#CSUFWGST320BADDIES

[avaranda7]

Blog Post #6

Are video games responsible for online racism?

Yes and no. Video games, in general, are not responsible for online racism; often, it is the users who are responsible. Users enter chat rooms and begin to use racial and homophobic slurs regardless of the game. As Kolko et al. (2000) suggest, "individuals are responsible for how they work with the empty space (cyberspace)" (pg.5). Ultimately, it has become a norm to use slurs in video games, but it does not have to be this way. Players can make a choice not to engage and use that language when they are talking online. Yet, despite this being said, I do believe that avatars can contribute to racism in cyberspace/video games. Videogames often play into racial stereotypes when creating avatars, and this in itself is racist. It is also important to note that players also use these avatars to act out racial stereotypes in video games.

Should video games monitor hate speech?

I do believe that video games should monitor hate speech. Some things should not be said online, and although video games are not responsible for what people say when they are playing, they should hold people accountable when they say slurs via chat.

The technology to monitor what people say online is out there, and platforms such as Youtube and Tiktok have software to detect inappropriate language online. Video games should implement the same software in their system.

Is race a biological or a social construct?

There is no such thing as multiple races; there is only one race, the human race. The concept of race was socially constructed to oppress people of Non-European descent after European imperialism to establish white dominance. Kolko et al. (2000) suggest that "if race were purely a natural thing, there wouldn't be such variation across time and space in people's understanding of racial difference." (pg.3). People often distinguish race from physical traits such as skin color or eye and nose shape, but those differences are genetically determined and make us no different from others.

Are video games an escape from real life, or do they mirror society?

Although video games feel like an escape from society, they often mirror our culture and everything wrong with it. People can not escape from racism, sexism, and homophobia via video games, and these games have often become platforms where hate speech and racism are spread. It is essential to note that race online is not invisible; people can identify race via visual and audio cues. Users profile other users because of their voice, usernames, and avatars and use this information to bully them online.

References

Fickle, T. (2019). The race card: From gaming technologies to model minorities. New York University Press.

Kolko, B. E., Nakamura, L., & Rodman, G. B. (2000). Race in cyberspace. Routledge.

Ow, J, A. (2003). The Revenge of the

Yellowfaced Cyborg Terminator: The Rape of Digital Geishas and the Colonization of Cyber-Coolies in 3D Realms’ Shadow Warrior. New York, Routledge. Print.

TEDxUIllinois. (2011, October 11). 5 types of Online Racism and Why you Should Care | Dr. Lisa Nakamura [Video]. YouTube.

[sarahkat]

Week 12 Blog Post Due 11/11

Do you think 2020 would be considered a “culture of fear?”

I would label 2020 as a year full of fear. People were fearful of the pandemic and people were fearful of the comments made by President Trump. During the pandemic, Asian Americans were targeted in a similar manner to Middle Eastern Americans after 9/11. They were subjected to hate crimes, verbal, and physical abuse due to the rhetoric used by Trump. By calling the Coronavirus the Chinese Virus, it gave racists justification and fuel for their hatred. By defining Covid-19 using racial terms, it encourages a “culture of fear” not only of getting sick but also of Asian Americans who were being blamed for the virus.

How can we protect protestors who use social spaces?

Elliot Madison and Michael Wallschlager were two men who were part of the Tin Can Comms Collective that was a “collection of communication rebels.” They used social media spaces like Twitter to inform protestors of police whereabouts in order to avoid detection and detainment. They were caught and charged with multiple crimes including “possessing instruments of crime” which holds a felony charge. When they were caught, Twitter activists kept their thread going in order to help protect those on the streets. In order to protect these protestors, it is important to keep their message going and to help with legal issues.

Do you think two-factor authentication helps secure our accounts?

While I find the two-factor identification to be a bit frustrating, I do think that it helps protect my accounts. While hackers will always find a way to get the information they want from us, this system makes it harder to get that information. Using Duo at CSUF has been the first time I have actively used two-system authentication for every log in. I think having different passwords and keeping as much information to yourself as possible will be the best way to help combat hackers getting information.

What is a current example of “heightened surveillance?”

A current example of “heightened security” would be in 2017-2020 with President Trump announcing his Muslim Ban. This xenophobic executive order banned foreign nationals from predominantly Muslim countries from visiting the country for 90 days , suspending entry to Syrian refugees, and prohibited refugees from coming into the country for 120 days. This ban created a lot of scrutiny around anyone who was Muslim or a POC. It allowed racists to release their hate against Muslims and was challenged by those who stated it was a racist violation of human rights.

References:

Parenti, C. (2004). The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America from slavery to the War on Terror. Basic Books.

Power, M. (2010, March 11). How your twitter account could land you in jail. Mother Jones. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/police-twitter-riots-social-media-activists/.

[marthace]

Week 6 - Blog - Due 9/30

💻✨

Can the way someone perceives themselves online affect the way they get treated online?

