Final Blog Post - My Relationship with Technology

 It's not often that I sit and analyze my own personal relationship with technology, and I think this is mainly because it is so integrated into my daily life and has been for some time now. It's not like I grew up without some of the technological inventions that are still prevalent in our society. My parents still remember the day they invented the first smart phone. I don't remember a time without it. 

Like many others my age, I am somewhat addicted to the technology that surrounds me, even though I hate admitting that. But, it's true. I rarely go anywhere without my iPhone and I will most likely open platforms like Instagram and TikTok at least once a day. The question is when does the addiction become unhealthy? Or is it unhealthy from the get-go?

Researching My Online Presence 

Before determining the health of my relationship with technology, or should I say technology's relationship with me, I wanted to better understand my current online presence. 

I would not classify myself as a frequent creator of online content. I am more likely to consume content than create it. There are some sites or platforms that I do use frequently, however, and have created personal accounts on with my information, such as my full name, date of birth, gender, email and phone number. 

These sites include Google, LinkedIn, Amazon, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok. So how much can someone learn about me as a user? How much of me is out on display for anyone to see?

A digital footprint is the information about a particular person that exists on the internet as a result of their online activity. A simple Google search of my name showed that maybe I was more private than I thought I would have been. The only picture of me that pops up as a search result is my LinkedIn profile. 

My public image has always been something I care about, so I am comfortable knowing that this is the picture that portrays who I am to those who search me. However, others may view my lack of online presence as a disadvantage in today's society where having a following can help you land the job. Some even go as far as using their online presence as a career in itself. 

The Pros and Cons of Social Media

Social media was not created with the intention of harming individuals but rather encouraging human connection. So then why has it done the opposite? It seems every advantage that comes with a new technology also has an unexpected disadvantage.

The "Mad World" remix of the Moby video, performed by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules, illustrates the sad world we live in as a result of technology that disconnects us from the rest of society. When we are supposed to feel connected, more and more people are feeling alone, anxious and depressed. 

The music video incorporates explicit imagery of people trapped behind bars shaped as a "cell" phone. There are shots of people around others, but they can't take their eyes off of the screen in their hand. We are too distracted to recognize the serious issues around us.

Social media creates a false reality and fake relationships with those that follow us and we call our "friends." Social media has allowed us to share aspects of our lives, but these portrayals are often misleading and set unrealistic expectations as they only show a portion of a person's experiences.

The music video itself may be a bit dramatic and exaggerated, but its overarching message is accurate and relevant to society today. Technology may be hurting us more than helping us.

My Relationship with Technology: Toxic or Nourishing?

In my eyes, technology has taken over my life. I spend an average of four to five hours on my phone everyday. This doesn't include the hours I spend on my laptop or watching movies and shows on my television. This is an immense concern to me. 

Don't get me wrong; technology has still benefitted me in so many ways. I use my phone to communicate with others daily, I rely on my computer to complete school work and other tasks related to my involvement on campus, and I enjoy using social media to participate in the spread of opinions and ideas. 

In a society that so heavily relies on technology, all you can do is create balance. 

I try to spend as much time outside as I can. When I'm with other people, I limit the time I spend on my phone. I try to prioritize daily movement and nourish my body, mind and face-to-face relationships with others. This course has opened my eyes to the issue of privacy rights, which I discuss more in-depth in some of my other blog posts. I am now even more cautious of what I post online because I believe there are aspects of our personal lives that should be kept private and protected.

Although my relationship with technology may not be the healthiest it could be, I am aware of technology's impact on me and strive to create a balanced lifestyle: one that utilizes technology rather than one that abuses it.

Click here to read more about monitoring your digital footprint!

Blog #10 - Reaction to Media Policy Presentations

As I listened to my peers' presentations, I began to realize just how quickly media and policy adapt to fit the values and priorities of society at a given time. In the last few decades, we've entered into, what I would refer to as, an extreme digital world. Everything we do, watch, listen to involve the use of some sort of technological invention. 

Cutting the Cord

Cable television first became available in the U.S. in 1948, and by 1968, only 6.4% of American households had cable television. From here, the percentage only continued to rise. 

Cutting the cord, however, refers to the cancellation of cable television by families in favor of wireless methods of receiving programming. These new programs include internet protocol television, digital terrestrial television and satellite television. 

