Gatekeeping Theory

 

                The Gatekeeping Theory is a concept that has been studied in different fields of science, such as sociology and political science. It has also been studied by the media. The Gatekeeping Theory is a way of understanding how information is filtered and distributed throughout society. This theory suggests that there are "gates" or barricades that control the narrative and flow of information from the source to its audience. 

                Examples of these gates could be a television studio, newspaper printing press, or even a social network like friends and colleagues. The Gatekeepers are classified individuals that may control these gates. Therefore, these keepers have the power and ability to change what the public sees from different news sources. When it comes to the media, the Gatekeeping Theory is very pertinent. As the main news source for most people, it plays a crucial role in forming public opinion and political decision-making. It makes you think, how much is the media not telling us? 

                This media is not an objective source of information. The information you receive is subject to the biased agendas of the gatekeepers. This may result in a huge shift within politics and the public votes. If a certain news outlet has a bias toward a certain political party, it will only report the stories that positively reflect it and disregard the critical stories. This misinformation of different parties will lead to skeptical opinions and decisions. In the same way, gatekeeping will impact public perception of important real-world issues. When a news channel only covers certain issues and ignores others, it can create false stories and distorted views of what's truly happening in the world. Gatekeeping limits perspectives spreads misinformation, and will ultimately impact our future. The government promotes certain candidates to win the presidency as we have seen in the past. Nowadays people really listen to anything they hear, that is why it's so important to truly know where your news is coming from. These gates and gatekeepers will leave out the information you need to hear and instead feed you other stories. 

                This gatekeeping can limit the diversity of voices and perspectives that are represented in the media. Political parties are affected by this, and even everyday people. If gatekeepers only allow certain voices to be heard it will create a homogenous narrative that does not accurately reflect the opinions of society. The craziest new story that the media has impacted is the Hunter Biden story. There have been multiple scandals reported with Biden that have just recently been making more headway in the news. It will most definitely affect his fathers' presidency. Some marginalized groups' voices may be silenced because they do not have access to the gates which results in negative consequences. In conclusion, the gatekeeping theory highlights the power of the gatekeepers to shape the flow of information and the public understanding of events and issues. It's important for people to understand this power and to evaluate the information they consume to avoid being influenced by biased narratives.

What I learned EOTO #2

  EOTO #2

News Deserts: As a society, we rely on the media to keep us informed about what is happening in the world around us. We expect the news to be accurate, objective, and unbiased. However, the term "news deserts" refers to areas where access to reliable, local news and information is limited or non-existent.

News deserts can have a detrimental impact on the communities they affect. Without access to local news, people may be unaware of important events and decisions that affect their daily lives. This can lead to a lack of civic engagement and a disconnect between the community and its leaders.

Furthermore, news deserts can contribute to the spread of misinformation. Without access to reputable sources of news and information, people may turn to social media or other unreliable sources for their information. This can lead to the spread of false or misleading information, which can have serious consequences.

One solution to the problem of news deserts is for media organizations to invest in local journalism. This could include hiring local reporters and providing them with the resources they need to produce high-quality, accurate, and objective news. By doing so, media organizations can help to bridge the gap between communities and the information they need to stay informed and engaged.

In conclusion, news deserts are a serious problem that can have negative consequences for communities and individuals. It is important for media organizations to recognize this issue and take steps to address it in order to ensure that everyone has access to the news and information they need.

AI: Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a rapidly developing field that has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. AI refers to the ability of a computer or machine to mimic human cognition, including learning, problem-solving, and decision-making.

One of the most exciting developments in the field of AI is the use of machine learning. This involves using algorithms to analyze large amounts of data and identify patterns and trends. By doing this, machines can learn to make predictions and take actions without being explicitly programmed to do so.

                                        

Another area of AI research is natural language processing, which involves teaching computers to understand and generate human language. This has applications in areas such as speech recognition, machine translation, and virtual assistants.

Despite these exciting developments, there are also concerns about the potential negative impact of AI. One concern is the potential for machines to replace human workers, leading to job loss and economic disruption. Additionally, there are concerns about the ethics of AI and the potential for machines to make decisions that may have negative consequences for humans.

Overall, AI is a fascinating and rapidly evolving field that has the potential to bring many benefits, but also raises important ethical questions. It is important for researchers and policymakers to continue to address these concerns as AI technology continues to develop.    

Final Post - Relationship With Technology

The way we interact with technology is complicated. On one hand, technology has improved our quality of life in a variety of ways. We now have access to a wealth of knowledge and can communicate with individuals all over the world thanks to it. In many ways, this has improved our intelligence and knowledge. We have access to an almost infinite understanding of just about any topic imaginable thanks to the internet. Technology has not only increased our access to information but also made it simpler for us to process and analyze it. With the help of computers and other tools, we can rapidly and efficiently sort through vast amounts of data to uncover patterns and make connections. Due to this, we are now more effective learners and have access to insights that were before impractical.

