Troy Wilensky
Media
Internet Debate
1. Based on this debate and previous readings What Definition of democracy do you feel is most fitting for us to use in-conjunction our growing reliance and integration of digital networked technologies?
The internet is becoming larger and larger. Its not an area that continues to grow and there are no limitations to how big it can become. There must be democracy for something of this great importance. Democracy over the internet should consist of all users able to access the same information and an equal chance to voice opinions. Everyone is given pretty much the chances of becoming “an internet sensation” or of making a “viral video”. Basically getting their 15 minutes of fame or potentially real fame. However the internet make it much easier to or at least more feasible to attain this 15 minutes of fame then doing so another way. If there was not an equal chance for everyone, like if only certain people could post pictures while others could only post comments the internet would not have a good sense of democracy.
2. How does your answer to #1 fit into the unchecked nature of Web 2.0 technologies, and what are some tangible examples of this? Do you feel this is an important issue that needs to be addressed further?
I believe that for the most part, the internet is very democratic. The only tangible none democratic policy I could think of is for example, the creator of a website or social networking affinity can see more and do more than the average user. This would be almost the equivalent of government in regular society. However, in the internet society, anyone can become the “government” yet it is the peoples options whether or not they become part of that community (website) for which that government controls. Unless a community (website) becomes so big like Facebook, the people really do not have much choice but to join the group and listen to its “government”.
3. Define and describe the phenomenon of the Media echo-chamber as described in the Internet Debates. What are some examples of this silo effect, and do you believe it is an issue that need to be addressed? Why or Why not?
The media echo chamber and the silo effect is a very powerful phenomenon that greatly effects our culture. Its similar to when a fashion trend becomes very popular. It is when an idea gets attention from the media and then others with the same idea continue to make this idea grow and spread to others. This effect can be positive or negative depending on the idea. When cyber bulling and cyber predators first become a real threat, around the time myspace first became big, I remember hearing all about it. It was in articles in magazines it was even on tv in the news. It probably started with a few instances of kids getting preyed on and kids getting bullied and it turned into a huge awareness program. In this case of silo effect I believe that it was a good thing it happened. If it weren’t for all the people spreading and growing the idea of cyber predator awareness and cyber bully awareness these wrong doers would be able to continue their negative behavior without real fear that there are people that understand what is going on and actively looking for them.
4. What are some ways that expertise and authority could be (or is being) enforced on the internet? Who would be behind these forces? Why do you believe are they needed or not needed?
The website Wikipedia is a great source of information about almost everything. Since it is such a well know website almost everything you google will send you straight to its “Wiki” page. It is always one of the first links to pop up on google thus many people will be clicking on it. This gives people a sense of trust in the website. After all just about everything has a wiki page. However Wiki is a website that just about ANYONE can add to the pages of information. Yes it does go through the websites mediators but who is to tell they are right and what are their credentials? This we do not know. We are trusting anonymous mediators to decide what is true and what is false. There is also so much room for corruption such as companies paying Wiki employees to remove bad coverage and add positive reinforcement of their company or product that it would be crazy to safely say you can always trust what you read on Wiki. I really do not know if expertise and authority are needed on the internet. I think there should be some way to tell the difference between an “expert” and an amateur but I do not believe that some people should not be able to write on the internet. I believe it is a place where all should be able to express themselves and that right should not be taken away. I think the internet is fine the way it is, it just takes some time to decipher the truths and the fallacies on the web.
5. Give a through example of an adaptation or improvement made by a of a social, political, or cultural group, government, business or individual to keep up with changing nature of the internet.
I think a business such as I-Tunes has really made a changes because of the nature of the internet. With all of the illegal music and movie downloads now, I tunes has really taken advantage of making a 100% legal and high quality way of downloading your favorite movies and music and even tv shows. They make it very user friendly, only the highest sound and picture quality, as well as it being legal. They pay their artists to sell the songs so you are supporting the I-tunes company as well as the artist instead of simply “stealing” them off of the internet. They even have special sales where you can be a whole CD much cheaper than if you buy each song individually. But the option to buy individual songs is groundbreaking in the fact that, it is not possible without the use of the internet. It really opens up your options as a consumer and you really only have to buy exactly what you want. This not only applies to music but you can go ahead and buy your favorite episode of a tv show instead of the whole season like you have to do in stores. I-Tunes has not confined itself to only being visible on the internet. Their commercials are on TV, they have gift cards you can buy in stores, and they even have deals with soda companies to have free song prizes under the caps of coke bottles. I-Tunes is really effectively using the nature of the internet too its full advantage.
6. Is democracy threatened by the unchecked nature of the internet?
I am actually not 100% sure where I stand on this topic. I think the unchecked nature of the internet is a great thing. Its gives freedom of expression to everybody to voice their opinions and beliefs. However the negative side to that is that when a website like Wiki where everyone trusts is posting false information. People can even make their own websites with false information, possibly persuading others to believe in this fallacy. However if we have mediators that are going around checking if our facts we right are actually factual, is that really democracy or freedom of speech. Just as we don’t have full freedom of speech in school or in a high occupant place like an air plane, should we also have limited freedom of speech on the internet from our own home?? This is a question that I myself still do not know where I stand on. I think that as much as it would be nice to be able to believe everything on the internet, I think many people would be outraged to have the internet mediated and underground internets would be started. I am not even sure it is possible to monitor the entire internet where it can be watched closely enough to make a difference. Fact checking the internet would cause outrages and I don’t think it would be a smart idea to do that. I think the internet is better off. Still the experts know where to search for other experts the only thing that may be better is too help guide users to better more reliable sources but still have them able to web surf wherever they please at the same time.
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