(6) EOTO Technology Reflection

One communication technology that intrigued me is the invention of sharing videos through YouTube presented by Theo. The platform's early slogan, "Tune In, Hook Up," reflects its casual, community-driven nature. With its purpose of allowing everyone to share a video with a camera and internet connection, Theo expressed the need for the removal of media gatekeepers. The ability to create and share content freely empowered newer generations to become digital storytellers and thinkers.  From POV and travel blogs to political commentary and educational breakdowns, YouTube democratized video content in a way traditional media never could.

One fun fact Theo said that surprised me is that the brain processes visual information faster. Sixty times faster at comprehending than reading, to be exact.  With the evolution of YouTubers to content creators, they became an influential voice in everything from entertainment to activism. They redefine what it means to be a celebrity while also redefining what it means to be informed with the use of sharing videos. 

Every app comes with its complications. Just like any social media platform, YouTube faces numerous copyright issues. As influencers upload content, they include copyrighted material, which ends in lawsuits. This led to the creation of the YouTube Content ID system, which detects and handles copyright claims. In addition, the spread of false information has been one of the biggest impacts on today's society. From conspiracy theories to misleading health advice being shared on YouTube, harmful content can go viral in less than a minute.

Theo's presentation brought me more context into what YouTube was made for but also the complications it's arisen and how they are taking prestigious steps in order to not get sued.

(5) Privacy, Online & Off

In my opinion, the biggest failure of technology is the power imbalance created by data. Due to your digital footprint, it is remarkably easy for someone to track you and see where you're going, what you are doing, and with whom, all with the click of a button. As technology continues to blur boundaries, we must ask ourselves: how do these issues affect not just the data but also our dignity? In class, we focused on six TED Talk videos that explained four significant realities concerning our privacy in technology.

15 Minutes of Fame or Forever?

Andy Warhol's theory states that "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." Welcome to the future. With electronic tattoos, facial recognition devices like Hello and Face.com, and biometric scanners, we are way beyond 15 minutes of fame. We are in the face of digital immortality. Our faces unlock phones, our expressions are analyzed, and our movements are watched by the cops. You can only imagine how much data the government has on you and your family. We are always being watched, but what does it cost us?

The ancient Greeks warned us before technology existed. Sisyphus taught us that reputation is a never-ending hill going uphill and back down. Narcissus fell in love with his reflection, resulting in destruction because he was unable to leave it. These aren't just myths. They are metaphors for our electronic tattoos. Jorge Luis Borges once asked, "How else can you threaten me without death?" In today's society, it's data, not death, that holds the power to silence or shame us.

The Government Sees You

From location security to stingray devices that can tap your phone from inside your home, the surveillance state is cruel and relentless. The federal government collects all kinds of data ranging from license plates and protest attendance to even an 80-year-old, John Cat, who attended a lawful political demonstration because he dared to draw the people who attended.

Think about that for a second.

It is not a problem for what the government is collecting but how it is being used. We are talking about our government officials abusing their power with mass data without us even knowing or giving consent. And once our information is in the "one vast database," we're screwed. We lose control over it, and we don't know how they use it. 

Encrypting is Protecting

Wiretapping has been enhanced in the past couple of decades and is only getting scarier with it being embedded into our phones. Apple and WhatsApp are some of the first apps to use encryption to protect our privacy, but government officials are furious because of the power we are gaining back. Why should the government be able to wiretap our personal lives but we can't? They say they have safety in mind, but the abuse of power they are using is appalling. We deserve privacy in our communication without fearing that our calls, texts, or thoughts are being monitored. Encryption isn't a luxury; it is a necessity in today's society.

Visibility, Not Vulnerability: Women Have Right Too

Living in America is hard for women already. Being seen online can mean being targeted for things that are out of your own hands. Revenge porn, digital stalking, and cyber harassment are forms of digital domestic violence, according to. One in twenty-five women has experienced revenge porn. For women under twenty, the number rises to one in ten. Yet predators like Darieth's ex walk away with a slap on the wrist. Her story is so impactful because it took her more than three years to arrest and serve her ex not even on American soil. The Jamaican officials arrested him and charged him. Is it Justice? Personally, I don't think so because of the evidence she had to turn in just to get him arrested. Her vulnerability was shot down when the all-male government investigation team used her photos to charge her ex. Loopholes and noncompliant internet businesses, protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), allow offenders to hide across jurisdiction boundaries even when the "Enough Act" attempts to make revenge porn illegal. That is not justice.

