1) Anonymity online enables political freedom and dissent by allowing people to organize protests and share opinions without fear of reprisal.
2) While anonymity can enable harmful behavior, it also protects vulnerable groups and enables beneficial outcomes like honest self-disclosure, experimentation, and collective action.
3) Demanding social media sites provide privacy, pseudonyms, and anonymity supports democratic rights and freedoms by allowing for robust political debate and dissent protected by the First Amendment.
These are my slides from the Internet Researcher's Conference (#IR15.0) in Daegu, Korea in October 2014... you can read more about it at my research blog over at www.incitestories.com.au
This document summarizes research on social media usage and the psychological effects of cyberbullying on youth. It finds that while traditional bullying is overt, cyberbullying occurs through covert online methods like mobile phones and social networking sites. Cyberbullying can negatively impact youth's mental health, lowering their self-esteem and causing feelings of anger, frustration, sadness and anxiety. However, the document notes that emotional intelligence and social support can strengthen youth's psychological resilience against cyberbullying.
The Role of Public Intellectuals in Cooperative Extension Anne Adrian
Shouldn't Extension experts, members of an organization that has always prided itself on providing impartial research-based information, share a place at the table with the nation’s leading public intellectuals? We contend that establishing a core group of public intellectuals at both the state and national levels of discourse should be a core strategy in helping us separate our message from others in this enormously competitive information environment. As a moral obligation Extension educators at all levels have a responsibility, not only as scholars but as public servants, to help put highly complicated, even controversial issues, into sharper perspective on behalf of their clients with the goal of improving their lives. “…no scholar, historian or anyone else is — merely by being a scholar — ethically excused from their own circumstances. We are also participants in our own time and place and cannot retreat from it…” Extension educators are now struggling to navigate their way across an increasingly steep, jagged divide between techno-skeptics, who harbor a deep mistrust of technology and its long-term implications, and techies, who, despite some misgivings, generally believe that each technological advance ultimately works to secure a better life for all of us. With this refinement has come a clearer understanding of the environmental costs associated with scientific and techno Who is better equipped to serve the bridging the gap that exists in understanding environmental costs, benefits, and technological process.
There will be an increasing need for public intellectuals from many different disciplines within Extension to explain how this new farming model will be expressed and how it ultimately will affect them. Herein lies an enormous opportunity for Extension — an opportunity for profound organizational transformation. This presentation was conducted at Galaxy 2013. See page 5 for a more detailed explanation https://custom.cvent.com/18A6750208F1461A8000EA09BA931C3A/files/c9cdbf25833147d4ae232bab6a08ff47.pdf
Jim Langcuster and Anne Adrian were the presenters
The document summarizes several media effects theories:
1) The hypodermic needle model suggests that media have a direct and powerful influence over audiences' behaviors by "injecting" specific messages that audiences will believe and act on.
2) The inoculation model views audiences as resistant to extreme media messages over time as they become desensitized through repeated exposures.
3) The two-step flow model proposes that media influence flows from media to opinion leaders to the general public, as opinion leaders shape the views of those around them.
Slides from our tutorial titled 'Polarization on social media' presented at ICWSM 2017. Covers various aspects of polarization from a technical and sociology perspective.
If you have questions/comments, please contact Kiran Garimella (kiran.garimella@aalto.fi)
Digital Sociology: Making the Digital Central to Sociological ResearchJessie Daniels
Digital sociology examines how digital technologies influence society and should be central to sociological research. The document outlines the history and development of digital sociology from the 1990s to present. Key areas that digital sociology can influence include theoretical approaches, research methods, and understanding how digital media impacts issues like hate groups, incarceration, health, and education. Digital sociology is still emerging but growing rapidly in relevance and importance given society's increasing digitalization.
This document discusses the implications of social media use for grief and bereavement processes. It notes that millions of children under 13 use Facebook in violation of age policies, and that parental facilitation of underage use is common. Facebook profiles of deceased individuals can number in the millions. The document outlines various online phenomena related to death, grief, and memorialization online ("thanatechnology"). It reviews research on how online spaces facilitate continuing bonds with the deceased, oscillation between grief and daily life, and the construction of durable biographies of the deceased. However, it also notes potential problems like negative notifications of death, tensions between mourner groups, and trauma from profile removal. The document provides recommendations for practitioners to be aware of
1) Anonymity online enables political freedom and dissent by allowing people to organize protests and share opinions without fear of reprisal.
2) While anonymity can enable harmful behavior, it also protects vulnerable groups and enables beneficial outcomes like honest self-disclosure, experimentation, and collective action.
3) Demanding social media sites provide privacy, pseudonyms, and anonymity supports democratic rights and freedoms by allowing for robust political debate and dissent protected by the First Amendment.
These are my slides from the Internet Researcher's Conference (#IR15.0) in Daegu, Korea in October 2014... you can read more about it at my research blog over at www.incitestories.com.au
This document summarizes research on social media usage and the psychological effects of cyberbullying on youth. It finds that while traditional bullying is overt, cyberbullying occurs through covert online methods like mobile phones and social networking sites. Cyberbullying can negatively impact youth's mental health, lowering their self-esteem and causing feelings of anger, frustration, sadness and anxiety. However, the document notes that emotional intelligence and social support can strengthen youth's psychological resilience against cyberbullying.
The Role of Public Intellectuals in Cooperative Extension Anne Adrian
Shouldn't Extension experts, members of an organization that has always prided itself on providing impartial research-based information, share a place at the table with the nation’s leading public intellectuals? We contend that establishing a core group of public intellectuals at both the state and national levels of discourse should be a core strategy in helping us separate our message from others in this enormously competitive information environment. As a moral obligation Extension educators at all levels have a responsibility, not only as scholars but as public servants, to help put highly complicated, even controversial issues, into sharper perspective on behalf of their clients with the goal of improving their lives. “…no scholar, historian or anyone else is — merely by being a scholar — ethically excused from their own circumstances. We are also participants in our own time and place and cannot retreat from it…” Extension educators are now struggling to navigate their way across an increasingly steep, jagged divide between techno-skeptics, who harbor a deep mistrust of technology and its long-term implications, and techies, who, despite some misgivings, generally believe that each technological advance ultimately works to secure a better life for all of us. With this refinement has come a clearer understanding of the environmental costs associated with scientific and techno Who is better equipped to serve the bridging the gap that exists in understanding environmental costs, benefits, and technological process.