Internet protocol television is television programming streamed over the internet, such as Netflix, Hulu or HBO Max. These popular streaming platforms are common in almost every American household today and have really taken over television industry.

Furthermore, digital terrestrial television is television transmitted using radio frequencies, and satellite television is television received through satellite, typically a paid subscription though cord cutting often refers to free to air satellite televisions. 

Households are cutting the cord mainly because of the high price of cable television and the advantages of other mediums of entertainment. They are cheaper, provide a wider variety and are more convenient.

This is a prediction for the increasing video streaming market size, going all the way to 2030.

The Effects of Embracing Wireless Programming

My peer, Kenny, discussed the transition to a different kind of commercial content as the length of advertisements have decreased. The audiences affected by commercial advertisements have also changed with the introduction of streaming platforms. 

Click here to read more! 

Wealth, age and location all become factors in determining how commercial advertising will impact a viewer. Those that are more wealthy will have to watch less ads as they are able to pay more to bypass them. Similarly, those that live in rural areas may not have access to the internet compared to those living in urban areas. 

This also allowed me to question how my own use of streaming platforms has affected my media consumption, as well as the advertisements that I watch. Streaming platforms allow me and others in my generation to over-consume and even binge-watch television shows. These platforms, along with the rise of social media platforms, are leading individuals to develop unhealthy habits when it comes to the amount of time spent staring at a screen.

On a Path to News Deserts

Television news is also being negatively impacted by those that are cutting the cord. As television news becomes less popular, new forms of spreading information rise. I know many teenagers and young adults who absorb most of their news from social media rather than trustworthy sources.

In her presentation, Halle discussed the concept of "news deserts," or a community that is not covered or reached by any sort of local news coverage. These have more commonly appeared as a result of the 50% reduction in careers in journalism since the 1990s. There has been a net loss of almost 2,000 local newspapers from 2004 to 2018.

This reduction in both print and broadcast news media will have a serious impact on the public's knowledge when it comes to local elections, events and issues. We must ask ourselves if the rapid change in technology and media is truly benefitting our society or causing us to disregard the older technologies that worked for so long? Are we losing more than we're gaining?

Click here to read more about America's news deserts from The Seattle Times!

Blog #9 - In the Age of AI

The PBS Frontline documentary, "In the Age of AI," illustrates that although artificial intelligence is opening the door to so many opportunities in the digital world, it is also raising serious concerns about online privacy, agency and security.

One of my biggest takeaways was that there are so many individuals in society that are oblivious to that fact that AI is incorporated into almost every aspect of our lives, including healthcare, education, criminal justice and human experience. 

Over the years, new technology has been perceived as an improvement; advancements were created with the purpose of simplifying a human task. Unfortunately as a result, we've developed a sense of inevitability that it will always make things better. But, is this the reality? Or is the diffusion of artificial intelligence causing more harm than good?

The Dark Side of AI

To start, AI is increasing inequalities and causing a loss of jobs. There is a group of people on top making all the money and no one in the middle that can support a family. Ultimately, the wealthy are getting wealthier and the poor are getting poorer. 

Artificial intelligence is a form of automation and automation is the substitution of capital for labor. There is no need for human labor when there are supermarket robots that are able to perform the same task to the same ability, or maybe even more efficiently. 

Ethical concerns arise when it comes to the concept of surveillance capitalism, or micro-behavioral targeting that is directed toward the individual based on an intimate, detailed understanding of personalities. Large corporations have realized that they can use cues in the online environment to change real-world behavior. More importantly, they are able to do this in a way that bypasses the users' awareness. 

We think we are the users of social media, but rather social media is using us. 

Anytime we browse or scroll we are leaving digital traces, originally called digital exhaust, that are valuable in the way they are able to predict behavior. As discussed in my previous post, companies have learned to apply machine learning algorithms to predict users' interests and, therefore, reach deeper and deeper into our work, lives and democracy. Artificial intelligence has become the ultimate tool of wealth creation. 

Advertising and marketing are all about uncertainty, whereas behavioral prediction is about taking the uncertainty out of life. 

Real World Implications

In 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal consumed the media as its purpose was to target and manipulate voters in the 2016 presidential campaign. Information arose regarding Facebook forcing Mark Zuckerberg to appear before Congress to explain how the data of up to 87 million Facebook users had been harvested by a political consulting company based in the UK.

