Politician V. Celebrity

 The politician I have chosen is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC. After going through her Twitter account (@AOC), I was able to see exactly who she is. Her bio says, "US Representative, NY-14 (BX and Queens). In a modern, moral, and wealthy society, no American should be too poor to live. 100 percent People-Funded, no lobbyist. She/Her." From reading her bio and seeing her various tweets and retweets, and her likes, I was able to see that she was someone who showed respect and is also an advocate for those at a disadvantage in life. Her use of 'internet slang' shows millennials and Gen Z that she is someone they can relate to and, in a way, count on to share their voice, while still being professional.

When comparing AOC to a celebrity, like Adele, she (AOC) is much more active on Twitter. Adele has not tweeted anything since 2019. 

Politicians on Twitter

Andrew Yang: I follow him on Facebook and Twitter. I was really looking forward to him as the Democratic nominee before he dropped out of the race in February 2020. He was pushing universal based income before the pandemic and since he has been pushing for everyone to get the stimulus package to help during the pandemic. He stays up to date on politics and plans to run again. 

If you take a look at some of his most recent tweets you will see things like "It's okay to come under the mask." and 

"Our President should repudiate white supremacists and maintain the integrity of our democracy." He shows through these tweets that he has integrity and sincerity. He likes to talk about equality and being kind to others. Presenting a welcoming, down to Earth charming personality. He also participates in podcasts. Which you don't normally see. Many look to it as a more modern social media platform and it connects him to a lot of younger people who don't watch the news or read the paper.

As the presidential race moves forward we are seeing more people turning and posting a lot of the same tone as Andrew Yang. Speaking out for change and to be more kind to others. We need to join together and rush to the polls to help push and stand up for change.

Online Communities

Throughout my preteen and teen years, I was (and still am) a fan of One Direction. When I first joined the fandom, in 2010, there were plenty of Directioners around my age, and we all shared the same views, music taste (obviously), and ships. I was able to communicate with other Directioners through stan Twitter and Instagram. I 100% believe that stan Twitter and Instagram are communities.  We can all communicate and understand each other in a way that we can not express to others outside of the fandom. Some directioners act as "leaders," but the regular stans, those that do not have as many followers, act as citizens. Directioners on stan Twitter and Instagram are definitely toxic, but honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Politics

            Many people want to be political, but aren’t politicians and do not have the knowledge or the accolades to back up their position. In this day and age you see many politicians trying to reach the younger generation by being on social media posting a lot, saying things that your stereotypical politician would not necessarily say. For example, our President Donald Trump tweets many different things. A lot of which shape and some might say tarnish his image. Words like “these thugs are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen.” Placing blame, calling people out their names, judging others is not indicative behavior of what a President should be. If you are in office you should use your platform to promote, inform, and for the benefit of others. I understand that he is a person too, but if you are an elected official or a government employee you should be held to a higher standard. On the contrary Cardi B is a famous female rapper who uses the platform that she has to help people understand what is going on in politics. She had endorsed various people because of what they stand for and even tweeted that she wanted to be a politician and she loves government even though she doesn’t agree with it. 

Online Identity

 The politician that I decided to report on is Bernie Sanders. His speech seems pretty accurate to how it is during his video speeches and interviews. He says this with the same amount of passion and sometimes even aggression as he does when he starts going off about the rich creating systems against the poor. Usually when people have different social accounts they're speech differs from accounts. Aside from social media platforms a persons speech, intonations, and most importantly attitude sometimes does not reflect properly across text on a screen. That is usually the main issue with communication when it comes to talking over a screen, not all symbols and feelings can be expressed through letters. Sometimes the best way to convey a message is by doing it person. It can even be argued that in person communication is superiors because of humans ability to empathize and connect with the other person without even saying a word. Bernie's identity, to an extent is tied to his social media account. This is one of the reasons why Bernie is able to connect with people. He comes across as someone who is being genuine and does want to help people out. 

The celebrity that I decided to report is Billy Ray Cyrus he is not really a big deal anymore but at one point he did have some fame. I observed the same thing with Bill Ray. He posts about his kids, he posts about his youth and things that he is nostalgic about. So one of the things that both of these accounts tell me is one of 2 things. These older guys are more expressive and unfiltered on social platforms for a lot of different topics. One of the main things that I see with younger social media users is that they almost always put on a persona when online, that is extremely positive to the point of seeming disingenuous. These older men seem as they don't really care about what other people think about what they share on social media, and that is something really admirable. Or perhaps their accounts are being run by another person who is interpreting their ideas for them. Which makes you question who people really are on the internet.

Online Communities: Swifties

Okay, laugh at me... I'm a Swiftie. Many people describe it as cringe and at one point I did too. That is until I listened to a few songs and paid attention to Taylor's storytelling. Taylor Swift's writing definitely got my attention, but so did the online community. 

Swifties are found at all corners of the internet, from Tumblr to Twitter! I personally interact with the group through Instagram. What's interesting is that though Swifties are spread out across all kinds of platforms they keep each other updated and are supportive of each other. So even though I use Instagram I also know what's going on in the Twitter world. That is why I consider them a community. For a community to exist I believe there needs to be interaction and a common belief or idea. Within this community are very strong examples of interaction. Swifties have their own inside jokes, acronyms, and arguments. When I scroll through the gram I understand what someone would mean by clowns, twfhitf, snakes, and calcium hydroxide. What's even cooler is that even Taylor Swift herself is part of the online community. She often stalks stan accounts and likes and replies to posts. She's also gone as far as to reach out to fans through DMs to send them money for college or invite them to her house for secret sessions of unreleased music. 

In short, the communication that takes place between us Swifties through Instagram is what makes me consider them a community. 

Online communities

 A couple years ago I joined an Instagram group chat. This group chat was apart of a fan community for a music artist named Joji. I was introduced to this community through a comment section on one of the artist post. Within this group chat, we initially discussed new music that would get released and other non-related memes. Eventually, the mini-community grew to around 10 people and it was very lively. The community was thriving for about a year before it began to change. Unfortunately, many of the most active members began to leave and the community began to die. Thankfully Instagram has many users that are able to be connected by similar interests. It didn't take long for me to find an Instagram page to follow and interact with. 

Online Communities

 A group I'm apart of that I consider a community is the Dallas car scene ( which I know much of their actions are illegal) It is something that has brought a lot of people together because of our love for cars and adrenaline & I've made so many friends that I would have never met otherwise and. Doing burnouts, donuts, drag races have been the most fun I've had in my life and obviously better than being stuck at a 9-5 office job. 

Online Communities

 A bit after I opened my Instagram account, I joined a group page in where outfits of the day (OOTD) of celebrities/influencers were posted on a daily. Along side these outfits were stores where you could get the exact same piece of clothing or jewelry for a much cheaper price. I would for sure consider this group page a community because although I may not have known every single person on that page, we would all share our thoughts on these outfits in the comments and some people would even find more affordable websites in were certain items could be purchased and they would share it with all of us following this page. On this page people were even able to make friends from these group pages since many of us shared similar likes.

Online Communities

 I like to log into is called next door. The website or app is used to notify and communicate with the community. It is a good way to stay up to date with the neighborhood news. On the website there is a community chat where you can talk about any news like local criminal activity. You can also post or find things for sale like furniture. Recently, I logged on because my amazon package was stolen from my mailbox. I found out that the same thing happened to a few of my neighbors. I also use the website to see the news around the neighborhood or to find out about new local businesses. Overall, it is a good way to stay informed about everything happening in the neighborhood.

Community: Yes or No

Facebook offers users the ability to start a group page, and there are groups for just about everything you can imagine. Over the years I've joined a number of FB groups for several different subject matters. But well before Facebook came along I was already a long time member of a message board.

