To all Cyborgs welcome to social media 2013

For those of you not willing to watch only the CRAZIEST, SPINE CHILLING video on social media in 2013, here are just some of the outstanding statistics and facts:

•                Facebook is 1 billion followers strong, making it the third largest country

•                New Yorkers received tweets about an earth quake 30 seconds before they even felt it

•                Lady gaga Justin Beiber and Katy Perry have more followers than the populations of Germany, Turkey, South Africa, Canada, Argentina, and Egypt

•                Babies in Egypt have been named Facebook and Twitter

If this is what social media means to the world in 2013, what can we expect from 2020?

To watch videos such as these and to see statistics that suggest the world has become digital are phenomenal. BUT to experience and know that you are a part of that statistic is scary. China does not allow for social media outlets to exist in its country; this is due to preventing public government unrest, but are they doing their population a favour by shielding them from this excessive connectivity? I believe, yes. http://www.mysocialagency.com/social-media/will-china-ever-allow-facebook

I appreciate that it allows for people to connect, for brands to market and for the economy to grow, but if asked 'would it be easier to live in generation X or Y? I would say gen X. Here is why:

On a personal, individual scale lets Look back on Sherry Turkles theory of the 'Goldilocks effect', the idea of being not to close but not to far from one another. Mobile devices, Twitter and Facebook allow for this daily and people suffer terrible anxiety when they do not have access to these outlets (Turkle, 2012).  The second life is also an outlet where people create an alias and morph into avatars. Here, individuals create idealistic forms of themselves and in severe cases choose to live this second life rather than the reality of their own (ABC net, 2012)

On a wider scale, lets look at digital activism, cyber bullying and cyber terrorism. The Internet is providing a place for activists to come together, create protests and hate groups to terrorise people, governments and societies. This is all done from the safe comfort of their home and at the luxury of remaining anonymous. There are no clear laws that state people can be punished for these crimes, no matter the severity. The Internet is creating a world where good and evil are misconstrued and over lapped. Where do people cross the line?

The future of social media is anything but bleak and is forecasted to grow to web 3.0. This is described as "an age of Semantic Web", where no longer will people need to search for information on the web, as the information will find them based on the data companies are able to collect about users from the sites they visit and their profiles from social media pages (Noff, 2011). Are we entering the third wave of social media? Based on the information in this blog, Yes. We have morphed into cyborgs, whilst not all of us are willing participants; it is as simple as liking a page on Facebook, or answering a text on your phone. If the Internet is now able to withhold personal information about people based on their web searchers then we have lost all privacy, and technology now rules us!

Nonetheless, Will I ever stop using social media, No. Do I care that the Internet is able to hold personal information, not really. I am Gen Y. Despite all the negative aspects of social media I am OBSESSED!

Life is to be lived, not posted, so keep instagraming all those moments ;) #lifeisgood #whynotshareit

References:

ABC net: Four Corners (2012) You Only Live Twice. [video online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20070319/default_full.htm [Accessed: 28 January 2013].

Qualman, E. (2012) Social Media Video 2013. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUCfFcchw1w [Accessed: 15 February 2013].

Noff, A. (2011) What’s Next in Social Media. [online] Available at: http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/06/14/whats-next-in-social-media/ [Accessed: 13 Feb 2013].

Sherry Turkle: Connected but alone? 2012, online video, TED,  US, viewed 30 november 2012 <http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html>

Digital Hype

Digital activism is defined as “The practice of using digital technology to increase the effectiveness of a social or political change campaign” (Gago, 2010). I don’t like how they use the word ‘effectiveness’, it’s a positive connotation, and I personally don’t see the beauty of digital activism. I share a pertinent view, with or without technology people will amalgamate and protest, digital activism just allows for a quicker more universal approach. Although my argument lies; with all the protesting and petitions, is significant change made? Or is it just an outlet for people to band together and whine?

An example of this was when presenter David Kosh from channel 7, made a comment that woman should be more discreet when they breastfeed. This caused an uproar from mothers online, and a petition was sent that asked women to protest with their children outside the channel 7 in Martin Place. 800 women signed this petition saying they would attend, only 150 showed up on the day (Carter, 2013). This raises the debate, is digital activism just a hype of empty promises? and how far are people actually willing to go to stand up and make a change. It is easy for a person to be aggressive behind their keyboard and when they are able to stay anonymous. Although when it comes to crunch time will anyone bother leaving the comfort of his or her home to fight for a cause?