The short answer would be yes. Specifically, in Dr. Lisa Nakamura’s TED talk, she went over many experiments people have done where they change a part of their own appearance online, which led them into getting treated differently. For example, there was a white woman who had an avatar displayed who represented herself. There was an upcoming artist who was doing skins for those particular avatars and asked her if she can demonstrate one of his skins on her avatar for he can get more exposure. The woman changed her white avatar to a woman of color avatar, she did not change the way she talked or how she played, just her skin color. She received hate, people were treating her differently, her friends were asking her when she was going to change her avatar to her real self, or in other words it made them feel uncomfortable seeing a person of color as an avatar. This demonstrated how people can treat you differently based on the way you appear to them online, which makes them want to be cyberbullies.

How are people using the internet as a way to hide their identity?

As Kolko, Nakamura and Rodman stated, we all go online without anyone knowing who we truly are. “Cyberspace is in many ways a semi blank slate upon which users write” which means anyone can go into the internet and become or portray anyone they would like to be. People can create avatars, post things they would like the internet to know. For example, Tiktok is a place where people record themselves, but people have different personas they show on their videos versus who they really are in real life. It can be a place where people can choose to actually be themselves or not, so they can either choose to become another persona or just be themselves.

How do video games influence people’s mental health and actions?

I feel video games can have a heavy influence on people’s mental health due to the communication they all have. If someone is not good at video games while playing online, or the username they have, or the sound of their voice, mostly anything can get them to be bullied online which can affect their mental health. The online video game world is known to be mean, and people tend to ignore it and not fix the problem. Dr. Nakamura was showing a clip where a man changed his name to ‘xxxGayBoyxxx’ and he received so much hate and many derogative terms. He was often called names, and there were some contradictions towards that experiment, like blaming the man who changed his name asking for all the mean statements because everyone knows the online gaming is mean. I feel people should be able to choose who they want to portray online without any shaming.

References

Kolko, B. E., Nakamura, L., & Rodman, G. B. (2000). Race in cyberspace. Routledge.

Fickle, T. (2019). The race card: From gaming technologies to model minorities. New York University Press.

Ow, Jeffrey A. “The Revenge of the Yellowfaced Cyborg Terminator: The Rape of Digital Geishas and the Colonization of Cyber-Coolies in 3D Realms’ Shadow Warrior.” Asian America.Net:

TEDxUIllinois - Dr. Lisa Nakamura - 5 types of ... - YouTube. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-G0FlOo7g.

[ricrom199]

Blog Post #11

Q1. What kind of social media platform are you creating? 

Music sharing platform – users will post/share what they listen to or their favorite songs/artists

       o Users can choose to share their top 100 played songs, favorite artists/songs, personally created playlists, and the associated feedback/comments to them

       o Can also introduce a live feed so users can see what you listen to in real-time (whatever is playing on your phone etc. [able to turn off feature])

Q2. What will you measure?

I will measure what music each listener focuses on to create a listener profile based on, genre, sub-genre, decade, content, beats per minute, and mood

Q3. How will you weigh these factors? 

 I will weigh the following categories from most important to least: 

     1.     Genre

     2.     Sub-genre

     3.     Mood

     4.     Content (message of the lyrics)

     5.     Decade

     6.     Beats per min

Q4. What factors will not be measured?

Not weighted: All personal characteristics to the user – this platform prides itself on user privacy

         o During account set up, it will not even require gender, age, location, or other possibly discriminatory demographic questions

         o Only the essentials:

                  1.     Over 13 years old  “yes or no?”

                  2.     Email

                  3.     Password

                  4.     Language

Q5. How will the model learn or adapt to new information? 

The model will adapt and learn by suggesting music based off preferences as well as similar users suggested to become online friends

         o Each time you play a song, it keeps a record and will suggest new music based off preferences

         o Each time you dislike a song it will ask why

                         o Dislike the artist, melody, speed, content of lyrics, or other?

Q6. What biases are built into the model? How does this affect the algorithm’s outcome? 

This platform will hopefully be created with almost no innate bias programmed into the software

         o The algorithm will be limited initially to US trending music but eventually can be updated to encompass a global population once the app has greater popularity

        o Bias of age will affect what type of music is suggested due to popular music of that time

Q7. How will the model live out the ethical practices we have discussed? 

This model can live out ethical practices as there is no biases of the algorithm specifically on race, gender, socioeconomic background, or any other defining demographic descriptor. 

[odalissuarez]

Blog Post: Due 11/18

1. Determine what kind of social media site or digital platform you are creating.

A digital platform that I would want to create is one where students from different colleges from anywhere in the world can interact with each other and be able to use each other as resources and receive help from one another with homework when needed. This can be an app where you just log in and there are several resources for you. As a student, I know how frustrating it can be when you need help on a certain homework assignment and there isn't much help for you, so having this at your fingertips can really help students succeed and be able to communicate with other fellow college students.