There will be an increasing need for public intellectuals from many different disciplines within Extension to explain how this new farming model will be expressed and how it ultimately will affect them. Herein lies an enormous opportunity for Extension — an opportunity for profound organizational transformation. This presentation was conducted at Galaxy 2013. See page 5 for a more detailed explanation https://custom.cvent.com/18A6750208F1461A8000EA09BA931C3A/files/c9cdbf25833147d4ae232bab6a08ff47.pdf
Jim Langcuster and Anne Adrian were the presenters
The document summarizes several media effects theories:
1) The hypodermic needle model suggests that media have a direct and powerful influence over audiences' behaviors by "injecting" specific messages that audiences will believe and act on.
2) The inoculation model views audiences as resistant to extreme media messages over time as they become desensitized through repeated exposures.
3) The two-step flow model proposes that media influence flows from media to opinion leaders to the general public, as opinion leaders shape the views of those around them.
Slides from our tutorial titled 'Polarization on social media' presented at ICWSM 2017. Covers various aspects of polarization from a technical and sociology perspective.
If you have questions/comments, please contact Kiran Garimella (kiran.garimella@aalto.fi)
Digital Sociology: Making the Digital Central to Sociological ResearchJessie Daniels
Digital sociology examines how digital technologies influence society and should be central to sociological research. The document outlines the history and development of digital sociology from the 1990s to present. Key areas that digital sociology can influence include theoretical approaches, research methods, and understanding how digital media impacts issues like hate groups, incarceration, health, and education. Digital sociology is still emerging but growing rapidly in relevance and importance given society's increasing digitalization.
This document discusses the implications of social media use for grief and bereavement processes. It notes that millions of children under 13 use Facebook in violation of age policies, and that parental facilitation of underage use is common. Facebook profiles of deceased individuals can number in the millions. The document outlines various online phenomena related to death, grief, and memorialization online ("thanatechnology"). It reviews research on how online spaces facilitate continuing bonds with the deceased, oscillation between grief and daily life, and the construction of durable biographies of the deceased. However, it also notes potential problems like negative notifications of death, tensions between mourner groups, and trauma from profile removal. The document provides recommendations for practitioners to be aware of
The two-step flow theory of communication proposes that (1) opinion leaders first receive information from the mass media and (2) then pass on their interpretations of that information to less active individuals. The theory was developed by Paul Lazarsfeld, Bernard Berelson, and Hazel Gaudet and further expanded on by Katz and Lazarsfeld. It uses a model where opinion leaders pay close attention to media messages and influence others similar to them, while the "influentials" look to the opinion leaders rather than directly receiving information from the media.
This document provides an agenda for a class on social media that includes discussions on various social media terms and concepts. It outlines activities for students, such as defining social media and discussing the differences between social media "visitors" and "residents". It also lists various readings and resources for students to explore key topics in social media research, such as network analysis, tie strength, and strategic planning for social media initiatives. The document provides links to external resources and materials to support the activities and assignments for the class.
The document summarizes research on whether "filter bubbles" and "echo chambers" are real phenomena on social media and search engines. It finds that while some individual communities or pages can be ideological echo chambers, comprehensive studies show that users are generally exposed to a diversity of views. Polarization is driven more by a small number of ideological groups rejecting mainstream views than by technology fragmentation. The problem is political polarization in society, not communicative isolation due to algorithms or design. Further research is needed on understanding and combating polarization.
Social media refers to online platforms that allow users to create and share content with others. It started as text but now includes audio and video. Key characteristics include participation through comments, ratings, and forums; openness through public sharing and commenting; two-way conversations between many users rather than one-way broadcasts; formation of online communities around common interests; and connectivity through links between sites and people. Popular social media platforms include blogs, social networking sites like Facebook, microblogs like Twitter, forums, wikis, and podcasts. Social media is having a fundamental impact on thoughts and behaviors and is shifting power away from traditional media elites by democratizing communications.
Gatekeeping and Citizen Journalism: A Qualitative Examination of Participator...Amani Channel
This document is a thesis submitted by Amani Channel in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master's degree in Mass Communications. The thesis examines CNN's iReport, which allows the public to submit user-generated content that may be featured on CNN platforms. The goal is to understand how the adoption of participatory media is affecting traditional gatekeeping theory and models in news organizations. The literature review discusses the shift from traditional journalism to citizen journalism as new technologies have enabled public participation. It also covers concepts of convergence media, interactivity, and produsage as ways to describe changes in how news is gathered and distributed across multiple platforms. The study aims to advance empirical models of participatory media and gatekeeping theory through a qualitative analysis
Social media has both positive and negative impacts on society. Positively, it can increase political participation and community involvement. However, it also erodes privacy, as personal information is shared widely, and may weaken human relationships by replacing face-to-face interaction. Additionally, social media enables online deception, cyberbullying, and can damage adolescents' self-esteem by emphasizing negative peer feedback. While social media connects people, it also has serious downsides regarding privacy, relationships, and psychological well-being that must be addressed.
Social media has both positive and negative effects on society. Positively, it can increase political participation and community involvement. However, it also erodes privacy, as personal information is often shared without considering who might access it. Additionally, social media may be negatively impacting personal relationships by replacing face-to-face communication. Some analysts are concerned social media could make deception and fraud easier. It has also led to issues like cyberbullying and decreased self-esteem in some adolescents. Overall, the article discusses many of the complex ways social media influences modern society.
This document summarizes and critiques the article "How Facebook, Fake News and Friends are Warping Your Memory" by Laura Spinney. It discusses how the article examines the concept of memory convergence, where social media allows fabricated news to spread and influence collective memories. The document evaluates whether the original article meets scientific standards through its hypotheses, evidence, and explanations. It agrees the article helps explain how social media affects memory, but disagrees with the claim that collective memories alone form history. It suggests the original could have also discussed the concept of deindividuation to further explain how anonymity on social media allows the spread of misinformation.
This document discusses how social media is shifting journalism from a transmission model to a network model, allowing the public to get more involved in reporting and fact-checking stories. It provides examples of how professionals and readers can work together, with information flowing both from press to people and people to press. The challenges of tools like Twitter are discussed, such as focusing on immediacy over depth and blurring of public and private lives. Opportunities for journalism education around topics like setting privacy on social networks and curating information are also outlined.
Social Media and the U.S. Election: Consuming the CampaignJanelle Ward
slides from November 5, 2012, the third session of the course Social Media and the U.S. Election. The course is taught by Janelle Ward and hosted by the John Adams Institute in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1) The document compares predictors of self-disclosure and privacy settings use between adolescents and adults on social network sites. It finds that adolescents disclose more personal information and have more lenient privacy settings than adults.
