Privacy, Online and Off // Blog #4

 

Blog #5 

Technology in this day and age is used by a large number of people. As a young man who has grown up with technology throughout my life, the idea of a “digital footprint” of myself on the internet wouldn't cross my mind. From a young age the number one thing people would say is to be safe with the internet or even the saying “Be careful of what you put on the internet”. This advice has only become more relevant as I’ve gotten older, with technology evolving and social media expanding its reach into every aspect of my life. As a young man who has experienced a real-world situation, I’m increasingly aware of how this online presence can impact not only personal relationships but also professional opportunities. The internet has made it easier than ever to connect and share, but it’s also a permanent record that can define my family, friends, and myself. 

In the first Ted Talk, Juan Enriquez discusses the idea of a digital footprint with your own tattoo. My dad has a tattoo that is very meaningful to him, which can tell you a lot about him. Also, I know if you search my name on Google, LinkedIn, and Instagram it will pop up. These are three websites that, even if I delete something, will always be on the internet and something could possibly come back to me. The tattoo on my dad can tell you a story, but the platforms tell you way more about my own identity, such as my email, where I live, family members, and sports I played. All of this information is available anywhere for anyone on the internet. This can be scary, especially for a college student looking for internships and job opportunities. It's scary because either big or small information about yourself is so accessible through the internet. 

 It goes on to talk about how police departments use license plates to track every vehicle and where they are going. The police use scanners to track where pedestrians and users are in our day-to-day lives. They have each car with multiple scans of their license plates. Their logic to hold onto all this private information is truly for the future.  The small chance this person might be a criminal they keep tabs on everyone and have a file with numerous photos just to know your day-to-day life. 

Having seen these videos, I think the government needs to do something to increase the little privacy we have on our phones. After learning about this, I feel that it is wrong for anyone, including the government, to have access to our phone numbers. But I also have to take into account the Ted Talk's argument that if the government expands phone privacy, it may make it harder to apprehend criminals, which could be damaging to society.

I honestly do not believe there is much we can do to protect ourselves from invasions of our privacy. One main reason is because of how much technology is evolving and because of how much it's used in our everyday lives. Also with the mass surveillance they talked about in the Ted Talk and how there are hundreds of pictures of all of our license plates I'm not sure if we can do much we can do to protect ourselves. Facial recognition technology has reached an unnervingly high level of accuracy, and there’s no going back once it's in place.

The government can now form a clear picture of how regular people go about their daily lives; with today’s tech, privacy seems almost nonexistent. That’s why I’m doubtful that much can realistically be done to stop it.

Blog Post #3

Eight Values of Free Expression:

In the first few weeks of Media Law and Literacy, I've been learning new things about First Amendment rights and why it's so important to society. Before these classes, I didn’t even know about these values, which is surprising because they’re so important in our society. These values help protect our rights and allow us the privilege of free expression.

• Marketplace of Ideas: Also called the pursuit of truth, this is a concept arguing against requiring publishing licenses, and supporting open discussion as the best way to uncover the truth.

• Participation in Self-Government: Free speech allows citizens to become better informed about candidates and issues, which supports making well-informed choices in elections.

• Stable Change: This method involves allowing people to voice their complaints, settling social disputes peacefully, and prioritizing stability over hatred. 

• * Individual Self-Fulfillment: The freedom to speak and express oneself helps people shape their own identities and pursue personal growth.

• * Check on Governmental Power: To keep leaders responsible and preserve the balance of power, a free press enables citizens to learn about wrongdoing by the government.

• * Promote Tolerance: Free speech encourages acceptance and respect for differing views and backgrounds, fostering a society that values diversity.

• Promote Innovation: Protecting free speech creates an environment where people feel energized and encouraged to be creative and contribute new ideas.

• Protect Dissent: This is the right to oppose or criticize the government or others openly. The First Amendment safeguards minority viewpoints, even if they’re unpopular.

    It was hard for me to decide which eight principles of expression spoke to me the most because I believe they are all very important to our community today. The two that feel most personal to me are individual Self-Fulfillment and Promote Tolerance. Individual Self-Fulfillment resonates because it's about the freedom to explore, define, and express our own identities. I chose this one because it expresses free speech and is a way for people to express themselves. A crucial component of personal growth is, self-fulfillment and this can benefit one's level of life enjoyment.  Because of social media, this quality is also highly important in our daily lives. With technology being involved in our everyday lives, social media is used by a large number of people, and for many of them, it's a way they choose to express their opinions and how they receive news. A strong example of Individual Self-Fulfillment is seen in the work of a blogger, YouTubers, or TikTok creators who use their platforms to express their identities, passions, and unique viewpoints and make a career out of it. 