This was a pivot from AI's main use by advertisers to a new use by political consumers. This example further illustrates the argument that artificial intelligence has taken away our agency. It is now the machines that have control over us.

We have no privacy because everything we do is being monitored. Technology and AI have invaded the intimate, personal aspects of our lives: our thoughts, desires, dreams, friends and so on.

The documentary discusses the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) when it comes to online security and privacy. This law gives users control of their digital data, the right to know and the right to say no.

This is reassuring knowing that the CEO of Google admitted to knowing where users are and where they've been, with the users' permission. With this information, Google is able to more or less guess what you're thinking about and how you'll act. 

Cloud of Data

Everything you do as a consumer of technology and media is producing data, and there are computers looking at that data to learn and essentially try to serve you better. These computers are trying to personalize things to you and adapt the world to you. 

This is great on one hand, but the entities in the companies that are in control of those algorithms don't necessarily have the same goals as you.

Our democracy is threatened by these tools; therefore, we shouldn't take these concerns lightly. The best thing we can do as users is be aware of the negative implications of artificial intelligence so that we can have more control over it. We must continue to protect our privacy.

Blog #8 - Delving into Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence has already spread into every aspect of our lives. From a simple Google Search to the invention of self-driving cars, its role in our digital lives is important to acknowledge and understand. Though it appears to be a more recent invention, AI has been around a lot longer than we would predict.

The term artificial intelligence was coined in 1956, but AI has become more popular today thanks to increased data volumes, advanced algorithms, and improvements in computing power and storage. In the 1960s, the US Department of Defense took interest in this type of work and began training computers to mimic basic human reasoning. For example, DARPA completed street mapping projects in the 1970s and then produced intelligent personal assistants in 2003, long before Siri or Alexa. 

Some people will use the terms AI and machine learning interchangeably, especially since most of the current advances in AI have involved marine learning; however, they are separate concepts. 

Machine learning is behind chatbots and predictive text, language translation apps, the shows Netflix suggests to you, and how your social media feeds are presented. In other words, machine learning takes the approach of letting computers learn to program themselves through experience. 

It can be time consuming or even impossible to train a computer like we do humans. But, machine learning has proven it could marshal a vast amount of data, beyond anything any human could handle.

How it Works

Machine learning starts with data such as numbers, photos, or text. The data is gathered and prepared to be used as training data, or the information the machine learning model will be trained on. The more data, the better the program. 

Programmers choose a machine learning model to use, supply the data, and let the computer model train itself to find patterns or make predictions. Over time, the human programmer can also tweak the model, including changing its parameters, to help push it toward more accurate results.

The function of a machine learning system can either be...

Descriptive: the system uses the data to explain what happened

Predictive: the system uses the data to predict what will happen

Prescriptive: the system will use the data to make suggestions about what action to take

Additionally, there are three subcategories of machine learning: supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement. Supervised machine learning deals with a labeled data set, whereas unsupervised deals with unlabeled data. Reinforcement machine learning, on the other hand, is a trial and error method. The computer has a reward system so that it learns from its accuracy and mistakes.

Machine learning is best suited for situations with lots of data so that the computer has thousands or millions of examples. This can be observed in the Google Translate application as it "trained" on the vast amount of information on the web, in all different languages.

Uses in Business

Machine learning is the core of some companies' business models, like in the case of Netflix's suggestions algorithm or Google's search engine. Its ability to gain insight or automate decision-making in cases where humans would not be able to has made it the ultimate tool of wealth creation.

Google search is an example of something that humans can do, but never at the scale and speed at which the Google models are able to show potential answers every time a person types in a question. 

Companies are able to use machine learning in a variety of ways:

From manufacturing to retail and banking to bakeries, even legacy companies are using machine learning to unlock new value or boost efficiency.

Concerns

While machine learning is fueling technology that can help workers or open new possibilities for businesses, there are still concerns and limitations that businesses should understand. 

One of these being explainability, or the ability to be clear about what the machine learning models are doing and how they make decisions. Systems can be fooled and undermined, or just fail on certain tasks, even those humans can perform easily. While most problems can be solved through machine learning, people should assume right now that the models only perform to about 95% of human accuracy.

Another concern is bias and unintended outcomes. Machines are trained by humans, and human biases can be incorporated into algorithms. If biased information, or data that reflects existing inequities, is fed to a machine learning program, the program will learn to replicate it and perpetuate forms of discrimination. 