2) Several factors were found to affect disclosure and privacy settings, with some differences between adolescents and adults. Gender, age, frequency of use, motives for use, concerns about privacy and contacts, trust in others, and susceptibility to peer influence were investigated as predictors.
3) The study aims to provide better information for developing interventions to encourage appropriate privacy management tailored for different age groups on social network sites.
Cultivation Theory & Gatekeeping DiscussionJuli Whetstone
This document discusses cultivation theory and gatekeeping in media. Cultivation theory suggests that television shapes viewers' perceptions of social reality by presenting attitudes already present in culture. It was developed in the 1960s by George Gerbner who studied the relationship between television, violence, and viewers' perceptions. Cultivation theory can also apply to social media which easily spreads repetition of images and brand portrayals. Gatekeeping refers to how media outlets select which information to present to audiences and influence the salience of issues. The theory originated in the 1920s-1950s and examined propaganda and family discussions, and now applies to how social media users act as gatekeepers by controlling what they see.
This document provides an overview of the topics and readings covered in KCB 206 Week 6. It includes:
- A quick review of the previous week's readings and discussion on publics, counterpublics, and media refusal.
- General feedback on student blogs, noting areas for improvement like engaging more with readings, further research, concise writing, and using blog features.
- An outline of individual feedback sessions for students to discuss their blog posts and work on the upcoming assessed post.
- Details on the following week's topic of new media transgressions and required readings and student presentations.
Election 2012: A Battle of the Social MediaJason Tham
About a decade ago, the hottest thing in political campaign was the Internet (Garecht, 2011). Political consultants and candidates touted the promise of the Web to change the mode of their campaign strategies. From fundraising to propagandizing, web-based campaigning overwhelmed the medium with political messages. Yet, with the sudden hype of Web 2.0 over the past few years, social media became the new hot medium for political campaigning. As the election season approaches, we are seeing an increasing amount of political messages streaming into social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Due to this trend, political parties are spending millions of dollars hiring social media experts to manage and monitor their appearances and respective messages on SNS. Nonetheless, how effective are SNS acting as a new medium for the transmission of these propaganda messages? Do SNS audience receive firsthand information from their political leaders, or through a group of active gatekeepers who screen information and only pass on items that would help others share their views on these sites (Baran & Davis, 2009)? According to an analysis of voters’ decision-making process during a 1940 presidential election campaign, Paul Lazersfeld and his team of researchers revealed evidence suggesting that the flow of mass communication is less direct than we supposed. Known as opinion leaders, this group of active gatekeepers maintains an important role in consuming and filtering propaganda messages on SNS. Drawing from the two-step flow theory of communication process, this study aims to identify opinion leaders within the realm of SNS, their influence toward the electoral progress, and determines if SNS are an effective medium for the generation, replication, and dissemination of political messages.
This document discusses different methods for segmenting publics and audiences. It mentions frameworks for segmenting audiences based on factors like level of interest, power, adoption of innovations (early adopters vs late majority), and demographics. The document also references literature on identifying and segmenting publics and discusses choosing target audiences based on their context, needs, and approaches.
Introduction to MIL: Media, Information and Technology Literacy DepEd-Bataan
This document discusses media and information literacy, responsible use of media and information, digital footprints, digital content, and online source credibility. It emphasizes that with increasing technology, content creation has become easier. However, some information shared online can be unverified or false and should not be spread. It also stresses the importance of being aware that digital footprints are publicly visible records that must be managed carefully, as they can impact jobs and relationships. Proper research, citation of sources, and respecting copyrights are seen as hallmarks of responsible online behavior.
Digital Culture: Dr Robert Finkelstein and Weaponized MemesBGGD
Dr. Robert Finkelstein proposed creating a "Meme Control Center" within the US military in 2011 to combat weaponized memes. A meme is information that propagates and persists, such as ideas, symbols, or images. Finkelstein warned that future warfare would involve manipulating memes through social media to influence minds. Adversaries could use personal data and AI to generate fake media, deploy botnets to spread disinformation, and undermine trust in institutions. Emerging technologies may help detect deepfakes and trace manipulated content, but information warfare poses ongoing challenges.
The document describes a study that examines different forms of self-exhibition on social networking sites. The study involved an online game and survey completed by over 12,000 French respondents. The game presented series of photos for respondents to select which they would publish on their profile. A self-exhibition index was calculated based on responses. The study found that self-exhibition varied based on age, gender, education level, and other factors. Respondents were also grouped into five self-exhibition types - Modest, Traditional Exhibition, Bodily Immodesty, Show-off, and Provocative. Level of self-exhibition correlated with extraversion, social engagement, number of social connections, and amount of
This hybrid critical-interpretive and applied learning interdisciplinary class covered visual communication theories and principles. Students learned about visual cues like color and movement, why bad ads happen to good causes, and how to combat visual stereotypes. Students also learned about design principles, typography, graphic design, and ethics in pictorial journalism, photography, comic books, animation, motion pictures, digital video, websites, social media, and culture jamming. The class culminated in students producing creative projects like flyers, logos, photographs, digital video PSAs, and social media. Overall, students learned to ethically interpret visual culture and create media to promote social change.
Robert Bodle's research focuses on the social and political implications of emerging social media and information technologies. Specifically, he examines privacy issues related to data sharing across social media platforms and how social networks can uphold inclusive and development-oriented societies. He teaches a course on using social media for activism and civic engagement. For service, he chairs social media committees and facilitates workshops on topics like blended learning and Second Life. He also volunteers with organizations helping the homeless and promoting public transportation.
The two-step flow theory of communication proposes that (1) opinion leaders first receive information from the mass media and (2) then pass on their interpretations of that information to less active individuals. The theory was developed by Paul Lazarsfeld, Bernard Berelson, and Hazel Gaudet and further expanded on by Katz and Lazarsfeld. It uses a model where opinion leaders pay close attention to media messages and influence others similar to them, while the "influentials" look to the opinion leaders rather than directly receiving information from the media.
This document provides an agenda for a class on social media that includes discussions on various social media terms and concepts. It outlines activities for students, such as defining social media and discussing the differences between social media "visitors" and "residents". It also lists various readings and resources for students to explore key topics in social media research, such as network analysis, tie strength, and strategic planning for social media initiatives. The document provides links to external resources and materials to support the activities and assignments for the class.
