013. Paper Topic

I want to write my paper about the advertising industry on the internet. This includes the advertising industry's use of YouTube, Good AdSense, and other such internet tools. I can discuss the effects that such tools have on the success of businesses. The accessibility of mass media advertising for small businesses will be a key point in the paper.

012. Growing Up Online

While watching the first half of this documentary, all I could think about was whether or not my MySpace page looked as tacky as the ones shown in the film. Sadly, it probably was.

Aside from that, the documentary itself was very interesting. It’s strange to think about how each generation younger and younger kids are learning how to use a computer. When I was in grade school, the most I knew how to do was ply Zoombinis or Paws in Typing Town. Now my sister is on YouTube watching a slew of anime or Disney Channel shows. If she’s not on the computer, she’ll be watching the videos on her iPod.

I think about that mom who tried to get her children’s Facebook passwords. How can she honestly expect them to fork over that piece of information so easily? I understand that she’s trying to protect her kids online, but come on! Kids still want a realm where they can live free of their parents constant protection. I’m sure they generally know how to be safe online. There has to be some other motive for that mom to want their passwords.

Then there was the entire scene about the girls picking fights on MySpace. There was one girl who talked about how colleges can now see the videos on YouTube. Irresponsible behavior can affect one’s future now. With the internet, it’s impossible to sweep anything big under the rug. This is why I have to be careful online, especially if I want to be part of the Disney College Program next year. I also have to be careful because, as a youth group leader, I have to set a good example for the kids that I teach and am friends with on Facebook. I run the risk of getting kicked out if any crazy photos of me showed up drinking or something like that (good thing I don’t drink). Everyone is vulnerable online.

011. Bloggerrrs

Ah, yes. The 2008 presidential campaign between the technologically literal and the analog generation. First off, I'm going to say, "Well played, Obama." It's true when the author basically asserts that McCain lost the race because he resisted social media. Obama's utilization of Twitter, YouTube, and other new media outlets allowed him to connect more directly to the younger voters. The main targets drawn into this online political campaign were the voters who had just turned 18 in 2008. I remember a few of my classmates in my AP US History class talking about how they were going to vote for Obama. Needless to say, his online campaign obviously worked for the students of Hebron High School.

Honestly, why wouldn’t any politician want to invest his or her time in online campaigning? It’s a much cheaper medium to go by (it’s virtually free) and can reach millions across the globe. Better than spending millions on a traditional campaign that may or may not be as effective as using Twitter and YouTube.

As a closing note, I would like to point out that Barrack Obama has a Tumblr. That is all. (http://barackobama.tumblr.com/)

010. Baby, I Was Born This Way

I found it interesting that the introduction was written in a way that addresses those outside the Digital Natives group. It seems like something that my mom could understand. I am that daughter that shows up late at dinner and texts under the table…

The concept of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants is an interesting way of describing the technologically adept generation and the analog generation. I guess I was born a Digital Native? I’m not really quite sure. According to the article, the World Wide Web debuted on the year I was born. Even so, I still remembered the days where I didn’t have internet at home. All my family had was free dial-up from Netzero. I know what a tape cassette is, what a Walkman is, what a postage stamp is. Yet I’m still incredibly adept at using a computer. Am I a Digital Native or am I part of the transition generation?

Digital Immigrants in my family would definitely be my parents and everyone within their generation. My mom barely knows how to operate Yahoo! Mail much less the internet itself. However, she has a knack for finding and printing out online coupons. Actually, my dad isn’t as much of a Digital Immigrant. He understands computers very well, but then again, he works and my mom doesn’t so he’s required to be knowledgeable about these technologies. He has a lot more exposure to the digital realm than my mom does.

In terms of protecting kids online through laws, it’s a hard thing to do. There’s always going to be lines in censorship that can’t be crossed. Parents can’t always expect the law to protect the kids. Kids can develop their own judgment about right and wrong online. If your kids are smart, you don’t have to worry about them being sexually solicited because they’ll know how to ignore shady messages. Pornographic images? You have to trust your kids with that one. Unless they’re out looking for nude pictures, they’re going to have a hard time accidentally stumbling on such sites. If something happens, they can exit the site (unless they have their own secret agendas…).

