###### tags: `CDA`
# Wiki Tutorial
## Reflection on ['Agnotology and Epistemological Fragmentation'](https://points.datasociety.net/agnotology-and-epistemological-fragmentation-56aa3c509c6b)

Danah Boyd's [article about Agnotology and Epistemological Fragmentation](https://points.datasociety.net/agnotology-and-epistemological-fragmentation-56aa3c509c6b)tackles the idea that it is difficult for people to understand news and information because of the spread of technology and how it is used to communicate information.

Boyd continues with the argument by defining two terms: epistemology and agnotology. Epistemology is simply a term describing how we know what we know while agnotology is the strategic and purposeful production of ignorance -- more specifically -- "a tool of oppression by the powerful."

As innovation continues in the technology world, there seems to be an easier way for information to spread, leaving room for misinformation, hate speech, and malicious speech. But it's simpler than that. Boyd brought to my attention the simpleness of epistemological fragmentation, or breaking down how we know what we know, and how it is not as complex as we think it is. You see in the example of the white supremacist. [A man who murdered 50 people](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-mosque-shootings) practicing religion in a mosque where the suspense of killing these individuals was captured through video camera and then referenced in initial supremacist content. As you can see there is purpose and intention behind creating doubt in society, but this came with the ease of use of technology. He exploited the use of technology, and the way information can be spread through social media and platforms. This is an example of agnotology.

Boyd continues to explain that agnotology continues to be an issue in society with the ease of manipulate content. Optimizing search engines is a way that systems are manipulated [(Learn more about unethical SEO)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FBksCRoCwI).This "corruption" is hindering our society's ability to understand what high quality and credible information is.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FBksCRoCwI?controls=0&amp;start=60" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Markdown Practice