2. What will you measure?

This media platform will measure the mass amounts of school subjects that students will be seeking additional help on. Also, student demographics will be taken. The students will be measured for the subjects that they excel the most in and the ones they are struggling with. This can help students be connected by their weaknesses in a certain subject and can see other students that excel in it can be available for any additional help needed. Name of student, age, school year, and institution will also be weighed among every user on this platform.

3. How will you weigh these factors?

Age will be measured by every person who signs up for this there will be a series of questions before setting up an account and this will help gain information from every user that wants to be a part of this app. The only visible information that will be seen by other students will be their name/username and school they are attending along with the subjects they most excel in. They are also more welcomed to share their grades in the classes they took and how well they succeeded in the course. For example, this can be like a discord but this focuses on different school subjects and you can join whatever group you feel best fitted in regardless if you were sent an invite to the group.

4. What factors will not be measured?

In this platform, sex, gender, race, and ethnicity will not be measured. This platform will also not use any dislikes only like buttons will be available. Even though some students may seem to dislike something they can always leave a message but the dislike button will not be available for any student.

5. How will the model learn or adapt to new information?

This platform will evolve along with the students who will be joining. The more students join the more diversity in school subjects there will be. If the number of students joining increases, then the number of help others can receive will also increase. The longer you are active and participate in this platform the more you will be suggested to new users for either help or just to be able to have new users have someone they can talk to regarding any school subject. This platform will be updated and will show users the top school subjects that people need help on and that way students are able to see a subject they are interested in and they'll be able to join.

6. What biases will be built into the model? How will this change the algorithm's outcome?

This model will be based on data from students. Due to no collection of data based on their sex, gender, race, or ethnicity, there will be no biases based on any of those categories. Some algorithms that can be created are having a certain school subject be so popular and overpowering other subjects that are not so popular.

7. How will the model live out the (un)ethical practices we have discussed?

This model will live out certain practices by having race nor sex be involved with using this platform. When using this platform all voices will be heard and everyone is more than welcome to communicate and join each other to solve any questions a student may have. All this information not being asked from a student will limit any racism and any cyber harassment to occur. The less information is given out and shared about a student the safer they can feel using this platform.

[lexii-03]

Blog Post: Due 11/04

How do activists utilize the internet to assist them?

Activists use the internet for various reasons, some include informing others, advocating, and action. The internet gives the ability to inform others of issues that are occurring around that certain area. Keeping people updated on what is being done as well as what needs to be done is very important. Activists utilize the internet to share what action will take place and how it will be executed. Activists can also form protests in order to address the message they want to share to society.

Have you ever participated in a protest? If so, how were you informed and what was it about?

I was part of protests early last year as well and this year. I was informed through social media posts when these issues were first occurring. For example, when the police officers murdered Geroge Floyd, the video that illustrated it happening went viral on the internet. People were furious and wanted something to be done about this. Activists turned to the media to gather people to protest the wrongdoing of the officers. I remember seeing Instagram posts sharing where certain protests were going to take place. I attended a few around my city and nearby cities which allowed me to meet all kinds of people who were fighting for something to be done about the situation. I feel that many people were informed through social media which is how they were able to come out and participate.

How has the internet taken a role in protests?

The internet is used in many various ways. People who take part in protests utilize the internet to communicate and share information. Some of this information may include locations where they will meet as well as times these events will take place. The internet has been a significant tool within protests because it allows various people to connect and come together as one. These people share similar beliefs and are there to make a change together. The internet has made it much easier to organize, inform, and take action.

How are hashtags effective when utilizing them as a tool to fight for a cause?

Hashtags are used on all types of social media platforms. These tags are useful because they allow people to be informed when clicking on the tags. It takes you to a page filled with all kinds of information and stories about people. These hashtags can sometimes be harmful because if people use them incorrectly misinformation can be shared or the important information is stuck below. Take for example “Blackout Tuesday”, when people took the day to recognize that something had to be done many were using the hashtag #blacklivesmatter. This was harmful because the people who posted information about the movement were being pushed down and no one was able to see it.

Work Cited:

Fuchs, C. (2018). Communication Power in the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement . In Social Media: A critical introduction (pp. 83–88). essay, SAGE.

Lee, L. (2017). Black twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6010026

Vegh, S. (2013). Classifying Forms of Online Activity . In Cyberactivism: Online activism in theory and Practice. essay, Routledge

[stephsblog320]

Blog Post: Week 7 Due 10/14

Q: How are cyborgs used to destroy boundaries?

Cyborgs are a useful figure in both culture and technology as they appear to do a good job at blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. Cyborgs are a hybrid figure that enables radical political changes and movements. The ambiguity that is a cyborg is what frees them from the social constructs society places on individuals. Haraway uses the cyborg to present her vision of transcending differences in gender, race, sexuality, etc. The idea of a cyborg is that it completely rejects the patriarchal ideas that society has drilled into us.

Q: How does online communication in mixed-gender settings typically disadvantage women?

