1.
Frontlines documentary on social networking and the internet in general, brought to attention aspects of the internet and social media that might have been over looked. Such as, the effects that this growing age of technology has had on the new generation. It has been made clear that times have changed and everyone feels the need to be connected, in order to live in this technology driven age. However, it is also clear that limitations and or awareness need to be to be addressed. Although the internet has undoubtedly connected the world, it had also created a subliminal disconnected. Ironically this disconnect has happened within our own homes. Kids, teens, and adults are likely more aware as to what is happening on their Facebook news feed, than issues occurring within their own homes. This disconnect can lead to examples shown in the documentary of teens dealing with suicide, hidden disorders, and alternate persona. Managing this disconnect in manner that everyone can deal with is vital. This bridge allows for the privacy and independence that teens seek and appease parents in a manner they find acceptable.
2.
Presidents Barack Obama campaign strategy revolutionized campaigning. Obama recognized how technology driven today’s society is and capitalized on this fact. Jascha Franklin-Hodge cofounder of Facebook was hired to head Blue State Digital, the company responsible for Obama’s online campaigning success. Unlike his competition Obama focused a major part of his campaign to social networking and the internet. Through the use of text messaging and his website Mybo, Obama was able to generate over 200 million dollars in donations. 48 percent of Obamas campaign funds were of donations of less than 200 dollars compared to 33 percent of Hilary Clinton’s campaign funds. The reach of Blue State was endless. Blue State was able to use their member database which consisted of over 300 million members, to send emails, campaign related news and information, it also allowed for members to interact with each other to create campaigning event, rallies and parties. After Hilary Clinton ended her campaign, over 4,000 campaign parties were created using Mybo. John McCain did try to use social media as well. However, the functionality of his website left McCain supporters with error messages. Obama’s online campaign efforts have now paved the way for future online campaigning strategies.
3.
The three sources all revolve around the same idea question. What do we want from the internet? The internet was originally designed to open up our world, explore things that we otherwise would have never explored. However, the internet has slowly become a personal mold of our own likes and dislikes. This was referred to as the filter bubble, where an algorithm looks as your search history and any search thereafter would be based entirely on your search history. This algorithm also takes into account, you location, gender and a multitude of other distinctive variables. Moreover, the internet that we once known has slowly become a filtered and diluted version of its former self. Homophily “is the tendency of individuals to associate and bond with similar others”, this can be the reason Google, and other popular website have implemented these algorithms. In contrast, information economists Sinan Aral and Marshall Van Alstyne have conducted new research on homophily. They have found that although it may be beneficial to surround yourself with familiar people and things or what they called “like minded peers” but that a more diverse spectrum can be equally and sometime more beneficial.