Now What?

We may be on the cusp of digital immortality, but let's not forget about what makes us human: dignity, choice, and freedom. These issues affect every part of our lives and make us think twice before we share something personal online. We take all these precautions when it comes to technology, but it is exhausting. The government should be limited to what data they can see and pass meaningful legislation that would help our community not harm us more. For us as the people being watched, we should be educated more and encrypt our data as much as we can.

(4) EOTO #1: Social Media Platforms

The Future of Social Media Platforms

With the creation of "word of mouth" on the internet, individuals were allowed to express themselves online, which the public could view. Technology has been maturing over the past few decades and has been impactful in so many ways. Today, I focus on how Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have evolved in today's society.

Facebook

While Mark Zuckerberg is Facebook's founder, he was accompanied by Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes. Together as neighbors in the dorms of Harvard University, they created Facebook. This program networked individuals in the Harvard University community for educational purposes from the years 2004 to 2006. Eventually, "The Facebook" was renamed to "Facebook." In April 2004, there were around 70,000 users that used Facebook. From 2006 and beyond, Facebook evolved and added a multitude of features that connected people internationally and globally.

Instagram

As we all know, Instagram is one of the top social media platforms. Invented in 2010 by two Stanford colleagues, Kevin Systrom and Mike Kreiger. Instagram was formerly known as bourbon because of Kevin's interest in whiskey and bourbon. On its first day of launch in the IOS app store, Instagram reached 25,000 users. In 2022, Instagram surpassed two billion monthly users. Now you can only imagine how much it has grown in today's society with technology improving every day.

Snapchat

Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown are three outstanding Stanford graduates who created Snapchat. The app was initially launched in July 2011 under "Picaboo." However, due to a trademark issue, they quickly rebranded to "Snapchat" and relaunched in the IOS App Store in September 2011. Furthermore, in October 2012, Snapchat launched on Android. By the end of 2012, users were sending over fifty million daily snaps, according to Snapchat Statistics. Snapchat is becoming a more important communication tool for brands to interact with customers. Brands are using it to target younger demographics like Gen Z and millennials. With over one hundred seventy-four million daily users since its 2011 launch, Snapchat has become a preferred platform for users, with 24% of adults and 77% of college students actively using the app.

Positive & Negative Impacts

Social media has transformed communication, particularly in domains like education and medicine. Faster information sharing makes it possible for medical experts to work together and remain current with new developments. It assists in raising health awareness, providing instructional materials, and providing patients with mobile services during surgery. In similar ways, it provides students with an opportunity to express their thoughts, interact with classmates, and quickly access educational resources. In addition, social media makes it easier to communicate in real-time during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was crucial in spreading essential health information and promoting online consultations.

Countering that, social media has several disadvantages. It can quickly spread false information, particularly in the medical area, which can cause confusion and have negative effects. Constant multitasking and phone addiction may hinder students' concentration and creativity in the classroom, which can affect their academic achievements. If social media is misused, it can potentially influence one's opinion and harm people's reputations. Additionally, social media's addictive qualities might result in excessive screen time, which lowers productivity and raises mental health issues. Social media enabled the spread of useful data during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also served as a venue for false claims, which increased public fear and mistrust.

(3) Eight Values of Free Expression

In today's society, we tend to throw the First Amendment out freely when it comes to people speaking in public. But, there is a distinct line when using the term freedom of speech. This course focuses on how the First Amendment protects Americans from the government when used properly. The Eight Values of Free Expression represent how free speech is a powerful tool that can help our community grow, stay fair, and keep the government in check while also balancing the priority of safety and respect.

Stable Change (safety valve)

Riot or Protest. The difference between those is violence. We as Americans, have a right to speak freely, whether it is against the government or for it. When action gets involved, that is when freedom of speech is broken and not allowed when fighting a case. In the eyes of a college student, I see the government allowing citizens to speak freely rather than dealing with violence. Below are a couple of examples of how free speech was neglected and made us Americans vulnerable.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), it defends free speech from controversial groups like racists, arguing that suppressing free speech harms the vulnerable, not the powerful. The Civil Rights Movement was a crucial violation of free speech. It resulted in activists being arrested for protesting segregation and advocating for voting rights. The Free Speech Amendment is vital for defending the rights of underrepresented groups and making sure that the opposition can continue during the turmoil of politics. 

