Final Post || Society's Relationship With Technology || Technology's Relationship With Us || Blog #11

Technology's Relationship With Us.

 Final Post:

My Personal Relationship:

 Technology has changed so much since I was born, and I think it's going to keep evolving. My relationship with technology started when I had a Game Cube as a child, but it has grown by having many iPhones and a gaming console. With technology all throughout my life, I would say I have an unhealthy connection with it.

Being born in this generation, I feel like it is evident that I have an unhealthy connection because American teens’ screen time has increased by around 2 hours since 2015. Technology is definitely taking a chunk of my daily life, with my average screen time being 5 hours. Currently, more than half of US teens spend an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes of daily screen time. Considering the amount of sleep teenagers need, that's almost half of their waking hours. 

The Positives and Negatives:

Technology is a very powerful tool for learning, and it helps me personally in the classroom but also for staying informed about news or family. Instagram, YouTube, word of mouth, and many more platforms give me an easy way to access information that is going on. TikTok is similar because it offers quick updates on news or trends. However, I recognize the risk of misinformation. These platforms company prioritize engagement and addictiveness over accuracy, which means I could be fed certain or random content if I’m not careful. This is also similar to a past blog post I did with gatekeeping and agenda setting. With my friends and family, technology is both a blessing and a curse, in my opinion. It keeps us connected, especially with my own family. For example, my dad commutes daily to the city, and my mom is far away from work. With these small challenges 

Group chats and shared calendars with my family make coordination easier, but when it's being overused and spammed it can create a sense of disconnection and be difficult to manage. Sometimes, I notice we’re all together physically but glued to our devices, missing out on quality time. 

I also think technology has so many more positive effects. When watching the videos and researching this topic, I saw how U.S. Adults See More Benefits Than Downsides in Technology. The article also when on to talk about how, "Despite the downsides of technology, most people appreciate that it enables them to engage with the world on a daily basis. They may have legitimate concerns about its use in some cases, but most of our world relies on modern technology which conducts our day-to-day lives." According to Pew Research Center states, just over half of adults (52%) say technology has had mostly positive effects. The article says that the top reasons were... 

• Easy access to information and communication

• Positive effects on health and medicine

• Improvements to people’s jobs

• Increased access to knowledge

Importance of Online Footprint:

The term Online footprint is sometimes called a digital shadow or an electronic footprint – refers to the trail of data you leave when using the internet. It includes websites you visit, emails you send, and information you submit online. When I Google myself, I see a mix of professional and personal content that relates to my name but not all of it is me. My LinkedIn profile stands out as a positive reflection of my academic and career goals, showcasing my skills. However, I’m aware that social media posts or old accounts could paint a less professional picture. This highlights the importance of regularly reviewing and editing my online presence. When googling myself I saw an old picture of me in a news article that was about the startup of a new sport called foot golf. I briefly remember this event because it was a friend's birthday party a long time ago. I was interviewed by a reporter and she quoted me in this article. Didn't know it would end up on the internet if I would google my name. Overall that's the risk you truly take when you do anything online. 

In conclusion, technology has a major relationship with my life and the rest of the world. One's relationship with technology can change with its impact on there life. Technology's positive aspects like medical advancements, communications, and world security are truly the difference in this world.

The Progressive Era || Blog Post #10

 

