NDM: What's wrong with the internet?

• Read ‘Somebody’s watching you: Social media and surveillance’ – MM52 p13. Our Media Magazine archive is here. Complete the following tasks on your MEST3 Exam blog:

1) Summarise the article in 50 words.
The article discusses about how in this age of technology, specifically the new forms of media, are tracking peoples use of the internet. It also mentions how companies are the main people using the internet in order to exploit their interests for their own benefit. For instance, targeting individuals with adverts relating to things they search on a regular basis.

2) Are you worried about companies tracking your online movement?
Personally, I am not worried about this. These companies do not have enough time to individually pick through people's search histories and even if they did, my search history contains nothing incriminating. Also, I feel that this can help higher organisations like the FBI locate individuals with malicious intentions such as terrorists. This can help prevent terrorism.

3) Are the questions over data and privacy small prices to pay for the possibilities provided by the internet?
I feel that it is a small price to pay considering the immense availability of information and opportunities the internet provides us. It is unlikely that an individual with other to hide will be affected by these questions over data/ privacy. However, these questions can be entirely drawn out as long as users realise their actions can still be used against them regardless of if they're online or not.

4) Should governments be able to spy on our activity online? Where would you draw the line - social media? Private messaging conversations? Our phone photos and contacts?
I believe that should have access because they may be able to locate people such as terrorists.

5) Read this Guardian news story from last week on Harvard withdrawing offers due to offensive memes on Facebook. In your opinion, were Harvard right to rescind those offers?
I feel that it is wrong to some extent because the 'memes' were sent in a private chat, not publicly shared. Also, when people find memes funny it doesn't directly reflect their beliefs. However, it does bring to light the sense of recklessness people have when it comes to their 'online behaviour'. It shows how we need to consider our actions more despite if they're online or not.

Year 13 - Introduction to NDM: reading and blog task

• Page 10: Living and learning in a digital age.
• Page 46: Periscope and the implications of live streaming.
• Page 53: A2 A* exam essay on Spotify.

1) Read the first two articles. Write one paragraph on each summing up the key aspects.

The first article discusses how institutions are using the internet to better student's knowledge. Specifically, it addresses how there is a rise in use of social media platforms in institutions, apparent even in my own school (@blogmacguffin). Research was conducted on year 9 students in a high school to look at how learning was framed in the home, and by the young people themselves. Secondly, they were interested in the ways that current anxieties about social media  are portrayed as interfering, usually negatively, in every aspect of young people’s lives; they wanted to see whether this was true or not. The research suggested that schools are less interested in cultural and social uses of the media than in the ways that they can management and control more effective. 

The second article talks about the app 'Periscope', owned by twitter. It is a live streaming video app. Each live or replayed stream is referred to as a "broadcast." It is used for broadcasting a riveting conference discussion for a global audience to impromptu blended learning for students in schools. Blumengarten in an article said “I think it’s great to be able to do something like that, because many people can’t get to these locations,” he said. “Especially for kids—you’re opening new doors and taking them out of the classroom and into the world to explore. It’s extremely valuable.”  But while opportunities abound, so do privacy and other concerns. Firstly,  Periscope has some privacy concerns. The video can be used by Twitter and shared with third parties for marketing purposes and if it is used in schools, educators need to consider the student's safety. Another issue to consider is the 'disposable' nature of the video. If a video on Periscope is sent to students, it’s only there for 24 hours and then it is no longer accessible. This makes it hard to use for later revision.

2) Now read the A2 A* essay. Why do you think it was so successful? 

The essay was successful because it was objective, it looked at both sides of the argument. 

This two sided approach was heightened by the extensive research conducted in order to support both arguments. Moreover, this research was paired with the appropriately applied use of media theorists to help boulder the points. What made the essay the strongest, arguably, is their knowledge on 'Spotify', acting as their case study throughout the essay. In addition, the student appears to have made note of the key words in the question's title and frequently made use of them throughout the essay, making the essay more focused and answering the question more clearly. Similarly, they make reference to political and economic theories such as marxism. All of this creates a successful and interesing article about the benefits of new and digital media.

3) Finally, answer this question in a well developed paragraph on your blog: How has digital media changed your life in the last 5 years (for positive or negative)?

The media has had both a positive and negative affect on my life. To begin, it has been useful in that huge amounts of information is easy and convenient to access. This has helped me in my education. Also, it has given me a vast amount of opportunities because it allows me to find out about events near me. However, I can also argue that it has made me vulnerable because a lot of my personal information is available to the public. Also, my search history is available to several sites who use this data to target certain advertisements at me in order to take advantage of my interests.