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A website that enables one to test if websites would be blocked in China

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Great video that explains how the Great Firewall works

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Week 11: Global social media practice: case study China

The Internet that we know here in Australia is much different to that of the Chinese. This is due to a number of factors. However, the most salient point being that the Chinese government set up a censorship system known as ‘The Great Firewall’ in 1998 that heavily restricts the 500 million Chinese Internet users from being able to access the most basic online material. This system is enforced by a number of elements. Firstly, the Chinese government have set up a filter system that searches for keywords on the Internet in order to neutralize critical online opinion as well as to prevent their people from being corrupted by evil cultures. Another method that the Chinese government employs are known as ‘The Internet Police’. In 2012 the New York Times estimated that the Chinese government employs over 30,000 people to sift through Chinese media platforms searching for particular words or terms. Another restriction placed upon the Chinese population is that of their social networking sites. If inappropriate material is found, the web user could be jailed for as long as three years.

Moreover, popular social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Youtube are blocked in China. However, Chinese alternatives are set up and function in a very similar manner to ensure that the Chinese government has complete control over its people. Additionally, the Chinese government is able to benefit from the advertising revenue on these platforms rather than the Western owners benefiting from marketing to the Chinese people.

Another point that highlights the difference between the Chinese and Western cultures is the 140 character limit on some social media platforms. In the English language, 140 characters will enable the user to write a sentence or two. Yet in the Chinese language each character is a different word, therefore the Chinese user is able to write paragraphs as opposed to sentences.

Ironically, in Australia we also have similar laws regarding censorship over the Internet. An example of this is that Australian Internet providers are forbidden to facilitate pornography. However, this law is not abide by and often consequences are not enforced.

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Second Life

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Second Life

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Example of Second Life

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A look at a Second Life user

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Week 10: Social gaming: playing the crowd

Not being a gamer myself, I often find it hard to relate to those who are. It seems strange to me to put so much time and effort into a character and life that doesn’t truly exist. However, for people who are 'gamers' I think that they believe that this invest is worth it. Online social gaming is extremely popular at the moment and has been for quite some time. Today, online gaming communities form one of the most popular digital communities to date. They enable individuals to be connected through common interest and often provide an escape for these people from their daily lives and struggles. Often individuals become so engrossed by their alternate life that they spend several hours a day consumed by it, and can end up preferring it to real life.

An extremely popular social gaming site is Second Life which is an online world in which users create virtual representations of themselves. Second Life enables users to be whoever or whatever they want to be. Although Second Life is an online and virtual environment, it has the potential to reach and influence life in the real world. This is because the game consists of a virtual economy that it actually depends on real money. The game also mimics real life as users can go to social gatherings, live concerts, press conferences or even college classes. Avatars are able to do a lot of things that one can do in real life such as buy land, shop for clothes and gadgets or just visit with friends. For many, Second Life provides an easier alternative to real life.

However, not everyone who interacts and participates in games online are considered or consider themselves as a ‘gamer’. I myself can technically be classified as a gamer as I used to play Words with Friends, Draw Something, The Sims, Unblock me and the list goes on. I would play these games when I was bored and had some spare time at home. Although, I do not classify myself or similar behaviour as a ‘gamer’ as I do not fit my life around gaming, or play for hours on end which then has the potential to influence real life.

I believe that gaming has the ability to engage individuals more than ever these days as games are able to provide a sense of sociality, often an improved sense from real life as the user has more control over themselves (their character/avatar) and their social interactions. Earlier online games such as the Sims involved a users character interacting with other computer controlled characters. However, with games like Second Life, avatars interact with other human controlled avatars, rather than computer controlled. In this sense, online gaming does to some degree simulate real life.

Examples of avatars from Second Life :

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#SELFIE out now on Dim Mak Records! iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TheChnsmkrsSELFIEiT #SELFIE Tees: http://dmak.co/SELFIE_Merch Beatport: http://bitly.com/SELFI...

Selfies have become so popular that even a song exists about them! It has made the top 40

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Week 9: Visual communities: imaging platforms & the new camera consciousness

Since the birth of the Internet, people have been gathering online to form groups and communities in order to share ideas, experiences, and resources. In the past, the primary method of communication in many of these groups was text. However, now people are no longer communicating simply by text. Visual images have become increasingly popular as a tool for self-expression, conveying ideas and sharing experiences.

With this new means of communicating, much anxiety has surfaced around the issue of privacy and the blur between public and private content. Often, content posted many years ago comes back to haunt an individual later in life perhaps when they are going for an important job. It is often the case that this material was published on the internet without the knowledge or consent of a person and as a result the material then has the ability to impact on them and their reputation at a later stage in life.

The shift towards visual communication and the fascination with images has seen the emergence of many platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube and Vine. Over the past year or so I myself have been guilty of being a user of both Instagram and Snapchat. At the moment I cannot imagine life without Instagram. I check my newsfeed at least every hour. My news feed consists predominantly of fashion, food and my friends. I love to see what my friends are doing, ideas of what to make for breakfast/lunch/dinner and ideas about what to wear or buy. However, everyones Instagram feeds are different and so are our user behaviours and habbits. Each Instagram users newsfeed is different, according to that persons interests.

Often, my conversation with my friends or family will be topical of something that I have seen on my Instagram newsfeed at that moment or within the day. Therefore, Instagram acts as a vehicle that connects me with my friends and family (both though the app by likes as well as in conversation).