Promote Tolerance also stands out to me because it supports the idea of a society where people can coexist with acceptance, even with differences in backgrounds. Personally, I have seen programs such as "No Place for Hate" in many schools because it encourages students to respect different viewpoints and backgrounds, working to build a more inclusive environment. This is something important to learn at a young age because it makes the world a better place and it can encourage young kids to be open and understanding of different viewpoints. Additionally, social media is essential for fostering tolerance. Users may learn about cultures, lives, and beliefs that differ from their own by listening to a variety of individuals share their experiences and viewpoints. Overall is important to listen to other viewpoints in any setting. When we take the time to listen to other viewpoints, we gain knowledge and new insights that can push us to expand our understanding. The idea of Promoting Tolerance is a great example of this, especially when it comes to the current debates over climate change. It shows how a concept can really come to life in the real world. By highlighting the value of collaborating across political and social divisions, this engagement helps in dissolving opposition and fosters a culture of tolerance toward dissenting views on climate solutions. 

    Check on Governmental Power is one I really see in action today. There are so many platforms now where people expose and discuss government decisions, question officials, and mobilize others for change. With digital media, almost anyone can report or challenge what's happening in government, leading to more transparency and accountability than ever before.

    From doing this assignment, I believe that more people should be made aware of the significance of these principles since, although I was personally unaware of them before this class, I believe they are essential to our society and our rights.

EOTO: History of the First Email // Blog 6

Email 

Beginning of Email: 

Today, it's hard to imagine a time without email. For many of us, checking our email is something we do daily, but it all starts with Ray Tomlinson. 

Ray Tomlinson was born in Amsterdam, New York in 1941, attended college to participate in an internship program with IBM, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1963. He then went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It's shown that Tomlinson has an incredible background and a bright future ahead. 

In 1971, the American computer engineer Ray Tomlinson of Bolt, Beranek, and Newman (BBN) laid the groundwork for email. It allowed computers to communicate across great distances, BBN was working on the ARPANET, which was a precursor to the internet. 

Tomlinson's breakthrough occurred in 1971 when he connected two computers side by side and successfully sent the first electronic message across the ARPANET system. His creation was somewhat an accident; he had been looking for methods to use the network features as a part of the ARPANET to create programs when he discovered a method for texting. To separate a user from a computer's location, he used the famous "@" symbol, which is still used in email addresses today.

The Email was also created because government officials and researchers needed to communicate more quickly and efficiently. Previously, they depended on costly, time-consuming phone calls and physical mail. To benefit from that, Tomlinson created probably the most generation form of communication of the decade. Today, it's still used on a daily basis throughout the whole world, and it's something that I need and use every day.

Impact:

When email was invented it solved a number of significant communication issues at the time. It made the real-time exchange of messages possible, eliminating slower and often unreliable techniques like physical mail. When it was first introduced, it connected communication for the better, especially in professional settings. Government departments quickly realized the benefits of email and began using it to promote collaboration among departments. Email continues to be the backbone of workplace communication, serving as the primary channel that keeps businesses running smoothly. For businesses, email has changed the way they communicate in the workplace, replacing actual mail services for digital messaging. As email continued to evolve, it also became a good tool for keeping records of conversations.

This invention changed the world because it fostered a culture of instant feedback, allowing people like myself to share ideas and conduct business. Email has transformed the corporate landscape, and I see it through my parents because they use email in their everyday lives.

Negative aspects of Email:

1. I can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of emails, which leads me to productivity challenges and stress, this is hard due to my ADD.

2. I have personally received emails that are scams, spam, and viruses, so protecting information is a constant challenge.

3. Sorting through and organizing large volumes of emails can take up a lot of time.

Blog Post 2

About the history and workings of the U.S. Supreme Court

What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn't already know?

The Supreme Court is the highest in the United States and has authority over all other courts in the country. Before the video, I knew that the highest rulings rest with the Supreme Court and since the Supreme Court is the ultimate judge of the law, it serves as both an enforcer and an interpreter of the Constitution.  It is crucial to make sure that every branch of government understands the boundaries of its power. This video showed me how much power the Supreme Court truly has, and that they have power over the states, congress, and even the president of the United States. The Supreme Court makes it their priority to uphold an over 200-year-old constitution.

What is the most important takeaway point about the Supreme Court?

