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Blog Post #11 Due 11/18

I want to create an app that makes the job hiring and applying process easier. My app would be tinder-style; businesses would see your qualifications, skills, and degree instead of a picture. Applicants would see different job positions available along with the company's requirement, starting salary/pay, moreover a description of the job and the tasks associated with it. Users would log in to upload their resume and begin swiping; general information would be uploaded to reduce the time it takes to apply for jobs. Applicants can set their preference on the app to include jobs close to them, or they can opt-out of sharing their location and just put a general zip code in which they wish to work. This app aims to decrease the amount of discrimination when applying to jobs, as companies will only see qualifications. Things like the applicant's name and gender would not be disclosed right away to give everyone a fair chance to apply for a position. This app aims to help businesses hire the right people based on qualifications and previous work experience and assist applicants applying to jobs as that can be a tedious task. This app can make the hiring process faster and better for all parties involved. The app will also help the company and applicant connect and set up an interview.

To sign up for the app, we will need various information, including name, email address, and date of birth. Yet, to set up a profile and begin applying, we would need more information from applicants, including gender, previous work experience, degree/education information, skills, contact information, certification. This is all general information that can be found on a resume. We will also ask to access individuals' locations to help find jobs closest to the applicant, but they can opt-out of sharing that information and select a zip code of the city where they wish to work.

Our app will use core information from your resume, including previous work experience, education/degree information, skill, and information about the applicant's desired job to find the best match. In regards to the information we are seeking from companies, we will gather information about the position that is available and the requirements, pay, and company values. Applicants and companies will then swipe using the core information which was previously stated.

We will not measure sexual preference as that does not and should not matter during the hiring process. We also will not measure race or ethnicity. We want to create an app that evens out the playing field and decreases discrimination.

We will adapt to new information by constantly working on improving our algorithm when problems arise. As mentioned, we want to decrease discrimination and help find the best applicant for the job.

The app is all about decreasing discrimination during the hiring process; although we ask for a person's gender and name, that is not the first thing a company will see; they will first see your qualification and education/degree information. We do not ask for race, ethnicity, sexual preference, or even for a picture because we do not want any biases when companies are searching for applicants to fill a position.

This app will protect applicants' information; we will not surveil their internet search history or sell their information. Applicants have the right to opt out of cookies, and they also have the right to be forgotten and have their profile completely erased if that is their decision. Racism and sexism are not allowed on the app, so we do not collect information about applicants' races. Regarding gender, we will not disclose information until an interview is being set up.

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Blog post #10 | 11/11

How is the federal anti-riot statute problematic?

Mathew Power (2020) states in his article, How your Twitter Account can land you in Jail, that "the federal anti-riot statute—18 USC §2101—makes it a felony to engage in interstate travel to organize, promote, encourage, participate in, or carry on a riot" (pg. 3). In other words, the federal anti-riot statute was created to suppress protesters, thus making it problematic.

This statute is troublesome because the Amendment states people have freedom of speech and the right to assemble peacefully. Yet, law enforcement is scared of free public expression, therefore tries to criminalize riots. The issue here is that a protest can be peaceful, but law enforcement can label their gathering as a riot depending on the race of attendants or the cause they are protesting about.

Do you believe the law enforcement was in the wrong for detaining Madison's and Wallschlaeger's and seizing their property? Were their actions punishable or justified?

I do believe that law enforcement was in the wrong for detaining Madison and Wallschlaeger, primarily because Power (2020) states, "State Department asked Twitter to delay scheduled maintenance so as not to interrupt Iranian protesters tweeting from the barricades" (pg. 2). It is hypocritical for our government to do something and punish citizens for doing the same thing they did. Ultimately, law enforcement knew that Madison and Wallschlaeger would not be convicted for a crime; therefore, they went into their homes to search for anything illegal. Law enforcement used excessive force to break into their homes, and the fact that they did not show them the warrant proves that they were looking for anything. In the end, the cover sheet to the search warrant said that "it provided for the seizure of any items designed or intended as a means of violating the federal rioting laws" (pg. 3). Yet that does not explain why officials took antique needlepoint, several issues of Steampunk Magazine, a refrigerator magnet, and various Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs.