Snapchat is a more intimate social media platform as it is a more personalized medium. The pictures that are sent via this platform are sent with the intention of reaching one or a few people, rather than a few hundred or thousand like on Facebook.

Snapchat has sparked a lot of interest from many people. Perhaps this could be due to its ephemeral nature. A photo that is sent on Snapchat is only available for viewing for between only 1-10 seconds (at the senders discretion). This forces the user to concentrate on the material as the image or video will self destruct after this time period for viewing that is set by the sender.

An example that demonstrates this new age of camera consciousness happened just yesterday when James Packer (a well known and important figure within the media business) got into a physical fight with Chanel Nine’s David Gyngell on the beaches of Sydney. A bystander quickly captured the moment in a single photo which then went viral and made headlines almost instantly. As James Packer is a well recognised individual, the photo alone is able to inform the public of what took place. This highlights the importance and potential for images alone to enlighten the public of events and news.

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Week 8: Crowd sourcing in times of crisis

A natural disaster that was quite recent were the Queensland floods which took place from December 2010 – January 2011. Over 30 million dollars’ worth of damage was caused during this period and 38 people died. The floods had an enormous reaction on social media and in particular on Twitter. Twitter aided in the spread of information about warnings, danger zones, personal experiences, pictures and videos. It was used by those who were affected, emergency services as well as the curious public.

Social media platforms are extremely beneficial in times of disaster as they are able to disseminate crucial information instantly and to a large number of people, making it one of the most effective means of communication to date.

In 2004 two main natural disasters were Hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami in Thailand. At this time social media was not widely adopted by the general public and therefore it was not the dominant form of communication in times of crisis. Instead, people turned to newspapers, television programs and the radio in order to understand what took place and what this meant for the immediate and distant future. These forms of media are more traditional than social media in the sense that they only facilitate one way communication, are more factual and informative and leave no room for audience interaction, response and input.

A network is an online community of people with a common interest who use a website or other means to communicate with each other and share information and resources. In regards to the Queensland floods, the official state website for the floods updated their Twitter and Facebook accounts regularly. This information was then extended to those who were outside the ‘online community’- (the people who check the website but are not on Facebook or Twitter). The ‘outsiders’ are then able to benefit from the same information via their preferred social networking site.

Online communities are very similar to networks. However, online communities allow for various demographics of people instead of restricting information to televised news. They allow the freedom of expression and an objective topic. Online communities require more participation on a topic though the use of forums and/or threads. Online communities often extend their reach to social networking sites.

Crowdsourcing is a tool used for communities to join together and help other communities in state of crisis.It involves a community of people banding together. An example of this was the large amount of money raised for the Queensland Floods Appeal, over $30 million dollars was raised for this cause. This demonstrates the notion of crowd sourcing and how it pools people together in order for them to communicate and achieve an objective.

Publics are often shown in ‘mapping online publics graphs’ that depict data that follows the responses of people. Publics are made up of a community as whole. The image below demonstrates the enormous spike in the number of people that took to Twitter during the Queensland 2010-2011 Floods and in particular during the worst time of the floods.

This diagram reflects that people are relying on social media in crisis situations as it is such an effective tool in times of chaos and disruption. Therefore, emergency services need to continuously improve their communication tactics on social media platforms.

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Week 7- Digital citizenship 3: trolling & social media conflict

The issue of trolling has become one of common concern on social networking sites despite the efforts of many such as parents, schools, governments, work places and lawmakers to put in place anti bullying laws to protect those who are vulnerable on the Internet.

The word trolling is difficult to define. Trolling is a form of bullying that takes place online, on various social media platforms. A troller is an individual who has an aim of causing disruption, hurt, controversy and conflict to another individual online, often with the intention of remaining anonymous and avoiding any consequences. 

Prior to trolling and bullying that exists online in a virtual context, a victim would be able to escape the physical hurt of a bully by escaping to their own home or personal environment. However, now there is no escape from bullies as they are able to enter our private space- our home, our bed or even our toilet. Not only has bullying invaded our space but social media platforms enable bullying to take place no matter the time of day or day of the week. Not only do social media platforms facilitate bullying in all locations and at all times of the day but the possibility of trolling and bullying can exist on multiple social media platforms. Therefore, the extent of bullying is far more profound than previously.

As Dana Boyd states “although new forms of drama find a home through social media, teens behaviors have not significantly changed. Social media has not radically altered the dynamics of bulling but it has made these dynamics more visible to more people.” Boyd highlights the fact that bullying has always existed and always will. Why? A common theory is that many people are sadists, that is an individual who obtains pleasure from inflicting pain on others. With this knowledge we need to create and implement boundaries, rules and regulations around these platforms and technologies.

An example of a victim of trolling was Charlotte Dawson. Her aim online was to expose trollers by reposting their comments and tweets. However, this positive outlook was to her detriment as often trollers are fuelled by this exposure and power, making her the perfect target for these perpetrators.  Her sad story has prompted many to take action in ‘Charlottes Law’ which is a petition for tougher cyber bullying legislation which calls on the federal and state governments to take a tougher stance on cyber bullying and for greater accountability from social media companies. Within three days of the death of Charlotte Dawson her friends’ petition received more than 15,000 signatures in favour of this law. This example demonstrates that many people believe and want change with cyber bullying. However, making this change is extremely difficult as it is almost impossible to gain control over and monitor all comments posted on social networking sites. Trolling is a serious issue in society today and therefore as users of these sites we all need to be equipped and aware of the capabilities of trollers.