However, technology can also have unfavorable effects. It can be distracting and addictive, and it can reduce our ability to be in the present. We might see that we spend more time looking at screens and less time engaging with the environment. I am very glad I grew up in the era before phones. Kids nowadays have phones way too early in their life at ages 12 or younger! All I had was an iPod Nano that played music and watch the Jetsons. There are numerous detrimental health impacts that can result from excessive technology use, especially among younger people, according to studies. These include things like difficulty sleeping, mental illness, and a decline in physical activity. Especially among college students technology is very hard to put down. As you see 38% of college students cannot go 10 minutes without checking their phones. Maybe this is fear of missing out on something or they could be just going back to scroll for hours. Walking around campus it's very rare to see someone walking without earbuds or looking down at their phone. Students don't watch where they're going and often risk getting in a crash with a car. 

The amount of information available online is one of the main issues with technology. This can be an excellent resource, but it can also be confusing and overwhelming. There are so many different sources of news and information, you have to be careful about who you listen to. As we talked about earlier in the semester, gatekeeping is real and there are some different perspectives and truths you may not be hearing. It can be challenging to sift through all the material on the internet to get the truth because not all of it is credible or accurate.

The problem of online presence and online footprint raises further concerns. We generate an increasing amount of data as we use technology. This can be used to monitor our behaviors, thoughts, and even movements. This could be a privacy issue and could also be utilized for evil deeds like identity theft. It can be quite challenging to take something back once it has been published online. Even if you remove the original post, copies can still be accessible online or on other people's devices. It is possible to follow your habits, ideas, and movements by looking at the things you put online. Both businesses and hackers may use this information to target you with advertisements or to steal your identity. Unexpected outcomes can result from your internet postings. You might unintentionally divulge sensitive information about yourself or others, even if you don't plan to. In general, because of the potential repercussions and the permanence of the internet, it is crucial to practice caution while posting anything online. Our connection with technology is complicated overall. Although it offers numerous advantages, there are also drawbacks that we must be aware of and take steps to mitigate.

Living in the age of AI

 The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way since its early days. The origins of AI can be traced back to the 1950s, when researchers first began to explore the idea of using computers to mimic human cognition. In the decades since, AI has advanced dramatically, with the development of technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing.

One of the biggest advantages of AI is its ability to automate tasks that would be time-consuming or difficult for humans to do. This has the potential to improve efficiency and productivity in many industries, from manufacturing to healthcare. Additionally, AI has the potential to help us solve complex problems and make better decisions, by analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns and trends that humans might not be able to see.

However, there are also potential downsides to the development of AI. One concern is the potential for AI to replace human workers, leading to job loss and economic disruption. Additionally, there are concerns about the ethics of AI, and the potential for machines to make decisions that may have negative consequences for humans.

Another important issue related to AI is privacy. As AI technology continues to develop, there are concerns about the collection and use of personal data, and the potential for this data to be used in ways that are not in the best interests of the individuals it belongs to. Additionally, there are concerns about online security and identity theft, as AI systems become increasingly sophisticated and more integrated into our daily lives.

Overall, the advancement of AI technology brings many potential benefits, but also raises important ethical and practical concerns. It is important for researchers, policymakers, and the general public to continue to think carefully about the implications of AI and to ensure that its development is done in a responsible and ethical way.

The Diffusion of Innovations Theory

   Throughout the creation and thought process of new ideas The Diffusion of Innovations Theory may play a pinnacle role in the products success. It seeks to explain why new ideas are adopted in different timelines over a period of time. Google is a great example of this theory. Googles initial goal was to organize information while making the service useful and easily accessible. Throughout the years they have expanded into Google Maps, Google Drive, and so much more. The expansion with these other sits and functions have made Google much more recognizable and developed their brand. Just five years after the company started they amassed about 200 million searches a day. As there are many positives and negatives of technology, Google has impacted the world in ways we never would have thought. There are five main elements that influence the spread of a new idea.

1. The innovation itself

2. Adopters

3. Communication channels

4. Time

5. Social System 

There are some consumers that want to be the first group to try the new innovation. There is little effort to try to attract this group because they have already expressed interest. These groups of individuals are impressed with new innovations and are eager to try them when they first release. Early adopters enjoy embracing new ideas and love to share with other like minded people. 