How is locking down your digital identity beneficial?

Locking down your digital identity is beneficial for many reasons, including preventing and protecting individuals from being harassed online or stalked. It is essential for everyone online to protect their social media accounts because there are various harmful things a person can do if they gain access to your accounts. Not only can people steal your online identity, but they can also harass/scam friends and family members, gain your credit/debit card information, and so much more. That is why people need to have two-factor authentication, unique passwords, etc., as it makes it harder for people to hack into your accounts.

In states of emergency, do you believe that it is morally right for the government to surveil citizens without their consent?

In an ideal world without racism and prejudice, I would believe that it is right for the government to surveil citizens in a state of emergency because it is their duty to protect the people who put them in power. However, our reality is far from ideal; the government chooses to target members of minorities more than whites. There is a reason why newborns were added to a surveillance watchlist based on their race and social location and not members of White Supremacist groups.

References

FemTechNet. (n.d.). Locking down your digital identity. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://femtechnet.org/csov/.

Parenti, C. (2004). The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America from slavery to the War on Terror. Basic Books.

Power, M. (2010, March 11). How your twitter account could land you in Jail. Mother Jones. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/police-twitter-riots-social-media-activists/.a

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Blog Post: Week 11 Due 11/04

What are the pros and cons of having a leaderless movement?

Having a leaderless movement makes a political group unanimous, which can be positive because there is no one to be held accountable. Leaders of movements like MLK often endure persecution by law enforcement and people with different viewpoints throughout history. Similarly, having no leader in a movement is beneficial because the message can get lost within the leaders' personal and political agendas. Regarding the cons of having a leaderless movement, one can be the fact that no one is in charge of the group, which negatively affects the movement, as no one is making the big decisions about the direction the movement should go.

How does the mainstream news press further enforce stereotypes and contribute to racism?

Mainstream news-press further enforces stereotypes and contributes to racism by vilifying colored victims. Rather than focusing on the abuse of power by law enforcement, news focuses on depicting the victims of "scary monsters" to justify the actions of law enforcement. They label victims as thugs and gang members and focus on their past rather than the situation. It is frustrating to see them use scare/fear tactics to increase ratings as they only deepen stereotypes and racism in viewers.

How have we recently seen a lack of concern for Black and Brown bodies in the mainstream new press?

We have recently seen a lack of Black and Brown bodies in the mainstream new press during the Gabby Petito Case. News media covered the story of the missing Gabby Petition, constantly giving the public updates on the story. They focus on her disappearance because she was white, young, and beautiful, and they choose to ignore the other disappearance of people of color. Although her family has urged the media to do the same for others, the media simply does not. We often think that we have progressed as a society, but we can see that we still have a far way to go when we look at things like that.

Does technology help political movements?

Arguably, yes, technology does help political movements. Still, it is essential to note that technology is merely a tool, and the people who use it positively impact a political/ social movement. Technology itself can be very corrupt due to algorithms, so it is essential that we make this distinction.

Sources:

Fuchs, C. (2018). Communication Power in the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement . In Social Media: A critical introduction (pp. 83–88). essay, SAGE.

Lee, L. (2017). Black twitter: A response to bias in mainstream media. Social Sciences, 6(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6010026

Vegh, S. (2013). Classifying Forms of Online Activity . In Cyberactivism: Online activism in theory and Practice. essay, Routledge.

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Blog post #8 - Week 10

What is trolling?

Trolling has been defined in two ways. The first is in the context of fishing; people online troll others to fish for reactions and as a means to get rid of boredom. The second way to categorize trolling online is as a way to drive paranoia. This form of trolling focuses on the concept of impersonation, as in people impersonate others online. Ultimately the impersonation of others is not limited to celebrities and athletes but also includes regular people.

What are the different types of trolls on online platforms?