In general, women are more likely to draw on relational language when engaging in communication. This type of language is aimed at bringing people together. On the other hand, men typically tend to use language that establishes superiority and dominance, as well as emphasizing their achievements. As a result, women struggle to make their voices heard as they are essentially smothered by the male voices. As Daniels explains, women post fewer messages in mixed-gender settings and also tend to receive fewer responses, causing them to post even less. Additionally, women tend to start their posts with self-deprecating language.This type of recurrent pattern of online communication reinforces the idea of superior male voices and opinions. After all, men have dominated online communication ever since the Internet was created and continues to have lasting effects today.

Q: How has the Internet influenced white supremacy?

During the print-era, white supremacy was considered to be more of a top-down communication as it was printed in newspapers and spread to the public. However, during the digital era, the messages of white supremacy are spread to more people and those individuals have the opportunity to engage with and participate in this type of damaging communication. Additionally, anybody is able to post online through various social media platforms their thoughts and opinions. This can be great for positive social movements. However, it also gives a platform for people to spread their hate, racism, discrimination, sexism, and more.

Q: What implications does the simulation of femininity online have?

As O’riordan explains in the article, the use of the feminine face/voice/body in the online simulation of femininity has several overarching themes, such as promoting heteronormaitve sex and gender relations, implications for sex dynamics, and the idea of portraying a friendly demeanor. Many of these virtual simulations are of young, attractive, and mostly white females which points to the heteronormative view on women and the wants of white males. The idea behind these simulations represents the view of women in our society, offline.

Haraway, D. (1991). A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century. (354-359).

Daniels, J. (2009). Gender, White Supremacy, and the Internet. Cyber Racism: White Supremacy Online and the New Attack on Civil Rights (pp. 61-86). Rowman & Littlefield

O’Riordan, K. (2006). Gender, Technology, and Visual Cyberculture. Critical Cyberculture Studies (pp. 243-252). New York University Press.

[alyssaxhansen]

BLOG POST #8 - DUE 10/28/2021

1. What are the downfalls of easy to make social media accounts such as reddit?

The only information needed to make a reddit account is a username, a password, and to passing a captcha test. The ease of the account making process and the lack of personally identifying information has come with a rise of “novelty accounts” which are mainly used to reference to memes. However, the rise in these types of accounts also comes with trolls and harassers. Because there are no ways to identify the users (unless an email is linked to the account, which is not necessary to make the account) people feel as though they can say anything they want. They do not think there will be any repercussions for what they say or do on platforms such as Reddit because they can’t be “caught.” The only real repercussion is getting their account banned but even then, they can easily create another one.

2. Have you ever trolled someone, seen someone being trolled, or been a victim of trolling?

I personally have never trolled someone or been a victim of trolling. My Instagram and Facebook accounts are private, and I never post videos or comments on TikTok, so I don’t have much to be trolled on. However, I have seen trolling comments all over platforms such as TikTok and Twitter. A lot of the victims of trolling are big content creators such as Brooklyne Webb (TikTok- xobrooklyne), potroastsmom, and Madison Brinkdopke (cartersmomma). Brooklynne gets a lot of trolls saying that she is trying to hard and that her facial expressions are “too much.” Potroastsmom gets trolls who say thinks like “I love pot roast, but I don’t like the lady,” this is something she finds amusing and brings it up on her account a lot. Lastly, Madison gets troll comments saying she should be happy that she already has one baby and shouldn’t be trying so hard and complaining she can’t get pregnant a second time around (she did just announce she finally got pregnant again after trying for over a year and a half).

3. What are some creative ways to combat trolls and trolling?

A lot of trolls feed off the attention they receive from pushing people buttons, they see the attention as a win. The only real way to stop a troll is to ignore them and block them. Other ways of combatting trolling behavior are to report troll accounts to the platform. Personally, if I see any harassing or trolling comments made on other people’s accounts, I will report that comment and the trollers account itself. Unfortunately, though, the platforms usually do not see trolling behavior as going against their guidelines, so it is really difficult to get the accounts removed and stop or punish these individuals making the accounts. Without more action from platforms there will still be a place for trolls on them.

4. What is the difference between trolling, cyber harassment, and cyber stalking?

Trolling is when an individual purposefully disrupts online spaces in attempts to be funny, provocative, or to act as an antagonist. Trolls are often looking to create conflict for amusement and entertainment, not necessarily for real harm.

Cyber harassment are intentional behaviors that are meant to demean, humiliate, embarrass, and cause emotional harm to a person through persistent and consistent interactions. Cyber harassers will go out of their ways to purposely hurt someone online to hurt them or to cause them to quit the platform.

Cyber stalking, arguably the worst of the three, is repeated and unwanted behavior and attention toward another person that causes the victim to fear for their own safety.

[mohindi12]

Blog Post 10/7 week #7 Representations and the Truth

Q1 Do you believe that we can get rid of racism on online sites?

