Final Blog Post: Relationships With Technology in Our Society

       

   When I think about technology, many things come to my mind. I think about all the times I have spent hours scrolling on social media, instead of doing my homework. Not only does technology involve social media, but it also involves movies, shows, online shopping, and so much more. 

    Like most people in today's world, I rely heavily on technology for everything. I use it for school, entertainment, communicating, and many other daily tasks. I believe that technology can be used in a healthy way, but it can also be used in an unhealthy way. When you are using technology to do homework, work, or to communicate. I find that to be a healthy use of it. There are so many ways you can use technology to your advantage in today's day and age. It is important to restrict your daily technology use to a healthy amount. 

    Our society is prone to scrolling on social media for hours at a time. This can lead to unhealthy habits regarding technology. Social media can worsen mental health and create habits that tend to be difficult to
break. Teens often experience FOMO (fear of missing out) when they look at social media and see others together or somewhere they wish they could be. Teens also compare themselves to others, worsen their sleep schedules, and some might experience cyberbullying. 

    I believe that social media is making me smarter in many ways. For example, the internet has many different resources that I can learn and grow my knowledge from. It allows you to search anything. Literally anything. You can always learn something new. It is a great resource, especially as a student in college. 

    In my opinion, technology is an accepted part of our society. It has become such a normal part of our everyday lives. You wake up in the morning, check social media, respond to any texts you have received, go to school or work, search the internet, and so much more. In the end, I can't imagine our world any other way. Could you imagine not being able to search something up when you have questions, or not being able to watch a movie when you're bored? I can't imagine!

    When it comes to my friends and family, I see many positives of technology. It keeps us connected in so many ways. I live eight hours away from home. I call my parents almost everyday, and without technology I wouldn't be able to reach them. I love to FaceTime my family to see my pets and see their faces when I miss them. 

    In addition, I moved to Cincinnati, Ohio when I was 9 years old. I was born in Dallas, Texas and lived there until I moved to Ohio. All of my extended family still lives in Texas and I still keep in touch with my friends. If we didn't have technology how would I keep in touch with them? 

    In relationships, technology can help build a connection. If you are in a long distance relationship, technology is the only way to stay in touch when you aren't together. You are able to send others photos and videos, and so much more. 

    Technology is a great way to strengthen your communication skills. As a communications major, being able to communicate is very important to me. Texting and emailing allows you to strengthen your writing skills, without even realizing it. Also, some people are more comfortable opening up through writing, which may lead to deeper conversations via technology. 

    I found this graph to be very interesting. It shows us how many people unplug from technology. I found that 43% of our country never unplugs from it. Not taking a break from it can potentially cause unhealthy habits. 

    At the end of the day, technology is used as a tool. It has its pros and cons, but the pros outweigh the cons. I will continue to use it in my everyday life, which I'm sure our society will do as well. Technology isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. 

EOTO 2: Reaction to Mainstream Media

    

    During this presentation, I learned about mainstream media and alternative media. These forms are very important and a large part of our society. Where do you get your news from?

    To begin, mainstream media refers to the major news organizations and media outlets that reach a large audience and have a widespread influence. There are many forms of media. These forms influence large audiences and are very likely to represent accepted beliefs or opinions. Mainstream media platforms include FOX, CNN, ABC, New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, USA Today, and many more. These are the platforms we receive our news from. They deliver news and updates on politics, health, our economy, global affairs, and much more. 

    Alternative media is non-traditional sources of news and information that challenges the narrative presented by mainstream media. Key characteristics include independent, niche or focused, non traditional formats, grassroots orientation, and challenges the status quo. Some examples of alternative media are progressive/left wing, conservative/right wing, and independent voices. These platforms have a smaller reach, with a limited audience compared to mainstream media. News contains opinionated details that are not intended for everyone to agree with. 

    In conclusion, there is a large difference between mainstream media and alternative media. Some differences include ownership, reach, funding, tone/style, content focus, gatekeeping, purpose, and more. Mainstream media shapes the national conversation, but is being challenged. Alternative media plays a large part in giving space to underrepresented issues and communities, but its outlet is very important. Media literacy is a large part of our world today, and it is up to you to pick your own newsfeed outlet. It is important that you stand by what you believe in when picking your media source. It's perfectly fine not to agree with peers or family members when you are watching the news or learning new information. 