The members of the message board definitely feel like we are part of a community. We all share similar likes and dislikes and have a love for certain items. Members set up regional meet ups to put faces with screen names, and at these meetings members bring different items to display and show off. You get to know one another and learn things about one another's personal life. 

It's fun having a virtual meeting place to share opinions and perspectives on a variety of subject matters. I've been a member of the community for several years and although my activity isn't as frequent as it used to be, I still chime in on a few subject matters to share my insight and knowledge with hopes that it can help someone else.

Online Communities

 

I like to follow an online site or group in Facebook called Texas Latino Media. I strongly considered it a community site. The online site keeps the community updated with any news that goes on in the community and even in other areas of the metroplex. The online site provides various videos and photos. People can post and share any robberies, accidents, and even tragic news. I remember one time someone even posted to be careful around a certain area in the community because cops were issuing tickets. Another thing I remember was when ICE was doing round ups. People were communicating on the site to the community to avoid certain areas because they had seen ICE stopping cars near stores and even at work sites. This a great online site that keeps the community updated with precautions, news, and keeps us safe.

Jennifer Serrato 

Online Communities

I'm in many social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, However, in Facebook I am part of two private groups called 'Boxer Puppies (Texas)' and 'TheDream.US Dreamer Scholarship'. The boxer puppies group is a group of texas breeders who sell or own boxer dogs. I definitely consider it a community as we all interact with each other through comments, reactions, pictures, and videos. If we see a puppy that we would be interested in adopting we contact the owner, if we see a cute picture of a dog we can simply react to it or complement it. For example, my boxer female just had puppies last week. Many contacted me asking for information and some even came to my home to visit the puppies. These types of interactions definitely make the Facebook group a community. The only difference between common communities and this one is that the Facebook group takes place in a online environment. Brandon B.

Online Communities

On Instagram, I follow an account that posts about influencers and whatever they're up to and it also serves as an Ariana Grande fan page. There was an invite to a Discord server and I joined. There, we would talk about whatever was going on in the social media world along with memes (it is kind of difficult to explain what we really did on there). We would chat for hours and even hit up the voice chat where we would send bots to play music and then we would sing along to the songs. I found myself talking to the members quite a bit and even following some of them on social media. I would consider it to be a community, where everyone really did know each other. Unfortunately, there was quite a bit of drama between members so that server is not in use anymore but I do still keep in contact with some of the members. I really did enjoy the time that I was able to be on that server and I loved the environment that we were able to create. 

Online Community/100 Gecs Subreddit

 I follow the 100 Gecs subreddit to see what fans are posting and discussing. Its fun to be apart of a community that does not necessarily take itself seriously and is able to make fun of themselves. I do consider it a community since we all share the same common interest and are typically discussing the same thing. People post memes or opinions on the duo’s music. Recently the duo released their latest album’s stems, so a lot of the post have been remixes and mashups of their songs. The subreddit’s conversations are pretty ironic and very entertaining and can also help you find similar artist to 100 Gecs.

Online Communities

I am a big fan of the reality show 'Big Brother'. If you are unfamiliar with the show, "houseguests" are locked in a house with dozens of cameras and microphones that record them 24/7 as they live together and compete for power to evict fellow houseguests to see who can survive to the end for a $500,000 prize. There are two ways to watch the show, in real time via live streaming and via edited recaps that air 3 times a week on CBS. Over the 20 years that the show has been on air, a rabid community of fans have created forums to watch and record everything that happens in the house and share it online with those that either don't want to pay for the live stream or don't have time to sit around and watch all day. For the first decade or so, these were dedicated websites that have now evolved in to a broader community on Twitter that keep tabs on all the action. Since these interactions have now become more two-way and conversational, it's hard to argue that this isn't a loose community of people that share a common interest in the show. 

Blog Post #5 Online Communities

 

A while back in my high school years, there was this app named Kik. It originally was a texting app, where you would signup to create a username and you could chat with friends or strangers.  Within a couple of years and updates, they added the feature to find and create groups. In the groups' section, you would type in keywords like “car” and it would list all the chats/ groups created about cars. Anyone could create a chat room that would host up to 100 people. Typically, the chats with most people would be the most popular and would show first at the top as it had the most amount of active user. The ones that had fewer people typically were not as active or people would generally be actively participating at certain times, depending on where they lived. I personally joined different types of groups ranging from a specific make and model of car to something more general like art or music. What really made this community special was when you had a good majority of people active, chatting, and interacting at the same time. In my opinion, Kik groups made me feel as if I was talking to other people in real life as communication was instant in the chats. Compare to other communities, forums, or groups, they lack that instant feedback as sometimes you must refresh the page or people post and go do something else. Furthermore, I personally would consider Kik Groups a community, others might not since Kik is a primly texting app, but the fact that there are different groups ranging from cars, arts, music, makeup, particular countries, and more, I think it makes it a community as to any other but in a different platform.

-Benjamin C. 9/26/2020

 

Facebook Groups

 I am in multiple Facebook groups. Some of my favorite are makeup groups, crafting groups, Silhouette groups, and fandom groups. In one of the makeup groups I am in, we share makeup tips, makeup deals, and reviews on makeup products. In the crafting group, we share different craft ideas and crafts we have made. In the Silhouette group, we share things we have made with the machine, tips, tricks, how to use the machine, and other ideas we can make with the machine. This group is actually my favorite because I have learned so many things about my machine that I did not even know my machine was able to do. I consider all these Facebook groups a community. I have been able to interact with other people who have similar interests and do the things I do. We all get to help each other out through these groups in so many ways. When I can't seem to figure something out while I am crafting, it is very easy to just go to the group and there is always at least one person who is able to help me. 

Facebook Community

Last year, I got a Great Dane, and I thought it would be extra helpful to join a group on Facebook called “Great Dane Owners.” It was another way to learn more about this breed. I do consider this group a community because it is bringing many people, especially dog owners, together. There are about 48,000 members in this circle, and it will continue to expand. I find these types of communities useful because I can view other people’s stories, tips, pictures, and questions about Great Danes. I find it so fascinating to see that many of these virtual communities have established their guidelines, which makes them seem even more official.  

The Tube

 YouTube is a website that I almost depend on daily. Whether is is news, entertainment, or research. This website provides something that a lot of social media does just on a smaller platform. Facebook and Twitter has almost a cult following to the point they will be relevant in the near and far future. YouTube has a very string following, but not to the same extinct. But the love that I have for the tube is more or less like the cults that these major major platforms have. There a a variety of different communities that exist within the tube, and at the same time easy to join. Yes, the people in there can be complete assholes sometimes, but it comes with the territory. Sports entertainment is a major aspect of YouTube that I like the availability and release of news is amazing. I also think that this will be around for along time, but I do not think that it will outlast a facebook or twitter though because they are more of a house hold name. But, the YouTube community is real and alive because I am an avid member.

Online Site

    One Instagram page that I follow is called “TheShadeRoom.” In The Shade Room they share news or better know as tea about what is going on in celebrities life. This page is run by African Americans and that is their intended audience. It is like a community, because if you are not familiar with black stars or social media influencers you probably won’t understand much of what they are talking about. The Shade Room is for the culture and by the culture and truly celebrate and embrace being black in America.

Online Discussion and Particiption

One of the big online communities I take part in occasionally are the ones on reddit. The great thing about reddit is the ability to communicate with other people and discuss certain topics. The way the website is designed is made to make you feel that you are a part of a community. Moderators personalize the subreddit, which is essentially the online address for the community you want to be a a part of. And posts are made in a way that you can tell how many comments and upvotes there are. The main component that separates reddit from other online forums is that reddit has an easier understanding of how posts should be made and how comments can be used to provide feedback to everyone that wants to be part of the post. 