I honestly don't think that this is possible. People read a person's name and they assume many things. Or from what you use in your avi people will use that as a way to get at a person. No matter what we do we will have ignorant people abusing what they can get their hands on. to use it against us. I do believe we can hold more people accountable for their actions. For example, people who use their real name and picture don't usually go online and spread hate speech everywhere. But people who use fake names and random pictures feel braver than others since they are hiding behind a screen. As a group we should work together and make these people know that they can still be identified even though they are hiding. 

Q2 Can having different websites for different races be helpful? 

Frankly, I don't believe it, because of the many different people in it, so many of the apps we use are fun to interact with. As we read in the article, there is a big difference between "Black twitter" and "White twitter." As a twitter user I can see how funny both sides are and when we see a lot of different things coming together from all sides. One thing we should do is give credit to the people that deserve it. We have seen a lot o f POC make jokes or other things on online websites and we watch it be stolen but white people who get praised for it. 

Q3 Are comedians aboe to make offensive jokes? 

I'm raising this because Dave Chapple's new standup on netflix is under fire. Many people argue that standing up is an art, and people can say anything they want, but others believe that a person can make jokes without it being hurtful. A Lot of people were angry about his jokes against trans people. Is there a line that we can't cross? Is there some jokes that we can say and jokes that we can. My personal opinion is that comedy is seen in multiple ways, and however you can express it should be fine. Throughout the years comedians were able to make a joke about anything, Until recent years many of them are to scared to do so because people will get offended 

Q4 Do you feel represented in the media?

I feel misrepresented in today's media. As an arb/muslim i feel we are represented wrongly. In many movies and shows that include us they make us seem oppressed when in reality we aren't. They always show a muslim women who is wearing a hijab that ends up taking it off and feeling brave or confident. That isn't what we really are, that doesn't happen often in the real world. Women aren't forced to wear that but they make it seem as if it's forced. It's how people view us but it's very wrong and misleading. Many people all over the world will watch that and view us differently. We need to have more people behind these cameras representing us correctly and not just white people assuming things and putting it in camera for entertainment. 

Benjamin, R. (2020). Race after technology abolitionist tools for the new jim code. Polity.

Daniels, J. (2009). Cyber racism: White supremacy online and the new attack on Civil Rights. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

[karinalwgst320]

Week 7 Formations of Digital Race Continued 10/7

Have you ever thought about how dating sites match people?

Personally, I’ve never used a dating site or seen the questions they use to match or suggest people to one another. But I read an article about how dating sites use psychologists to write and review questions and answers for them. So, most people would think that race wouldn’t be an issue for people using dating sites, but unfortunately race, class, and gender issues are even included in dating sites. Like stated in the article (Hunsinger & Senft, 2015) Although OKCupid is designed to match people based on common interests and values, the site notes White men and women responded almost exclusively to messages from Whites. (p. 107)

What can be the consequences of White supremacy?

White supremacy and white privilege topics are issues that many people speak about, study, and address, but many don’t fully understand or comprehend the consequences of these topics, in my opinion. Like the article (Daniels, 2009) states White supremacy online sometimes leads to violence, harassment, intimidation, and racial terror, transcending the virtual world to damage real, live human beings. (p. 7)

Are social media platforms holding people accountable for their actions?

No, personally I believe that social media platforms owners have much more work to do the hold users accountable for their actions but not only the users but the owners/co-owners/workers. Like the article (Benjamin, 2020) states Twitter’s relatively hands-off approach when it comes to often violent and hate-filled content of White supremacists actually benefits the company’s bottom line. (p. 49)

Do you think that this current generations have the ability to change many aspects of society for the better?

Yes, definitely. I strongly believe in our current generations and our future ones that are going to do great things in our society. As stated in the article (Benjamin, 2020) Today, right now, you have more power at your fingertips than entire generations that came before you. Think about that. That’s what technology really is. It’s adaptability. It’s capability. (p. 56) Technology, when used to better a society it is great and it can be a very resourceful tool.

 References:

Benjamin, R. (2020). Race after technology abolitionist tools for the new Jim code. Polity.

Daniels, J. (2009). Cyber racism: White supremacy online and the new attack on Civil Rights. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Hunsinger, J., & Senft, T. M. (2015). The Social Media Handbook. Routledge.

[dennyvong]

Blog Post #10 Due 11/11

Q1: Is it fine to detain a person if they made a remark on social media, that seemed potential dangerous?

I would say yes and no, it really depends what was said. To completely detain a person for their comment on social media is a little much. However if they had a past with some acts of similar to that of the comment then maybe it would be worth investigating, more of a reason to act if they are still causing trouble. Assuming too much and too acting fast leads to nothing but court cases and waste of breath as most past cases of people seeming to be terrorist or a threat to society, end in the suspected personal being innocent. 

Q2: Should we be concern that the government has access to our phones and etc?

Yes we should be concerned, the fact that they have this power is quite scary alone it is an invasion of privacy and in most cases, I’m not really sure we were able to use it for any good recently. They say its for our safety but how much of that is really true? We have many cases in our backdoors of robberies and shooting and they is almost little to no action taken place. While I also understand that to handle all of Americans problems would seem a little much but you would think with this information that the world could be a much safer place, which makes me believe our information is not used for any good. 