The document summarizes research on whether "filter bubbles" and "echo chambers" are real phenomena on social media and search engines. It finds that while some individual communities or pages can be ideological echo chambers, comprehensive studies show that users are generally exposed to a diversity of views. Polarization is driven more by a small number of ideological groups rejecting mainstream views than by technology fragmentation. The problem is political polarization in society, not communicative isolation due to algorithms or design. Further research is needed on understanding and combating polarization.
Social media refers to online platforms that allow users to create and share content with others. It started as text but now includes audio and video. Key characteristics include participation through comments, ratings, and forums; openness through public sharing and commenting; two-way conversations between many users rather than one-way broadcasts; formation of online communities around common interests; and connectivity through links between sites and people. Popular social media platforms include blogs, social networking sites like Facebook, microblogs like Twitter, forums, wikis, and podcasts. Social media is having a fundamental impact on thoughts and behaviors and is shifting power away from traditional media elites by democratizing communications.
Gatekeeping and Citizen Journalism: A Qualitative Examination of Participator...Amani Channel
This document is a thesis submitted by Amani Channel in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master's degree in Mass Communications. The thesis examines CNN's iReport, which allows the public to submit user-generated content that may be featured on CNN platforms. The goal is to understand how the adoption of participatory media is affecting traditional gatekeeping theory and models in news organizations. The literature review discusses the shift from traditional journalism to citizen journalism as new technologies have enabled public participation. It also covers concepts of convergence media, interactivity, and produsage as ways to describe changes in how news is gathered and distributed across multiple platforms. The study aims to advance empirical models of participatory media and gatekeeping theory through a qualitative analysis
Social media has both positive and negative impacts on society. Positively, it can increase political participation and community involvement. However, it also erodes privacy, as personal information is shared widely, and may weaken human relationships by replacing face-to-face interaction. Additionally, social media enables online deception, cyberbullying, and can damage adolescents' self-esteem by emphasizing negative peer feedback. While social media connects people, it also has serious downsides regarding privacy, relationships, and psychological well-being that must be addressed.
Social media has both positive and negative effects on society. Positively, it can increase political participation and community involvement. However, it also erodes privacy, as personal information is often shared without considering who might access it. Additionally, social media may be negatively impacting personal relationships by replacing face-to-face communication. Some analysts are concerned social media could make deception and fraud easier. It has also led to issues like cyberbullying and decreased self-esteem in some adolescents. Overall, the article discusses many of the complex ways social media influences modern society.
This document summarizes and critiques the article "How Facebook, Fake News and Friends are Warping Your Memory" by Laura Spinney. It discusses how the article examines the concept of memory convergence, where social media allows fabricated news to spread and influence collective memories. The document evaluates whether the original article meets scientific standards through its hypotheses, evidence, and explanations. It agrees the article helps explain how social media affects memory, but disagrees with the claim that collective memories alone form history. It suggests the original could have also discussed the concept of deindividuation to further explain how anonymity on social media allows the spread of misinformation.
This document discusses how social media is shifting journalism from a transmission model to a network model, allowing the public to get more involved in reporting and fact-checking stories. It provides examples of how professionals and readers can work together, with information flowing both from press to people and people to press. The challenges of tools like Twitter are discussed, such as focusing on immediacy over depth and blurring of public and private lives. Opportunities for journalism education around topics like setting privacy on social networks and curating information are also outlined.
Social Media and the U.S. Election: Consuming the CampaignJanelle Ward
slides from November 5, 2012, the third session of the course Social Media and the U.S. Election. The course is taught by Janelle Ward and hosted by the John Adams Institute in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1) The document compares predictors of self-disclosure and privacy settings use between adolescents and adults on social network sites. It finds that adolescents disclose more personal information and have more lenient privacy settings than adults.
2) Several factors were found to affect disclosure and privacy settings, with some differences between adolescents and adults. Gender, age, frequency of use, motives for use, concerns about privacy and contacts, trust in others, and susceptibility to peer influence were investigated as predictors.
3) The study aims to provide better information for developing interventions to encourage appropriate privacy management tailored for different age groups on social network sites.
Cultivation Theory & Gatekeeping DiscussionJuli Whetstone
This document discusses cultivation theory and gatekeeping in media. Cultivation theory suggests that television shapes viewers' perceptions of social reality by presenting attitudes already present in culture. It was developed in the 1960s by George Gerbner who studied the relationship between television, violence, and viewers' perceptions. Cultivation theory can also apply to social media which easily spreads repetition of images and brand portrayals. Gatekeeping refers to how media outlets select which information to present to audiences and influence the salience of issues. The theory originated in the 1920s-1950s and examined propaganda and family discussions, and now applies to how social media users act as gatekeepers by controlling what they see.
This document provides an overview of the topics and readings covered in KCB 206 Week 6. It includes:
- A quick review of the previous week's readings and discussion on publics, counterpublics, and media refusal.
- General feedback on student blogs, noting areas for improvement like engaging more with readings, further research, concise writing, and using blog features.
- An outline of individual feedback sessions for students to discuss their blog posts and work on the upcoming assessed post.
- Details on the following week's topic of new media transgressions and required readings and student presentations.
Election 2012: A Battle of the Social MediaJason Tham
About a decade ago, the hottest thing in political campaign was the Internet (Garecht, 2011). Political consultants and candidates touted the promise of the Web to change the mode of their campaign strategies. From fundraising to propagandizing, web-based campaigning overwhelmed the medium with political messages. Yet, with the sudden hype of Web 2.0 over the past few years, social media became the new hot medium for political campaigning. As the election season approaches, we are seeing an increasing amount of political messages streaming into social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Due to this trend, political parties are spending millions of dollars hiring social media experts to manage and monitor their appearances and respective messages on SNS. Nonetheless, how effective are SNS acting as a new medium for the transmission of these propaganda messages? Do SNS audience receive firsthand information from their political leaders, or through a group of active gatekeepers who screen information and only pass on items that would help others share their views on these sites (Baran & Davis, 2009)? According to an analysis of voters’ decision-making process during a 1940 presidential election campaign, Paul Lazersfeld and his team of researchers revealed evidence suggesting that the flow of mass communication is less direct than we supposed. Known as opinion leaders, this group of active gatekeepers maintains an important role in consuming and filtering propaganda messages on SNS. Drawing from the two-step flow theory of communication process, this study aims to identify opinion leaders within the realm of SNS, their influence toward the electoral progress, and determines if SNS are an effective medium for the generation, replication, and dissemination of political messages.