The topics and subreddits can range from video games, to niche hobbies, to rare diseases some people can vent about, and even sources for an even bigger range of help to a problem. One of the communities that I am a part of is an anime from the 90's called Evangelion. Because the anime can be hard to understand for some a lot of people keep coming back to the community and asking questions, and giving answers as to what certain parts of the story mean and symbolize. I have made some posts on this community trying to get feedback and understanding, and mostly everyone is willing to help and explain. Its is not just discussion about the anime all the time, people can post memes, fan art, news about the final movie coming soon, and other things related to the anime. There was another community that i had stumbled upon called "HealthAnxiety". This community was for people who were struggling with anxiety specifically related to their own health or the health of a loved one. It was really something special seeing this community interact with each other and give positivity for people who were in a really dark place mentally. It makes you wonder what other kind of communities is reddit hosting that are really obscure but could still be helpful to others. These are some of the communities that I have been a part of, and with certainty I can say they are communities because there is always interaction with people because of shared interest. One of the biggest reasons why forums fail is because no one is active on them. Whether that be because the theme of the discussion is too broad or people are not interested in discussing at all, reddit succeeds where others fail by designing a platform that helps bring people together without having to show your face ever.

Facebook Groups = Community

 I am in multiple groups on Facebook. Some of my favorite Facebook groups that I participate in are on gardening, food/recipes, and various fandoms. The gardening groups are where we post pictures of our plants, ask questions that we may have, or selling different products. I am also in a food group where we post pictures/recipes of food we are making throughout the day. We can ask for food recommendations or share a "Tasty" food video. I like posting to these groups specifically instead of posting on my timeline; you're sharing content with others that enjoy and are looking for that content. I consider each a community, everyone contributing content: a comment, alike, a view. We start to get to know everyone in the group and contribute more to the people that we interact with daily. I don't go on my timeline on Facebook anymore and mostly go through my various groups' posts. I think they are helpful for everyone to find a community online on a topic that you enjoy.  It is even more imperative that we find people to connect with now that we are so isolated during the pandemic. 

DVDs and Streaming on Movie Night

My favorite childhood memories come from standing in a Blockbuster line on a Friday night. I'd dance around with ants in my pants ready to watch the movies my parents and I hunted down for what seemed like hours through endless aisles of DVDs and VHS tapes. As technology would have it, begging my mom for a candy bar in a checkout line would turn into finishing the home popped popcorn before scrolling and choosing a movie as DVDs turned into a one-second icon tap. 

Back then renting a DVD would cost about $8, roughly the price of a monthly subscription on Netflix or Disney Plus. Something to add on is that movie businesses like Blockbuster would make a pretty penny on late fees. In some cases, a late fee would turn into a purchase fee if not returned in a certain amount of time. I think that one of the best parts about streaming services is that the price of a subscription, although it may sound high, is relatively cheap considering the bingewatching culture it's created. Some people have records of finishing multiple show seasons in a weekend, while others watch movie collections in an afternoon. 

In short, DVDs created business for movie rental businesses like Blockbuster, and a expensive Friday night. Netflix streaming, and other streaming services, created a cheaper and easier way to watch hundreds of shows and movies.

Pre-web blog post

 An object I will always remember is the mp3 player, I vividly remember having my mom's mp3 player listening to music all day thinking it was the best thing to ever exist. Every Time I got a chance to add new music to it I was so excited and it was a glorious moment to listen to those songs over and over again. Now we have apple music, youtube music, spotify, audiomack, soundcloud and hundreds of streaming apps to make finding new music basically endless. I find new artist and new songs every week as I get notifications for new songs and albums, the internet has blessed us to have everything basically at our fingertips.

Pre web times

  Before the internet, my favorite thing to do was play dress up and play with dolls. I loved living in that fantasy reality and pretending to be someone else. It was a great escapism tool for me.  Peasants teens use the internet as escapism tools, before the internet we had to make do. 

Pre Web Times

     I remember when I was younger my favorite thing to do was to go to Walmart and buy as many CD’s as I could. I had a CD player at home and every time I got a new CD I was just filled with excitement because I could not wait to get home and listen to my favorite songs. It’s so crazy to think of how those times weren’t that long ago, and everything is just so different and modern now. Back then I had a portable CD player that I would carry around me with a little handle, and change out the CD when I wanted to hear a different song. Now I can do all of that through my phone just by simply pressing a couple buttons. All I need to do is go into Apple Music, search up the song, and press play on whatever song I want to hear. The way things are done now are very efficient I will admit, but man I loved that CD player and the excitement it gave me does not compare to the excitement those couple of buttons give me.

Pre Web Technologies

 Cd's or compact discs are discs that hold compacted information, such as mp3 files. I typically bought them from Blockbuster or Target when one of my favorite artists released new music. I remember before finding out Drake had ghostwriters, I went to the store and bought his album "Take Care" the minute it hit the shelves. I immediately put the cd in the cd player as soon as I got back to the car, and blasted the radio. Now, people use streaming services to download and listen to music. For example, when my favorite artist,  Lil Uzi Vert, releases a mixtape I go to the Musi app, search the name of the tape, and download it. I then can listen to it online without having to search for it from scratch, and listen to it offline if I do not have a good connection.

pre web vs now

Back then one would have to rely on something called floppy disks to back up their data or any files. From what I recall, the floppy disks I saw at my house has a massive 1.44mb of space, I know, Massive. But as technology advanced, so did storage demands, and so after the floppy disks then came USB 1.0  drives. But even in today's standards, that's caveman technology because everything is digital today, leading to the 21st century's version of storage. Cloud storage has become the most convenient way to store pictures, files, and videos to the point that services like iCloud and google drive are extremely common on smartphones. Against floppy disks and USB drives, cloud storage is the way to go.

pre web vs now #4

 Before the advent of the internet or at least my discovery of it, music was not so easily accessible. My first introduction to music in a portable format was a cassette tape. This seemed pretty incredible to me at the time. The only other way I knew how to record music was to make a recording of it on a cell phone. But it didn't take long for me to be introduced to CD's and MP3 players as technology progressed. When you look at Cassette tapes and compare them to what options are available for music today it's almost baffling. Cassette tapes can only contain about 120 minutes of audio. That's practically nothing when you compare it to streaming services such as Spotify which allow access to thousands of hours to music for a small fee. It is pretty incredible to think about how fast the medium has changed and how big of a role the internet has had in it. The internet provides the means to have music streamed directly to the device of your choosing. No more waiting for Cassettes or CDs to hear your favorite song. Music is now just a click away.

Pre-web Technology

 A pre-web technology I used to own would be a portable movie player. Growing up on trips my family and I used a portable movie player to watch movies on trips. I remember before going on a road trip we had to rent movies that we wanted for the trip. It was very heavy to travel with and would take up space in the car. It would also take a long time to charge and would run out of battery quickly. To charge it in the car it had to be connected to a car charger and it had to be off while charging. Now we have the apps Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video to watch movies and shows. With these apps we can have a large variety of movies and shows, and it is all one device. 

Blockbuster Streaming

The first DVD player was made by Sony Corporation in 1997. Also in 1997, Netflix was founded as a DVD rental and selling company. Fast forward a little over twenty years and Sony remains a conglomerate, Netflix is now a streaming and production company, and DVD players are a thing of the past. It's not hard to see why however. With a DVD player you watch one movie, the one you inserted, and have to get up to switch DVDs if you want to watch something else. This excludes the part where one has to buy every single DVD they want to watch and be careful not to scratch those DVDs. With Netflix, thousands of tv shows and movies are at your fingertips, and you only need click a button in order to change the television after whatever it is you were watching goes off. Instead of buying multiple DVDs for $25-$35 each, you can now only pay $12.99 (that's seriously they're least expensive plan) for, as previously mentioned, thousands of tv shows and movies. I would have to say that the new technology made watching things much more convenient; until they remove something you were waiting to see.

