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Covid-19 : Social media became my bestfriend

Public Health is a systematic study of preserving and enhancing the health of the community . In order to achieve public health :- the community will be encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle . The foundation is responsible for identifying , acknowledging and taking action by preventing of an infectious disease .

The global pandemic of Covid-19 became the biggest issue for the past 2 years . Individuals were forced to stay home and was only allowed to leave the house for necessities . During the first wave , some people were thrilled as they were given a chance to rest at home and spend time with their family which I agree how it was the bright side despite the concern but as time past by , it made the community suffer due to health and financial problem .

When everyone was locked up, the only thing we face is that our phones. We had tiktok to keep up updated with new dances and some might post it on Instagram too. Since then, we will always stick to the media to acquire information.

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Golden Shield

Consider a society in which your trustworthiness is evaluated by the government. Your "citizen score" follows you everywhere you go. A good score entitles you either faster internet or a visa to Europe. However, if you publish political posts online without a permit or challenge or oppose the government's official narrative on current events, your score will suffer. Private businesses working with your government regularly rummage through large quantities of your social media and internet.

China's expanding algorithmic surveillance system will rely on the communist party-security state's institutions to filter, gather, and analyse massive amounts of data pouring over the internet. China originally sought to establish a "Golden Shield" surveillance system that would give simple access to local, national, and regional information on each resident, justifying regulations in the name of national security and social stability. This ambitious initiative has so far primarily been limited to a content-filtering Great Firewall that blocks access to foreign internet sites such as Google, Facebook, and The New York Times. According to Freedom House, China already has the world's lowest internet freedom. The Communist Party of China is finally constructing the extensive, multilevel data-gathering system that it has envisioned for decades.

While the Chinese government has long investigated individual people for signs of regime disloyalty, it is only now that it is beginning to create extensive, continuously updated, and detailed data on each citizen's political beliefs, opinions, relationships, and even purchasing patterns. The newly developed social credit system would combine reams of data from commercial firms and government institutions into a single "citizen score" for each Chinese person.

Worryingly, the government will be theoretically capable of taking into account the behavior of a Chinese citizen's friends and relatives when deciding his or her score. It is possible, for example, that your friend's anti-government political post will reduce your own score. As a result, the score system would isolate dissidents from their friends and the rest of society, thereby making them outcasts.

China's trials with digital monitoring represent a serious new danger to online freedom of speech and other human rights in China. Citizens will increasingly refrain from any form of independent or critical speech for fear of their data being read or their movements being monitored – and fined – by the government. That is precisely the program's goal. Furthermore, what develops in China will not remain in China. Its oppressive tools have spread to other authoritarian governments all over the world. For this reason, democracies around the world must monitor and condemn this sinister creep toward an Orwellian world, not to mention concern for the hundreds of millions of people in China whose meagre freedom will be further eroded.

References:

Campbell, C. (2019). ‘The Entire System Is Designed to Suppress Us.’ What the Chinese Surveillance State Means for the Rest of the World. [online] Time. Available at: https://time.com/5735411/china-surveillance-privacy-issues/.

China activists fear increased surveillance with new security law. (2017). Reuters. [online] 26 May. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-security-int-idUSKBN18M09U [Accessed 30 Nov. 2022].

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The State of Monetization Models in Gaming Industry.

The gaming business has changed dramatically in the 50+ years since the first commercial game was released, from gameplay and technology to monetization tactics. In today's mobile era, in-game adverts have become standard and the primary source of money for mobile game creators. This kind of monetization is here to stay because it has been proved to be the most successful route for marketers to promote to billions of mobile gamers (Hansson 2017).

Microtransactions (mtx) are currently the second most common technique of revenue for game producers. These purchases are frequently voluntary, which serves as the foundation for the "freemium" model. Dota 2 is a well-known example of a "freemium" game in which players may pay for cosmetic goods and the Battle Pass, whereas CS:GO players can purchase weapon skins, stickers, cases, and keys (to open more skins and stickers). These traits have no influence on gameplay but provide the character with customizable and unique aesthetics, enriching the player's experience. Mtx provides a better mix between user experience and developer income. To create a player's psychological desire (and addiction) for game objects, which are high on Maslow's scale of motivation, captivating gameplay and intriguing story material are required. Because of their low barrier to entry and successful Mtx model, freemium games are popular at the Esports level.

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are being used in a new generation of blockchain games to represent ownership of in-game things such as avatars, cosmetics, equipment, and weaponry. The sale of NFTs to players and fees from secondary transactions generate income for games. Players may safely swap NFT game goods with one another or sell them for real-world currency tokens. This is a game-changing new level of in-game asset ownership.

Another novel aspect of NFT games is the use of fungible token awards that can be redeemed for real money. As a result, the game functions as a micro-economy that must account for resource movement and allocation.

Game producers should constantly focus on user experience for the long-term survival of games, whether they incorporate NFTs or not. When marketing their products, companies should focus on gaming, i.e., the play rather than the earn. Although the Play-to-Earn concept is not going away, it is becoming less relevant as more fun Play-and-Earn games are launched.