This idea of digital hype alludes to KONY 2012, a campaign to fight for Ugandan children against a war criminal, Joseph Kony. Organized group ‘Invisible Children’ began an online video that showed the suffering of the children, and highlighted how everyone could make a difference. Social media outlets were utilized to illustrate the problems for the children and make Kony ‘famous’. The organisation saw 3.7 million people pledge their support for efforts to arrest Joseph Kony (invisiblechildren.com, 2012). This digital activism effort is the paramount example of Internet hype, it reached a global status, and for a few weeks the topic was discussed worldwide. Critics then began sledging the organisation stating they were money hungry, and the activist backlash began. KONY 2012 was short lived and people lost interest. A year on, he was never caught but the organisation promises to continue to push governments to find and arrest Kony (Invisiblechildreninc, 2012).

For anyone who STILL cares here is a video of KONY 2012 a year on. Only 41 000 people have viewed this video, following the initial video that saw 96,500,684 views. Amazing how hype can die so dramatically (Invisiblechildrensinc, 2012)

While I have been known to like a cause on Facebook, and follow a petition online, I have never had any intention of actually doing anything to help. It is easy to click a button or remark on an event, but if asked to leave my computer and join people in protest… No thanks; I’ve got a life to live and things to be done. I feel terrible saying this, because there are people out there that are struggling, but it’s the god honest truth. Unless it bothers me directly, I would not take a stand. Digital activism is easy, physical protest and confrontation is much harder. I’ll stick to the keyboard!

References:

Carter, L. (2013) TV host Koch targeted in breastfeeding protest. ABC news, [online] 22 January. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-21/tv-host-targeted-in-breastfeeding-protest/4473302 [Accessed: 15 February 2013].

Gago, B. (2010) Digital activism glossary - Notes on digital activism. [online] Available at: http://www.digitalactivist.net/articles/digital-activism-glossary/ [Accessed: 22 Jan 2013].

Invisiblechildreninc (2012) Invisible Children - YEAR IN REVIEW: 2012 - What it will take to stop Kony. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xjU87hfzA [Accessed: 15 February 2013].

Invisiblechildren.com (2012) From the director of KONY 2012 comes Invisible Children's new film MOVE.. [online] Available at: http://invisiblechildren.com/kony/ [Accessed: 15 Feb 2013].

Invisiblechildreninc (2012) KONY 2012. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc [Accessed: 15 February 2013]

Cyber Bullying: Tribute to Amanda Todd

Her Name: Amanda Todd

Status: Dead

A young, beautiful girl pushed so far to the edge by cyber bullies that she attempts to commit suicide twice. Her anxiety so bad, she no longer wanted to go to school. But what’s worse, her third attempt was successful, she hung herself... she was 15.

Today a focus on cyber bullying:

Cyber bullying is by far the worst element of social media, while 'traditional' bullying is also cruel and devastating, the Internet has allowed for anonymity. It also provides these bullies with courage, as they are not face-to-face. These bullies attack their victims through social media outlets without having to confront them, and it gives them the opportunity to sit and consider what they are going to say. It is relentless! 

I was lucky, I can confidently say I was never a bully at school nor was I the victim of it. Although I will admit, when I witnessed someone being bullied I would never speak up, does that make me a bad person? It worries me that I will bring children into an even further technologically advanced world and that they could potentially be subjected to this hate crime. Children are now being punished in court (Mail Online, 2012), but the reality is, does anybody want to see these children be placed in jail or is the death of another human being enough to teach a lesson? Where do the courts draw the line? As a mother, would you want the children jailed? (Rivnerivne, 2011)

Rheingold believes Technology is allowing us to take a communal approach to solving society's problems. Yet in this case technology is creating the problem, and allowing 'hate' groups to amalgamate. Even with people like Amanda Todd speaking out, it seems people only have more hurtful things to say. Comments from the video above included "Anon153: Wish she died the first time round", "Soulbeat19: bet she didn’t show her face cause she’s an ugly whore. WHORE", another hater posted a picture of a bottle of bleach and the caption “it’s to die for”, referencing an earlier suicide attempt (Ryall, 2012). So while Rheingold may believe that virtual communities are benefitting society, it seems that even those attempting to stand up for their victims are receiving hateful comments from anonymous Internet users. 