SEGA GENESIS vs PLAYSTATION 4 PRO

My video game journey started with the Atari. A friend of mine had one and it was awesome! My mom bought me a TI-99 computer that also played video games. The TI-99 didn't have as many games, but it had all of the most popular games and that was good enough for me. 

Fast forward to the late 80's and early 90s, it was the Nintendo vs Sega era. I personally preferred the Sega because John Madden football on Sega was better than the Nintendo version. The Sega and Nintendo domination was cut short with the introduction of the Sony Playstation. The Playstation games looked so lifelike and everything was so much faster. It would be six or seven of us sitting around waiting our turn to play the game, because there was no online gaming available at the time.

Now let's double fast forward to today's gaming experience. I own a Sony Playstation 4 Pro. Long gone are the days of friends all piling up in the living room or bed room playing the game. Everything has gone to an online gaming platform. Friends and total strangers can now play one another from anywhere in the world. You can trash talk via message or via your gaming headset. In a span of 30 years we've gone from face to face gaming to worldwide gaming, and with the introduction of virtual headset we'll soon think we are gaming in outer space. 

Pre-web Vs. Now

 I remember all through middle and high school I would read just about all the time. I always read actual physical copies of books and used to spend my time carefully picking out books at the library or at a bookstore since I could only have a few at a time plus they would take up a lot of space in my room (which is small). Now I not only use audible which allows me to listen to the books I'm reading from my phone or laptop, but I can also buy books on the app store on my phone which allows me to read and have as many as I want at a time as well as not having the problem of having no space for them since all of my books are now saved on my phone ready for me to read anywhere and everywhere.

 Pre- Web Technology 

One of the pre-web technologies I remember that I use to own was a GoGear 1GB MP3 player. I remember I used it a lot when I went to the gym, worked out from home and when I would travel with my parents. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. My GoGear 1GB MP3 player would store a limited amount of music, required AAA batteries, and it had a round button where you were able to shuffle through the music. Now I use my iPhone to listen to music. Using Siri, which is voice command, takes me straight to Apple Music. Apple Music has about 70 million songs and is a subscription service that allows you to stream music and videos. Apple Music has an expanding catalogue of artist and songs and includes other media such as podcasts and internet radio. It is obvious that technology is changing rapidly, has become better and convenient, and it amazes me all the time.

Jennifer Serrato 

(Paperback) Dictionary VS Google

 For this blog assignment of pre-web technology vs modern technology I've chosen the dictionary but not just any dictionary. The Godfather of dictionaries. The good ol' paper back Webster dictionary ( or any other paper back dictionary). And it's formidable opponent... The all-knowing Google. Lol. In all seriousness though, I remember pre internet when we had to use the book form of dictionaries to look up meanings of words. They provided not only meanings though, but sentences using the word, synonyms, and anonyms for the word as well. Now, we have Google, and other online sources, that provide all of that and more than what our hard copy dictionaries could provide and the convenience of using Google compared to the OG of dictionaries is far beyond satisfying. No endlessly flipping through pages risking the chance of paper cuts and finger cramps. Just the ease of typing in a word and voila! You have what you're looking for (plus more). I think Google takes the belt in this one. 

CD Player vs. Pandora

 A pre-web technology would be a CD player and a I will be comparing it to one of my favorite apps which is Pandora. When using a CD the only thing that was required for it to play was the disc itself and somewhere to play the sound on. One would only have to pop the player open and insert the disc that you desire off you go. On the other hand the music streaming app Pandora would relies on internet connection and the device one is using to play the music. Pandora is "travel friendly" because one can carry the device anywhere and all they need besides that is ear devices like airpods or earbuds. According to google "The internet basically forms the foundation for the web to function".

- Destiny Fuentes

Pre-Web Technology

When I was in middle school I would always carry around my iPod to listen to music, then once I got into high school and final got my first smart phone I started using that to listen to music. This was in 2013 so Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music was a bid thing yet, but apps like SoundCloud were a huge deal. SoundCloud introduced me to a lot of music that I probably would have never heard of before if it were just me and my iPod. My friends and I would always share SoundCloud links with each other showing off new music we found. Once streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music were fully establish the downhill of iPods and SoundCloud followed. Instead of learning about new music through SoundCloud links and word of mouth I learn about new music through social media like TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts.

Pre-Web Technology vs Now

One of the first technological devices I remember myself using was this portable CD movie player my parents had. I remember going to Blockbuster and picking out movies to rent, and watching them in the car as we went on road trips or getting movies that my uncle would put on CDs for us. I loved that DVD player and I can remember sneaking it into my bedroom to watch movies as I was supposed to be asleep. I had a collection of all my favorite movies in a CD case and would be fascinated by how a simple piece of plastic, that is the CD, could contain hours of entertainment.  Nowadays, we have apps like Netflix (I do remember when Netflix movies came in the mail) and Hulu that can provide all of our streaming needs. Using CDs now to stream movies is not very common since many people can access any movie they want via applications like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO, and so on. These apps can provide us with instant entertainment as we have a much larger selection available to us by a simple tap on a screen. My little brother is 8 and it is amazing to me the amount of technology that was available 10 years ago, when I was 8, to now. Technology will never cease to amaze me and will always be evolving. 

Pre-Web Technology

When I think about the technology I came in to regular interaction with as a child, it was mostly limited to the telephone, television, and radio. Computers were around, but not ubiquitous. Until I was in middle school, the only time I had exposure to a computer was in the school computer lab. However, the broad availability of the internet and affordable Windows PCs in the late Nineties changed all of that. Suddenly, things seems to evolve at breakneck speed. By the time I was graduating high school, everyone had a cell phone in their pocket. The telephone in a home was once the main means of communication with the outside world, a fixture of the kitchen wall with that really long, twisty cord and everyone would fight over use of it. It was one thing when that power was reduced to this clamshell that fit in the palm of your hand, but I truly revolutionary moment when Apple introduced the iPhone. Our entire perception of what a telephone was in form and function was forever changed by that pivotal device. Not only did a phone possess the power of a computer, but it could reach out in to the air and bring unlimited knowledge and content to your fingertips. How we engage today with the internet and technology more broadly can be traced back to the introduction of smartphones as the essential tool that equipped us for a mobile world. 

Pre-Web Technology

 One thing that I had growing up was a VCR. We watched all our movies on the tv and we had tons! We would rent them as well from Blockbuster, but my dad bought a lot of them! We still have them and time from time we dust them off and hook up the VCR but now we use Vudu to stream our movies. Vudu is a movie streaming platform that you can use a web browser to access, or an app on the Playstation as we do and it is so better. A lot of the movies we used to watch have been remastered and made into high definition so the viewing experience is visually better. And all you gotta do is search a title, and pay to rent or buy. But nothing can replace the vintage feel from watching movies on a VCR.  

Blog Post #4 Pre-Web Technology

One of the world's pre-web technologies that kept well track of data and records was called and archive. Typically, it would be a room with hundreds of folders categorize numerically and alphabetically. With this in mind, one of my favorite websites that resembles an archive is the Wayback Machine (https://archive.org/web/). This is basically an online archive that keeps a glance of how a web page looked throughout the years as you can glance trough specific dates and times. For example, you can be navigating YouTube from 2006 as you can access its links, and even interact with some features. Just like in real life, archives might go missing or corrupted; the Wayback Machine experiences the same thing as sometimes you may run into errors or missing time stamps on a website. Other than that, is a great website to examine how far graphic designing and technology have evolved as it keeps the history of the internet in a matter of clicks and seconds.