NFTs and fungible tokens should be utilized for more than simply in-game profits; there is a lot of potential in game NFT ownership and customization. Finally, gaming guilds will continue to play a role in lowering entrance barriers and promoting community growth for NFT games, allowing game creators to focus on the game itself.

References:

King, D.L., Delfabbro, P.H., Gainsbury, S.M., Dreier, M., Greer, N. and Billieux, J. (2019). Unfair play? Video games as exploitative monetized services: An examination of game patents from a consumer protection perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, [online] 101(101), pp.131–143. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2019.07.017.

seekingalpha.com. (n.d.). Gaming Monetization Will Continue To Evolve | Seeking Alpha. [online] Available at: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4504003-gaming-monetization-will-continue-to-evolve [Accessed 30 Nov. 2022].

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The Untold Stories Behind Idols.

Nowadays, fandom and fan culture have steadily gained public attention. Many individuals are interested in how this subculture contributes to society. However, their existence appears to have attracted more public notice than ever in recent years. With the advancement of social media, which acts as a convenient platform for fans to engage with their idols and organize and carry out various events, fans' scope and diversity of activities are expanding.

Fandom technology is evolving as well. The firms behind some of K-top pop's performers are paving the road for a new method to commercialize them. They've created online channels to give K-pop fans the impression that they have direct access to their favorite idols. This access influences how these fans connect with the idol as a kind of friendship, as well as how they interact with other fans.

To be honest, there are excellent admirers of pop celebrities and some who pursue them, give strange presents, and even attempt to abduct them. Generally, fandoms are cheerful and stress-free communities. From setting up on-ground fundraising drives to hosting record-breaking internet events, their devotion to and excitement for supporting their heroes frequently earns our respect. While there is no dispute about their dedication, the cruel fact is that sometimes it is the most fervent admirers that endanger their heroes.

Calling the idols' personal phone numbers, hacking their social media accounts, stalking their idols' group, overcrowding at airports, and, in more extreme cases, camping outside their idols' dorms or houses, installing secret cameras, placing recording, or tracking devices in hotels or in cars, sending disturbing gifts or fan letters (a female fan reportedly sent a love note written in menstrual blood to OK Taecyeon, a member of K-pop group 2PM).

Fans prefer to examine those who engage closely with their celebrities, and dating scandals are the pinnacle of their internet digging. If a K-pop artist, for example, has the same Instagram poses and captions as a person they're close to, or wears similar clothing, this can already spark relationship rumors among fans. Some fans get carried away with their strong feelings and emotions for the artist, causing bouts of jealousy whenever their favorite artists interact with the opposite gender or are involved in a dating scandal.

This is why, for them, it's essential to be aware of one's own limitations as a fan, especially when it comes to personal life. Off-camera/off-stage, respecting their privacy, personal space, relationships, and identity ensures their safety and demonstrates to them that they are more than just entertainment robots for you.

Know where you stand as a supporter. Just though you know their birthdays, allergies, and pets' names doesn't imply you know them. And, if you truly want the best for them, demand adequate security to ensure their safety.

References:

Stitch (2021). K-pop’s fandom platforms are changing what it means to be an idol. [online] The Verge. Available at: https://www.theverge.com/22589460/kpop-fan-cafe-weverse-universe-lysn-bts-idol-fandom-group.

‌Jia, B., Li, J. and Ma, J., 2021, December. Transformation of Fan Culture Under the Influence of Social Media. In 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021) (pp. 2173-2178). Atlantis Press.

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What Works for Artists?

As conventional funding for artists grows rare, creative individuals are devising new methods of raising funds. Crowdfunding is a trendy new online fundraising approach that you may utilize regardless of whether you are a non-profit or not. Although successful crowdfunding necessitates a significant time and effort investment, it can be effective if you have strong online networks of fans and friends from whom you are willing to ask for money.

Crowdfunding is one of those activities in which you generate cash for a certain reason. And if you have a creative goal in mind, it's the icing on the cake!

Regardless of what we do for a living, we all have a creative self within us. We are all drawn to art, whether we work in an artistic field or not. Life is expressed through art. It can express all of life's emotions, and thus it is for and about each of us.

Because art is a mirror of society, every artist feels obligated to make a societal contribution. Every artist has a collection of ideas to communicate with the world. However, cash or investments are the only hurdles that often function as a deterrent to most of the thoughts and visions that arise in their heads. Crowdfunding can be an excellent answer to this issue. Crowdfunding has become even more basic and focused on the huge digital world. You can simply target the proper people to support your cause by creating a platform or page to make people aware of your campaign.

Crowdfunding is the collection of funds for a project or effort from a large number of people, each giving a certain amount for a set length of time. Crowdfunding is primarily a financial instrument, but it has a lot of advantages and may immediately contribute to your cause. It may appear to be just another fundraising event but believe me when I say it is much more. An audience with a genuine interest and enthusiasm is worth far more than money.

In a word, crowdfunding may significantly aid in the scalability of your idea. With worldwide reach, you can quickly target potential audiences and investors.