The future for cyber bullying seems never ending! Until governments make clear laws, and people are held accountable for their actions, teenagers and adults a like will continue to torment. Until anonymity is taken away and the vulnerable become strong, cyberbullying will continue. But while there are weak people, there are bullies to torment them; and while there is technology, there are sites to facilitate the harassment.

May I just say, lets hope they have made a law by the time my children enter school, my heart goes out to the parents who have suffered and are left feeling hopeless, just as Amanda Todd's are.

References:

Chai Videos (2012) Amanda Todd's Story: Struggling, Bullying, Suicide, Self Harm. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej7afkypUsc [Accessed: 11 February 2013].

Mail Online (2012) Victory over cyber bullies: Legal first as High Court orders Facebook to reveal trolls who tormented mother for defending X Factor star. [online] Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2156365/Nicola-Brookes-victim-internet-trolls-wins-High-Court-backing-reveal-identities-targeted-her.html#axzz2KeX0Zg2M [Accessed: 12 Feb 2013].

Rivnerivne (2011) kayla narey apologized for what she did to phoebe prince. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEs7s8T1pgU [Accessed: 11 february 2013].

Ryall, J. (2012) Online bully victim Amanda Todd still tormented in death. News.com.au, [online] October 15. Available at: http://www.news.com.au/national/online-bully-victim-amanda-todd-still-tormented-in-death/story-fndo4eg9-1226496347889 [Accessed: 11 February 2013].

Produsage

Produsage is defined as: refers to an individual who is engaged in the activity of produsage. Produsage blurs the boundaries between passive consumption and active production (Wikipedia, 2005). I sourced this from Wikipedia for the purpose of this week’s blog, due to the constant referral to its ‘produser’ tools. The idea of Wikipedia is that any individual can edit, or add information to a topic where they see fit, enveloping the ultimate produser. To clarify this definition and ensure its feasibility I compared it to competing sites and the information provided was virtually the same. I understand the risk of Wikipedia’s reliability, however it allows new/updated information that no other ‘competing’ definition site permits.

Produsage is yet another revolution brought about through new technologies and social media outlets. Conforming from traditional produser to dirtributor consumer ways, it has allowed for individuals to produce material and share information with others via media platforms. Take YouTube for example, it provides an outlet for people to upload and share their videos for no cost. It has a collection of 70 million video clips and grows 6 million ‘produsers’ a year (CBS, 2009). You can never estimate the popularity a video may have, and the buzz it may create although there are some great success stories. Watch the following video: (Zorro103, 2009)

Two men created a video on an experiment for Mentos and Coke. According to Barbara Lippert from Adweek magazine, they received such big hype from their video they were offered jobs from Mentos (CBS, 2009). It is uncanny how one day you could be two guys playing around with a coke bottle and some lollies, to then become YouTube superstars with over 16 million views (Zorro103, 2009).

Now I’m no superstar and I am a little embarrassed, but here is an insight into my time as a produser via YouTube:

It was for the purpose of a school assignment and all together it received 2 views, however it was my 15 minutes of fame on YouTube. Alongside this, my blog has been another platform for production and again for the purpose of a school assignment. While my time as a produser is small, my time accessing information from Wikipedia and online produsage sites is vast and extensive. Even on Facebook, my friends and myself are constantly sharing and connecting through social media. Jenkins discusses participatory culture and societies ability through technology, to connect and share with others online, and produsage envelops this theory. Society is forever changing due to the technologies available, and Jenkins makes note that, due to this the public now have influence over media content and decisions made by businesses. People’s ability to produce and consume via social media will continue to flourish and people- like the mentos men- will evolve due to produsage.

CBSNews.com (2009) YouTube Phenomenon Keeps Growing. [online] Available at: http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500195_162-1864812.html?pageNum=2 [Accessed: 4 Feb 2013].

En.wikipedia.org (2005) Produsage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Produsage [Accessed: 4 Feb 2013].

Zorro103 (2009) Diet Coke and Mentos. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKoB0MHVBvM [Accessed: 4 Feb 2013].