-Benjamin C. 9/18/2020

Pre-Web Technology

When I was younger, I thought owning a cd player was the coolest thing ever. The one I had looked so antique, it was the bulkiest cd player ever, and how can I forget about those annoying antennas, but it got the job done and made me happy. Back in the day, I remember my mom had a small binder where I stored a few CDs and thinking about it, that was basically my music library. It was until I got my first phone that I discovered Pandora, and to this day, I still like it. Pandora allows me to find new music faster and more conveniently. I think it is fascinating to see how music has evolved with the rise of technology and social media. The internet is a network that allows us to complete tasks online, and the web is a platform that is accessible worldwide. 

Pre-Web Vs. Now

In Ashlee Humphreys' book "Social Media", talks about the development from a telegraph to SMS text messages today. "To take another example, digital telephony was a technology developed in 1984 that allows a sender to encode a message and send it across a wireless signal to a receiver with a similar device, a phone. However, several forms can come out of this technology." (Humphreys)

The way we are able to communicate with almost anyone we want instantly. It used to take months to communicate or there was a lag on the connection. We can see a difference in speed, connection, and ease. We are still able to trace back technology of today to older ones that we built off of.

We can look into other genres and see a link between the development of old to new technology. We use old inventions to modify and create newer more advanced technology. We will keep on doing this, we will keep developing. The way technology seemed to surge in the last 100 years. Just building on top of other ideas.

What are Those

 In today’s day and age technology is so advanced that we forget what came before us, and when times were simple. When I was younger at the age of eight or nine I received a CD player for Christmas, and I was ecstatic. Now imagine us receiving a brand new iPhone. Times have changed for the better, but that does not mean we should not cherish out humble beginnings. The Internet has allowed us the capability to get answers with in seconds,  and also being able to connect to those round the world in many of ways within seconds is something that was not even plausible fifty years ago. We see that the radio stations are failing, because everything can be streamed that way the viewer does not have to miss a beat of what is going on within there  show. Upgrades are what we are seeing, and I do believe that it os for the better, but everything comes with positive and negative rewards.  The web is more so put together by the thoughts and actions of internet. The web feeds from the Internet, and that is what we digest. Now it is up to us to take advantage of the opportunity that the internet provides for us or fall by the waists side, and watch it grow without actually growing ourselves.....You would be surprised

Pre-Web Technology vs. Current Web Technology

 One pre-web technology that was extremely popular were DVD players. DVD players were designed to watch videos, movies, and listen to music just by inserting the CD. Although DVD players are not popular anymore, many replacement options were created. For example, Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video allows you to watch movies pretty much anywhere as long as you have an account. Spotify, YouTube, Pandora, and Apple Music allows you to listen to music and watch videos for free online and also have other features if you pay a certain amount per month. You no longer need CDs to watch videos, movies, and to listen to music. Now, it is much easier to access and can stream from anywhere as long as you have internet. 

When it comes to business, measuring media is a powerful tool that benefits both the customer and the company. A couple of examples of this would be reviews, views, and engagement. These things give customers a bit of trust and insight into their purchases. At the same time, businesses can tell what product or service is the most and least popular. It's also a way to communicate and build a relationship with customers. 

There is a dark side to measuring media. Now apps and big corporations can track your search history, location, and even listen to your conversations. Some people don't mind and simply shrug it off with "I have nothing to hide." But, the truth is that no matter how innocent the use of our information may be, the use of personal information is an invasion of privacy. The biggest challenge is defining the difference between measuring media and stalking. 

Preweb Vs. Internet

  One Pre Web product that was extremely popular was the Fujifilm disposable camera. This camera could be purchases at your local grocery or pharmacy store.  Intended to be used for a single roll of film this was a less expensive option to take pictures with and very convenient for travel. While this camera is not as popular as it once was, many replacement options were created. One of my favorite apps is called Huji, and this app allows you to take pictures on your cell phone that look like they were shot on a disposable camera. When you pull the app up it look just like what you would see on the back on the camera, and you can even put your eye in the small box to look at what you are trying to capture. Once you capture the image all photos are dated in 1998. I think making this camera into an app was a brilliant idea, because it gives you a similar felling of having the poor quality picture all with a filter.  

Blog Post #3: Measuring Social Media

It can be very beneficial to measure social media if you have a brand or business you are trying to grow. Also, it can be important to monitor social media if you keep up with this latest urban news or trends. Social media is a great tool that provides businesses with the opportunity to reach large markets and audiences they would typically not be able to reach. In addition, it is easier for businesses to keep up with wider and more spread out audiences than usual, as they are able to look at the latest trends in their communities. It may be difficult for up and coming businesses to enter the market, as social media is accessible by people from all over the world. As a result, establishing a distinct brand is essential. While using user data to collect information about your targeted audience, you should be cautious of allowing others access to said data.

Preweb vs Current web

 One of the most unique renovations to old technology is the invention of websites, that have a radio feature. The most popular one that I use and that I like, is Pandora. Before on the AM/FM radio there were/are several different radio stations with different genres of music and people chatting behind the booth, on what their favorite album is of an artist playing or even just talking about an experience they had over the weekend, making the whole radio experience a personal and an entertaining one. The issue with traditional radio, is that although there is a variety of different radio stations, the ability to search a specific song/artist, and base a whole new radio station off of it was something that had not existed. With the introduction of Pandora, you have a new system of finding a new music taste, experimenting with genres you haven't heard before, and for you to give the algorithm feedback on what you like and don't like in order to get better search results and an overall better experience when finding and listening to music. With limited commercials, and other forms of accessibility when listening to Pandora, its is easy to see why Pandora and other radio streaming services are more appealing with those who are willing to try something new.

With other radio shows like NPR, that are more like talk shows have also come into the new age of radio and broadcasting. But now instead of existing in the AM/FM radio waves, they exist on websites and other hosting services meant for people to search and discover new topics, and talk about their own issues. One of the most crucial differences is the ability for anyone to do this. That is what truly separated the old from the new, that in which everyone even without prior experience can create and broadcast themselves into the new age of the internet. In the early stages of the pandemic lock down, there was an explosion of so many people who had no broadcasting experience before wanting to start their own podcast in order to vent out some of their problems and have a platform in order to reach broader audiences. Although it may be a bit pretentious especially with everyone wanting to start their own podcast, we should never take for granted of the reality that technological innovation was made and gave us the ability to reach new people and places. The difference between the internet and the web is how the web gives access to different connections, and people further implying the need for other people to access and enjoy the internet. The internet is the tool that we use in order to access the web and have all the sites and tools needed for creating.

 

Measuring media is very beneficial. It measures how well individuals, companies or even campaigns are doing and how successful they are. For example, with YouTube videos many have caught my eye when I see how many views they have.  Having many views automatically shows that the video is interesting and very successful. For many people making YouTube videos has become a job for them.  I personally know people who have devoted their time making videos and getting paid for it.

There are many challenges though. For instance, in the case of YouTube videos, how accurate are those views? In reality do we know if the number of viewers is well represented or was it the repetition of the same viewers? This limits individuals or companies to grow and expand to other viewers.

I believe when conducting anything on social media nothing becomes private. There have been cases where personal information has been exposed and I believe there will always be a continuation of it.

Jennifer Serrato 

Measuring Media

Measuring media is a necessity for any business or company wanting to succeed in the current digital climate. The problem with measuring media is that some companies don't operate within the honor code and store users personal data. There's been several high profile instances of Facebook allowing its users data to be recorded by partnering companies.

I don't think people have a problem with companies measuring our usage tendencies, or have a problem with companies measuring our shopping tendencies. These companies just cant seem to stay within a safe distance of invading our privacy. Measure my site usage but don't start sending me emails or text messages offering me stuff. I still interact on a few traditional style message boards, and anytime there's a sense from the users that they are being "measured", they always express their displeasure because there's been an invasion of one's digital space.

