# Reading Responses

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# **First Five Reading Responses**

## January 24: Superconnected

Society is moving in a direction that makes day-to-day life increasingly difficult without technology. Chakyo notes that "just as surely as cords and chargers plug our devices into electric outlets, technology plugs us into society" (196). Having access to the internet presents rich opportunities and experiences that surpass country borders. However, Chakyo's views on human 'Connectedness' also reveal that we are perhaps a little lonlier than we think. Topics such as availability, gaming, multitasking, and FOMO are just some of the key points discussed. The advantages of always being available are contradicted by a lack of privacy, and the microscope allowing us to see parts of other's life is actually misleading due to the artificial image posted by social media users. Chakyo's conclusion to all of these pros and cons suggests that the sense of continuity we feel online can continue offline as well.

I have pondered over technology's addictive traits, especially considering platforms like Instagram or Fortnite which give instant gratification in the form of 'likes' and 'wins' and release dopamine. While the overuse of technology is a factor of the dopamine loop, I was surprised to discover that internet use "might more properly be considered a nonchemical dependency" (191). In my personal experience, I can relate to this idea of dependency and sometimes find myself taking a step back from my online personality to reflect on my real identity offline. Howard Rheingold's attention probes are additional methods of regulating online use by setting online intentions that can keep us focused.

Although Chayko raises many positive and negative claims about the online world, I am led to believe that one can control both the online and offline realms of their life if they have the knowledge and desire to do so.

## February 15: Cooperation

As a child, I would play the game 'telephone' with my friends in elementary school, giggling at the hilarity of "I'm eating lunch" turning into "We're a silly bunch". I now realize, after reading Nowak's "SuperCooperators", that this harmless childhood game reflects the way humans connect via the internet. Reagle suggests that the cognitive level of relationships that one person can handle is 150 (Reagle), therefore, when one is exposed to billions of users online, communication becomes different.

Reagle notably identifies our craving for gossip and how the internet magnifies this want. Within a larger group, there are more alliances, terminations of relationships, and mistakes that circulate and the internet makes it so easy to highlight these things. Fehr and Gächter, as depicted by Nowak, conducted an experiment that tested punishment in regard to a public goods game. Although players were notified who dealt what amount, the punishment dealt to those was anonymous which meant players had "no fear of retaliation” (p. 33). This is parallel to comments online as nonidentifiable accounts have the ability to troll, hate, and comment on shared media. This negatively contributes to the goal of building cooperation.

Another phrase Nowak uses in "SuperCooperators" is the "Tragedy of the Commons" which is a concept I have studied before in Environmental Science. The destruction of shared environmental spaces is often exemplified when considering tragedy of the commons, however, the idea relates to our online communities as well. Access to a device equates to freedom online, and while "everybody is free to use, [everybody] is just as free to abuse" (p. 23). Cooperation is fundamental in our world, but it is often overlooked on an everyday basis. It raises the question, if we needed to cooperate on a large scale, would we still be able to?

## February 18: Social Networks

The social network is equivalent to the pipes that run through a large city, connecting different buildings and apartments that are physically nowhere near each other. It is the social network that turns our 7.5-billion-person planet into the "small world" that Rheingold describes. Rheingold acknowledges a line from the play *Six Degrees of Separation* stating "I read somewhere that everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people" (p.192). This actually rings true as it was confirmed through Milgram and Travers' research that the average "path length" a letter took to reach a known contact was 5.5 people. The 6 degrees of seperation concept is fascinating, but not surprising to me. Having lived in three different countries in my life, I always find connections between people. This is elevated online, especially on apps like Instagram, for example, where mutual friends are displayed on user profiles. Through my relationships in Bermuda, Canada, and presently the US, my social network has definitely expanded.

Typically, the word 'networking' is heard a lot in a business context. As a Business/Communications major, the connection is intriguing as I have been told before that business "is not about what you know, but who you know". Granovetter as described by Rheingold demonstrates that you are more likely to find a job if you have a large and diverse network of weak ties rather than a small number of strong connections (p.206). Large networking events where professionals meet up, sip on wine, and indulge in small talk is a reflection of the Instagram mutuals concept, but exhibited through face-to-face communication. Through networking, a person can reach success, but it is important to remember the deep connections in front of you. Rheingold concludes by saying "always keep in mind that you are never seeing the whole or living through just online communication channels" (p.225). The social network may provide enticing opportunities, but it also has the power to strip identity, leaving only surface-level connections that are not fulfilling.

## February 22: Haters

Deindividuation is defined as the loss of a sense of self and social norms (Reagle, 2019). There is no place more prominent for deindividuation than on the internet where someone can be anything they want, even if that means completely anonymous. Hidden behind secret usernames or a blank profile picture, hate is inevitable on social media platforms. Due to the huge amount of secret and fake accounts, people have the freedom to say whatever they choose without anyone ever knowing.