    

The Age of AI

    

    After watching the video In the Age of AI, I learned many positive aspects of more complex AI and machine learning. In addition, there are many pros and cons relating to privacy, national security, online security and theft, and more. I find this information as AI is a large part of our everyday lives and our society. 

    To begin, AI leads to increased efficiency. AI and machine learning can automate repetitive tasks and lead to greater efficiency in different industries like logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. The more efficient, the better, especially in large fields like these. AI and machine learning can also lead to better design making. AI is able to analyze large amounts of data. This is very helpful when it comes to informed choices in fields like medicine and finance. These are both very intense fields. Lastly, AI and machine learning improve customer service experiences. Customer service is very important in many ways. AI can personalize recommendations and services, enhance user experience, and help companies/brands improve. This is helpful in retail and entertainment. 

    When it comes to privacy with AI, there are pros and cons. To begin, AI is able to enhance privacy. It is able to detect and prevent fraud or data breaches. AI can use personal data to provide services like custom healthcare, which greatly impacts quality of life. On the other hand, AI can lead to invasion of privacy. AI needs large amounts of information and personal data to function. This can lead to concerns regarding your privacy. Governments and corporations might use AI to spy and invade your privacy rights. 

    National Security has pros and cons when it comes to AI, as well. AI is able to strengthen national security by messing with defense technologies such as weapons, surveillance systems, and cybersecurity measures. AI can also process huge amounts of intelligence data in a more effective way. This might help national defense, counterterrorism, and identifying threats much quicker. 

    In conclusion, there are many positive and negative aspects of AI and machine learning use. It is important to know each of these and how they affect our day to day lives. This video was very informational and useful. 

    

EOTO 2: The Chilling Effect

   I find The Chilling Effect to be very interesting, and I enjoyed researching the history and impacts. The Chilling Effect refers to the suppression of lawful speech or behavior due to fear of legal or governmental consequences. This may take place even if what you are doing is lawful. You may ask, why are we so afraid? There are many reasons why we might feel this way, even though our rights are protecting us. Don't be afraid to speak up in what you believe in!

   This term first gained traction in the 1950s and 1960s. Americans were too afraid to speak up or associate with those suspected of having communist ties. There was fear of being investigated, losing your job, or being blacklisted, which led to many people staying silent. Citizens felt this way even if they had done nothing illegal. This is not the ideal atmosphere that people want to live in. Who wants to live in fear? I don't, and you shouldn't either!

    The Chilling Effect then became a key issue in the First Amendment court cases, where judges began warning those that vague or overly broad laws could end up discouraging people from being honest and speaking on what they believed. If citizens did not know if something would get them in trouble or not, they would choose to be silent instead. This occurred the most when political speeches, protests, or dissents took place. 

    Over time, this theory expanded further than free speech. It soon occurred in other fundamental rights, such as freedom of association, freedom of the press, and the right to privacy. The courts began to recognize laws that create this sense of fear among citizens that can have a negative impact on our society. The damage that has been done is obvious, and this needs to be changed.

    In addition, The Chilling Effect has many impacts on our society. The largest one is suppression of free speech. Citizens self censor even when they are legally allowed to speak. This is a huge issue. The weakening of democracy has an impact as well. People are too afraid to speak, protest, or engage in political debates. These are all important aspects of our democracy. Next, there is an impact on journalism. Investigative reporting becomes weaker and sources might choose to not come forward with important information, which reduces transparency. If journalists are afraid, then we have a large issue at hand. Lastly, there is an impact on social media and the internet. Algorithms and policies that are overly aggressive in moderating content can lead users to avoid discussing certain topics altogether. When users fear their posts are going to be removed, they might avoid posting at all. This happens especially on topics like politics, race, public health, and more. 

   In conclusion, as our technology is evolving, The Chilling Effect is more relevant than it ever has been. It could be through surveillance, moderation policies, vague laws, or anything that makes people afraid to use their rights freely. Addressing this effect is very important, and everyone should be aware of it. Know your rights and make sure to use them! 

Diffusion of Innovations

    

    Have you ever wondered how social media spread so fast or why people became so obsessed with it? Maybe why others don't have any interest in social media? The Diffusion of Innovations Theory explains it all. This theory looks at how new ideas and technologies catch on and spread through our society back then and today. 