For example, if a chatbox is trained on how people converse on Twitter, it would pick up on and replicate offensive and racist language.

The most important thing a business can do is making sure its organization embraces human-centered AI. This is rooted in the practice of seeking input from people of different backgrounds, experiences, and lifestyles when designing AI systems.

Conclusion

We have reached a digital age that is practically fueled by artificial intelligence and its subfields: machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning. This technology can open so many possibilities, but it's important to fully understand these tools and think about how to use them well. Being aware of the social, societal, and ethical implications of machine learning is the best thing we can do. 

"Machine learning is changing, or will change, every industry, and leaders need to understand the basic principles, the potential, and the limitations," stated MIT computer science professor Aleksander Madry.

Blog #7 - Addressing the Invasion of Privacy

When you are sitting alone in your bedroom, you would assume to have privacy. When you send private messages to another individual, you would assume that those messages are only seen by you and the receiver on the other end. But are any of our actions truly private in a digital world that prides itself on the ability of tracking our every movement?

With the rise of technology, and social media in particular, the concept of privacy is not what it used to be. Large corporations, such as Facebook and Google, are able to gather mass amounts of data from each one of us, and most of this information we give out voluntarily. We sacrifice our right to privacy when we figuratively sign the contracts that each of these companies place in their terms and conditions. 

Facebook's business model incorporates a contract of adhesion, or a contract in which one party holds all the negotiating power. This allows them to change the terms without communicating with the user, have access to any material that is posted, and still own all material even after a user closes their account. This should be alarming to any Facebook or social media user (so most Americans).

In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission imposed a historic $5 billion penalty and sweeping new privacy restrictions on Facebook.

The Impact on the Individual

In his TED talk, Juan Enriquez compares the digital platforms that we utilize everyday to tattoos in the way they are able to tell our stories without the use of words. He refers to them as electronic tattoos that tell others who we are and what we do. However, this presents multiple issues:

1. Our data and private information will live far longer than our bodies will. 

2. We are not always aware of who will be receiving and abusing our information.

Our information and data is immortal. This can be dangerous for us, our friends and our family because it suggests our reputations, good or bad, can technically live on forever. Even more concerning is the fact that we are unaware of who may be accessing such information. 

Catherine Crump, American law professor and civil liberties expert, discusses the increase of mass surveillance and location tracking that gives the government access into our personal lives. Digital surveillance technology allows police departments to gather sensitive information about each one of us. This can be useful to investigations; however, it also allows the government to know far too much about what happens behind closed doors. The more information, the more easily it can be abused. 

We have lost control over our data and privacy. So where do we go from here?

Regaining Control: The Next Steps

The invasion of privacy this nation is facing should not fall on the individual to solve. It is the government's duty to ensure that American citizens are protected under their rights, and this includes our rights to privacy.

Unfortunately, our government, along with many large tech companies, is benefitting from the overflow of information and data. Mass amounts of data allow the government and corporations to predict our behaviors. Targeted advertising is the key to most business models; therefore, it would be shocking to see these companies give up their access. 

Online privacy depends on us.

Most social media users voluntarily give out so much information about their lives, locations, likes, dislikes, political views and so on. Andy Yen, founder and CEO of Proton, advocates for privacy rights and emphasizes that we are teaching younger generations to share everything on web. The education system is a good place to start.

We need to teach younger users of technology the importance of privacy. We need to highlight the importance of informed consent when giving platforms permission to access our data and personal information.

Introducing secure mediums of communication would also benefit many individuals and allow users to ensure their conversations are not being surveilled by foreign entities or hackers. Crump explains that the best thing we can do is acknowledge the technologies that are tracking our behaviors. Being aware and knowledgeable about the issue will allow us to create an internet where privacy is not only an option but the default.

Use these links to access the TED talks referenced in this post:

Juan Enriquez

Catherine Crump

Andy Yen

Blog #6 - Constitutionality of Silencing Minority Voices

Our founding fathers knew how important it is for each American citizen to be able to use one of the most powerful tools: our voice. The second clause of the First Amendment establishes that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, yet the Espionage Act in 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 blatantly go against these principles. 

Since Congress is the branch of government to decide whether our country will go to war or not, it should come as no surprise that they also passed these laws that punished anti-war government employees and silenced anti-war voices. It was quite literally a crime to criticize the government and it's action. But isn't this the whole point of a democracy? Isn't the responsibility of each citizen to criticize the government and practice vertical checks and balances between all levels?

