Final Blog: Technologies Impact on Me!

Technology has honestly taken over a good part of my life. Beginning at the age of 8, I was given my first phone for emergencies. I quickly learned how to utilize it for photos and games and not for its real purpose. For every birthday or holiday since that age I have almost always received a new, updated form of technology. I think this is a slight addiction because I chase for the newest product such as a new iPhone, air-pods, macs, or watches. 

I began using social media in middle school when apps such as Instagram & Snapchat began to be popular. I am still currently on these apps as well as TikTok, VSCO, Twitter and a few others that consume a lot of my time. Sometimes I don’t want to admit how much time I spend on these apps but this class really opened my eyes on the concepts of privacy and the harm that social media presents.

I also use social media for my personal professional growth which has been very healthy and beneficial. Platforms such as LinkedIn allow me to grow my personal brand and connect with professionals within the sports industry. Overall, I think I have a healthy balance with technology when I want to. I know when to limit myself and I have no problem taking a break from it. 

I think my parents have a unique relationship with technology. My mom is absolutely Facebook obsessed and makes sure to update all of her “friends” with any birthdays, milestones, or sometimes useless information. When asking her about her Facebook use she reflected that, “It is like a photo album, Facebook keeps all of my favorite pictures and memories and I love looking back on them.” I think it is sometimes a negative part of her life because she is constantly scrolling, even if she denies it. As for my dad, he deleted all social media (except Pinterest) about 5 years ago because he thinks it is extremely toxic.

I have a ton of friends who admit that they are addicted to their phones or other technology. They spend up to 12 hours a day on their phones which can cause a great deal of distraction and affect their mental health. In high school, we had to give one thing up for 10 days (forgiveness project) and my friends and I chose to do a complete social media cleanse. Some people cracked after the first day but I was able to go against my temptations to re-download social media. I think this class has impacted the choices I make when using social media because I am now private on all of my accounts. 

I am not too exposed online. When I Googled myself my LinkedIn profile appears as well as some field hockey and softball articles from high school. It is interesting to see that my name is automatically associated to my family and peers here at High Point University. I am glad to also have this blog as a part of my digital footprint because it demonstrates how I have grown through this course. I would like to continue my blog for my personal growth and to find more time to stay away from my phone. 

Find Out More Info Below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNKN4dHGQKg

https://www.google.com/search?q=annie+borovskiy&tbm=isch&chips=q:annie+borovskiy,online_chips:athletic+director:iCW6ZHGz-ow%3D&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS737US737&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiNmL62pqbwAhVQ0FMKHfquBBEQ4lYoAnoECAEQHg&biw=1163&bih=684#imgrc=pPT8dazg7j4bXM

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/it-privacy/

Gatekeeping Theory, What is it? (EOTO #2)

For my final Each One Teach One, I presented on the Theory of Gatekeeping. Gatekeeping Theory is the process of filtering the information that goes in different communication forms like broadcasting and internet. The process is controlled by gatekeepers like journalists and editors. This theory has been around for about seventy years and is extremely prevalent in our news today. 

I would like to give a brief history of Gatekeeping which will provide great background information on how it was developed. The idea was first identified by Kurt Lewin (1890-1947), who was a a German psychologist and pioneer in social psychology. He developed the theory to understand human behavior, with nothing relating to the news. At first it was widely used in the field of psychology and social psychology. It was later moved to the field of communication as mass communication because it was a specific area of study. This was largely due to the invention of mass publication technology. It is now one of the essential and foundational theories in communication studies.

In 1950, Gatekeeping was officially applied to the news. David Manning White was one of the first to use Gatekeeping. He was a journalism professor at Boston University, where he researched the factors an editor takes into consideration when deciding which news would make it into the paper and what news would not. He also had some power in making that decision himself, so he is recognized to be the first person to implement the Gatekeeping Theory. 

It provides a way of understanding organizational processes: how journalists and managers source, filter and edit content on its way to the end user. It more of a tactic to focus on specific messages. This theory uses three specific tactics. The first is limiting information which means they have the power to hold back the full story or not provide all information. They also expand information which can be seen through extreme exaggeration or emphasis on a topic. Finally, they may reinterpret information which provides new angles or different viewpoint. In Intentional Gatekeeping, such as a newspaper- the reporters, editors, owners, government, and pressure groups have the power or ability to gatekeeper. In film, the producers, censor board, and directors are the Gatekeepers. Gate keepers are necessary in media because it allows information to be filtered, useful, credible and reliable but sometimes there are negative effects. 

The Gatekeeping model shows the step by step channels and how information is passed from gate to gate or channel to channel. 

The Editorial Process is also an important aspect of the theory because this decides what content reaches the viewer. The focus is on how journalists and managers source, filter and edit content on its way to the end user. Here, the gate is found within the organization itself.  In addition, some people look at gatekeeping in connection with government regulation. Here the emphasis is on how gatekeeping affects the workings of the economy and how governments uses competition law, media regulation, and licensing to create a framework for the media market. Within ecology and media marketing gatekeeping is seen through competition and cost. This means that organizations such as news broadcasting stations control access to media and uses the gate to gain a competitive advantage. 

Find Out More Info Below: 

https://www.businesstopia.net/mass-communication/gatekeeping-theory#:~:text=When%20gatekeeping%20is%20done%2C%20the,dissemination%20by%20David%20Manning%20White.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/107769905002700403

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOwcFiAbbIE

Online Privacy

Privacy is an extremely important aspect of our lives. With the rise of social media our privacy is constantly questioned because of the platforms that use our personal information. When agreeing to the lengthy terms and conditions we sign all of our information over to them. Depending on the platform information such as our name, phone number, email address, credit card numbers, and face identification is given to the owners. This can be a dangerous choice because we do not know what these companies do with our information or if it can also be used against us. 

After watching Juan Enriquez’s TED Talk, I learned a lot of great information about our life online. He explained that “electronic tattoos shout like real tattoos”. In today’s world, you cannot hide, especially with facial recognition. Nowadays, our technology is so advanced that platforms such as Facebook and Google can recognize a fee and automatically tag a name to the face. This can lead to the exposure of criminal records, credit scores, and other extremely personal information. 

In addition, Face.Com has millions of faces within its software. There is also an immense amount of face detection services in public and within other technology platforms. The use of this technology truly violates a person’s privacy and more people should be aware of their privacy rights. I think younger generations should be informed of their privacy rights in educational settings because it impacts them in so many ways. I believe that our generation will guide younger kids into making more sensitive choices regarding social media and privacy. 

Find Out More info Below: 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2020/06/26/there-isnt-enough-privacy-on-social-media-and-that-is-a-real-problem/

https://www.ipc.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/resources/youthonline.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu1C-oBdsMM