Measuring Media

 One of the major benefits of measuring media is seeing the insights. We get to see what is trending, how many actions were taken, how many people did the post reach, and much more. People who want to build their following on social media can also use the technique of measuring data to their advantage. They can see how well their engagement does and then try to produce similar content to that in hopes that their audience will react the same way. One of the challenges of measuring media is every social media platform provides a different set of analytics. Some tools share demographic information, but not most engaged followers. Another challenge is privacy implications. Research has shown that corporations sell peoples private information. There ought to be a sure security and certain individuals need to take a look at what they need without somebody recording these things. Due to this, there has been outrages. 

Measurement of social media

 Basically, the main gain that businesses gain from measuring social media is the fact that one can gain massive amounts of data dealing with whether or not a company is doing good. The biggest challenges that these businesses can go through is not only keeping up with the constant flow of new trends in the internet but also adapting to new social media platforms that emerge in the social media ecosystem. When it comes to privacy, that's out of the picture. Businesses usually use our data without us knowing, but at this point it feels like the price we pay to join the social media ecosystem. 

Media Measuring

 First, figure out the reason for measuring media in the first place, and then set goals towards that. If you're measuring media for a brand of some sort, consider how to measure the specific activities you engage in overtime to know whats successful and what isn't. Make sure you set your metrics to track what it is you're looking for. If your goals are to track how many purchases a person has made from your company then track how many times a person views your site, and what they do when there. If your measuring engagement on social media then know what hot and what's not. Look at comments and what's being shared. See what the people want and it can help your brand. Market your ads and merchandise towards what's trending. Monitor the data once you have your measurements set towards your goals. Continue to track, report, and improve your measurements by making calculated adjustments. 

Measuring Social Media

The benefits of measuring media consist of primarily getting an insight into how well a company is doing. The information about users can help improve products and advertising strategies as well. Also, measuring media helps companies make sure customers continue to receive the best experience possible. Companies collect this type of information by measuring online activity, which includes engagement, frequency, and conversion. For example, when I go on the Macy's website, the cookies track everything I do. It knows how many times I visit the page or what I browse. The information collected is based on my recent activity on their website. Then I start seeing a section of similar items because the computer has used my data to predict what I should view next.  

I think the biggest challenge that companies face is as technology and social media continue to evolve, they will need to find new innovative ways to measure media. When conducting social media research, there is very minimal privacy for users. The majority of the time, information is being taken, stored, and used without us realizing it. Also, third party servers can access our data from these large databases, which is an invasion of privacy. So this makes me wonder, is there actually any privacy at all when it comes to social media?

Measuring Media

Before you consider the benefits and challenges of measuring media, you have to first consider the audience that is being targeted and the desired outcomes of the content. Is the goal to simply broadcast something to the widest possible audience or speak to specific groups or individuals? Once it has reached your audience, do you want them to be passive consumers or engage with your content in some way? Is there some kind of monetization or other related benefit to gain? These questions are vital to considering what to measure and why. Pay-to-play or subscription services need to be able to understand how many paying customers they have and how big the pool is to gain as many additional customers as they can. Free or ad supported services instead may put the focus on engagement with content to understand what drives deeper utilization and stickiness. There is room for platforms to take advantage of the information that users have voluntarily given to them and use it for surveillance or other ethically dubious reasons. It’s up to both individual users to understand privacy polices of services they use and for some kind of government or independent oversight to help keep companies responsible and held accountable for abuses.

Measuring Media

The benefits of measuring media can apply to many different situations. For instance, if a small company or brand is wanting to generate more sales or see in what areas they can improve, they can measure data. They can see what is trending and with that data, they can adjust themselves to sell the most trendy products and target their audience. People who want to build their following on social media can also use the technique of measuring data to their advantage. They can see how well their engagement does and then try to produce similar content to that in hopes that their audience will react the same way. Many social media platforms already have a way users can see their own analytics and engagement. There can be challenges when measuring media, such as not being able to produce content that one's audience enjoyed once. This could slow someone down in their growth, but data may not always be correct. When dealing with measuring media, one could also be dealing with an individual's private data. User data can be sold and their information can be spread anywhere and used for solicitation or for other illegal purposes. There have been many user data breaches reported, such as with social media sites like Facebook or with a bank such as Chase. There are always risks when dealing with user data and when measuring media. 

Measurement of Social Media

The benefits of measuring social media is learning what is trending. Social media began as a medium to express ideas, but we now see social media as a place to start trends. From deciding who is a popular musician, what fashion is in style, or what type or slang is in or out social media can decide for the masses. On a company or business level it can help promote new items and see how people are reacting and interacting with a post. What we can also analyze is when a person or thing rises to popularity and declines in popularity; this allows us to make conclusions on why in came in and out of trend. Companies can use this data to figure out what campaigns and ad they should be running and on what platforms they should be hosting it on. The measurement of social media is also dangerous since user’s data can be used in an unethical manner. At this moment in time our data is primarily used to promote and sell things we may or may not want, but this can be used to expose our personal lives if it got into the wrong hands.

Blog Post 3

 Measuring media is very important. It helps you find out how much traffic you are getting and how much interaction you can receive or don't. For brands, this information is important because they need to see what works and what doesn't. Brands depend on this information to maximize their audience reach and growth. Some of the more challenging parts of gathering this information is the algorithm of each site. Different sites have different ways of filtering posts and making some seen more than others. Also, current events and trending topics will cause spikes into these analytics that won't always work. 

Some people are scared that companies receive this information from users. They think it's an invasion of privacy, and to a certain point, it can be. There should be a certain privacy and right people have to look at what they want without someone recording these things. There could be scandals, and there has been. 

Blog Post #3 Measuring Social Media

 

Some benefits of measuring Social media come from what the big data is been collected as it is been stored for the future and current examination by many. Such things like been aware of what is trending, what people like and do not like, and different informational data; is accessible in matters of seconds compared to the origins of the internet. Big data now refers to the technological and cultural data that is been analyzed by the capabilities of modern computers. It's more of the research than the amount of data a computer can hold.  

Some of the challenges when it comes to Big Data become that they are prone to errors. Weather combining different data sets, there are many rules, and privacy settings when it comes to data sharing. There is an overlap of data and permission access that individuals are not aware of. If I remember correctly, a couple years ago there was a company named Equifax that was sharing personal data to other companies without in the individuals knowing. That data was breach and many Americans sensitive information ware at risk of going through identity deft. Thus the problem comes when filtering and working with sensitive data, as any other company can buy and share, personal sensitive data that we believe only one company, app, the website has access to.

Some of the implications with big data come from the access and the privet data itself. Many countries might restrict, block, and filter what's going in and out from their countries. Thus, many of the data might not be accessible to different people in different regions. It is also important to understand that data is been uploaded daily, every second, minute all 365 days a year. All that data must and is been filter or sorted out in such ways for the user to find a more accurate, reliable, and credible source of data. Thus private data searching in social media might be a bit of a hustle as the number and types of sources been filter must go into finding resemblance to the specific research to see what is going to be accounted for or ignored for the filtering.

-Benjamin C.

9/12/2020

Measuring Social Media

 One of the major benefits of being able to measure media is knowing what type of interactions you're getting. Being able to see why products are or are not selling and being able to study analytics so you can improve for the future. Unfortunately, one challenge that comes along with measuring social media is that since people like to cheat and scam the measurements are not always accurate representations of reality. Research has show that these large corporations, sell peoples private info. For example the Facebook scandal that happened a while back, with the giving away their users info. Nevertheless, we as a people do not normally read the fine print or terms and conditions therefore we end up looking dumbfounded when something unexpected happens.

