Blog Social networking

What are some ways (corporate and otherwise) that these technologies can be used? What are the benefits of these technologies to society? Be specific. Is there a "dark side"? Make sure to include your opinion of the way these technologies might evolve in the future.

Carr writes that in 2007, Barack Obama had the idea of implementing a large-scale communication and database development scheme utilizing social media at the forefront of his campaign. The type of thinking that originates from "guy[s] in a garage who [were] thinking of taking on the biggest names in the business" (Carr). Obama is an avid user of Twitter - one of the largest social media platforms in the world that allow him to engage with hundreds of thousands of active users as simple as sending a text message. Juxtaposing his campaign for the seat at the top of a world power with technology that will advance our society towards a more efficient and effective future was just the beginning of the true digital era. Today, we also have watches that can tell us our heart rate, mobile phones that can track our daily steps and flights, cameras and software that are able to bring digital images to seemingly-life.

However, there are also downsides to an ever-evolving and rapidly growing technology. Young writes that campus gossip sites and other forms of blogs and anonymous user-contributed websites have been expanded across the internet and utilized for harassment, cyber-bullying, and even promoting sexism, racism, and homophobia. These are no different from celebrity tabloids; Young compares the intentions of these forum creators to those of 'Hollywood A-listers'.

These technologies can certainly evolve to be utilized for the rallying of the public and engagement of a wide-spread audience, as Obama had shown. However, there will always be those who intend on pushing the limits of anonymity and accessibility of the internet for their own benefit, and sometimes others' detriment. The current big thing is now cryptocurrency - we have seen e-mail phishing scams and phone calls already evolving to target people for their passwords, identities, and monies. Wherever greed goes, technology follows.

Cite at least 2 of the assigned readings:

"How Obama Tapped Into Social Networks’ Power," by David Carr, The New York Times. November 10, 2008

"They're Back, and They're Bad: Campus-Gossip Web Sites," by Jeffrey R. Young, The Chronicle for Higher Education, Sept 4, 2009, p. A20+.