naomiroe1

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Blog Post 11/14

Impact of Limited Ethnic Representation on the Digital Divide: The lack of ethnic representation in digital and online environments intensifies the digital divide, particularly for African American and Hispanic communities. Despite having comparable levels of income and education, these groups often experience reduced access to technology due to racial and cultural disparities. When online content and communities do not reflect their experiences or cultural backgrounds, individuals within these groups may feel alienated or see the internet as less relevant. This exclusion perpetuates a cycle that reinforces existing social inequalities and barriers.

Role of Ethnicity-Based Online Communities as Empowering Virtual Spaces: Online spaces specifically designed for ethnic groups, such as AsianAvenue.com, highlight the power of digital "homeplaces" for marginalized communities. These platforms provide a safe environment where users can connect with others who share similar cultural identities and experiences. They foster a sense of belonging and mutual support, reinforcing cultural pride and collective identity. By centering race and ethnicity, such communities empower members to feel seen and valued.

Identity and Support in Ethnic Online Communities: Ethnic online communities foster identity and support by creating spaces tailored to shared cultural backgrounds. Here, members can connect on a deeper, more personal level through shared memories, conversations, and events that reflect their culture—experiences often absent on mainstream platforms. These digital environments affirm users’ identities, offering a "virtual homeplace" that nurtures a sense of validity and confidence. By prioritizing cultural interactions, these spaces cultivate a strong foundation for support and openness among members.

Supportive and Conflictive Sides of Online Spaces, as Seen in Gamergate: The Gamergate controversy revealed both the supportive and divisive nature of online spaces. For some, these communities served as welcoming hubs where individuals could share interests in gaming culture and find a sense of belonging. However, the atmosphere also became contentious, especially when conflicting views on harassment and gender roles arose. This division highlighted how online spaces can unite people around common interests but can also become fractured when critical social issues emerge.

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Blog post 11/7

Sure! Here’s a restatement of the questions and answers in my own words:

1. How did social media platforms play a role in the Arab Spring and other movements according to Fuchs?

According to Fuchs, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter played a key role in organizing and mobilizing activists during the Arab Spring. They provided tools for rapid communication, enabling activists to share information widely and bypass traditional media channels. These platforms helped form networks of shared purpose and gave people a space to express grievances and gain support. While social media was impactful in amplifying voices and bringing global awareness, Fuchs emphasizes that it did not independently cause the uprisings. It worked alongside economic hardships and political discontent, which were already fueling demands for change.

2. What are the three areas of online activism described in “Classifying Forms of Online Activism” by Vegh?

Vegh outlines three main areas of online activism: awareness/advocacy, organization/mobilization, and action/reaction. The first focuses on spreading information and raising public awareness about issues. The second involves using online tools to bring people together and coordinate protests or campaigns, often leading to real-world events. The third area, action/reaction, encompasses direct online efforts such as hacking or digital protests. These stages highlight the diverse ways that online platforms can be used to support activist goals, from sharing information to taking more direct actions.

3. How does “hacktivism” differ from traditional protests, and what ethical issues does it raise according to Vegh?

Vegh describes “hacktivism” as a form of protest that occurs in the digital realm, using tactics like hacking websites or disrupting online services to make a political statement. This sets it apart from traditional protests, which typically take place in physical settings like streets or public squares. While hacktivism can bring attention to social issues, it also raises ethical concerns due to its often-illegal nature. Activities like hacking or privacy breaches can blur the lines between activism and cybercrime, challenging legal and ethical norms.

4. What is the role of “strategic essentialism” on Black Twitter, and how does it support building a sense of community?

On Black Twitter, “strategic essentialism” involves highlighting shared Black identities to create a sense of unity and solidarity among users. By using specific hashtags and discussing common experiences, members strengthen their collective identity and raise awareness on issues like racial injustice. This approach helps to foster connections, build supportive networks, and amplify marginalized voices. As a result, Black Twitter becomes a powerful space for advocacy, coalition-building, and the promotion of social and political causes.

[naomiroe1]

Blog post 10/17

Day-to-day avatar

This is my daily avatar I use on snapchat with my friends and family. My username is Just naomi.roe so im easy to find with friends. I choose this outfit because I just think its cute and like having fun bitmojis. I customized it to have the same piercings as me and will change the features of it when I also change something like my hair color.

Dating avatar

I made this avatar using snapchat bitmoji. I dont use and dating apps but if I did I would imagine having an avatar like this. I would want to represent something id wear to a date and also show all my features like piercings and such.

Gaming avatar

I chose my avatar from roblox. Ive played video games for a very long time like roblox and have had this account for years. Its just a silly avatar to represent being a kid still and is very nostalgic for me when I play.