Blog Post 2 : Defining Social Media

 

I define social media as a site where users can express their interest, discuss them amongst one another, and, create profiles. Furthermore, users can typically post pictures or videos that one another can comment on.Youth typically do not consider blogs as social media, however, I do. Although it is not in the same format as Instagram or Facebook, it is similar to Twitter. With that being said, there is a timeline with user-created content, consisting of ideas for others to view. The exclusion of some forms of media as it relates to classifying them as social media means that there are guidelines a site must follow in order to be considered social media. For example, the site must have a way of connecting a community, forming a communal bond from things such as user-generated content.

 

Wowwwwwww

 Tonight I was able to have an experience of s life time. I am not currently in Dallas, but rather North Carolina for the weekend for my girlfriends aunt’s wedding. Things are going good considering this is my first time meeting a lot of the people here, but back to my experience.I will not go in debt about what i was able to experience I just wanted to let people know that I had a very Good Friday night, and I am hoping that the rest of the trip can play out just as good. Thanks for reading 

Terms and Conditions with "Big Data"

People are always wanting to know the latest breaking news or the best new thing. That creates a need for measured media, to find what people want to see. Showing people, the content they desire based on previous occasions. That is one of the main benefits of measuring media. At the same time, those are the main conflicts when privacy is concerned with measuring media. This is when we have to ask ourselves and hold them accountable. When is it too much? A lot more people are taking notice of companies selling their information for advertising purposes. 

Through our, Google searches all the way to the people we follow on Facebook. The implications that come along with conducting social media research for individual privacy is that it's a hard line to draw. People can argue that when someone posts on a forum, they are automatically giving permission for everyone to see it. Companies can make a point that when everyone signs up on a site, they have to accept the Terms and Conditions. This is true but the lengths of those are crazy and mind-numbing. They don't really expect us to read them. We could be signing over our souls and not even realize it and they know it.

Traveling

 Hey, I hope that you all are okay and being safe. No matter what you go through make sure that you attack it like a champion 

Measuring Social Media

 Social media is something that we see invade the privacy of those who allow it to, but in some situations I understand how that can happen. Social platforms are meant for you to express yourself to the world in whatever fashion that you deem necessary until that platforms sets its limits. You see social media take over the lives of celebrities, and people who have gotten Caught us in the social realm, and forgets reality from the World Wide Web. The benefits of social media are endless, and has the power to make people famous over night. I do not think that we know the full aspect of social media because we have not reached the limits of it. Maybe in one hundred or so years fro now we will know the full aspect of what we have produced in this social media age. Some of the challenges of this is that we are not for certain what comes next. What is going to happen to make social media stay relevant and continue to grow in the fashion that it is. Social Media is has become apart of everyone’s life to the point they can not go without it for a long period of time without feeling as if they are missing out on life, and that is a problem that I suffer with as well. If the internet was to crash so would our society, and I think that’s something that we can all agree on. 

Mesuring Media

 Big tech companies like google, Microsoft, and Facebook have created ways for users to interact with their products, and give data. Individuals are given the ability to upload anything they choose. By measuring which pieces of media get more attention in a wide variety of categories, big tech companies can then create more elaborate products, and solutions to profit off of this data. Any and all data that users give is valuable to these companies. From being idle on a certain screen to clicking off, on a video after a certain viewing threshold is met, these key pieces of information are used to tailor a new experience for better or worse. On the positive side, the gathering of mass data information from media and its users, can create new solutions for users to "play" with and have a better experience. One of these examples would Microsoft receiving complaints about users not being able to access a certain feature, or even a feature not being used at all by consumers. With this data Microsoft can then change their design and create a more intuitive experience for users, and overall keep them coming back to use their products. 

Some challenges that users and companies face is knowing whether a certain piece of media is needed or not needed for a platform to serve its purpose. In other words, how will both parties determine what pieces of information is useful? This is one of those challenges that is not as easy to assess as just viewing media and its interactions through popularity. This is where direct feedback may be needed and direct communication with a "customer support team" and their executives to make decisions based on what any next steps will be to finding a new solution. The biggest implication of data collection is the line of what is considered individual privacy. Most of this is common sense, as users don't want to feel spied on, and then shown ad results based on a private conversation they were having with a friend due to their phone recording them! This is still an on going battle with tech companies, governments, and its people. Some committee has to decide where the moral line is drawn from collecting data to improve products, to stealing data and using it against its users through strategic and targeted manipulation.

Blog Post # 2- What is social media?

 There many different versions of social media that fit many different definitions of social media. I would say that for a platform to qualify as social media it must facilitate some sort of communication and provide ways for users to exchange some form of media. Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook also allow this kind of communication and many consider these to be some of the biggest social media platforms available. There are some services that border being a social media platform but I don't think they fully meet the requirements. Spotify allows you to follow and share playlists with other users but that's where communication ends and begins. It fulfills the sharing of media requirements but there isn't a way to directly communicate with friends. Therefore I wouldn't consider platforms such as Spotify as social media. It more closely fits the role of just being a streaming service.

Blog Post 1 Introduction

 Hello everyone,

My name is Justus Clark. I am currently a sophomore at UNT Dallas. I recently switched my major from finance to communication. I plan on doing something in HR or radio broadcasting with my degree. I also am certified as an audio engineer, and feel as if that will significantly help if I decide to do something in broadcasting. I am a big fan of multiple genres of music, but hip hop is my favorite. Since a very young age, I have always been an entrepreneur. I have dreams of opening up my own recording studio, and a funeral home.

Social Media

     There are many ways that you can potentially define social media. Social media is a tool that connect us together. One thing about social media is that there is usually a profile so we are able know who we are coming in contact with. All social media platforms differ in some way, but there are particular things that draw us to some over others. Platforms like Facebook are more complex, but even still it is the most used platform. Others such as Snapchat are more to communicate with people and is more of a temporary feed, and geared toward the younger crowd. There is not specific or correct definition to social media, because it can vary across the board, but all platforms have their specific purpose. There is a platform to be enjoyed by everyone. 

Princess' Introduction

     My name is Princess, and I am a Senior at UNTD. This is my last semester and I am majoring in Sports Communication and Technology. I write music and sing in my spare time. I plan to be an entrepreneur, and pursue my dreams before I use my degree. My goal in life is to encourage people and help them reach their dreams in anyway that I possibly can. My life mantra is "complain less, pray more."

Darrell Thomas: How I define Social Media

 I define social media as a site in which people gather and share information, memes, updates of their life, photos, videos and etc. I often think people exclude places such as a discussion board as social media or even our platform blogger that we are on, but to me because we share our thoughts and ideas on here to each other that makes this a social media platform. The media may not deem certain sites such as twitter social media because of how fast fake news can be spread on the platform. But at the same time it is the fastest at breaking news because it is real people telling real stories. Platforms such as Facebook have dealt with huge influxes of fake news and had their site looked as an unreliable source for media and news. I believe this is why media outlets and others say platforms such as twitter and instagram aren't reliable social medias.

What is Social Media?

I define social media as a platform where people can interact with one another. Merriam-Webster defines it as forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos). I personally don't consider dating apps social media but by both my own definition as well as the one found in the dictionary, they kind of are. People are talking to one another and I would assume scheduling dates/trips and that seems pretty social to me. They also share photos and videos on the apps which is also a key characteristic of social media. I would say that the exclusion of certain social media says that we as a society are still figuring out what social media is and how to measure it. 

Blog Post #2 - Social Media

 Everyone has a different definition to social media, but the way i define social media is with one word, communication. Social media is a way of communication because people are able to communicate with people from all over there world, wherever and whenever anyone would like. An example of apps that are used daily for communication are Instagram, Snap chat, Facebook, and etc. Although i define social media with one word, I do agree there is branches below communication like entertainment. Social media never fails to keep me entertained with it's apps like Tik Tok and YouTube. With new content that comes out everyday it keeps millions of people entertained. One app that I think is not traditionally considered social media but I do, is Pinterest. Not only does Pinterest keep me busy, but people are also able to pin anything they like, and are able to share anything they would like. When it comes to the exclusion of social media, I just believe it comes down to what is popular at the moment, and what is not.