This document discusses different methods for segmenting publics and audiences. It mentions frameworks for segmenting audiences based on factors like level of interest, power, adoption of innovations (early adopters vs late majority), and demographics. The document also references literature on identifying and segmenting publics and discusses choosing target audiences based on their context, needs, and approaches.
Introduction to MIL: Media, Information and Technology Literacy DepEd-Bataan
This document discusses media and information literacy, responsible use of media and information, digital footprints, digital content, and online source credibility. It emphasizes that with increasing technology, content creation has become easier. However, some information shared online can be unverified or false and should not be spread. It also stresses the importance of being aware that digital footprints are publicly visible records that must be managed carefully, as they can impact jobs and relationships. Proper research, citation of sources, and respecting copyrights are seen as hallmarks of responsible online behavior.
Digital Culture: Dr Robert Finkelstein and Weaponized MemesBGGD
Dr. Robert Finkelstein proposed creating a "Meme Control Center" within the US military in 2011 to combat weaponized memes. A meme is information that propagates and persists, such as ideas, symbols, or images. Finkelstein warned that future warfare would involve manipulating memes through social media to influence minds. Adversaries could use personal data and AI to generate fake media, deploy botnets to spread disinformation, and undermine trust in institutions. Emerging technologies may help detect deepfakes and trace manipulated content, but information warfare poses ongoing challenges.
The document describes a study that examines different forms of self-exhibition on social networking sites. The study involved an online game and survey completed by over 12,000 French respondents. The game presented series of photos for respondents to select which they would publish on their profile. A self-exhibition index was calculated based on responses. The study found that self-exhibition varied based on age, gender, education level, and other factors. Respondents were also grouped into five self-exhibition types - Modest, Traditional Exhibition, Bodily Immodesty, Show-off, and Provocative. Level of self-exhibition correlated with extraversion, social engagement, number of social connections, and amount of
This hybrid critical-interpretive and applied learning interdisciplinary class covered visual communication theories and principles. Students learned about visual cues like color and movement, why bad ads happen to good causes, and how to combat visual stereotypes. Students also learned about design principles, typography, graphic design, and ethics in pictorial journalism, photography, comic books, animation, motion pictures, digital video, websites, social media, and culture jamming. The class culminated in students producing creative projects like flyers, logos, photographs, digital video PSAs, and social media. Overall, students learned to ethically interpret visual culture and create media to promote social change.
Robert Bodle's research focuses on the social and political implications of emerging social media and information technologies. Specifically, he examines privacy issues related to data sharing across social media platforms and how social networks can uphold inclusive and development-oriented societies. He teaches a course on using social media for activism and civic engagement. For service, he chairs social media committees and facilitates workshops on topics like blended learning and Second Life. He also volunteers with organizations helping the homeless and promoting public transportation.
This document discusses the debate around online anonymity. It contrasts the views of Mark Zuckerberg, who believes people should use their real names online, versus Robert Poole ("moot"), the founder of 4chan, who believes anonymity enables authentic self-expression. The document also examines the benefits of anonymity in enabling privacy and freedom of expression as protected by human rights laws. However, it acknowledges anonymity can also enable harmful behaviors by reducing accountability. It argues for a pluralistic approach that balances these considerations and allows for flexible implementation of anonymity depending on the context.
Robert Bodle's research focuses on the social and political implications of emerging social media and information technologies. Specifically, he examines privacy issues related to data sharing across social media platforms and how social networks can uphold inclusive and development-oriented societies. He teaches a course on using social media for activism and civic engagement. For service, he chairs social media committees and facilitates workshops on topics like blended learning and Second Life. He also volunteers with organizations helping the homeless and promoting public transportation.
This document discusses using social media for activism and social change. It covers several key topics:
1) How mainstream media frames issues in a way that disparages protesters, while activists use "collective action frames" to define problems, assign blame, and motivate individuals to act.
2) The concept of "memes" and "temes" in spreading ideas, and how culture jamming techniques like refiguring logos can challenge assumptions.
3) Examples of using Facebook groups and pages to build communities, raise awareness, and motivate online and offline action for social causes.
4) The lab assignment involves integrating social media like selectively tweeting to feed blogs and Facebook pages, and cross-
The document discusses business ethics and online privacy. It covers how search engines like Google and social networks like Facebook collect and use personal information, including details on what specific data they track. It also examines the different approaches to privacy regulation between the EU and US. The document questions whether self-regulation by companies is sufficient to protect privacy or if stronger laws are needed, given how much data is collected and the potential consequences of privacy breaches.
Social media can be an effective tool for scientists to communicate their work to the public. While only 18% of Americans can name a living scientist, scientists are highly trusted as a group. By using social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, scientists can make their work more transparent and accessible to non-experts. Posts should include a variety of content from sharing research to having discussions in order to educate audiences like family and friends as well as evaluate ideas with colleagues. Social media allows scientists to become a trusted source of information and normalize discussions about science.
This document discusses how social media platforms can function as echo chambers for news consumption. It notes that people are often exposed primarily to opinions and stories from friends with similar backgrounds, limiting diversity of views. The use of algorithms by platforms like Facebook to select content users have engaged with before reinforces this effect. While social media has increased access to news, it has also lowered barriers for misinformation to spread alongside reliable content without differentiation or oversight. However, some argue this also makes more people engaged with news who otherwise wouldn't be.
Aaron Smith from the Pew Research Center presented findings on how social media and technology have changed political engagement and advocacy. He discussed trends showing growing internet and smartphone usage. While most social media users are not highly politically engaged, those on the ideological "edges" are more likely to take political action or discuss issues online. Social networks allow people to connect with like-minded individuals but can also increase political polarization. Effective outreach requires understanding where one's target audience spends time online and relevance of the message to different platforms.
To post or not to post: Social workers’ perceptions on the use of a closed Fa...husITa
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Science and the Public: Why Every Lab Should TweetChristie Wilcox
“…if scientists could communicate more in their own voices—in a familiar tone, with a less specialized vocabulary—would a wide range of people understand them better? Would their work be better understood by the general public, policy-makers, funders, and, even in some cases, other scientists?”
-Alan Alda
The Benefits and Barriers for Social Media for ScientistsCraig McClain
Social media provides both benefits and challenges for scientists. It allows for quick connection and collaboration with other researchers, but does not directly correlate with increased citations. While it can help with outreach, communicating science to the public remains challenging. Many scientists see communication as filling knowledge deficits in the public, but this "deficit model" may not be effective. Effective social media use for outreach requires understanding audience and goals.