In the article, The Origins and Evolution of Subcultural Trolling by Whitney Phillips (2015), Phillips describes different types of trolls, including anti-trolls, rogue trolls, pack trolls, and Facebook trolls, and RIP trolls. Anti-trolls are people who publically troll other trolls online, while rogue trolls are unpredictable trolls who are not associated with a specific group. On the other hand, Pack trolls troll in groups, while facebook trolls are people who troll either everyone on the platform except memorial pages or trolls who troll memorial pages. Rip trolls are people who target families and friends of people who have passway or trolls who try to engage on pages to grief with strangers.

Should trolling be punished? Is all trolling bad?

I believe that trolling should be punished if people are harassing others online. Although some online trolls are not as evil as others, they still increase trolling online and normalize this toxic behavior. We must remember that people troll online for their amusement or to harm others. While some honor the ethical lines, others do not. Algorithms should focus on blocking harmful trolling. In their own way, platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok are developing software to decrease online harassment; this is evident as now online creators can block specific words from their comment section.

Does online trolling happen to everyone equally, or are certain groups more prone to targeting? Why?

Online trolling does not happen equally to everyone often; minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community are more prone to online trolls. Ultimately is due to stereotypes, racism, sexism, and homophobia. I can think of many examples of celebrities who were trolled online when they came out, such as Lil Nas X.

Similarly, women online are constantly trolled for gaining weight and not meeting industry beauty standards; an example is Selena Gomez. She is continuously getting trolled online and receiving hate comments for gaining weight.

References Bergstrom, K. (2011). “Don’t feed the troll”: Shutting down debate about community expectations on Reddit.com. First Monday. Citron, D. K. (2014). Introduction. Hate Crimes in Cyberspace, 1–32. Phillips, W. (2015). Defining terms: The origins and evolution of subcultural trolling. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things, 55–87. Silman, A. (2016). A Timeline of Leslie Jones's Horrific Online Abuse. The Cut. Retrieved October 27, 2021, https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/a-timeline-of-leslie-joness-horrific-online-abuse.html.

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[avaranda7]

Blog Post 7 Week 8 10/14

What dualisms are present in Western culture, and how does technology challenge them?

Throughout western culture, numerous dualisms have contributed to the domination of people considered "others." An example of those dualisms include "self/other, mind/body, culture/nature, male/ female, civilized/primitive, reality/appearance, whole/part, agent/resource, maker/made, active/ passive, right/wrong, truth/illusion, total/partial, God/man" (Haraway, 1985, pg. 356). Technology ultimately has challenged these dualisms because, through embodiment, we have been able to transcend into cyberspace. Ultimately, "Biological organisms have become biotic systems" (Haraway, 1985, pg. 357).

Why would some argue that cyborgs are deadly?

Many would argue that cyborgs are deadly because of their "ubiquity" and "invisibility" (Haraway, 1985, pg. 355). People often view cyborgs and cyberspace as nonbias and treat them as material objects instead of politically motivated machines. Yet, the "cyborg body is not innocent" (Haraway, 1985, pg. 357); the machine and humanity are mutually exclusive. They often manipulate us and misconstrue our virtual reality by creating filter bubbles.

How are women portrayed in games?

Games portray women in a hypersexualized manner via avatars. The feminine body is regularly depicted in the "Victorian aesthetic," emphasizing the avatar's tiny waist and big breast (O'Riordan, 2006, pg. 248). Usually, the feminine body online portrays unrealistic beauty standards. What makes these animations so troubling is that they have been designed in a lifelike manner. Ultimately these "bodies connote "female" through the morphology of having no penis (lack) and through having breasts (excess)" (O'Riordan, 2006, pg. 249). This excluded different types of females which often plays into a heteronormative virtual reality

What is Ananova, and how is it troublesome?

Ananova "was launched as an Internet newscaster for a news portal of the same name" (O'Riordan, 2006, pg. 243). It was designed with the intention to bridge "technology and human users" (O'Riordan, 2006, pg. 243). What makes it so troublesome is because it renders technology female. Sequentially, animations such as Ananova portray women through a sexist lens. It is bothersome that people view her as a cyber-babe.

