Reading Response (Set 1)

# Reading Response (Set 1) _____ #### January 25 - *Supperconnected* What does it mean to be superconnected? According to Chayko there are many different aspects to this concept. This include: having constant availability to technology, the convenience of using mobile technologies and having access to entertainment 24/7. This can have both positive and negative effects as it can make one feel supported through groups of like-minded individuals but at the same time it can be overwhelming which can lead to feeling anxious and lost. One of Chayko’s interviewees in 2008 describes this with great accuracy; “The pro side is I’m available, and that is the downside, also” (pg. 4). This is because being constantly available to others can be a convenience but at the same time a burden, as one is expected to be on the internet and digital media at all hours of the day. On the other hand, humans are social animals who cannot develop if one is not continually connecting and interacting with others. This may be a reason why being “superconnected” is not always a bad thing. Communities such as the gaming community can help breed skills such as teamwork and being social, that can be easily transferable to real-life situations. Ella Foehr in 2006 also predicts that “modern brains may be undergoing an evolutionary adaptation to the technology-rich media environment” (pg.11). Without having much understanding about the brain, I wonder if this evolutionary adaption may be different to those that encounter more negative than positive effects by being “superconnected” and if there is any way to test this? ________ #### February 5 - *Fake News* Fake news is everywhere. This brings the question to how do we differentiate between what information we should and should not trust? Craig Silverman on Buzzfeed News that “top fake election news stories generated more engagement on Facebook than the election stories of 19 major news outlets combined.” Fake news generated **8,711,000 shares**, while the top 19 news websites generated only **7,367,00 shares**. One of these included the story that the pope endorsed Donald Trump. This rapidly created news as the church tends to remain separate from politics. So why is fake news so popular? Danah Boyd describes that people accept information that confirms their own believes. As a result, when presented with new information that does not adhere to these beliefs, they reject it. This is due to the culture of the American people that strongly believe that “worthy people lift themselves up by their bootstraps.” Therefore, creating an idea of freedom that one’s knowledge is based on one’s personal experience. Hency, when new knowledge is shown that differs from what one previously thought it is easier to dismiss than to try to understand it. I wonder if there is a way one can learn to better accept new evidence-based information as true even if it contradicts previous beliefs? If a news station that one trusts presents opposing information as true, will one be more likely to accept it or will one disregard it as false? ------ #### February 9 - *Learning* Learning is an aspect of all our lives that we must do constantly, but no one ever teaches us. There are many ways one can learn, some which are more effective than others. People often believe that we all have one specific learning type and that through this manner is the only way they can learn. Well, this theory is wrong. One must learn that learning is more "deeper and more durable when it's effortful" (p 3). This means that one must be active and conscious when deciding to learn not just rereading a text or relearning something that one already knows. The best type of learning is when one elaborates on information that they have previously educated themselves on. In this way, one can make connections between the new and old materials which will make it easier to remember on a later time. Furthermore, one must be skeptical when obtaining new information from which to learn. This is because advice can be found everywhere, but not all advice is based on deep grounded research. This relates to the Boyd reading about fake news. Boyd stated that people are more likely to believe information that confirms their previous believes. Therefore, when doing research for new information one must not be concluded with previous judgments about what the answer will be and investigate which responses reputable evidence-based resources suggest. Personally, learning is a skill that I approach differently depending on the subject. In terms of classes, I study for tests and quizzes in different manners depending on what the class requires. In this way I feel like I can best retain information and perform better when being tested. ----- #### February 19 - *“Social has a shape”* Ever wonder how our connections in real life translate to those online? The truth is that they are not that dissimilar. Social networks were created through nodes that reflect the face-to-face interaction that we have every day. Technologies have allowed us to "extend and amplify the reach of traditional social networks to make new forms of sociality possible" (pg. 192). This can be seen in the Milgram’s experiment. This investigation proved that everyone is separated by six people. This means that there are six degrees of separation or less between one and the Queen of England or even the President of the United States. This study has been recreated to reflect the modern landscape. The New York Times reported that "over 98 percent of the people on Twitter are separated by only 5 steps" (pg. 193). This shows how even in an online platform the rules of connection remain the same. Nowadays, we are not constricted to in-person communication but can now supplement that interaction online to further the relationships we have with others. Furthermore, we are not bound to socializing with those in the same place as us but can connect with others based on similar interests and likes. During these times, we are relying on social networks and online communities to maintain relationships as we cannot socialize as we used to. I wonder if platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have changed their applications to make it easier for others to connect online and fill the void of normal human interaction? Furthermore, if the dependance on social networks will influence how we socialize with others once it is safe to do so? ----------- #### February 23 - *The Dark Web* Wonder what goes on in the deep parts of the Internet? This is called the Dark Web, also known as the Darknet. When we think of the Dark Web, we tend to associate it with negative things such as money laundering, selling weapons, identity theft among other things, but it was originally intended to serve the Department of Defense to act as a secure network for government agencies. The David Kushner reading explains how the purpose of the Darknet is to "give websites the ability to mask the locations of the servers hosting them." This could be positive as it would allow agents working for the government a place where they could visit without hackers tracing them. The issue is that it gives anonymity to all users therefore criminals can use it their advantage. According to a study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University, criminals earn around $100 million a year by exploiting the uses of the Darknet to sell drugs and weapons. Criminals can remain unnoticed since they use bitcoin to purchase and sell their items. Bitcoin is an open-source virtual currency, which means that there is a limited amount of it. Bitcoin as well as the Darknet have received negative reputations as they can be used to participate in illicit activities. I wonder if there is a way for government agencies to gain the access to take down websites created by criminals making it easier to track them down.