    In the beginning, social media was tested out by only a few people. College kids were the main target audience for social media. They were sharing their lives on Instagram, tweeting news on Twitter, etc. College kids are always the first to try innovative technology, so are you surprised? They were the innovators and early adopters of social media. 

    Then came the early majority and late majority. Older generations hopped onto social media as it began to blow up in our society. They used it to keep up with their family members, follow news reports, and used it because everyone else was. This is where the diffusion theory came into play. The more people that joined social media, the more pressure others felt to join it as well. It eventually became a part of everyone's daily life. 

    However, not everyone jumped onto social media. Some people aren't totally off the grid, but they don't use it everyday. Not everyone wants their lives to be displayed for the world to see. They enjoy their privacy and want to stay private. Others may use social media, but not post any part of themselves in order to stay private, but still keep up with others. 

    Personally, I use social media everyday. It is how I keep up with peers, stay up to date on trends, and so much more. I post on Instagram about once a month and scroll on TikTok on a daily basis. As I have grown up using social media, I have noticed some positives and negatives of being on social media. You can stay in touch with people who live far away, discover trends, build a brand, share work, seek new opportunities, and much more. On the other hand, social media can worsen mental health, cause stress, lead to misinformation, and give you the fear of missing out. 

The Progressive Era

 

   Prior, I had never heard of Antiwar.com or The American Conservative.  I wonder why that might be? They are both full of information and many different articles. After looking into both of these sites, I realized how opinionated all of the information is. If you look at popular news outlets like Fox, The New York Times, CNN, ABC, or CBS, they do not promote very opinionated or controversial topics. That is one of the main reasons millions of people watch these mainstreams. They are very different from these two sites. In today's world, it is very easy and common to be canceled for saying the wrong thing or promoting something unpopular. Your reputation could be ruined within seconds. 

    Many big media outlets have financial ties to defense contractors. They rely on government sources to fund them and keep them going. With that being said, if you are running a news network that depends on political success, you are going to talk about what people want to hear. Smart business moves will be the most important aspect. Reporting on military actions could lead to relationships being ruined. Lastly, mainstream media outlets tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear. 

    Antiwar.com highlights how journalists might avoid reporting challenges pro-Israel narratives to protect their careers. They challenge dominant political ideologies and make them less popular with mainstream audiences. Journalists might self censor in order to align with the right narratives and to avoid any risks they might take professionally. In addition, The American Conservative  offers many right leaning facts and information, which doesn't fit with the left-right side which is favored by mainstream outlets. 

    In conclusion, Antiwar.com and The American Conservative are not as popular as mainstream media outlets. This is due to mainstream outlets not speaking on corporate interests, market dynamics, or self censorship. 

Invasion of Privacy

    Honestly, these issues hit a lot closer to home than we usually think. Every time we’re online posting photos, liking something, or just scrolling, we’re leaving little bits of ourselves out there. And it’s not just about us. It’s about our friends and family too. Stuff that feels private or like it’ll disappear can actually stick around way longer than we expect. A quick photo at a family party or a random comment online? That could pop back up years later and potentially mess with job opportunities, relationships, or how people see us. 

    It’s especially concerning for kids and teens because their whole lives are basically being documented online before they even fully understand what that means. It’s like they’re getting a "digital tattoo" from day one. That’s why it really helps to pause for a second before posting and think: Would I be okay with this still being around years from now? Also, using privacy settings, strong passwords, and being picky about which apps we trust with our info can really help keep things a little safer. 

    Catherine Crump’s talk made me think even more about this. She explains how law enforcement tracks people with things like license plate readers and cell phone records even if we haven’t done anything wrong. It’s kind of wild (and scary) to realize that just living our daily lives leaves behind a trail of data that could be stored and used, without us even knowing. This isn’t just about us as individuals, either.

    While we can’t control everything, we can push for change. We can support laws that protect our privacy, and make sure we’re holding our leaders accountable. And personally, being careful with the apps we use and regularly checking our privacy settings can help us keep a bit more control over our digital footprints. Our privacy should be a top priority, as it keeps us safe. Safety is key. 

    In addition, Darieth Chisolm talked about an important topic: revenge porn. Having private photos shared without consent is incredibly violating and traumatic. What’s even worse is that so many victims feel like they have nowhere to turn and no one to talk to about what they are going through. The government has to do better for our country's sake. We need clear laws that make this kind of abuse a serious crime, with real consequences for the people who do it. Victims should have easy, straightforward ways to get images taken down and to get justice. 

