Media Meditiation #3: The Social Surveillance Network

image via: Gizmodo.com

Today, everyone is connected to the internet in some sort of way. How much you chose to expose for consumption is solely up to you and the "terms of agreement". The question is, how much of that information stays private? Is our personal information safe? Is there even a such thing as internet privacy? Diving into the Power Tools, one might say this cultural shift from privacy to surveillance may seem like a simple dose of social networking, but in reality carries long-term side effects.

Long-term Memories

Jacqui Cheng at Ars Technica has discovered that supposedly "deleted" photos posted to Facebook are "still online more than 16 months later." Research shows that the pics go into a kind of halfway house where they linger on Facebook servers. Are you willing to risk upwards of 16 months of a compromising photo floating around? Before you upload that photo, think for a minute. Is this something you really want out there, possibly forever?

Government Surveillance

With the amount of information we share on social networks, the government has added a simple solution to their efforts on fighting terrorism. About a month ago, an article in The New York Times caught my neocortex's attention.

WASHINGTON — Federal law enforcement and national security officials are preparing to seek sweeping new regulations for the Internet, arguing that their ability to wiretap criminal and terrorism suspects is “going dark” as people increasingly communicate online instead of by telephone. Essentially, officials want Congress to require all services that enable communications — including encrypted e-mail transmitters like BlackBerry, social networking Web sites like Facebook and software that allows direct “peer to peer” messaging like Skype — to be technically capable of complying if served with a wiretap order. The mandate would include being able to intercept and unscramble encrypted messages. The bill, which the Obama administration plans to submit to lawmakers next year, raises fresh questions about how to balance security needs with protecting privacy and fostering innovation. And because security services around the world face the same problem, it could set an example that is copied globally.

The internet is a known place for terrorist to communicate and grow internationally. And with the use of social networks, it gives them the ability to reach even further into society. Yes, passing these laws would fulfill security needs, but can it be enforced globally? How are social networks expected to protect privacy right?

Terrorist on FaceBook?

image via: Nethacks.com

Privacy or Surveillance?

We make this decision every time we log on.

MIDTERM REFLECTIONS: 21stCenturyMedia

1. After studying for eight weeks in this class, what have I learned?

- Media today has grown to where everyday of our lives is consumed with advertisements, messages, persuasion, and most of the time we do not even realize it. Our lectures have taught me to act as a semiotician when fed our daily doses of media.

2. What is the most important thing I have learned about myself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?

- As a critical reader, writer, and thinker I have learned that I am much more impatient then I thought when it comes to reading books. If the text is not on my laptop I am more likely to be distracted. One might agree that the technological shift from analog to digital has surpassed the typographic mind. The interesting part is, this has in turn made me more aware of how I have been absorbing media. I can now take a critical approach and apply the neocortex from a different angle.

3. What is one thing I would do differently this first half of the semester if I were to take the class again?

- Overall I feel that the pace of the class is going well. We are taking on a lot of issues at a steady rate in a short amount of time. If I could go back and focus more on my first Media Meditations then I would take the opportunity. I feel as though I rushed through them and did not read the guild lines. I would apply the Power Tools and relate more to the readings.

4. What is the one thing you would like me to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

- If I had a choice I would not change much about the course. We have covered a tremendous amount of information so far and should not change the pace. If anything, it seem as though we are lacking time. This problem sometimes prevents us from taking a deeper look into the issues at hand.

5. Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our quizzes, the course blog, your personal blog, our films, and our books as learning tools.

- The usefulness of the power tools keeps us aware of media convergence. More importantly, the eight shifts, the seven basic principles of media education and the twenty-nine persuasive techniques used by the mediums of today. Through repetition, the quizzes enforce those principles/techniques and helps store them in our long-term memory. The course and personal blogs act like high-speed blueprints to the course. It is regularly updated, easily obtainable and connects the class on a much broader level. The sites provide a personal shift that is consistent with the books and readings found in the course. At this point in the semester, we have annexed a Champlain student network of media awareness through blogs, readings, films and specific power tools. Good progress!