Diffusion of Innovations - Blog Post #8

 Social media has completely changed the world we live in today.  Snapchat, X, Instagram, not one of these was around 20 years ago, yet nowadays billions of people use them every day. How did that come to be? And why do some people not use them? 

To understand this, we can look at Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Created by sociologist Everett Rogers, this theory explains how new ideas and technologies are spread throughout society. It groups individuals into five groups: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. When Facebook first came out in 2004, the innovators were Harvard college students. Then came the early adopters which are other students in college and young adults interested in experimenting. They were interested by the idea of hanging out with friends online. It was new, fast, and cool. As more and more got informed, the more people wanted to stay in touch with family members, post photos, and not miss out. 

The more people that were on social media, the more pressure there was for others to follow. Businesses jumped on board, celebrities marketed themselves using it, and schools even used it for sending messages. By the time the late majority arrived, it became almost necessary to have a social media presence just to be relevant in society. The laggards, the last group, either joined way later or never. This is the group I would categorize my parents in. 

Yes, if they signed up, they could remain in touch with friends, share ideas, possibly even gain followers. But they also love how disconnected they can be because they are not glued to their phones. However, how much would it cost? Statistics show that using social media can increase anxiety levels, isolate users, and even impact one's self-esteem. It is also filled with ads, propaganda, and the constant pressure of self-comparison. This is something my parents do not want. 

Well it could that they prefer human interaction or privacy,  that is the reason they are not social medias number one fan. Diffusion Theory explains to us why individuals adopt new technologies,  but also why they don't always. At times, not adopting something is a statement. It's a case of knowing your values, your limits, and what you'd like to be doing with your life.

War In America and The Money It Brings In - Blog Post #7

Fast forward to today. The United States is in war all over the world, in the Middle East, Africa, and even parts of Europe. But if you turn on the TV or check out most of the major news websites, you don't hear about it. Why not?

 If you surf over to sites like Antiwar.com and The American Conservative, you find something else. They both have angry writers who hate endless war. Democratic and Republican leaders alike get heavily criticized on both websites for voting in support of militarism, and they pose unvarnished questions: Why do we have a presence left in Iraq? What's the situation in Syria? Why are there American military bases in over 70 countries? 

These are voices that never find their way onto CNN, MSNBC, or even Fox News. That should surprise you, if you've never heard of these sites, anyway. And that's a big question: Why do we have to sort through websites no one has heard of to hear sound arguments against war? 

One of the explanations is money and power. The mainstream media are owned by giant corporations. These corporations have close connections to the military-industrial and government agencies that profit from war. When war is profitable, it's no surprise that voices are silenced. After all, challenging the establishment might not be good for ratings or for profits. 

Political bias could be another factor. The majority of news outlets have become extremely filtered, with less interest in real debate about foreign policy and more interest in party melodrama. Non-left-right antiwar views are frequently overlooked. Websites like Antiwar.com and The American Conservative won't play by those rules, most likely because they are ignored. 

Lastly, people aren't simply taught to challenge U.S. foreign policy tough questions. We sort of learn in school that America is the protector of freedom and our citizens, therefore, people don’t want to challenge that theory. We don't really talk about so much the long-term cost of war,  or the human cost of drone attacks, occupations, and embargoes. So when you challenge the idea of America as a global "peacekeeper," it can be a tricky conversation.

EOTO Presentations - Blog Post #6

During presentations a fellow student talked about the progression of motion pictures and how movies have changed over time, and they brought up some cool facts I had never heard before. Turns out, the history of motion picture technology is super interesting and very cool when think about the progression from silent, black-and-white films to streaming HD movies on our phones. 

It all started back in 1891 with the Kinetoscope. It was this early device that let one person watch a short film through a small peephole. This is similar to the first version of solo movie-watching. Then in 1893, they had the first public showing using it, which was probably a huge deal back then. In 1895, the Lumière Brothers invented the Cinématographe, which was a game changer. Unlike the Kinetoscope, this device could record, develop, and project film so a whole audience could watch together. 

Basically, it was the start of movie theaters as we know them. By 1909, color started making its way into movies, and in 1915, filmmakers began using Technicolor, which made things look way more realistic, however, it was super expensive at first. Fast forward to 1927, and movies finally got synchronized dialogue. Imagine going from silent films with live music to hearing actors talk. This was a complete game changer for this industry. 

In 1932, the 3-Color Press came out, which was a cheaper alternative to make color movies without breaking the bank. Then in 1953, CinemaScope made widescreen movies a thing, making the movie-watching experience way more immersive. Since the 1950s, movie technology has basically taken off. We’ve gone from film reels to digital, from practical effects to insane CGI, and now we can stream movies from just about anywhere. What started as a small invention turned into a massive global industry. It’s honestly crazy to think how far we’ve come in a little over 100 years. Now we’ve got 3D movies, IMAX, virtual reality, and AI in filmmaking. All of this tech started with a box you had to lean into just to watch a 30-second clip.

Online Privacy - Blog Post #5

After watching these Ted Talk's, I have been thinking a lot about how much of our lives I share online without realizing the consequences. We post for birthdays, holidays, and minor details in our lives. In the first video, Enriquez explains that everything we do online, whether it's a social media post, a comment, or even a search, it all leaves a permanent mark, like a tattoo you cannot remove. This most definitely resonated with me, because most of us post things without thinking twice. I share every detail of my life without thinking about who can be viewing it. We don’t always consider how long it will stay out there or who might see it 15 years from now. 

This issue affects me and everyone I know. My friends and I are always on social media, posting pics, sharing memes, and expressing opinions. But we do not often think about how that info could be used in the future, by colleges, employers, or even random strangers. The newest generations are growing up in a world where technology and social media is engrained into their life at a younger age. This generation is growing up with iPads and YouTube, and even my parents have their personal info online for work and bills. With a simple google search you can my address, phone number, and birthday. We are all a part of this digital world, and we’re all leaving behind “electronic tattoos.” 

The government should be doing more to protect our privacy. There should be stricter laws about what companies can collect and do with our data. Apps should not be able to track us or sell our information without clear permission. There also needs to be better education on digital privacy, starting in schools. Most people do not understand how vulnerable they are online. 

But while we wait for better laws, we can take steps ourselves. We should be more careful about what we post and who we share it with. Using privacy settings, avoiding sketchy websites, and thinking before we post can make a big difference. It’s also smart to Google yourself occasionally to see what’s out there. 

In the end, while you might forget what you post, the internet does. If we do not start taking our online privacy seriously, we could be dealing with the consequences for the rest of our lives.