Q3: Why do you believe the Terrorism Information and Prevention System (TIPS) program failed?

I believe it failed because it shows how little trust our government and higher ups placed their trust in the people in American. While we have the good and bad people, having spies everywhere in our own home seems a little much. Just how would these spies determine suspicious activity? Would it be the way the guardians of our neighborhoods do so (Police) if so, no thanks. I am very sure people do not want any more police around especially undercover police. Not speaking above the police that do their job effective and efficiently but for the ones that don’t. All the people will have is more problems then we will already have. In conclusion, the TIPS would have been almost to little use and a waste of our funds. It would be much more better to fund a program that does not suspect it’s own funders or people literally!!

Q4: Why is the use of linking accounts, adding a phone number, or placing two step verification a good idea. 

In today society, no one is really safe on the web but there are a few ways that you can protect important accounts or information you have place on the web. One way could be using multiple accounts, by doing so not only can you link accounts you can also use one for non-work purposes and another for professional business. Another way would be adding a trusted or personal phone number so that every time you login in you must use get valid verification it is you trying to login. While this may be a hassle, it will stop people whom do not have access to this code away from gaining access in your account.

Power, M. (2010). How your twitter account could land you in jail. Mother Jones. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/police-twitter-riots-social-media-activists/.

Parenti, C. (2004). The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America from slavery to the War on Terror. Basic Books.

[avaranda7]

Blog Post Week 3 Due 9/9

What issues emerged with the creation of algorithms in digital decision-making systems?

To fully answer this question, it is crucial to think back to last week's reading, in which we discovered that there is little minority representation in media companies. Arguably the same inference can be made in the technology industry as there is little gender diversity and people of color representation. Therefore, we must note that the people creating code and algorithms are most likely white cisgender men.

Algorithms place a target on minorities and disproportionally affect "low-income communities of color" as well as "impacts poor and working-class people across the color line" (Eurbanks, 2018, pg. 27). This is necessary to understand because algorithms decide who gets loans and what rates to give people for insurance, credit, etc., and all of these decisions impact a person's life. If odds are set against people, they have less of a chance to succeed in society.

What are some issues with facial recognition in law enforcement?

Facial recognition in law enforcement is problematic due to the fact that software programs can not correctly identify culprits. As mentioned in "Another Arrest, and Jail Time, Due to a Bad Facial Recognition Match" by Kasmire Hill (2020), " a national study of over 100 facial recognition algorithms found that they did not work as well on Black and Asian faces" (pg. 1). To make matters worst, not only is facial recognition flawed, but it is often rooted in racism as those who use facial recognition technology tend to group those with the same ethnic/racial features together due to the assumption that they "all look the same." The consequence of wrongful conviction can be very detrimental as people end up in jail, lose employment and have a hard time overturning sentences. Instead of being treated as innocent till proven guilty, individuals are treated as guilty till proven innocent.

What are some harmful misconceptions about technology?

Regarding misconceptions in technology, one of the most damaging misconceptions is the idea that technology is not bias.

Algorithms place individuals in their own social bubble, and it is critical to note that most of the public is unaware of this. Data mining software construes a digital reality for people in which ads are targeted and political agendas are pushed. Nicole Brown (2020) echos this notion when she states that "technology is not neutral."

Who is impacted by the digital divide? Why

According to Daniels (2009), "women lag behind men globally in computer use and internet access," and in the United States, the "digital divide in computer ownership and Internet access has been the effect of class (or socioeconomic status) more than gender and race" (pg.106). It is not surprising that globally women lack internet access; many cultures still view women as objects and do not prioritize their education. Internet access or computer use exposes women to a lot of helpful information, and arguably, in an attempt to keep them submissive, various cultures and institutions deny women access to the worldwide web. It is difficult for those of low socioeconomic status to access computers and the internet in the US because of the cost.

References:

Brown, N. (2020). Race and technology. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uiAjigKy8

Daniels, J. (2009). Rethinking cyberfeminism(s): race, gender, and embodiment. women's studies quarterly, 37(1-2), 101–124.

Eubanks, V. (2019). In automating inequality: how high-tech tools profile, police, and punish the poor.

Hill, K. 2020. Another arrest, and jail time, due to a bad facial recognition match. The New York Times

[sarahkat]

Week 4 Blog Post Due 9/16

Q: Why didn't the internet have a space or place for African Americans before 1995?

The internet has long been controlled by white, rich men who have historically subjugated racial minorities. The 1950s saw a time of civil rights followed by the 1970s women's movement yet the internet did not see a surge of African American users, creators, etc until 1995. This was a movement that people of color and women joined in order to refuse to be deterred from their space. They had a right to the internet and the narrative it promoted of people of color.

Q: How can having a “normal” name affect a person?