009. New Media in Everyday Life

In Lister's article "New Media in Everyday Life," the author states "that technologies are socially shaped but that society is not technologically shaped." I have to disagree. In today's society where the world of social media is rapidly expanding, those who are not adept in using these new tools fall behind very quickly. Everyone is now slowly being forced to conform into the world of social media.

There are quite a few theories listed in the article about everyday life being a central concept in regards to technologies. Stating that social media is “the site of consumption of mediated popular culture” is like stating an obvious fact. Everything is accessible online from blogs and news articles to movies and music to online gaming realms. No one can say that it’s possible to go online without being bombarded by popular culture. Even if you’re not looking for it, it will inevitably find its way to you especially through channels of advertising. Companies on the internet want you to consume.

New media has also had a strong effect on the shift of social relationships. Back then, if you wanted to contact someone, you called on the phone, mailed a letter, or talked to that someone in person. Now, you can instant message, Skype, e-mail, or Facebook someone. In a way, new media has created a more impersonal world. It affects those who are offline, too. Parents are unable to truly connect with their children who are stuck in the digital world.

Virtual identities are also a big topic in new media. Online disguises can change relationships between people who wouldn’t normally interact. Someone who is normally an introvert can do and say whatever they want online. All he or she has to do is merely hide behind a keyboard. For some, it can be invigorating being able to speak out more. Believe me, I know. I used to be able to talk to my crushes freely online but as soon as I walk into school, I shut up immediately. The dependency on technology in order to communicate may be hindering.

008. Language Online

This was the first thing I thought of when I first started reading this article. The English language can be such a strange thing.

Anyways, after reading the article, I feel a little bit more informed about the "science" of electronic communication. Before learning all of the technical terms like MUDs and MOOs, all I was really familiar with was IM, IGN (in-game name), SMS, and SN. I never realized that there was such a plethora of acronyms for the different aspects of online communication. To me, online communication was just online communication. The only difference is where the communication is taking place. Synchronous and asynchronous? I didn't know those terms until now. Based on my understanding, synchronous is just communication between one person to another person whilst asynchronous is communication from one person to many people. Many social media sites offer the option of communicating by both synchronous and asynchronous means. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and MySpace let you share things publicly, but they also have the means for people to private message each other.

Honestly, I'm not quite sure how else to respond to this article. It seems pretty straightforward with its explanation of different media outlets and how they work. Please don't penalize me for not having a longer response. ><;;

007. Becoming Screen Literate

Kevin Kelly’s article “Becoming Screen Literate” offers a very accurate depiction of society’s shift from being literate to being visual. The omnipresent screens in today’s world has somewhat created a dependency on visuals. I’ve mentioned a few times before about the adaptation of novels into movies. The audience becomes less inclined to read the novel and instead waits for a movie to be released into theaters.

As Kelly states, the ability for the average Joe to create his own films cheaply has revolutionized society’s ability to create. Whilst writing a book or a symphony isn’t easy, creating a video for the masses is. Videos are also relatively cheap to make due to the digital revolution. The existence of iMovie and Windows Movie Maker allows for easily accessible tools to edit videos. YouTube, Veoh, and DailyMotion allow for the easy distribution of your video to the masses. Everything is set for you to create your own motion picture.

Kelly also mentions the manipulating of preexisting works and distributing the results to the masses. Anime music videos was something that I’ve dabbled in before. It was a very easy process to create and distribute my video even for a middle schooler. Those who voice act can create their own abridged versions of their favorite animes like LittleKuriboh does for the Yu-Gi-Oh! series.

Easy video production has allowed for advertising to become cheaper for some companies as well. For example, Doritos hosts a contest for user created ads for the Super Bowl each year. This year’s winner only spent $20 for his ad for doggie treats, a collar, and 2 bags of Doritos. Cheap video making helps to open a world of possibilities.