The Progressive Era 

I wasn't totally sure what to anticipate when looking at these websites on Anti-War because it's not a topic that's discussed frequently in everyday conversations. This, in my opinion, is because a lot of people have grown familiar with the idea that conflict is a necessary and unavoidable aspect of the world in order to protect our countries. They frequently overlook the long-term effects and the great suffering that follows the war in favor of emphasizing the claimed advantages, such as national security and defense. However, after exploring the Anti-War website, my perspective on this issue shifted significantly. The site offered valuable insights into the deeper realities of war and its impact on people, especially those who are caught in the middle of these conflicts. The website had many different articles and new highlights that I had never seen before. One particular piece that stood out to me was the US Announces New $725 Million Arms Package for Ukraine. It talks about how President Biden recently approved sending anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, a decision that contradicts his previous policy aimed at limiting the use of these indiscriminate weapons. It also mentions how The Biden administration is looking to flood Ukraine with as many weapons as it can before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20, 2025. President Biden has asked Congress to authorize another $24 billion for the proxy war before he leaves office, which would bring total US spending on the conflict to at least $210 billion. It's evident that the writers on these sites are all very strong antiwar voices that you never seem to hear in the mainstream news. Anti-war writers often have strong, outspoken anti-war voices because these platforms offer a space for more radical perspectives. 

Websites like Antiwar.com and The American Conservative are ones that I personally hadn’t encountered before, but they are platforms that advocate for anti-war perspectives and offer news and analysis related to this stance. It’s understandable that many people, including myself, may not be familiar with these types of sites, as the anti-war viewpoint is not widely expressed in mainstream discourse. While I don’t personally believe that war is something to be desired, I do acknowledge that there are situations where military action may be necessary to protect the safety and security of our nation and its people.

EOTO #2 Theorie Gatekeeping and Agenda Setting // #8

Gatekeeping and Agenda Setting

The ideas of gatekeeping and agenda-setting are significantly affecting the stories we see on a daily basis. For me, this shapes my understanding of the world. For example, as a college student, I see how algorithms filter what news I encounter. Despite their theoretical sound, these concepts have a significant impact on public opinion and many more. Gatekeeping refers to the process of filtering information before it reaches the public. This can occur across various occasions, such as publication, broadcasting, the internet, or any other communication platform. 

The phrase, “no one likes a gatekeeper,” means exactly the way it sounds. If someone was gatekeeping information from you, it's extremely messed up. So overall, gatekeepers decide what information gets shared and what doesn't. Now, let's look at agenda setting. Agenda-setting is how media and influential figures determine which topics should be considered important. This influences public priorities by repeatedly covering certain issues, even if they might not be of immediate concern. An example of agenda setting is when the media is covering an election, and all media platforms and channels are covering it. The election is an important topic the media is putting light on and consistently covering it. 

The two concepts are closely linked. Gatekeeping lays the groundwork for agenda setting because it determines which information sees the public. Once the information is selected, agenda setting takes over by deciding how much focus that topic will get. For example, if media gatekeepers choose to highlight an election, agenda setting will ensure that the election remains a primary focus in the news, affecting how much attention the issue receives.

Gatekeeping and agenda setting have both positive and negative aspects. In a positive way, in our society, gatekeeping filters information from spreading and makes sure the public receives the correct information. Agenda setting can bring to light significant issues we see, such as public health concerns, inspiring people to take action and participate in meaningful discussions. However, there are also major downsides. 

When looking at this topic, I saw how gatekeeping has a tendency to keep out different viewpoints, particularly those of marginalized groups. Even if they don't want to, decisions made by the same individuals or groups that hold the majority of the information may be biased. Setting the agenda can also influence the people around us and our own goals. By focusing too much on other topics and ignoring others, the media can create a misleading idea of what really matters. 

Gatekeeping plays a key role in controlling what information the public has access to. It decides which issues are made visible and which are hidden, and this greatly impacts how the public forms opinions. I personally do not like this because it is scary to not receive all the right information.

By selecting specific topics to cover, gatekeepers influence public perceptions and may limit the range of diverse voices, especially those from marginalized communities.

On the other hand, agenda-setting influences what use in the world pays attention to. The article explains that by prioritizing certain topics, the media steers public focus toward specific issues or events. This can have significant consequences, as it shapes public opinion and can even affect decision-making at the policy level. For instance, when certain topics are consistently highlighted, it creates a sense of urgency around them, prompting leaders and others to take action. This process helps set societal priorities, whether it’s a health crisis, a social justice issue, or an economic concern.