Reference:

WomenArts. (n.d.). Introduction to Crowdfunding. [online] Available at: https://www.womenarts.org/skills/crowdfunding/.

Artwork Archive. (n.d.). A Case Study in Crowdfunding: What Works for Artists. [online] Available at: https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/a-case-study-in-crowdfunding-what-works-for-artists.

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Like or Swipe

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Halloween as a Protest movement : Trick or Trap ?

An activist is a person who is outspoken and supportive of strong actions in order to make changes to the political or social engagements . Everyone has the right to speak up and it is a motivation for others to do so but it depends on how it is presented and exploited . Throughout years activist has used social media as a tool to spread public awareness whether it is about social or political issues . The benefit of social media for activists is that it can be used to develop the campaigns faster than before .

For example , the recent activism in Malaysia was located at REXKL .

The Halloween celebration was used by the LGBT activists to dress up as Drag Queens as they organized a private party which was said so to be approved by the authority . Halloween has escalated it’s culture to all over the world but as we know , before this Malaysia did not celebrate Halloween since most of the religion in Malaysia is alleged to be Islamic . So , moving on to the protest where 18 Muslims were arrested due to cross dressing . The ridiculous thing was the police even seized men who were wearing earrings .

From my perspective of view , there is a right and wrong situation here . As to the reason why I say so is because Halloween is a day that has a belief of creating rituals by giving food and candy for the spirits so in the modern world , people would dress up as the dead or any other fantasies for a costume party . Halloween also inspires pop culture as pop culture is just following trends without interfering with one’s faith . A person's faith must not be evaluated by their activities . Muslims are not allowed to celebrate Halloween and LGBT is prohibited in Muslim teaching . All I can say is that , the authority has other bigger crimes that needs to be attend to rather than arresting a male using earrings . That is just preposterous . This was most probably an attempt to capture the LGBT community in Malaysia .  Also , this would affect on whether would young adults vote for the election since the election is right around the corner .

Reference list :

South China Morning Post. (2022). Malaysian LGBTQ groups dismayed as politicians stay silent on Halloween raid. [online] Available at: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3197911/malaysian-lgbtq-groups-dismayed-politicians-stay-silent-halloween-party-raid-lead-election?module=live&pgtype=homepage [Accessed 1 Nov. 2022].

History.com Editors (2019). Halloween 2018. [online] History.com. Available at: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween.

https://coconuts.co/. (n.d.). Fresh and Juicy News from Asia -Coconuts. [online] Available at: https://coconuts.co/. [Accessed 1 Nov. 2022].

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Is Social Media giving positive or negative news for Asian Governments?

Social media has been our updated newspaper . We acknowledge things from social media . Whether the things we care or not , we tend to scroll on social media just for the sake of getting information .

I VOTE FOR BOTH! POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE

The POSITIVE side is that social media has been used by the government to alert the community about the election date , the election venue , who is going to be elected and also what has the elected person done or will do for the community if he gets elected . Despite all that , the NEGATIVE side would be the misinformation where as false statements about the governments were spread across social media becoming a THREAT for the government as an obstacle between winning or losing their people . Individuals who spread fake news would even get a FINE (money money moneyyyy) or be sent to jail for doing so . Companies in Singapore can be fined up to ONE MILLION DOLLARS if they are guilty . Of course with a million , it could be used on better things .

So , question is : Is the One Million Dollars worth it for spreading misleading informations ? Think before you act .

To conclude , be careful what you post on social media as there are eyes watching from now and then but you'll never know who snitched on you!

Reference :

Nikkei Asia. (n.d.). Social media abuses threaten Asia’s democratic elections. [online] Available at: https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Social-media-abuses-threaten-Asia-s-democratic-elections [Accessed 11 Oct. 2022].

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Sorry , I am easily amused .

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Is Blogging peculiar or talk of the town?

A blog is an entertainment website or an online journal used by the community to share opinions . In other words , basically an online diary which offers the user to attach in gifs , video , audio and photos . You can say anything you want and how you want to say it depends on is it for expressing your feelings or attracting your readers . It is also used as an educational tool for those who are seeking ideas .

I admit I am not very familiar with blogging but I know it exists . I still have a lot to know about Tumblr as a newbie so for sure it will be fun discovering the affordances it has to offer . Tumblr is not really used by the new generation but other micro-blogging websites such as Instagram , Tiktok and Twitter are more recognizable by them .

Even though it is not getting “hyped” everywhere but it is still relevant in the age of Tiktoks and Instagram because blogging has only changed the way it operates . It is only evolving just like the whole world is . With the public sphere theory , blogging connects the community as well as any other platforms . Bloggers always have to improve their posts to attract readers by increasing the quality of each post . Furthermore , when I tried to install Tumblr on the play store application using my phone , it stated there “Welcome back to weird” . Even the application itself knows it is a bit weird now but the people love it anyway! You do not come across people saying "Hey did you check out my Tumblr post?" . I consider peculiar things as unique and interesting .