Even though it appears unconstitutional, because it may very well be, anti-war voices are still somewhat silenced today in the way they are missing from mainstream media. 

After reviewing some of the stories on anti-war websites, it was evident that these opinions were not identical to the ones that are constantly published in the news and media that we often consume. We rely on these larger news organizations for our information; however, are we really consuming a variety of sources or the same opinions repeated in all mainstream media?

We are forced to search for these minority opinions elsewhere, and they are somewhat difficult to locate because they are considered controversial. These controversial opinions, however, are a necessary contribution to the marketplace of ideas that we claim to have established in our country. 

The American Conservative recently published a story about the thousands of Nikki Haley donors from the Democratic Party that are doing everything they can to stop Trump and undermine the GOP. On the other hand, the Washington Post has only been concerned with Trump's hush trial and the claim's made against him. 

I understand that it is important to write without bias, but it is ultimately inevitable. Many mainstream news outlets tend to have a certain bias in the choices of what stories they cover and how they approach the more controversial topics. 

The same conservative website features stories about the pro-life movement, Trump's correct statements about NATO, and Nikki Haley's "desperate speech for relevance." I highly doubt these stories would be featured in the common media that portray Trump as the villain of this time period.

So do we actually have a marketplace of ideas, and more specifically one that accepts all thoughts and opinions? The short answer would be no. At least not in the mainstream media that we are all exposed to whether we search for it or not.

Blog #5 - Communication Technology Timeline Reflection

From Samuel Morse's "What Hath God Wrought" message on the telegraph in 1844 to the newly released Apple Vision Pro, communication technology has continuously evolved alongside society. As our class reviewed the developments made in the last few centuries, it was eye-opening to see how far we've come in the way we are able to communicate with one another. 

I enjoyed learning about some of the older technologies such as the invention of the printing press in 1440, the radio in 1920, and the use of carrier pigeons dating all the way back to 3000 BCE. Each one of these mediums had a substantial effect on communication in its respective time period. 

Gutenberg's Printing Press

The invention of the printing press and radio, though centuries apart, had a similar influence in  the way they contributed to the concept of mass media and the spread of information. Before these technologies, it was difficult to spread knowledge quickly and to large amounts of people. Gutenberg's invention of movable-type printing revolutionized society by standardizing language, spreading ideas, increasing literacy and growing the printing industry.

If it weren't for this advancement in mass communication, the idea of the press would not exist. The printing press is credited for the first print run of the Bible in Latin, which took about 3 years to print 200 copies. It also influenced the Italian Renaissance and the Enlightenment Era as authors and philosophers were able to publish their work and reach larger audiences. 

Radio's Impact on Society

Similarly, the invention of the radio has been long-lasting and significant. Radio completely changed the landscape of mass media and helped to create a popular culture among society. Citizens all over the nation were listening to the same stories and advertising, creating a sense of unity during challenging times of Depression and world war. 

Radio connected people in a way that had never really been accomplished prior; but more importantly, radio completely altered the speed at which information spread. Radio broadcasts provided real-time information, some even broadcasting 24 hours a day. It no longer took days for individuals to learn about current events as radio provided news at a rapid rate, one that would have not been possible years prior.

The Carrier Pigeon 

However, the most surprising and intriguing medium of communication discussed in my peer's presentations had to have been the carrier pigeons, mainly because of how long this was a common "technology."

From Ancient Egypt in 3000 BCE to the present day, carrier pigeons have been effective messengers due to their natural homing abilities. During both the First and Second World Wars, carrier pigeons were used to transport messages back to their home coop behind the lines. These pigeons often carried important messages that saved lives and won battles. 

One specific pigeon named Cher Ami delivered a message that saved a large group of surrounded American infantrymen and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for heroic service. 

Unfortunately, pigeons have more recently been utilized for the proposes of smuggling illegal substances. Just last year, a pigeon was found in a Canadian prison yard with a tiny backpack filled with meth.

Even more recently, the news released a story about a pigeon being held in custody by Indian authorities for eight months on suspicion of spying for China. Officials determined it was no avian agent of espionage and released the pigeon on Feb. 2, 2024. 

This simply proves that even the smallest or most unusual communication technology can still have an immense impact on the way we share messages and communicate with one another.