The early majority of people are not the first but are also still ahead of the average group that will adapt in the future. The late majority of people are not as open to trying new things and need more convincing of why they should use the idea. Laggards are the last group of individuals that are very traditional and need more convincing than others. Innovators play an important role in today's advancement in social media. With the recent uproar in TikTok rapidly growing, everyone is downloading the app. It quickly changed from a dancing app to a platform for businesses, creators, or even parents. TikTok is quickly growing and expanding from innovators to laggards by the day.

TikTok is a great example. More and more people download this app each day. It started with innovators and has transferred down the line of influence. These videos are easily shared with friends and family and it is easy to get stuck scrolling for hours. At this point if someone you know doesn't have TikTok you'd be surprised. There were people on the TikTok wave early and made dance videos in 2016. There are again many benefits of this type of social media, but also very easy to get lost in the sauce. Be aware of how long you are using technology and what you're using it for.

Privacy, Online and Off

 

                                                                  Do You Really Live in Privacy?

                        It has become more prominent and well-known over the past couple of years about companies invading our privacy and personal data. A big concern with social media is the fact that people are unaware of how much personal information they exert on the internet. Nowadays many people seem to have no sense of security when it comes to their personal information. People used to be much more cautious about what they post and what they shared. Platforms have made it easy to share a lot of information and you're not even aware.

                    For instance, sharing your location. There have been deaths that are caused by sharing locations. Well-known rapper Pop Smoke was killed in a home invasion on February 19, 2020. This happened because his address was on an Amiri tag that he posted to his story, where multiple fugitives showed up and then caused the scene. What people do not understand is that all of this information you spread is being recorded by these companies for multiple purposes. 

                    Companies use this information for targeted advertising. By collecting this data they are informed about the users habits, location, and even interests. Have you ever wanted a product really bad, and then you see it on your Instagram ads? A company seeing this may start feeding you ads for that exact product after they see your interest. The weirdest part is that you never asked for those ads, they came out of nowhere. It's almost like someone is watching you... Or keeping tab of what you research...

                   

                                             

 Some of these corporations can use the info users put out on social media to create detailed profiles. Their political views and interests are at risk of being seen. The companies might even sell this information to third parties or targeting a specific audience with a message. Potentially the most well-known stealing of information was in 2018, with Cambridge Analytica stealing millions of personal data from Facebook users without their consent. This data allegedly helped create targeted political advertising campaigns during the 2016 presidential election. This sparked investigations around the world about Facebook and its access to users personal information.  Users should be more aware of the information they put online, it may truly never go away. 

                    

                    

The Diffusion of Innovations - Instagram

 

The Diffusion of Innovations

                           October 6, 2010. A date that will forever go down in history. This day will be forever remembered in the world of social media. 22 years later and the platform is booming better than ever. Kevin Systrom is the main man behind the creation of this app. Kevin expanded on his ideas and produced Instagram, with the help of his Stanford classmate Mike Krieger. The rough draft on Instagram was called Burbn. This was because of Kevins love for whiskey and bourbon. 

The real "a-ha" moment came to Kevin while on the beach with his now wife, Nicole, in Mexico. Nicole was frustrated that her pictures did not look as good as one of Kevins friends. Mr. Systrom explained that Greg had photo editing apps and that's why they had filters on them. Nicole advised Kevin that they should have editing abilities on the new app. X-Pro II is still on Instagram today. Kevin and Mike wanted to create a photo sharing platform. Throughout a couple months Instagram amassed over a million users heading into December. People fell in love with how easy it was to share their favorite pictures and share with their friends around the world. No contact needed, only a follow!

This invention changed the way we communicate, market, and so much more. Users are able to correspond with each other via dm or even in the comments of a post. Businesses are able to post ads about recent drops or news and so much more. It is rare to see a business or corporation without social media platforms nowadays. If you are not a user of social media platforms in this day in age it is very odd. Your page is your brand. You are able to create a business for yourself on your page, and connect with so many other people. You are even able to purchase clothing from your favorite brands or keep in touch with your favorite different creators. But does this app full of unlimited opportunities have any negative impact on its users?

The main demographic of instagram users   are ages 18-34. Some Instagram users are constantly impacted by the beauty standard Instagram users set. "Compare and Despair" is what Dr. Ruth Gursen explains as the impact photo apps make with pictures of perfect bodies. Instagrams influence may be impacting depression, anxiety, and even suicide rates in young girls. This brings up a conversation about social comparison and social media pressures within society. Some Instagram "influencers" set a ridiculous beauty boundary with edited posts and filters. These viewers then compare themselves to the 5 star photoshoots and perfect bodies they see in their feed. Influencers boast their "perfect" lives to their thousands of followers daily. Are the followers even real? Is their lifestyle real? Much of it is just a facade to look lavish on the feed. Creators have been exposed in the past for scamming their viewers for financial gain as well. You are able to create connections and opportunities through Instagram, but at what point is it too much?