James Wellemeyer reflects on the reason why it is so difficult to solve the problem of cyberbullying, identifying that Instagram spokeswoman Stephanie Otway says "as our AI improves, we will be able to proactively find and remove even more bullying" (Wellemayer, 2019). However, momentarily AI is not advanced enough to filter through sensitive content meaning content moderators do the work. The problem is that humans have to watch disturbing, inappropriate material and decide whether it should be removed or not, which is an extremely difficult job. Due to the many untrackable accounts being created everyday, it is a problem that has proven very difficult to solve.

Censoring content and keeping young people engaged with the platform is a balancing act for these companies though. Joesph Reagle explains that a common response for people caught in online hate battles is to disappear (Reagle, 2019). This disengagement is negative for social media companies as they are losing accounts and therefore money. Thus, it is a problem for social-media users who may be faced with explicit material, and social-media companies who will face backlash and economic loss. At this point, it seems that AI may be the only solution, but will online hate ever be truly stopped?

## February 25: The Dark Web

David Kushner describes the web as an iceberg, with only the visible tip being surface-level websites. The majority of the iceberg looming under the water represents anything deeper including the Darknet (2015). The Darknet is known as a secret domain that allows criminals to act on malicious intents, but the original creation of the software Tor was never meant to be used negatively. Tor was created in the mid-1990s and funded heavily by the US government in order to protect identity (Wright, 2015). The multiple relays involved with navigating websites through Tor enables the anonymity one receives while using the tool. The success of the program, however, has its contradictions as it is just as easy to stay anonymous on the criminal's side as it is on the government.

Due to the reliability of the software, websites selling drugs, weapons, and engaging in acts of sex trafficking are nearly impossible to track down. Continuing to support Tor is important for its positive uses, but the continuation of Tor also means continued darknet activity. Another tool that complements dark web interaction is bitcoin which Nik Custodio explains using apples. Bitcoin allows users to "deal with 1,000 apples, or 1 million apples, or even .0000001 apples [and] can send it with a click of a button" (Custodio, 2013). There are no problems with hacking, stealing, or scamming because of the well-designed system where the value of bitcoin is defined in a public ledger.

The Netflix documentary *Don't Fk With Cats* tells the true story of a series of crimes committed by Luka Magnotta, primarily through the dark web. I found this docuseries fascinatingly terrible as it portrayed the great lengths it took to identify this criminal and how smoothly he could exist through the dark web. Although Tor and Bitcoin are not solely used for evil activity, there is no denying the presence of dark activity that occurs when one has the power of anonymity.

# **Second Five Reading Responses**

## March 24: Finding Someone & Living Alone

I remember earlier this year I was astonished when my grandmother told me she married my grandfather at the young age of 20. After reading Derek Thompson's article about online dating, my thoughts on the generational differences between my grandmother and myself have resurfaced. The growth of the internet has provided a completely new form of meeting potential partners. In fact, couples who met online increase from 0% to 20% between the mid-1990s and 2009 (Thompson). The concept of online dating reminds me of our unit on social networks, and how much our social circles have grown due to access to social media. A person with all of these online resources should find a compatible partner easily, right? According to OkCupid, a dating blog, "it's very hard for the casual browser to tell the truth from what could be fiction" (2010). For example, the common claim of being 6 feet tall is two inches taller than the realistic average male height on the app. Despite having a sense of individualism, it can be difficult to engage in online dating.

Independence is a large part of a young person's life in present times, which explains why approximately 36 million people live alone in the U.S. (Chamie, 2021). Online dating and living alone in large cities have undeniable similarities as people are surrounded by a large number of people, but have a limited number of quality relationships. Therefore, many people turn to dating sites. This is something I notice on our Northeastern campus as well— a campus full of like-minded people, yet thousands of students joining dating apps. The phenomenon will definitely be a conversation starter between me and my grandmother again.

## April 1: Manipulated

Picture this: You wish to purchase a house but are unable to do so until your personal rating reaches 4.5/5 stars. This is the plot of 'Nose Dive', a Black Mirror episode where every interaction counts. Reagle's chapter *Manipulated* draws similarities to Nose Dive in our consumer-driven world as he reveals a one-star increase in a restaurant rating leads to 5-9% more revenue (2019). Clearly, reviews are extremely important for business activities. Due to the importance of good reviews, many fake profiles and spam reviews are created in order to manipulate buyers. How do reviews apply to people?

Becoming an influencer is a career that has emerged and grown exponentially in the 21st century. One of the most difficult aspects of maintaining influencer status is being able to maintain the audience one has created for themselves. An Instagram Pod is one method of boosting popularity— it is a group of 15-20 people that can help each other by liking or commenting on posts in the same industry and creating a network together (Forsey, 2018). Nose Dive once again illustrates this concept as the protagonist (a 4.2) receives an invite to a wedding from a 4.8 ranked person. As ex-friends, it is clear the two are using each other to build their own ratings, which reflects the idea of Instagram Pods.

The episode reaches a dark ending when the protagonist crumbles from the pressure of ratings and ends up in jail. One must be cautious of what they read online as well as how much pressure we place on influencers since Nose Dive does not suggest a happy ending.

## April 11: Algorithmic Discrimination

After reading Rutherford and White's article about racism in googles algorithm, I needed to test their claim myself. I was taken aback as the word "hands" yielded 27 pictures of white person's hands before seeing a picture of a black person's hands. The results beg the question, is Google racist, or is society as a whole?