References

O’Riordan, K. (2006). Gender, Technology, and Visual Cyberculture. Critical Cyberculture Studies. New York University Press.

Daniels, J. (2009). Gender, White Supremacy, and the Internet. Cyber Racism: White Supremacy Online and the New Attack on Civil Rights. Rowman & Littlefield

Haraway, D. (1991). A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century.

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[avaranda7]

WGST Blog Post #7 (due 10/07)

Why is racism present in technology?

Racism is present in technology because programmers who design websites and technology are often colorblind and associate "their racial identity with neutrality" (Senft & Nobel, 2015, pg. 113). This is critical to understand because it explains why terms such as "master and slave disk exist without protest" (Senft & Nobel, 2015, pg. 113). Racism is also present in technology because technology is usually created and catered towards white users. Although people of color have contributed to the tech world, their contribution is frequently not talked about and erased.

Is Black visibility helpful or harmful to the Black community?

I believe that Black visibility in media and popular culture can be both helpful and harmful to the Black community. If media accurately portrays Black people and does not play into stereotypes, then Black visibility is beneficial towards the Black community. Yet, there is a thin line between visibility and hypervisibility. When media tokenizes Black celebrities, this can be controversial because they are using their image to promote and sell products that at times have "the potential to deepen racial inequalities" (Senft & Noble, 2015, pg 55). Similarly, Benjamin (2019) echos this notion and states that "Visibility of successful non-white individuals in almost every social arena can obscure the reality of systemic bias that still affects many people" (pg.66). Arguably, the hypervisibility of celebrities, athletes, and politicians, makes it seem as if society has progressed, yet many people are still disenfranchised and discriminated against in today's society.

Is Twitter Good or Bad?

Twitter is a controversial platform; while it allows people to connect to one and another, many have argued that "Not only does the design of such platforms enable the individuals users to report harasser; twitter's relatively hands-off approach when it comes to often violent, and hate-filled content of white supremacist actually benefit the company's bottom line" (Benjamin, 2019, pg.49). It is the idea that hateful content gathers views and engagement, thus creating more profit for the company. We also can deny the fact that Twitter connects communities and, as a matter of fact, "millions of Black users on Twitter networking, connecting and engaging with others who have similar concerns, experiences, tastes and cultural practices (Senft & Noble, 2015, pg.114). Yet, White supremacists can say the same thing as they can also connect via the application and spread their message online. The bottom line is that Twitter is not bad or good, but it is also not neutral; it is a grey space in which people can say what they want regardless of the implication of their words.

What does autonomy and free will mean in a world full of algorithms?

We currently live in a filter bubble where all the content we are viewing is curated for us. It increases our addiction to technology and social media as every time we log into apps; we see content that interest and entices us. Free will and autonomy in a world full of algorithms mean that individuals are able to have privacy when they browse the internet. It means no filter bubble, curated content, and target ads; it means that technology is no longer tracking and data mining our information.

References

Daniels, J. (2009). Cyber racism: White supremacy online and the new attack on Civil Rights. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Benjamin, R. (2020). Race after technology abolitionist tools for the new jim code. Polity.

Hunsinger, J., & Senft, T. M. (2015). The Social Media Handbook. Routledge.

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[avaranda7]

@melirodriguez I do believe that the video game world can improve throughout the years if they implement software that helps shift the culture of video games. If not the game world will stay the same and perhaps get worst.

Blog Post #6

Are video games responsible for online racism?

Yes and no. Video games, in general, are not responsible for online racism; often, it is the users who are responsible. Users enter chat rooms and begin to use racial and homophobic slurs regardless of the game. As Kolko et al. (2000) suggest, "individuals are responsible for how they work with the empty space (cyberspace)" (pg.5). Ultimately, it has become a norm to use slurs in video games, but it does not have to be this way. Players can make a choice not to engage and use that language when they are talking online. Yet, despite this being said, I do believe that avatars can contribute to racism in cyberspace/video games. Videogames often play into racial stereotypes when creating avatars, and this in itself is racist. It is also important to note that players also use these avatars to act out racial stereotypes in video games.

