowed not only to promote widely his campaign but create a whole brand positioning around his name- positoned and established in the mind of the audience in a certain way. Often, politicians use the help of professionals that help them to target their post and build an emotional relationship with their followers.

All his posts and public statements are analyzed and discussed by the public. A number of memes that we can find under Trump’s name are endless and ridiculous at the same time. I personally don't know anymore who likes him.

In this case, we have to admit that any publicity is a good publicity.

According to Jericho (2012), social media platforms can bring people together, an example of that was a widely spread abortion protest in Poland.

Thousands of women didn’t go to work on 3rd of October 2017 and joined the “Black Monday”, “Black Protest” against the ban on abortion.

Based on that example, we can admit that people have an interest in social issues. A massive amount of pictures, articles- posts, in general, was posted every day. Seems like everyone contributed to fighting for a freedom of women in Poland to make their own choice. It completely changed a perception of abortion not only for Poles but for everyone who was following the news. 

The audience reached and power of the social media is obviously not comparable  with traditional media (broadcast and print).

REFERENCES

Annonymous. 2016. Thousands of Polish women gather for ‘black protest’ against abortion ban. Viewed 2 April 2017, <https://www.rt.com/news/361476-poland-women-abortion-protest/>

Annonymous. 2016. Black Monday: Polish women strike against abortion ban.Viewed 2 April 2017, <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37540139>

Jericho, Greg. 2012. The Rise of the Fifth Estate: social media and blogging in Australian politics. Scribe Publications: Carlton North.

Young, Sally. 2010. How Australia Decides: Election Reporting and the Media. Cambridge university Press: Cambridge.

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Nº1 Tumblr: Blog or Social Network Site?

It seems like it is quite hard to define if Tumblr is a social network site or just a blog. 

In order to find the answer that for that question we need to try to categorize it and find main differences. There are certainly some similarities to other social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Nevertheless, it also reminds of classic blog portals as Blogger or WordPress.

According to Walker “blogs were social media years before the term was coined and, in many ways, blogs still form the backbone of social media.” (14; 2013) He adds on it that what we do on social media has roots in blogging.

Is it a blog?

 According to Rettburg (2007), blog is a combination of two words ‘web’ and ‘log’. What is characteristic for blogs is chronical organization of the posts, pages are divided in columns, “the posts, and the narrower columns are kept for links to other blogs, information about the blog or blogger, links within the blog and ads.” (Rettburg, 2007)

In that case we can admit that Tumblr has all blog features.

  Is it a social network site?

 There is certainly huge interactivity on Tumblr, but not as much as on other social media platforms. According to Boyd and Ellison (2007), in social network sites there is a possibility to achieve three main objectives. First of all is to create a profile which can be public or semi-public. Secondly, is to get connection to other people and lastly to interact with them. Tumblr has definitely all of the options above.

What is more Tumblr covers all social media affordances such as persistence, scalability and searchability.

  The conclusion is simple- Tumblr is a blog and also a social network platform. It depends on the user which decides how the possibilities of that site will be expended. The best would be combination of both sides.

   References:

Boyd, Ellison, N. 2007 ‘Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship’, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Accessed on, <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x/full> viewed 21 March 2017.

 Rettburg, W.J.  2007, ‘What is a blog?’, Blogging, Wiley, Hoboken