I think the most important takeaway from this video about the Supreme Court is that they are the highest power.  The Supreme Court plays such a huge role in our country, and how it runs.  Without the Supreme Court, there would be chaos in the United States and many unresolved issues.  Additionally, they are there to make sure everything is fair which I feel is extremely important.  They are an unbiased group of 9 elected officials, who serve as judges, and all work together to make sure that things are running smoothly and fairly.  That is why the Supreme Court is so important because they run on majority votes so there can be no biased opinions in their overall decisions of a case. The rulings of the Supreme Court may have far-reaching effects: The Court's rulings have the potential to significantly affect American culture and society. Another key takeaway I want to look at is the famous ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), for instance, which paved the door for the Civil Rights Movement.

What was the most surprising thing you learned?

The thing I found most surprising about the video is how much work goes into a case even after the trial is over.  After a case is closed then the judge has to do an opinion writing which can take up to 4 weeks to complete a draft.  Oddly enough the video spoke about how the aftermath of a case is the most time-consuming part of their job.  After a draft is written it gets reviewed and revised and then can take many months to close a case. The most surprising finding I discovered is that, since the Supreme Court's founding in 1789, not much has changed. Although rules and regulations have been overthrown, the system stays the same, unbeatable, and has perfectly served America in my opinion. Additionally, I was unaware that George Washington established the six justices of the Supreme Court. 

How did the video change the way you thought of the Supreme Court?

The video brings out some aspects of the Supreme Court that might change or deepen perspectives on its role in government. Justice Breyer emphasized the Court's thoughtful and transparent processes, which support the notion that justices are dedicated to a thorough, morally sound decision-making process that respects public confidence. Overall, this film highlights the Court's long-term outlook and its duty to protect justice and rights while keeping them apart from political whims. It acts as a reminder of how crucial the Court's independence is and how far justices will go to make sure their decisions uphold the principles of the Constitution.

Top 5 Sources

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 

My Top Five Sources of News and Information

   Nowadays, people may obtain information from a wide range of sources, often according to their preferences. A person's perspective on particular events or topics can be significantly influenced by the source of their information. Individuals should have a variety of resources to gain a well-rounded understanding and an informed perspective. I primarily gather my information through social media, this is where I have the freedom to share content and see the most information.

1. Instagram is a social media platform primarily focused on sharing photos and videos. Users make profiles, follow other accounts, and interact with others by sending direct messages, leaving comments, and liking posts. Over time, it has developed into a place where users can get news and information. Instagram is an explosive information source since so many news organizations, journalists, and influencers use it to provide updates, breaking news, posts, and stories on important information. Instagram is my top source because it's an app that I use the most. I follow many sporting accounts and some news platforms so my feed does provide me a reasonable amount of news and information. 

  2. TikTok is a social media platform that lets users create and share quick films on several subjects, including news, sports, education, entertainment, and more. These videos are usually between 15 seconds and 3 minutes long. Depending on your interests, the FYP can provide real-time updates on popular articles, news snippets, sports highlights, or instructional content. This is very helpful for those like myself who rely on TikTok as one of their source of news and information. On my TikTok, I see, a number of news organizations, reporters, and independent producers that post daily news content. These breaking news topics would appear on my FYP because the app brings treading news directly to you. This makes it a convenient second source of information for me because I can receive personalized content relatively easily.

   

3. Word of mouth is a crucial source for me. I happen to overhear conversations, hear news stories, and important details, or witness significant events through friends and family. This allows me to hear about something new and understand people's perspectives. I grew up in a not-so-political but informative family, so I'm not used to hearing heated discussions on global topics. Seeing how each person's individual life experiences shape their thoughts on subjects and hearing differing viewpoints from friends and relatives interests me in a way. Even though these discussions can go in any direction, I believe that being able to express one's thoughts and listen well is a very important life skill. 

4. ESPN is my fourth most-used source for news and information on sports because it provides in-depth coverage and analysis, especially on my favorite sports team. To better comprehend my favorite team's performance and the dynamics of baseball and other sports as a whole, I utilize ESPN to read in-depth articles, statistics, and professional points of view. ESPN is also my first choice when it comes to breaking team news, including trade updates, game outcomes, and noteworthy player developments. ESPN provides trustworthy, accurate information and excellent reporting, which is why I enjoy it. I gain deeper insights from the in-depth analysis provided by seasoned sports journalists, which also keeps me up to date on all events. 

5. Apple News is a news app that selects stories, videos, and articles from a wide range of sources, including independent media, local outlets, and large organizations. When I'm looking for information on important events, Apple News is the last place I look. It still is helpful for someone like myself who isn't really political. When I hear about a major event, celebrity news, or sports updates, for example, I could use the app less, but I would rapidly utilize it to gain more information from some good sources. Its design allows me to stay informed without having to follow political topics, allowing me to explore the news in ways that are relevant to my interests. Although I use Apple News the least compared to other platforms, it's more of a "go-to" app when I want a quick update on a significant story.