Should video games monitor hate speech?

I do believe that video games should monitor hate speech. Some things should not be said online, and although video games are not responsible for what people say when they are playing, they should hold people accountable when they say slurs via chat.

The technology to monitor what people say online is out there, and platforms such as Youtube and Tiktok have software to detect inappropriate language online. Video games should implement the same software in their system.

Is race a biological or a social construct?

There is no such thing as multiple races; there is only one race, the human race. The concept of race was socially constructed to oppress people of Non-European descent after European imperialism to establish white dominance. Kolko et al. (2000) suggest that "if race were purely a natural thing, there wouldn't be such variation across time and space in people's understanding of racial difference." (pg.3). People often distinguish race from physical traits such as skin color or eye and nose shape, but those differences are genetically determined and make us no different from others.

Are video games an escape from real life, or do they mirror society?

Although video games feel like an escape from society, they often mirror our culture and everything wrong with it. People can not escape from racism, sexism, and homophobia via video games, and these games have often become platforms where hate speech and racism are spread. It is essential to note that race online is not invisible; people can identify race via visual and audio cues. Users profile other users because of their voice, usernames, and avatars and use this information to bully them online.

References

Fickle, T. (2019). The race card: From gaming technologies to model minorities. New York University Press.

Kolko, B. E., Nakamura, L., & Rodman, G. B. (2000). Race in cyberspace. Routledge.

Ow, J, A. (2003). The Revenge of the

Yellowfaced Cyborg Terminator: The Rape of Digital Geishas and the Colonization of Cyber-Coolies in 3D Realms’ Shadow Warrior. New York, Routledge. Print.

TEDxUIllinois. (2011, October 11). 5 types of Online Racism and Why you Should Care | Dr. Lisa Nakamura [Video]. YouTube.

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Blog Post #6

Are video games responsible for online racism?

Yes and no. Video games, in general, are not responsible for online racism; often, it is the users who are responsible. Users enter chat rooms and begin to use racial and homophobic slurs regardless of the game. As Kolko et al. (2000) suggest, "individuals are responsible for how they work with the empty space (cyberspace)" (pg.5). Ultimately, it has become a norm to use slurs in video games, but it does not have to be this way. Players can make a choice not to engage and use that language when they are talking online. Yet, despite this being said, I do believe that avatars can contribute to racism in cyberspace/video games. Videogames often play into racial stereotypes when creating avatars, and this in itself is racist. It is also important to note that players also use these avatars to act out racial stereotypes in video games.

Should video games monitor hate speech?

I do believe that video games should monitor hate speech. Some things should not be said online, and although video games are not responsible for what people say when they are playing, they should hold people accountable when they say slurs via chat.

The technology to monitor what people say online is out there, and platforms such as Youtube and Tiktok have software to detect inappropriate language online. Video games should implement the same software in their system.

Is race a biological or a social construct?

There is no such thing as multiple races; there is only one race, the human race. The concept of race was socially constructed to oppress people of Non-European descent after European imperialism to establish white dominance. Kolko et al. (2000) suggest that "if race were purely a natural thing, there wouldn't be such variation across time and space in people's understanding of racial difference." (pg.3). People often distinguish race from physical traits such as skin color or eye and nose shape, but those differences are genetically determined and make us no different from others.

Are video games an escape from real life, or do they mirror society?

Although video games feel like an escape from society, they often mirror our culture and everything wrong with it. People can not escape from racism, sexism, and homophobia via video games, and these games have often become platforms where hate speech and racism are spread. It is essential to note that race online is not invisible; people can identify race via visual and audio cues. Users profile other users because of their voice, usernames, and avatars and use this information to bully them online.

References

Fickle, T. (2019). The race card: From gaming technologies to model minorities. New York University Press.

Kolko, B. E., Nakamura, L., & Rodman, G. B. (2000). Race in cyberspace. Routledge.