Those with “normal” aka white sounding names are known to be the recipients of white privilege whether they are white or not. “Normal” names are automatically assumed to belong to white individuals and are used to compare against all other names. Those with a name like Jim, John, or Carol will be 50% more likely to get called back after a job interview regardless of work experience. Online algorithms aligned white names with pleasant sounding names and anything else as something displeasing.

Q: Are algorithms the “New Jim Code”?

According to the text by Benjamin, racial codes have always been used to facilitate social control. The example used in the text is California’s gang database in which 87% of names on the list are of Black and Latinx individuals as young as one year old. These people are put onto a list and then held under close scrutiny. They are monitored more closely and are subjected to a loss of rights. These lists are difficult to change and as much as people want to believe algorithms are colorblind, they are actually known to emphasize color. These lists amplify hierarchies and are used to target POC.

Q: Why do we trust sites like Google Search that are known as advertising agencies?

Google has a monopoly over many other smaller search engines. Google is also advertised as a reliable source even though it has been known to show racist images and results when certain keywords are searched. These racial glitches are only fixed once people using the search engine fight back and use their voices to show Google that they will not tolerate these racist algorithms.

Q: Do we have control over our identities?

While we may have control over our names as we get older and choose to change them, we do not have control over our perceived identities. When people look at me, they see and perceive me to be a white woman even if that is not how I personally identify. People label others based on things they can see. Our identities can hurt our potential employer opportunities, educational opportunities, and aspirations. Intersectionality also places many people at a disadvantage. Not only is someone poor, they may also be a person of color or a woman which intersects into more disadvantages.

Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after TECHNOLOGY: ABOLITIONIST tools for the New Jim Code. Social Forces, 98(4), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soz162 Everett, A. (2002). The revolution will be digitized. Social Text, 20(2), 125–146. https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-20-2_71-125 National Association of Independent Schools (2018, June 22). Kimberlé Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality? [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1pwt9w5

[kylee-kd]

Blog Post #9 | 11/4

Can an activist be mistaken as a slacktivist?

I do believe that there can often be situations in which an activist is seen as a slacktivist. This can occur if one is displaying activism and it is not a description of how society would define an activist. For example, if one is partaking in a political movement and is not “doing enough” in society’s eyes then they would most likely be considered a slacktivist. Although, in their eyes, they are doing everything they can in their power to help the movement, whether it be spreading the word or signing petitions. This can all just depend on one’s description of the term activist, and the comparison to how they show their support for any political movements they have been involved in.

What role does the internet play in activism?

When it comes to activism, the internet is a very important place to bring awareness. The internet contains many different platforms that can be beneficial to any type of movement. These platforms can be used to spread awareness by posting about different topics or creating petitions to try and bring change. Using the internet for these actions can help provide others with information about topics that they never heard about. Overall, the internet plays a huge role in activism as it can be used as the basis for sharing information among others.

Which form of online activism have you encountered before and what does it consist of?

I have encountered the form of online activism that is known as awareness/ advocacy. This form of online activism is apparent when public awareness is gathered through the use of information relevant to the specific movement or cause. In this type of online activism, the internet is used to uncover new sources to help a cause. This usage consists of using relevant web sites or even partaking in email distribution lists. Also, the information that is found among the internet can be used for organizations or mobilization purposes, leading to more advocacies being done.  

In what ways can hashtags be beneficial and detrimental?

Hashtags are very popular now a days as they tend to boost someone’s appearance on different social media platforms. They can be used to bring awareness to a movement so that the public becomes informed on what is happening. Hashtags can be very powerful as they can often take over some platforms and tend to flood people’s feeds. However, some may use hashtags for their own benefit which tends to be detrimental to the actual cause. People on social media sometimes use trending hashtags to vamp up their views, this takes some of the eyes away from the actual cause and onto this person’s post. When plenty of people do this, it can lead to the posts involving the actual cause no longer being seen when the hashtag is clicked on, resulting in less awareness being spread.

References

Fuchs, C. (2018). Communication Power in the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement. In Social Media: A critical introduction (pp. 83–88). Essay, SAGE.

Lee, L. (2017). Black twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6010026

Vegh, S. (2013). Classifying Forms of Online Activity. In Cyberactivism: Online activism in theory and Practice. Essay, Routledge.

[ricrom199]

Blog Post #10

Q1. How did the events of 9/11 lead to further government surveillance?  

           After the events of 9/11, congress passed the Patriot act which was legislation aimed at increasing surveillance in order to better protect Americans from terrorism. Parenti explains that this act only legalized the previously used tactics of wiretapping, search warrants, subpoenas, and pen/trap orders for any persons suspected or accused of terrorism. Following these changes, agents were allowed to unknowingly videotape suspects, record phone calls, and analyze personal emails even without the consent and knowledge of individuals. This government surveillance further perpetuated the racist and xenophobic biases that target middle eastern and other racial minorities disproportionately. The act also aimed to create a single server for all web traffic, which would allow easier surveillance and collecting of data from certain groups or based on content viewed.

Q2. How can surveillance of social media platforms protect or hurt the general population?