The Failure of Skepticism: Rethinking Information Literacy and Political Pol...Chris Sweet
Fake news has been shown to spread far faster than facts on social media platforms. Rampant fake news has led to deep political polarization and the undermining of basic democratic institutions. Skepticism is an important component of information literacy and has often been pointed to as the antidote to the fake news epidemic. Why are skepticism and information literacy failing so terrifically in this post-truth era?
The presenters will summarize research drawn from the fields of psychology and mass communication that shows just how hardwired people are to believe information from their own “tribes” and resist outside contrary information.
How we think about and teach skepticism and information literacy is in need of an overhaul for the twenty-first century. This webinar will introduce some ideas for that overhaul and will also provide practical classroom activities that do a better job of addressing the cognitive aspects of information literacy and skepticism.
Social media has both benefits and drawbacks according to the document. While it allows for quick information sharing and community organizing, it also threatens privacy and enables cyberbullying. The document discusses concerns that social media is damaging communication skills in youth and eroding traditional cultural values in Africa. Studies found that over half of high school students experienced cyberbullying in the past year, which increased risks of depression, drug abuse, and suicide. Social media also introduces strains to relationships when negative events occur over networking sites, most often between friends or romantic partners known both online and offline. Overall, the document suggests that social media's negatives may outweigh its positives, especially regarding effects on children and youth.
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Only Connect: Reaching New Audiences via Public Relations & External Communic...Kara Gavin
Presented to faculty, staff and students on Sept. 15, 2016, as part of the University of Michigan Medical School's Communicating Science series. Addresses how academics can and should engage in the public sphere directly and with the help of institutional communicators. (https://medicine.umich.edu/medschool/research/events/public-relations-external-audience-communication )
A recording of my talk is available at https://medicine.umich.edu/medschool/research/office-research/research-news-events/communicating-science-seminar-series
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Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet Project, will discuss the Project’s research about how people use technology and the different ways they allocate their attention, connect with organizations, and act as citizens. He will explore how civic institutions can navigate this complicated, diversified environment.
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In this talk, we discuss the current state of affairs and discuss how we improve upon it.
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This research examines the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on Twitter and its impact on the social climate for African American students at predominantly white institutions (PWIs), specifically the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). Through surveys of UW-Madison's African American community and analysis of literature on Black Twitter and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, the researcher finds that racial microaggressions and subtle diversity efforts negatively impact students' comfort levels, and that #BlackLivesMatter has changed the social climate at PWIs by providing a space for discussions of racial injustices.
This document summarizes the findings of a 2003-2006 study on media consumption and public engagement. The study was replicated across Europe, the Americas, and New Zealand. It used both quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (interviews, diaries) methods to examine how people understand and engage with public issues through their media diets. Key findings included that digital media do not replace traditional sources; social media consumption does not imply online deliberation; and communicative deliberation does not necessarily lead to political engagement. The study also found that traditional models in political science do not fully capture new forms of participation emerging online.
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Open APIs allow for interoperability and data sharing between social media sites and services. This can drive competition, innovation, and reduce costs by preventing vendor lock-in. However, open APIs and social plugins can also raise privacy and autonomy concerns if users' information is shared without permission or if they lose control over how their data is used. For interoperability to be effective it needs to be transparent, protect users' privacy and security, and give users control over their information and how it is shared.
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This document outlines the syllabus and content for a communications course. It provides an overview of topics to be covered in chapters 1-4 including how humans see images, the eye and brain processing of visual information, and the four visual cues of color, form, depth, and movement. It describes an upcoming activity to analyze an image and discusses a case study on public service print advertisements. Assignments include reading chapters, posting to the class blog, and submitting journal entries. Key concepts to be covered are the psychological and cultural impact of color, how lines and shapes direct viewer attention, and the eight depth cues including perspective, size, lighting and more.
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The document discusses various photography composition techniques including types of shots, rule of thirds, depth of field, framing, and leading lines. It provides details on establishing shots, long shots, medium shots, close-ups and extreme close-ups. The rule of thirds and achieving visual balance is covered. Depth of field concepts like foreground and background are explained. Framing techniques such as headroom and noseroom are outlined. The document concludes with an assignment to create a photo series exploring emotional content and analyzing how composition techniques were used.
The document discusses various photography composition techniques including types of shots, rule of thirds, depth of field, framing, and leading lines. It provides details on establishing shots, long shots, medium shots, close-ups and extreme close-ups. The rule of thirds and achieving visual balance is covered. Depth of field concepts like foreground and background are explained. Framing techniques such as headroom and noseroom are outlined. The document concludes with an assignment to create a photo series exploring emotional content and analyzing how composition techniques were used.
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LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
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core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
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Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
Reimagining Your Library Space: How to Increase the Vibes in Your Library No ...Diana Rendina
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Healing is the body’s response to injury in an attempt to restore normal structure and functions.
Healing can occur in two ways: Regeneration and Repair
There are 4 phases of wound healing: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. This document also describes the mechanism of wound healing. Factors that affect healing include infection, uncontrolled diabetes, poor nutrition, age, anemia, the presence of foreign bodies, etc.
Complications of wound healing like infection, hyperpigmentation of scar, contractures, and keloid formation.
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A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
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An import error occurs when a program fails to import a module or library, disrupting its execution. In languages like Python, this issue arises when the specified module cannot be found or accessed, hindering the program's functionality. Resolving import errors is crucial for maintaining smooth software operation and uninterrupted development processes.
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In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
This presentation was provided by Steph Pollock of The American Psychological Association’s Journals Program, and Damita Snow, of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for the initial session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session One: 'Setting Expectations: a DEIA Primer,' was held June 6, 2024.
1. “Social Media, Self-Segregation and
the Spiral of Silence ”
Robert Bodle, PhD (USC)
Associate Professor of Communication and New
Media Studies, Mount St. Joseph University
@robertbodle
2. overview
• News on Twitter & Facebook
• Self-segregation, Algorithmic Filtering, &
Ferguson
• The Spiral of Silence & Snowden-NSA
Revelations
• What my students say
• Implications (for news exposure)
4. Other key findings . . .
Differences among Twitter and FB users-
1) Twitter news users more likely (than
those on FB) to report seeing news about:
•national government and politics (72% vs.