Ow, J, A. (2003). The Revenge of the

Yellowfaced Cyborg Terminator: The Rape of Digital Geishas and the Colonization of Cyber-Coolies in 3D Realms’ Shadow Warrior. New York, Routledge. Print.

TEDxUIllinois. (2011, October 11). 5 types of Online Racism and Why you Should Care | Dr. Lisa Nakamura [Video]. YouTube.

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[avaranda7]

@kristit97 We can restrict technology for children by one using parent control to monitor what children are viewing. Also we can limit the time that we allow children to use technology.

Blog Post:  Week 4 Due 9/16

Are glitches in algorithms actually "glitches," or are they meant to oppress minorities further?

Although "glitches" can be caused by technological errors such as coding faults, I believe some of these issues are intended to oppress minorities further and to perpetuate/play into racial stereotypes. It is naive to think that algorithms are not responsible for porn websites being the first few results when one searches the term "black girls" online. As we've learned during the last couple of weeks, white cisgender men dominate the technological industry, and it is no coincidence that racial "glitches" like these happen. Although we are expected to "pay no attention to the man behind the screen," as Benjamin (2019) puts it, we can not forget that humans create codes; tech moguls still maintain racist ideologies and have unknowingly embedded prejudices into their companies. If Google can make Dick's Sporting Goods be the first result when you type in "Dicks" in their search engine, then I do not understand how they had no control over the fact that pictures of Michelle Obama appeared when you searched the word "Gorillas" during Obama's administration. Although these are older examples provided by Noble (2018), this is still relevant today, as algorithms on platforms such as TikTok flag content from people of color. In contrast, if a white creator on the platform created the same video, it wouldn't get taken down.

Why do you believe that Technology insiders have a strict approach to technology usage for their kids?

Throughout the weeks, we have learned about the impact of technology in today's society. It is no surprise that technology insiders go to extreme measures to protect their children from the adverse effects of technology. We see it everywhere we go; children now and days are addicted to IPads and youtube. Yet we often are not informed about the consequence of exposure to technology at a young age. If we go off this week's reading, we can make a couple of inferences about why tech insiders make these choices. First is data mining; people's information is being collected every day. Their likes, dislikes, and interests are sold to companies to create and push ads.

Similarly, algorithms use the data mined to create filter bubbles, in which people get content that alines with their views. All these things contribute to making technology more addictive to children. Not only are individuals are being monitored, but they are also becoming desensitized to the fact their privacy and online autonomy is being taken from them. Most of us started using social media later in life. Therefore, online information collected about us does not include our childhood, but it does for children nowadays. We need to be aware of the dangers of this to protect the younger generations.

Do you believe that the norms for baby names have changed?

Yes, I think that the norms for baby names have shifted over the last couple of years, primarily because celebrities have given their children unique names. This trend of giving children outrageous names has trickled down to society. I argue that no longer are people with exclusively higher "social positions... given more license to experiment with unique names" (Benjamin, 2019, pg. 21) as it has slowly become the new norm to give your child an unusual name. Yet, despite this change, names that are linked to a race are still looked down on.

References:

Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after technology: abolitionist tools for the New Jim Code. Social Forces, 98(4), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soz162

Everett, A. (2002). The revolution will be digitized. Social Text, 20(2), 125–146. https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-20-2_71-125

Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1pwt9w5

[avaranda7]

Blog Post:  Week 4 Due 9/16

Are glitches in algorithms actually "glitches," or are they meant to oppress minorities further?

Although "glitches" can be caused by technological errors such as coding faults, I believe some of these issues are intended to oppress minorities further and to perpetuate/play into racial stereotypes. It is naive to think that algorithms are not responsible for porn websites being the first few results when one searches the term "black girls" online. As we've learned during the last couple of weeks, white cisgender men dominate the technological industry, and it is no coincidence that racial "glitches" like these happen. Although we are expected to "pay no attention to the man behind the screen," as Benjamin (2019) puts it, we can not forget that humans create codes; tech moguls still maintain racist ideologies and have unknowingly embedded prejudices into their companies. If Google can make Dick's Sporting Goods be the first result when you type in "Dicks" in their search engine, then I do not understand how they had no control over the fact that pictures of Michelle Obama appeared when you searched the word "Gorillas" during Obama's administration. Although these are older examples provided by Noble (2018), this is still relevant today, as algorithms on platforms such as TikTok flag content from people of color. In contrast, if a white creator on the platform created the same video, it wouldn't get taken down.