Another act of the government that broke the First Amendment was the unlawful arrests at the protest on Mauna Kea on Hawai'i Island. University of Hawai'i Law Professor Ken Lawson said it best in the Honolulu Civil Beats Article. He describes Governor Ige's tactics with the parking signs as "bogus traffic laws" that will "trample on the First Amendment right of Protectors and others to peacefully assemble and exercise their rights to free speech." The land is owned by the Hawaiians, and we were illegally overthrown, so we, as Hawaiians, were not trespassing but simply exercising our rights and practicing our cultural traditions that our kupuna (grandparents) did when they were growing up. To falsely arrest individuals practicing their rights was just unlawful and a disgrace to the First Amendment and the owners of Hawaiʻi.

Promoting Innovation

Opposing the unlawful acts of the government, the First Amendment grants individuals the ability to think creatively and promotes innovation. When people are free to speak, they introduce new ideas and thoughts that potentially affect the future of the world. It brings people from all over with different ethnic groups to come together and collaborate. Without collaboration, innovation would be restrained, and progress would be limited, slow, and lack cohesiveness.  

In today's society, social media has made a huge impact on innovation through freedom of speech. In the article, "The Golden Era of Free Speech" by Erwin and Alex Chemerinsky, social media has made an impact like no other. With the advent of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, businesses can increase social media exposure through launching new products, services, and maybe even industries. Free speech on these platforms creates viral trends and technological advancements and a glimpse into creative campaigns.

In conclusion, the First Amendment protects free speech, allowing Americans to challenge the government while also respecting each other as a whole. Although our government can be corrupt at times, there are always ways to work together and find a solution. Social media is just one way that free speech can aid in collaboration and innovation. 

(2) The Supreme Court

   

    Established on March 4, 1789, under the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Supreme Court was created with six justices. Chief Justice John Jay and associate justices James Wilson, William Cushing, John Blair, John Rutledge, and James Iredell were the first six justices to organize the court system, approve bar systems, and preside over their assigned circuit courts, with their first case, West v. Barnes, decided in 1791. The photo above represents the subtle changes from the French Revolution to today's Supreme Court. For instance, the number of justices changed from five through ten justices to strictly nine justices in 1869.

    In Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 2, you see that it takes a team of special individuals in the court system to legalize and make decisions on cases outside of the nine justices. From the different thoughts of each justice to the opinion writing and then multiple revision drafts of the opinion, you see that the Supreme Court has an intense job that revolves around the year, pressuring them to decide each case by the end of the term in late June. Not only is the process time-consuming, but it can be mentally and physically exhausting.

  

    Accept the fact that the court tried to play it straight. That acceptance has been built up by the preceding hundred justices of this court, going back to the beginning. We are, in fact, trading on the good faith and the conscientiousness of the justices who went before us."

    

    The Court's credibility relies significantly on the public's confidence in its procedures and its dedication to justice. Suppose the people start to doubt the Court's neutrality or their opinions become biased through a political view. In that case, it may jeopardize the Court's function as a vital component of the legal framework that has been built over the past decades.

    One of the most interesting things I found in Comm3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1, was the individual consideration of each petition and how it was looked at the same. You could be the governor or a guy stuck in prison for a wrong, but the Supreme Court did not discriminate. This exemplifies the fairness and seriousness of the Supreme Court's role, especially due to its enormous load of petitions needing to be reviewed. I also thought that the personal interviews of the justices made an impactful statement in recognizing what they do and the importance of their job in today's society.

 

    The videos gave me a deeper understanding of the judicial system. I always knew the Court was a powerful institution, but hearing about how the justices interact with each other and approach their work was eye-opening. The Court system isn't just a cold institution interpreting laws, but it is a group of individuals who work day and night making tough decisions, bringing a level of humility and humanity to what many see as an intimidating and unapproachable body.

    

(1) My Top 5 News/Information Sources

1. Hawai'i News Now

    Growing up in Hawai'i, the TV was always on, and the local news was playing. Hawaiʻi News Now brought everything from sports stats, the weather, politics when in season, surf reports, and what is happening on each island. My personal favorite section that gets broadcast is the sunrise segment. It shows the beauty of Hawaiʻi and brings a spark when needed. I also love their cooking segments because of the onolicious food they produce and the smiles it brings to the anchors/guests. You would love this news source because it brings a glimpse of Hawaiʻi to wherever you are, whether on the continent or internationally. You will always have a piece of "home" with you.