[naomiroe1]

Blog Post 10/10

1. How does the use of humor in marketing affect the perception of serious social issues like sexism?

The use of humor in marketing can downplay serious social issues by making them appear trivial or harmless. For example, BIC's "BIC for Her" campaign used humor to promote gender-specific pens, reinforcing outdated stereotypes rather than addressing gender inequality. This tactic allows companies to avoid confronting or challenging societal problems, instead normalizing harmful biases. In doing so, humor can minimize the significance of issues like sexism, making them seem less urgent or deserving of real action.

2. What role does social media play in raising awareness of gender-based violence, particularly in countries like Mexico?

In countries like Mexico, social media serves as a powerful tool for raising awareness and advocating against gender-based violence. Platforms like Facebook and X are widely used to organize and amplify voices against injustice. Dr. Miriam Hernández highlighted how women in Mexico, in response to cases like Ingrid Escamilla’s murder, use social media to reclaim their narratives, challenge violence, and build solidarity. Social media offers a space where marginalized groups can express themselves, mobilize for action, and keep the conversation about gender violence alive.

3. How are women targeted differently on social media across various countries, and what challenges arise from this?

Women face different forms of harassment and exploitation on social media depending on their cultural and regional context. In Mexico, as Dr. Hernández discussed, platforms like Facebook and X are central to women’s activism, but they also expose them to online violence. Globally, 16-58% of women have experienced online harassment, but the responses of platforms are often shaped by global priorities, not local needs. This creates challenges, such as misrepresentation of local issues, data privacy concerns, and external influence on public opinion, particularly in marginalized communities.

4. What steps can individuals take to contribute meaningfully to social change and address systemic issues like sexism and racism?

To create meaningful social change, individuals must move beyond performative actions, such as simply sharing or reacting to harmful content. It is essential to hold systems accountable and engage in actions that foster real progress. This can include joining organizations with shared goals, actively participating in advocacy, and pushing for structural changes rather than superficial fixes. Accountability and sustained action, rather than relying on humor or surface-level engagement, are key to addressing systemic issues like sexism and racism.

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Blog post 10/3

How does Donna Haraway’s concept of the cyborg challenge traditional feminist ideas about technology and identity?

Haraway’s cyborg challenges traditional feminist ideas by rejecting binary divisions such as nature vs. technology or male vs. female. Instead of seeing technology as something inherently oppressive or liberating, she advocates for a hybrid approach that navigates shifting boundaries. Her concept of the cyborg emphasizes partial connections and interconnectedness, arguing against universal theories or "perfect communication." By doing so, Haraway moves beyond essentialist notions of identity, offering a more flexible and inclusive framework that acknowledges how gender, race, and class intersect in relation to technology.

Why does Haraway distance herself from the term "cyberfeminism," and how does she critique its popular interpretation?

Haraway distances herself from "cyberfeminism" because the term, as popularly interpreted, often simplifies her complex ideas about the relationship between technology and feminism. While cyberfeminism focuses on how technology can offer women freedom in areas like identity and sexuality, Haraway is critical of how these narratives can overlook issues of race, colonialism, and class. She argues that many mainstream feminist movements and technological discourses marginalize women of color, failing to address how these groups are affected by the same systems of power. Haraway’s critique is that cyberfeminism, in its popular form, risks celebrating the empowerment of a privileged few while ignoring the structural inequalities that affect others

3. How did Pokémon GO expose racial and economic inequalities in the U.S., and why was this significant?

Pokémon GO revealed the entrenched racial and economic disparities in the U.S. by making players navigate both virtual and real-world spaces, often forcing minority players into uncomfortable or dangerous situations. For example, Black and Asian American players faced suspicion or violence in predominantly white neighborhoods. These incidents highlighted the persistence of de facto segregation and racial inequality, showing that even seemingly innocent games could be influenced by real-world social dynamics. The game's requirement for boundary-crossing, whether geographical or social, underscored how race remains a deeply ingrained factor in how people experience public spaces, challenging the notion that games are merely escapist or free from societal issues

4.What is "ludo-Orientalism," and how does it apply to the experience of Asian Americans in Pokémon GO?

"Ludo-Orientalism" refers to how games, through their design, marketing, and cultural rhetoric, reinforce racial hierarchies and perceptions of foreignness, particularly in relation to Asians and Asian Americans. In Pokémon GO, this dynamic is evident in how Asian Americans were perceived as outsiders, with the game reifying racial boundaries and spatial dislocation. Even though the game itself is Japanese in origin, the Asian American experience of being treated as perpetual foreigners—despite citizenship or birthplace—became a model for how all minority players were made to feel "othered" within the game's framework. This experience of otherness reflects the broader societal stereotypes and misperceptions of Asians in America, where they are both seen as model minorities and potential threats, depending on the context.

Kolko, B. E. (2000). Race in cyberspace.

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Blog Post 9/19

What factors contributed to 1995 being considered a pivotal year for the transformation of the Internet into a more inclusive public sphere for the African diaspora? 1995 is considered a pivotal year because it marked a shift in the Internet from being a predominantly white, male-dominated space to a more egalitarian public sphere. A key development was the introduction of a separate category for Afrocentric content on the Yahoo search engine, reflecting a growing critical mass of African diasporic users. This moment coincided with the overall massification of the World Wide Web, with rapid growth in the number of users and websites, allowing for greater representation and connectivity for marginalized communities, including African Americans.