Why do you believe that Technology insiders have a strict approach to technology usage for their kids?

Throughout the weeks, we have learned about the impact of technology in today's society. It is no surprise that technology insiders go to extreme measures to protect their children from the adverse effects of technology. We see it everywhere we go; children now and days are addicted to IPads and youtube. Yet we often are not informed about the consequence of exposure to technology at a young age. If we go off this week's reading, we can make a couple of inferences about why tech insiders make these choices. First is data mining; people's information is being collected every day. Their likes, dislikes, and interests are sold to companies to create and push ads.

Similarly, algorithms use the data mined to create filter bubbles, in which people get content that alines with their views. All these things contribute to making technology more addictive to children. Not only are individuals are being monitored, but they are also becoming desensitized to the fact their privacy and online autonomy is being taken from them. Most of us started using social media later in life. Therefore, online information collected about us does not include our childhood, but it does for children nowadays. We need to be aware of the dangers of this to protect the younger generations.

Do you believe that the norms for baby names have changed?

Yes, I think that the norms for baby names have shifted over the last couple of years, primarily because celebrities have given their children unique names. This trend of giving children outrageous names has trickled down to society. I argue that no longer are people with exclusively higher "social positions... given more license to experiment with unique names" (Benjamin, 2019, pg. 21) as it has slowly become the new norm to give your child an unusual name. Yet, despite this change, names that are linked to a race are still looked down on.

References:

Benjamin, R. (2019). Race after technology: abolitionist tools for the New Jim Code. Social Forces, 98(4), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soz162

Everett, A. (2002). The revolution will be digitized. Social Text, 20(2), 125–146. https://doi.org/10.1215/01642472-20-2_71-125

Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1pwt9w5

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[avaranda7]

Blog Post Week 3 Due 9/9

What issues emerged with the creation of algorithms in digital decision-making systems?

To fully answer this question, it is crucial to think back to last week's reading, in which we discovered that there is little minority representation in media companies. Arguably the same inference can be made in the technology industry as there is little gender diversity and people of color representation. Therefore, we must note that the people creating code and algorithms are most likely white cisgender men.

Algorithms place a target on minorities and disproportionally affect "low-income communities of color" as well as "impacts poor and working-class people across the color line" (Eurbanks, 2018, pg. 27). This is necessary to understand because algorithms decide who gets loans and what rates to give people for insurance, credit, etc., and all of these decisions impact a person's life. If odds are set against people, they have less of a chance to succeed in society.

What are some issues with facial recognition in law enforcement?

Facial recognition in law enforcement is problematic due to the fact that software programs can not correctly identify culprits. As mentioned in "Another Arrest, and Jail Time, Due to a Bad Facial Recognition Match" by Kasmire Hill (2020), " a national study of over 100 facial recognition algorithms found that they did not work as well on Black and Asian faces" (pg. 1). To make matters worst, not only is facial recognition flawed, but it is often rooted in racism as those who use facial recognition technology tend to group those with the same ethnic/racial features together due to the assumption that they "all look the same." The consequence of wrongful conviction can be very detrimental as people end up in jail, lose employment and have a hard time overturning sentences. Instead of being treated as innocent till proven guilty, individuals are treated as guilty till proven innocent.

What are some harmful misconceptions about technology?

Regarding misconceptions in technology, one of the most damaging misconceptions is the idea that technology is not bias.

Algorithms place individuals in their own social bubble, and it is critical to note that most of the public is unaware of this. Data mining software construes a digital reality for people in which ads are targeted and political agendas are pushed. Nicole Brown (2020) echos this notion when she states that "technology is not neutral."