61%),
•international affairs (63% vs. 51%),
•business (55% vs. 42%)
•sports (70% vs. 55%)
2) Growth of Twitter news use cuts across
every demographic group; however FB
news use skews toward younger users
3) Re: news about gov and politics - more
people on Twitter directly follow news
outlets, than on FB (46% to 28%)
5. Where was Ferguson in my FB feed?
Algorithmic filtering via
procedural inputs:
- popularity, relevance,
recency
“A complex interplay between the
platform’s designs and your own
behavior” (Jesse Holcomb, 2014)
“Facebook’s algorithm tends
toward more positive items in
the newsfeed” Martin, 2014;
Casey, 2014).
“Facebook Wants You to
Be Happy” (Martin, 2014)
6. “Facebook is for Ice Buckets, Twitter
is for Ferguson” (McDermott, 2014)
• Roughly 8x more
posts about
Ferguson than
ALS Ice Bucket
Challenge
• However the
stories received
roughly the same
exposure on
Facebook
• Ice Bucket
challenge more
heavily promoted
by FB’s algorithms
(by a factor of 8x)
than Ferguson.
7. Other reasons for news disparity
• Inability to search
Facebook
• Non reciprocol
following easier to
diversify who to
follow on Twitter
• Homophily - 75%
of white Americans
have entirely white
social networks.
8. Social Media & the “Spiral of Silence”
(Noelle-Neumann,1974)
• Previous ‘spiral of silence’
findings offline also apply to
social media users.
• People less willing to discuss
the Snowden-NSA story in
social media than in person
(86% to 42%).
• Social media did not provide an
alternative discussion platform
for those reluctant to discuss
the issues in person.
• Social media users less likely to
discuss Snowden – NSA Story
F2F (.74 times)
Study asked participants about
the revelations by Edward Snowden
of NSA Spying
9. How might social media help contribute to
your own self-segregation and spiral of
silence?
“I know from my experience that the people I
am "friends" with are not the people who I want
to share my viewpoint with. My dad's side of
the family is older southern Baptists and they
have vastly different viewpoints on the world
than I do. I know for a fact that I don't
want to talk about Ferguson on my
Facebook with them because they only
see one side of the story.”
10. My students
“I usually choose to remain quiet because I do
not want to offend others, but also because I
am worried about receiving some of that
vitriol. As a result, I usually keep my thoughts
to myself, but I also do not tweet that much
about issues outside of my general interests. I
try to maintain my Twitter feed as funny (to
me) little jokes about sports or things I see on
the Internet and look to be inoffensive with
what I post.”
11. My students (cont.)
“When there are major social issues or news events, a
common belief begins to appear amongst many
prominent people on Twitter . . . Once that argument is
established, you will see many people choose to not
comment on the story or if they do, they will often be
bombarded with negative feedback. As a result, people
choose to sit out the discussion over these issues or
they resort to simply being trolls on the platform.
I believe that has become more common . . . people feel
uncomfortable sharing views that are unpopular or
contrarian because they fear the reactions of those they
are speaking to. I think there is less diversity
amongst opinions being shared now and it is
problematic that groupthink is becoming so wide-spread.”
13. “Social Media, Self-Segregation and
the Spiral of Silence ”
Robert Bodle, PhD (USC)
Associate Professor of Communication and New
Media Studies, Mount St. Joseph university
robert.bodle@msj.edu
@robertbodle
Thank you for your attention.
Editor's Notes
Hello, my name is Robert Bodle, Great to be with you. I am happy to be on the panel Innovative and Unexpected Uses of Social Media sponsored by the Communication and Future Division with colleagues from Miami University.
I teach at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati OH, and as an Adjunct at Miami University, in Oxford OH. I am also (an outgoing) Co-Chair of the Internet Rights and Principles Coalition under the UN’s Internet Governance Forum. Over the last ten years I have researched the human rights implications of sociotechnical systems like social network sites, focusing primarily on Privacy and Freedom of Expression.
I have written previously about Predictive Algorithms and Personalization Services on Social Network Sites (implications for users and society), featured in this collection.
In this chapter I specifically look at the broader implications of algorithmic filtering on Facebook, but today I’d like to share some related insights that arose from teaching New Media sources, recognizing my students evolving “info-diet” --as Howard Rheingold puts it--of news and information, and share some studies that elaborate on trends in news consumption in the digital age.
NEXT SLIDE
I’ll first look at the evolving role of News on Twitter and Facebook
Two case studies 1) coverage of Michael Brown’s death and related events in Ferguson Missouri
2) The Snowden-NSA revelations
A recent study by Facebook’s own Research Team
And some insights from my own classes and the implications for future news and information dissemination
NEXT SLIDE
--
Personalization is when online content conforms to the prior actions of the user
in an algorithmically generated feedback loop, also known as mass customization.
These services can be quite convenient and include:
Google’s personalized search,
behavioral advertising,
featured recommendations on Amazon.com,
taste preferences on Netflix,
headlines on Yahoo! News,
Twitter Trends,
and Facebook’s News Feed rankings
Personalization services depend on tracking users browsing histories, purchasing data, and social media production
so it comes at a price – user privacy, autonomy, and freedom
personalization poses difficulties for research due to the issue of opacity of the underlying technological processes
-the proprietary black box of Facebook’s algorithms, which provides an indication of asymmetrical power relations between Facebook and its users – we don’t know really know how it really works.
Yet, can identify the underlying market logic of personalization, which is to provide an environment that can guide user interactions toward commercial ends:
The goal of personalization on facebook (evident in public remarks by the company) is to encourage people to share or engage more w/their friends
to produce even more information to sell us (we are the product) for highly targeted ads.
According to a recent poll (July 14, 2015) conducted by the Pew Research Center, the share of Americans for whom Twitter and Facebook serve as a source of news is continuing to rise.
Each platform serves as a source for news, with differences in news distribution strengths – for example, more people follow Twitter for breaking news (as it happens coverage and commentary on live events) than on FB.
Other key findings include:
NEXT SLIDE
Other key findings include:
4/11 . . .Platforms are roughly comparable for the remaining seven topics covered: people and events in your community, local weather and traffic, entertainment, crime, local government, science and technology, and health and medicine
News use growth among all users on Twitter, and mostly younger users on FB
People on Twitter more likely to directly follow news organizations, reporters or commentators however FB users more interactive commenting on
So–
1) Twitter use more important for national and international news,
2) Twitter news use growth demographically even, whereas more young people taking to FB for news,
3) and more Twitter users follow news sources directly (as opposed to friends and family).