How does the concept of "hyperephemerality" affect the study of African diasporic content on the Internet, and what challenges does it present for researchers? "Hyperephemerality" refers to the fleeting and temporary nature of much of the content on the Internet, especially grassroots and nonprofit websites. For researchers studying African diasporic content, this creates significant challenges. Websites can disappear, be altered, or upgraded beyond recognition, making it difficult to return to or analyze the same content over time. This ephemeral nature forces researchers to download and archive content immediately to preserve it, making longitudinal studies or revisits to digital content particularly problematic.

In what ways did the Internet contribute to the success of the Million Woman March in 1997, and how does this event reflect the potential of the digital public sphere for African Americans? The Internet played a crucial role in organizing and spreading the word about the Million Woman March in 1997. The official website received over a million hits leading up to the event, demonstrating the Internet's power to mobilize grassroots activists on a large scale. This reflects the potential of the digital public sphere to empower marginalized groups, including African Americans, by providing a platform for communication, organization, and the promotion of causes that may not receive mainstream media attention.

What historical concerns regarding media coverage of civil rights movements led to ambivalence about the news portrayal of the Million Woman March, and how might these concerns shape future representations of Black activism? Concerns about media coverage of the Million Woman March stem from historical experiences during the Civil Rights movement, where televised coverage initially raised awareness but later contributed to a backlash against African American progress. Events such as California's anti-affirmative action and anti-immigration measures in the 1990s are seen as legacies of this backlash. This history has created a fear that media portrayal of Black activism could again spark negative reactions.

Everett, A. (2002). The revolution will be digitized: Afrocentricity and the digital public sphere. Social Text, 20(2), 125-146. https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-20-2_71-125

[naomiroe1]

Week 3, 9/12

1. What is cyberfeminism, and how do some cyber feminists view technology’s role in gender equality?

Cyberfeminism is the idea that women can use technology, like the Internet, to resist gender inequality. Some cyberfeminists believe that technology can help break down gender and racial power structures, giving women more freedom and power.

2. How do cyberfeminists relate the concept of cyborgs to women of color?

Some cyberfeminists, like Haraway, see women of color as "cyborgs," blending human and machine in their work (such as in factories making computer chips). They argue that this mix of human and technology can be a way to challenge traditional roles and power structures.

3. What is Jessie Daniels' main argument about how women use the Internet?

Daniels argues that while some think the Internet can free people from gender and racial barriers, in reality, women and girls use the Internet in both ways: to challenge inequalities but also sometimes reinforce them. Their online experiences are complex, mixing resistance and conformity.

WSQ: Women's Studies Quarterly, Volume 37, Numbers 1 & 2, Spring/Summer 2009, pp. 101-124 (Article)

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Blog 9/6

How is critical theory different from the usual way people study social media?

According to "Social Media a critical introduction" by Christina Fuchs. Most studies of social media focus on basic questions like who uses it or how companies can make money from it. Critical theory goes deeper by asking how power and inequality affect social media. It looks at who gains and who is harmed by it and asks how social media can impact society in both good and bad ways. Critical theory is focused on fairness and justice, not just business or profit.

How are communication and computer technologies linked to capitalism and exploitation?

Critical theory shows that communication and computer technologies have often been used to serve powerful interests, like governments or corporations. For example, IBM’s technology was used by the Nazis to track and harm people. The Internet, too, started as a military tool. These technologies are often controlled by companies that prioritize profit over people, which can lead to exploitation and inequality.

Why does Karl Marx's work still matter when talking about social media today?

Marx’s ideas help us understand how social media platforms exploit people’s work and data. Even though we’re not paid to use Facebook or Twitter, our time and attention are turned into profit for companies. Marx's analysis of capitalism shows how these platforms benefit a few while many users don't get fairly rewarded. His work helps explain why there’s inequality in how social media works.

What are the main ideas of critical theory, and how do they help us understand society?

Critical theory focuses on seven ideas: questioning how we study society, rejecting the idea that theories are neutral, focusing on power and domination, understanding how people help maintain unfair systems, looking at everyday life, and promoting freedom for oppressed people. These ideas help us see how inequality is built into society and encourage us to think about how to create a fairer world.

Fuchs, C. (2014). Social media: A critical introduction. SAGE Publications.

[naomiroe1]

Blog post 8/30

Tell us about a time when technology didn't live up (to the hype) to it's promises.

An example of when technology didn't live up to its promises for me was actually during the recent outage microsoft had. I work at starbucks and all of our registers and mobiles run off of microsoft. This outage caused all of our systems to go down and we were not receiving any mobile orders, able to take card, and not able to take orders so we had to write everything on the cups. This was a major disaster and lots of costumers were furious. Technology definitely failed me here and I hope it never happens again.