# Reading response set 2

# 10/27 Collapsed Context

Being genuine online is being on social media as you are in real life and not changing who you are, what you think, or how you appear to satisfy others. Many people today pose as someone they are not in order to gain acceptance online and validation from others. This includes photo-editing their appearance to say things they know the media wants to hear and to look a certain way in order to appear more "likable" when, in fact, they most likely think and look completely different.

Indeed, it is possible, and for a variety of reasons, that some people—like YouTubers, influencers, and streamers—make their living online by creating content. A portion of these individuals act out a part or persona in order to entertain those on the screen. Influencers frequently want to project an image of perfection and the finest life possible, even if this isn't always the case. Why do they do this, though? So that their fans may engage with the information and admire them. Social media can be a nasty, judgmental, and dark place, and many of us are afraid of being criticized or judged online, "Technology complicates our metaphors of space and place"(Alice,2010) especially when we're influencers and thousands of people are telling us what's right and wrong. This is, in my opinion, why it's so easy to play a role online.

That being said, it is possible to maintain many online personas. If it's not being misused, I believe that it's frequently the simplest and least painful thing to do. However, malicious individuals will take advantage of the fact that they can impersonate someone else online. They will then display their true colors, say hurtful things, and even engage in cyberbullying against others because they believe that they are “anonymous.” Cyberbullying is particularly simple to carry out when done online because all the tools they need are right at their fingertips.

Be real is an app that does encourage authenticity as it doesnt let you upload pictures if not makes you take them then and there with a set timer for you to submit your photo which is cool because you get to see what others are doing real time.

# 10/31 TikTok, fakes, and appropriation

These days, technology has a big influence on how we view ourselves, which may have both positive and negative effects on one's identity. Our values and self-concept make up our self-identity. Growing up in a digital age where social media plays a significant role in our daily lives, I think that we have learned from one another and occasionally even adopt or support the opinions of others, even if they are not what we first thought of or considered. This goes to show how the opinions of those around us can impact us.

Social media has increased our exposure to external affirmation rather than the validation we receive from the people we love. This is the point at which many of us begin to forge stronger social identities, acting in a certain way in front of the media and revealing less of who we truly are and who we identify as. Particularly for younger children who are only now beginning to use social media platforms and are creating a sense of themselves. When they are exposed to images of the "ideal" body type or "lifestyle," it has a lasting negative impact on how we feel about ourselves and is often the root of many of our insecurities.

The media may influence our identities by making us portray ourselves as someone we're not. Two of the most common practices that I've witnessed many celebrities and influencers engage in and legitimize are catfishing and cultural appropriation, which has even influenced regular people to act. Regarding the subject of catfishing, catfishing is the act of deceiving others online into believing that you are someone else. This is a common strategy used by White women who pass for Black women to their benefit in the social and economic arenas.(Danah Boyd, Alice E. Marwick (2010) I constantly notice that a lot of women, especially on Instagram, photoshop their bodies to make their stomachs flatter, their behinds bigger, their waists smaller, and to use Facetune, to make their noses sharper and their cheekbones higher. This causes many younger women to become insecure about themselves by giving them unrealistic beauty features, which is where the practice of comparisons begins.

I enjoy watching makeup tutorials on TikTok, where many of the users choose to wear makeup foundation that is significantly darker than their natural skin tone, giving the impression that they are darker. Many people comment on this, thinking that the users are trying to look darker than they actually are. However, there are benefits to this as well, like receiving online validation from other users, selling in-demand products, exotic hairstyles and even makeup products that are linked to cultural appropriation, which is exactly what it is.

# 11/3 Finding someone & living alone
The way that digital communication has changed the relational landscape has to be with way that we communicate with eachother. New channels of communication including social media, texting, and video conferencing have been made possible by the digital era. younger generations tend to be more used to and skilled with their use than older generations. n terms of digital communication, it has made it easier for us to stay in touch with each other. Before, it was very difficult for us to get in touch with our loved ones who lived in different countries, especially me because I have family in the Dominican Republic, which is a third-world country. However, now that facetime and video calls are available, my family and I can stay in touch with each other whenever we need to.

It's common for people to post updates about their lives on social media to update their friends about how they're doing and what they've been up to. However, this can sometimes create a false impression of who you are, as people may pretend to lead lives they don't actually lead in order to impress others online.Digital communications have also impacted how we connect and get to know others romantically through dating apps. However, many users of these platforms also fabricate information about themselves in order to contact people they are interested in, including their age, height, and even the appearance of previous photos. Okcupid et al. (2010) another method by which news has had a significant influence on us is by keeping us informed about global events, injustice, and significant issues that are being discussed globally.

# 11/7 Ads & social graph background

Online advertisements that are customized and targeted are among the most common. Personalized advertisements gather user information from the internet and utilize it to determine what goods and services a user is probably interested in. They assist consumers in locating items of interest or even bring to their attention a product they had forgotten about but had previously expressed interest in.

This is made possible by cookies, which are saved to your website when you shop online or just browse around. These cookies help your website remember what you have shown interest in and follow you around the internet, which is why you see items you have previously shown interest in when you scroll through Facebook or Instagram. Cleo Abrams, 2020, Vox.

Interestingly, we cover this in class because I always talk about my friends and how uncomfortable I get when I mention a product that interests me because it always appears on my feed and we have this creepy thing where we say our phones can hear us! However, I'm happy that I'm learning more about why I view the content that I do and how cookies affect a lot of what we see online.

This may be pretty unsettling since it raises the possibility that the internet is remembering and stealing your personal information in the same manner that it recognizes us and our interests. Although Apple has stopped collecting automatic data from the iOS 14 upgrade, what about the previous versions that were still gathering our data?

# 11/10 Manipulated
Consumer decisions are greatly influenced by internet reviews, ratings, comments, and rankings in the modern day. People like us go to the internet for suggestions on goods and services since we trust online reviews so much. As more individuals rely on the information that users provide online, there are dubious behaviors that make it difficult to believe what is shared.

The creation of fictitious reviews is one method by which internet reviews be manipulative. Businesses looking to improve their reputation or make their rivals appear less impressive may be the driving force behind this. Negative fake reviews can unfairly harm a company, while positive ones might distort the truth about a product or service. The process of identifying fake reviews requires close examination since odd wording, content in general, and dubious reviewer profiles can all be indicators of potential problems.

Paid reviews are an additional strategy in which people receive cash or other rewards in exchange for writing favorable reviews. This method affects how consumers view the real worth of a product by making it difficult to distinguish between sincere praise and fake admiration.

In conclusion, One of the biggest obstacles facing customers in the digital era who are looking for trustworthy information is the manipulation of internet reviews. Customers need to be aware of the various tactics employed, such as astroturfing and phony reviews, and exercise caution. It is advisable to manage internet reviews, ratings, and comments by consulting a variety of sources to ensure that the information is accurate.

# 11/17 Artificial Intelligence
The potential of artificial intelligence these days scares me, to be honest. It has affected many aspects of modern life, including education. Artificial intelligence can interact and even digest information in some ways like a person, and it is just as intelligent—if not more so—than a human. If it is the case at this early stage, what about later on when it is more advanced?

Artificial intelligence will have a detrimental impact on humanity as it becomes more powerful. This includes unemployment as a result of businesses hiring more robots than humans, job losses as a result of our growing reliance on them, and eventually, we will only be able to do tasks quickly and effectively thanks to AI.

It's frightening to think that computers are learning to reply and communicate like people when they are on any platform, as we discussed in class. The more time they have, the more proficient they become at answering questions.