    We all have a part to play here. Before we share anything personal, we should pause and think about the impact it could have. If a friend is going through something tough, we should have their back and offer support. And when we see victim blaming happening, we need to call it out and shut it down. More than anything, we need to work together to build a culture that takes these issues seriously and stands by survivors, instead of making them feel like they’re the ones at fault. 

EOTO 1 Presentations: What I Learned

    After listening to everyone's presentations, one that stuck out to me was the history of social media. I use social media every single day, and was not aware of the history behind it. To begin, social media is a very large part of our society today. It is used for entertainment, marketing, business, communications, and so much more. More than half of the global population is on social media and constantly using it. Social media will be in our lives for the rest of time. 

    During this presentation, we learned about the history of Facebook and Instagram. These are two of the most popular social media platforms today. Starting with Facebook, it was founded in 2004 by Zuckerberg, Saverin, Moskovitz, and Hughes. In the beginning, it was used to let Harvard students rate female attractiveness. That didn't work well, so it was then turned into Facebook.com. It was initially only for students who attended Harvard to share information, photos, and schedules. Then, it expanded to Yale, Stanford, and other similar universities. By June 2004, 25,000 students from 24 universities had joined Facebook. 

    We then learned about the history of Instagram. It launched in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Instagram was created to share photos and experiences in an easier way. It prioritized images over text as people shared their posts. Instagram gained popularity for its sharing focus and photo filters. Photo filters used to be very popular in posts, as they elevated them immensley. Eventually, influencers became a trend on Instagram. Influencers posted brands, products, and services on their accounts, gained large followings, and made millions. Instagram transformed marketing strategies and digital advertising, changing the game in these fields. This is still one of the most popular platforms today, with top influencers achieving great wealth and success.  

EOTO 1: The Invention of Personal Computers

    

    When I started researching the invention of personal computers, I had no idea how fascinating the story would be. What I found was not just a tale of tech innovation, but one of risk, creativity, and a few unexpected twists along the way. At the center of it all was a man named Henry Edward Roberts. Roberts wasn’t just an engineer — he was also an entrepreneur and even a medical doctor at one point. Back in 1975, he built the first commercially successful personal computer, a moment that quietly set the stage for the digital world we know today. A few years earlier, in 1970, he had started a company called MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems). At first, they sold pocket calculator kits, but with bigger competitors driving prices down, Roberts found himself deep in debt. Instead of giving up, he decided to take a gamble. He shifted gears and started designing affordable computer kits for hobbyists. He called his creation "the ultimate gadget," and it turned out he was onto something big. One of these kits, the Altair 8800, didn’t even have a display screen, but it still caught the attention of two young programmers you’ve probably heard of: Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

    Gates and Allen saw huge potential in Roberts' Altair. They developed software for it, a programming language called Microsoft BASIC, which became the very first product of what would grow into Microsoft. It’s wild to think about, but this little hobbyist computer was the spark that helped ignite the software giant we know today. Of course, the story didn’t stay smooth. Gates and Allen eventually clashed with Roberts when they started selling their software to MITS’ competitors. Not long after, in 1977, Roberts decided it was time to step away from the tech world. He sold MITS for $2 million and went back to Georgia to live a simpler life as a farmer. Who would have thought he would go from computers to farming? 

   

     Roberts' invention had already started something that couldn’t be undone. The personal computer has completely transformed our lives. It’s changed the way we work, learn, and connect with each other. PCs opened the door to email, social media, and online communities. They created millions of jobs and gave rise to entire industries like digital entertainment, gaming, and streaming. On the flip side, personal computers have also brought some challenges. Issues like screen-related health problems, online addiction, cybercrime, privacy concerns, and even social isolation are all part of the story too. Technology always comes with a balance of good and bad, and the PC is no exception.

   Still, it’s amazing to think about how one person’s idea to build a simple, affordable computer could spark such a massive shift in the world. Henry Edward Roberts might have left the tech scene behind, but the impact of his invention is everywhere — from our classrooms and offices to the very devices we’re reading this on today. I found this research to be very interesting. Prior, I did not have any knowledge of the invention of the personal computer.