These models are predictive and use past data to predict the future. Kathy O'Neil explains that algorithms are "built from faulty, incomplete, or generalized data [that indicates] all people of that race will behave that same way" (2016). Police algorithms have this bias which places targets low-income neighborhoods as they have the highest likelihood of crime. Since these areas are often populated by minority groups, the algorithm is then molded to believe all people pertaining to that group are criminals. Despite the algorithms aid in helping catch criminals, specific people are also subjected to racism due to the knowledge being spat out by a computer.

Returning to Google Images, the company is put in a difficult position because their algorithm undeniably favors pictures of white people when searching a general term, such as "hands". However, Burai, a graphic designer, told Buzzfeed there are "wider societal biases that are brought into relief by the algorithm" (2016). The people using Google are the ones that shape the algorithm, so perhaps it is more important to look at society's underlying norms rather than attacking Google. Can Google provide some solutions? Yes- they can continue to update their algorithms to minimize racial biases. Despite these efforts, however, the algorithm will not yield equality until internet consumers look in the mirror and question their own racial biases.

## April 22: Authenticity, Work & Influence

Who comes to mind when hearing the word independent or entrepreneurial or self-made success? Is it tech genius Bill Gates? Or Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg? These are all questions raised by Duffy and Pruchniewska regarding gender and self-enterprise. Entrepreneurship has become a valued practice and trait that comes with great opportunities for success. However, people "render female self-enterprise an inferior category of entrepreneurship" (Duffy & Pruchniewska, 2017). Women entrepreneurs have utilized social media and digital resources to help grow their businesses which have proven useful, especially amidst a rise in digital usage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Something that Duffy and Pruchniewska address is the maintenance of online relationships, which women are generally better at than men (2017). It is extremely important to cultivate and continue relationships in online spaces to make yourself known and as a method of networking. In contrast, I am a women, but I find it more difficult to communicate online. Of course, everyone has different preferences, but I would not consider my personal social media an asset in my professional/academic life.

These thoughts align with Rachel Lerman's idea about authenticity online which is often not genuine. Supporting causes offline can be more impactful than posting something that the majority of my followers will skip. It is crucial that influencers with platforms use their voice to share important issues. However, where do we draw the line? My 1,000 followers are nothing compared to Kim Kardashian's 303 million followers to whom she is expected to be "genuine". For example, if an influencer were to speak out about ways to help Ukraine amidst current conflicts, but neglect the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement, they could lose respect or even face an influencer's biggest nightmare... get canceled. While these matters are vital to address, there becomes a point where influencers post because they **have** to and not because they **want** to.

Reverting to entrepreneurship online, the concept of authenticity is difficult because it is a "‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation" (Craig as cited in Lerman, 2020). Women are expected to be chattier online and this should not translate into a false sense of authenticity. On the other hand, if you do not make an effort you are viewed as rude. The line between social media and real life can shrink to be very thin until the two personas eventually merge. I am still undecided if this merge is problematic or not. Nonetheless, I believe that women and men should be given the same expectations when it comes to internet authenticity.

## April 26: Pushback

I fondly remember the days of sleep-away camp in Northern Ontario where I spent my summers as a young teen. My days were filled with sports, canoeing, camp songs, and most importantly device-free connections.

"I don't even want my devices back", I remember saying.

After 3 weeks of unplugged summertime bliss, the thought of transitioning back into the digital world seemed exhausting, even for a 14-year-old. My post-camp mindset supports the idea of "Pushback", described by Gomez and Morrison, which is "a reaction against the overload of information and changing relationships brought about by communication technologies" (2014). Their study focused on five motivations for pushback: emotional dissatisfaction, external values, taking back control, addiction, and privacy. Technology has an addictive power over users which can be uncomfortable and frustrating for a person; these feelings are the predominant drivers of pushback. The increase of the pushback phenomenon has led to 61% of Facebook users taking voluntary breaks from the site (Gomez and Morrison, 2014). Emotional dissatisfaction was found to be the largest motivation for pushback, which may relate to spiteful communities online.

Joseph Reagle discusses the implications of comment sections which can easily transform into worlds of their own (not in a good way). Emotional dissatisfaction as described by Gomez and Morrison can arise out of comment sections because "the deluge of hate leaves a much stronger impression than even the kindest expressions of encouragement" (Reagle, 2015). Disagreements about the correct way to approach comment sections have some people arguing for free speech, and others strictly prohibiting open comments. Even if I am not a subject of a comment section, reading through post after post becomes exhausting yet I cannot put the phone down- It is like watching something so terrible that it isn't possible to look away. I believe the addictive qualities of technology was unhealthy for myself, which is why going to summer camp and being forced to leave it all behind was so exhilarating. A "desire for connection is what frequently drives people to remain tethered to their devices, despite the feelings of dissatisfaction with technology" (Gomez and Morrison). At summer camp no one had their phones, but in the real-world it is honestly way more difficult to be offline than on. This battle is constant, and one that will unfold in the future as digital natives reach a breaking point.