Who is impacted by the digital divide? Why

According to Daniels (2009), "women lag behind men globally in computer use and internet access," and in the United States, the "digital divide in computer ownership and Internet access has been the effect of class (or socioeconomic status) more than gender and race" (pg.106). It is not surprising that globally women lack internet access; many cultures still view women as objects and do not prioritize their education. Internet access or computer use exposes women to a lot of helpful information, and arguably, in an attempt to keep them submissive, various cultures and institutions deny women access to the worldwide web. It is difficult for those of low socioeconomic status to access computers and the internet in the US because of the cost.

References:

Brown, N. (2020). Race and technology. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uiAjigKy8

Daniels, J. (2009). Rethinking cyberfeminism(s): race, gender, and embodiment. women's studies quarterly, 37(1-2), 101–124.

Eubanks, V. (2019). In automating inequality: how high-tech tools profile, police, and punish the poor.

Hill, K. 2020. Another arrest, and jail time, due to a bad facial recognition match. The New York Times

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[avaranda7]

Blog Post Week #2

What are some of the most prevalent issues in old media? Why?

Two issues come to mind when considering the flaws of old media; the first is the centralization of media, and the second is the perpetuation of racial stereotypes. Dominating companies such as Disney, ABC, and others have obtained control of most old media, which is problematic for various reasons. First, conglomerates gain control of public opinion while limiting minority representation. Rather than challenging the status quo, as Torres and Gonzalez mention (2013), they defend it and push their audience to follow it. They also limit the voice of minorities from being heard, as people of color do not own most media conglomerates. In regards to the perpetuation of racial stereotypes, media exploits racial fear to increase their audience engagement and sales. It also does not help that media such as newspapers are owned, operated, and created by whites.

Why is free press important to today's society?

In the Gonzalez and Torres article, the authors define free press as "not simply the right to speak but the right to be heard by others" (Gonzalez and Torres, 2012, Pg. 11). As we learn throughout their article, large conglomerates own most media and control the public narrative; therefore, it is critical to hear opposing ideas that challenge the status quo. We are often pushed to think a certain way, and most news channels in today's society are biased as they cater to political parties' viewpoints. Minorites' voices are often drowned by these large conglomerates, and considering the fact that the minorities will soon be the majority, it is critical to hear their idea, stories, and opinion of issues around us.

Can activism on social media lead to real-world change?

Activism on social media can lead to change if a political movement accumulates a considerable amount of following and if people are committed to the cause. Fuchs (2017) introduces us to the concept of "Slacktivism," which argues that activism online does not cause change as it simply creates an illusion of activism in which people have no contribution to the movement. I dispute this notion because although people can post a cause to their social platforms to feel better about an issue, they can also spread awareness about subjects not covered by the media. If we have learned anything during these last couple of years, social media can contribute to change, take, for example, the #MeToo movement and the #BlackLivesMatter movement, two movements that exposed the system that failed survivors of sexual assault and/or racism.

Is the censoring of activism accounts by social media platforms ethical?

It is immoral for social media platforms to censor activism accounts that are not spreading hate speech because, at the end of the day, everyone deserves free speech. People should be allowed to share opposing ideas without getting their accounts banned or tweets subpoena. After all, that is what democracy is about. I understand that at times what people post online can cause chaos and start riots, but it is necessary to expose systems that have failed people; if not, there will never be change.

References

Fuchs, C. (2014). Social media: a critical introduction. Sage Publications.

González, J., & Torres, J. (2012). News for all the people: The epic story of race and the American media. Verso.

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[avaranda7]

Blog post: week 1 due 8/27

A time technology did not live up to its promises was in high school when the app ASKFM was created. This app was developed to create an anonymous virtual bulletin board with different schools' information about events and activities. Soon this app went viral throughout my high school campus but for all the wrong reseasons. People were posting anonymous gossip about their peers and, to make matters worst, a student's nudes got leaked on this app. Staff and faculty had no way to stop students from engaging in this app, and students were coming to school upset because their personal information was being published in a forum for the entire school to see. This app failed its purpose because rather than unite the campus, it tore it apart. The only reason why it stopped was that the app was deleted.

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