What is social media?

 To me, social media is a means to be able to branch out, express yourself, or even pick up something from somebody else. One site that I would say IS a social media platform but is generally considered that it is not is Spotify, as people generally think of it as a music streaming platform and nothing more. But the fact that one can share playlists or follow artists makes it a social platform as you can share or express what you like with other people. The exclusion of some social media apps just generally has to do if we like it's ecosystem of if we would rather stick to what we know 

Destiny's Week 2 Blog Post

 I define social media as a digital platform that people around the world use to connect with others, view any type of content for entertainment, and to stay informed. A site that we "traditionally" do not consider social media but that I would include in that category would be Reddit. What makes Reddit social is that the users can upload their own content just like other social media platforms to engage with other users. The exclusion of some media sources say about our understanding of social media that we only consider certain apps part of this group if we like how they operate. 

Define Social Media by Jennifer Serrato

 

Social media has become an essential need in our daily lives. It is amazing how such a small device, such as our phone, can access so many media platforms. We use social media to share ideas, exchange information, get the latest news, sports, make profit by selling and buying merchandise, finding and posting jobs or careers, finding relationships and even communicating around the world. There are many types of media platforms, some being Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and LinkedIn. These media platforms are becoming a necessity within our lives and jobs, especially now during this current pandemic. Many of us, including myself, are using Zoom or Microsoft teams for our jobs, meetings, interviews, and education. Social media has become a necessity within our lives and is rapidly growing and will continue to dominate in the future.

I believe that some type of social media that we don’t consider as traditional sites are email services such as Hotmail or Gmail. I believe it is still a way of being social because you are still interacting with others by sending messages. I believe the reason why it is not considered a type of social media is because it doesn’t have large audiences with live sessions and large interactions among people. Gmail has created a form of chat messenger that allows you to interact by chatting and it even has a video option if people prefer that way of communicating.

Many social media platforms have found ways to allow large number of audiences to interact with each other. People are attracted to social media sites that have allowed them to share ideas, comment, and have conversations. I believe if people cannot interact with each other then there is no point of having a social media site.

Defining Social Media -- Madison Alexander

 Social media has been such a huge part of many people's lives. Millions of people use it to connect with others from all over the globe. Relationships of all kinds have been created with the help of social media. I would define social media as websites and apps that allow people to build platforms, create content, and share beliefs. There are many apps that people frequently use, for example, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Personally, I do not categorize apps like Linkdin as social media, but that may be because I do not use them religously. Linkdin is social because people use it to connect with potential employers and business ventures. When we, as a collective group, decided that a media source is "unworthy," people tend to abondon that source. I think that when we exclude obvious social media sources, it just shows that the human race is only attracted to what's popular not what they actually need. 

Defining Social Media

Social media is easily accessible through the internet where people can come together and share their own ideas, likes, network with each other, and do so much more. Social media has become such a large part of most people's lives that we would not be able to imagine the world without it. The media aspect of social media can include sharing photos, videos, text, music, audio, and other forms of content. These forms of media can be quickly created and shared among others and is a huge way that people communicate with each other. When someone thinks of social media apps, we tend to think of sites like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook just to name a few. I think sites that we do not "traditionally" consider as social media would be applications like Skype and Zoom. The social aspect would be the way we are able to socialize and communicate with each other, in a video chat form. These two examples of a social media form that are not traditionally considered can be used in a more professional environment and have been used much more in the past months due to the ongoing pandemic. I believe that social media is evolving right in front of us and it can be difficult to identify what forms and examples of social media exist and how much we are able to understand it. 

Defining Social Media

I consider social media to be any digital application or service that provides a means for users to network with each other and share some kind of content, whether it be text, images, video or anything else. By that definition, many platforms might fall under this category that you may not think of. Group messaging applications such as Telegram, Kik, or Whatsapp allow for the distribution of media to large groups of people. Message boards such as reddit encourage users to actively participate in ongoing discussions and create a democracy of information by allowing users to influence what is popular. Blogging or video sharing sites such as Blogger and Youtube allow for users to engage with content posted by other users and so, they too could be given this designation. Houseparty allows for groups of users to video chat with each other and play games and Twitch encourages audience participation in live streams. The common thread between all of these services is the basic concept of interaction. The media being shared is not being consumed in a passive way, but is actively being influenced by the consumers. Generally speaking, I don't know that any platform is necessarily being purposefully excluded from being considered social media but perhaps there are services that blur the lines. For example, industry specific news sites such as Engadget have a primary focus on journalism but include aspects commonly found in social media to encourage interaction with their content.  

Chris B and What Social Media is to Me

 -How do you define social media? 

    Social media defined by me is an online form of posting or showing things online for others to see or read. It's a form of expression and and extension of a person since they are the ones who made the page. 

    Social media is a medium for people to express any and all feelings they have, whether they are socially acceptable or not. Everyone is going to have a different perspective on a topic, a different argument, a different piece of information, and they all play a role in society. 

-Are there any sites that we “traditionally” do not consider social media that you would include in that category? 

    To answer this question, we first need to know the dictionary definition of social media. the definition of social media states "websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking." By following this definition, platforms such as Twitch, Discord, and DeviantArt are forms of social media, and sites I feel that aren't traditionally considered social media 

-What makes them social? 

    What makes those platforms social is the communities behind them, and the following they have. Twitch hosts thousands of livestreams everyday for people who want to watch and join. Once they do, the streamer has links to a discord or a chat site that anyone can get involved in and experience. They get to meet new people, have new in jokes with them, and interact with other to get them involved too. 

-What does the exclusion of some media sources say about our understanding of social media?

    Social is subject to the populace, that what makes it social. If someone makes an app where anyone can post anything, it needs users on it to make it a social platform. It all depends on what connects people the most, and gets them involved.

The Social Media

 Social Media is something that is engraved is the lives of the youth. We have something that our parents did not have during there youth, and that is access to the world within a matter if seconds. The power that we have, and might I say it is something that is being taken advantage of in a positive manner that helps push peoples careers, and promote things to people who might not have access to those sights if it were not for social media. The biggest social media outlet is Facebook because it is one of the original social media platforms. What the new social media websites  are doing great when it comes to users but facebook is on another level especially after taking over Instagram. I think that people in general are social media outlets, because they are the reason that the story is being put out for the world to see. Just my deeper though process, but if these platforms were not here I know for a fact that we would not be living in the same fashion that we would be if we did not have these means. Some people do not understand how the younger generation moves with there phone in there hand and some people have come to realize the power of the internet and hopped on the wave, but to those who have not they may feel left behind In many of situations. A social media outlet could be expressed in many of ways as long as it is on the internet, an that is why it is so powerful because of the amount of people that it can reach within a matter of seconds. There are many different social media outlets, and there are always new ones being invented because the possibilities are endless. 

Social Media: What is it to me?

Social media is a form of communication in which online communities of news, entertainment, lives, knowledge, etc. can be shared to mass amounts of people in a short amount of time. It is also a place where people can interact with each other and share their ideas in a virtual reality in real time. The access to information has never been this obtainable, and anyone can participate as long as they have a decent computer and internet connection. People have gained voices who haven't had them. People have gained opportunities that has changed their lives. I think my favorite platform is YouTube for the variety of videos you can run into on almost any subject matter. I personally don't use any of the big names like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook at the moment, but these are platforms where ideally people should be able to be themselves. 

Social media is making it's mark in history, and it continues to do so by growing with technology. Lives continue to change around it, and I hope that in the future of social media our lives can change for the better and not the worst.