           In Power’s article, “How your Twitter account could land you in jail,” he begins by detailing the arrests and surveillance associated with the two men charged with coordinating the 2009 G20 protests. The author reports the two were arrested for distributing information over Twitter regarding organizing protests, alerting of summit scheduling, and warning of possible police interference. Reportedly the protests were still successful with the least number of arrests as compared to similar summits at different locations. This sparked a major issue as the defendants claimed they were practicing their protected 1st amendment right to free speech, but were charged with attempts to coordinate a riot, as well as other minor charges such as possession of an object with intent to harm and hindering apprehension to protestors. This is an example of how our government can surveil and target specific people and groups only attempting to voice their legally protected opinions.

Q3. What public and private security issues were created at home following 9/11?

            The events of 9/11 initiated many major changes within America, including legislative advancements such as the Patriot Act. This act legalized further government surveillance of personal information in order to better prepare for future terrorist attacks. This act also allowed for investigators to monitor all forms of communication including phone calls, emails, or internet searches through wiretapping or other monitoring. The new legislation initiated new personal security issues at home by invading personal privacy and legalizing recording without consent. This law also classified terrorists as anyone who violated the law with intent to harm themselves or others in order to promote an agenda or educate on a civil policy issues, which further categorized protestors as domestic terrorists for breaking any laws. Another major issue was allowing prosecutors to pick and choose the judge they wished to assess the plea for a warrant, introducing personal bias (racist/xenophobic beliefs) to the process.

Q4. How do algorithms play a role specifically in targeting populations after 9/11?

           Like we’ve discussed in many other weeks, algorithms have just intentions, but are innately biased and can cause serious negative outcomes. Algorithms created to categorize individuals based on racial, social, or other identifying backgrounds are generally corrupted by the constructs formed by society. Algorithms overgeneralize people to fit predisposed stereotypes there were social constructs believed by the programmers, which is a major component to perpetuating institutionalized discrimination. After 9/11, all searches and interaction with Islamic pages or content, traveling from the middle east, or even appearing to be from a certain ethnic background were reason to excessively surveil and control those populations. These algorithms negatively affect these minority populations because they are predisposed to, and inherently do not investigate traditionally conservative agendas.

References:

Parenti, C. (2003). Fear as Institution: 9/11 and surveillance triumphant, In The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America from slavery to the War on Terror. BasicBooks.

Power, M. (2010, March 11). How your twitter account could land you in jail. Mother Jones: Crime and Justice. Retrieved November 11, 2021, fromwww.motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/police-twitter-riots-social-media-activists.

[odalissuarez]

Blog Post: Week 10 Due 10/28

Question 1: what are some creative ways to combat trolls and trolling? what role do witnesses play?

I think a way to combat trolling can be having these social websites strictly enforce these rules amongst these profiles. With these restrictions, there can be limited trolling that occurs. I do believe that there's people that don't regard rules being placed due to them receiving no consequences so if there are consequences being made, certain actions will change for the better. I think that witnesses can play a certain role just depends on what side of the spectrum they are in. There can be people who are against trolling and these people can make a movement against these trolls.

Question 2: Do you think that there's a specific age group who experience a greater amount of cyber harassment?

I do feel like younger people are the ones experiencing some type of cyber harassment. I think that young people sometimes can be a target and also that age group is most likely to be involved in some social platform that increases their likely hood to experience this. As stated, " It's not surprising that young people are more likely to experience severe emotional distress from cyber harassment" (Bergstrom, 2011). There can be some sort of algorithm that there is some vulnerability with people who are younger and can be easier to attack. I believe that this occurs through all social media and this can be difficult to eliminate.

Question 3: In what ways do you think memes and trolling are related to one another?

I think that memes are greatly used throughout different outlets in social media and they can be used as a joke or even be used to troll others. I feel like there are memes that surface all over different social media outlets and this can be a way that people use something this popular to troll others. As mentioned, that "trolls ability to reference, recognize, and remix existing memes helps fortify a basic sense of trolling identity" (Phillips, 2015). I believe that there can be social media platforms that have memes to be a way for quick trolling. There are also a handful of memes that are made specifically to troll people.

Question 4: What are some things that people can do who are experiencing cyber harassment do to eliminate it?

I believe that when cyber harassment occurs there can be some very serious cases. I think that blocking a specific person who is doing it can be a start. I know that there are people who don't take this serious and believe that the victims might just be dramatic. As stated, " cyber harassment victims are often told that nothing can or should be done about online abuse" (Citron, 2014). I do feel like like it can get difficult to find someone who understands and is willing to help one out. There are also times that these victims are blamed for what they experience on social media.

Sources:

Citron, D. K. (2014). Introduction. Hate Crimes in Cyberspace, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674735613.intro

Phillips, W. (2015). Defining terms: The origins and evolution of subcultural trolling. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/10288.003.0004

Bergstrom, K. (n.d.). "Don't feed the troll": Shutting down debate about community expectations on Reddit.com. First Monday. 1-11. https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3498.