Final thought – as platforms recognize and adapt their role in the news environment, they will begin to offer unique features that may influence changes in news use.
One key feature would be personalization algorithms for personalized news feeds which might explain why many people might have seen the Ice Bucket Challenge in the FB news feed but no sign of the Ferguson story
NEXT SLIDE
Last year many observers noticed differences in the news content of their Facebook and Twitter feeds
-for example many people saw many posts of the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise funds for the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease in their FB news feed and nothing about Ferguson MO.
Sociologist Seynep Tufekci suggests this delayed reaction on FB is due to the platforms’ algorithmic filtering, that the platform filters out stories based on our own preferences – that our own behavior, and that the news results are a result of the
“a complex interplay between the platform’s designs and your own behavior” (Jess Holcomb, 2014)
Algorithmic filtering can be understood as a personalization service that curates content based on our own prior interests, activities and interaction, however our own activities and interactions can be structured, shaped in a way the can filter or minimize news exposure about important events.
Carla D Martin on her course blog – Race and Technology at Harvard, suggests that FB’s algorithm may hide the opinions of those with whom we disagree, that the algorithm tends toward more positive items, that FB wants you to be happy.
NEXT SLIDE
Ethan Zuckerman, co-founder of Global Voices and director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, suggests that the slow uptake for the story on FB as opposed to the early coverage on Twitter could be a result of algorithmic censorship – citing analysis by John McDermott of Digiday (Digital marketing firm in NY),
That although there were roughly eight times as many stories about events in Ferguson posted to Facebook as stories about the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, the stories received roughly the same exposure.
The average story about the Ice Bucket Challenge was much more heavily promoted by Facebook’s algorithms (a factor of 8x) than the average story about Ferguson
Again to account for the disparity FB’s algorithm gave the Bucket Challenge story more prominence by its placement at the top of the Newsfeed, and thus censored exposure to Ferguson (thereby posing a danger to democratic discourse)
But there are other factors having to do with the design and use of the platform, suggests Zuckerman –
Inability to search FB, whereas easy to find on Twitter
Non reciprocal Non-reciprocal following makes it easier to diversify who you follow on Twitter (and use of hashtags)
People have a small # of friends of FB (average 200) and many White american Facebook users likely have few or no African-American Facebook friends, according to a 2013 American Values Survey.
AND Facebook’s algorithms support our own self-segregation by race, class, etc. by favoring stories that our similar friends are sharing. FB is not causing this behavior but helping to shaping it.
Another reason – for this disparity could be
NEXT SLIDE
Ethan Zuckerman, co-founder of Global Voices and director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, suggests that the slow uptake for the story on FB as opposed to the early coverage on Twitter could be a result of algorithmic censorship – citing analysis by John McDermott of Digiday (Digital marketing firm in NY),
That although there were roughly eight times as many stories about events in Ferguson posted to Facebook as stories about the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, the stories received roughly the same exposure.
The average story about the Ice Bucket Challenge was much more heavily promoted by Facebook’s algorithms (a factor of 8x) than the average story about Ferguson
Again to account for the disparity FB’s algorithm gave the Bucket Challenge story more prominence by its placement at the top of the Newsfeed, and thus censored exposure to Ferguson (thereby posing a danger to democratic discourse)
But there are other factors having to do with the design and use of the platform, suggests Zuckerman –
Inability to search FB, whereas easy to find on Twitter
Non reciprocal Non-reciprocal following makes it easier to diversify who you follow on Twitter (and use of hashtags)
People have a small # of friends of FB (average 200) and many White american Facebook users likely have few or no African-American Facebook friends, according to a 2013 American Values Survey.
AND Facebook’s algorithms support our own self-segregation by race, class, etc. by favoring stories that our similar friends are sharing. FB is not causing this behavior but exacerbating it .
Another reason – for this disparity could be
NEXT SLIDE
According to a report “Social Media and the Spiral of Silence” by researchers at Pew Research Center and Rutgers University
The study set out to investigate the effect of the Internet on the so-called spiral silence
– a theory that people are less likely to express their views if they believe them to differ from those of their friends and family and colleagues. And that they will silence themselves and shy away from expressing divergent or unpopular opinions.
The study asked participants about the revelations of government spying made by Edward Snowden, and found that (read above)
The most damning thing about this study is the suggestion that those who use social media (Facebook and Twitter) regularly are more reluctant to express dissenting views in the offline world
And that the spiral of silence is not mirroring the offline world but that the Internet is shutting many of us up more than we would be reluctant to express dissenting views in person, face to face,.
NEXT SLIDE
predictive analytics reveals a fundamental assymetrical power and inequality between users and fb
FB has unprecedented access to and control over user data, whereas people have little power over their own data, how it is gathered, and how it is being used
(with myriad implications for user privacy, freedom, and autonomy)
As users become more transparent and understandable, Facebook’s data-handling practices grow more sophisticated and opaque;
People have no clue their facebook feeds are being culled, curated, and filtered.
As something mentioned this morning, without freedom of expression, you can’t be radical, you can’t be anything.
Political theorists see facebook filtering of relevancy a way to conceal rivalrous information and diverse points of view
That can contribute to polarization of political beliefs – an extension of the segmentation and social sorting already taking place in physical communities.
Algorithms and personalization filters can also filter out ideology as well as censor offensive content filtering different points of view, including incivility,
Social segmentation through personalized ads can also reinforce boundaries between social groups
And deepen social divisions based on differences between people based on race, class, age, education, location, and political ideology.
Increased social divisions are likely to result in a less tolerant society, where stereotypes, prejudice, suspicion, and hatred of the other can flourish.
algorithmic inferences about people can reinforce traditional patterns of discrimination in the market place, where some groups are not valued as highly as others.
big data can be used instrumentally to predict behavior but also to coerce in terms of social behavior that can direct consumer behavior and political belief
Asymmetrical power and inequality
Surveillance - informational privacy and safety, autonomy, volition
Censorship; algorithmic gate-keeping (Morozov, 2012)
Group polarization and deliberative democracy (Bollinger, 2010; Benkler, 2001; Pariser, 2011; Sunstein, 2009)
Homophily and intolerance (Nakamura, 2002)
Social segmentation and discrimination (Gandy, 2003; McStay, 2013; Sweeney, 2013, Terranova, 2004)
Scientificity (Schroeder, 2013)
Coercion (Mayer-Schonberger & Cukier, 2013)