Technology - Friend Or Foe... Or Both?

    Technology has become one of our world’s most diverse inventions. It affects every day of our lives for the better and for the worse. In the past few decades, technology advancements have increased at a staggering rate. Technology has advanced to improve our lives, or has it?

    We live in a capitalist society where many businesses are looking to improve their services and products. Technology has allowed businesses to operate more efficiently and with more success. It has also given us advances in education. The advancements allow for the availability of online courses, access to web seminars, and the ability to literally research any topic known to man.  Our everyday life has also been affected by technology. Household items such as microwaves, refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and televisions are all improvements that have greatly simplified and bettered our lives. There is now such thing as (IoT) Internet of Things that allows us to use smart devices with support for internet connectivity. They “are able to interact with other devices over the internet and grant remote access to a user for managing the device as per their need.” Smartwatches, smart door locks, smart security systems, and smart in-home lighting are just a few examples of IoT devices.

 Technology is much like a marriage of “for better or worse.” It has become a daily part of our lives and seemingly has been formatted to benefit how we operate in today’s society. The question of whether or not it is healthy depends on how one looks at it. From a personal perspective, I see “pros and cons.” I enjoy social media for entertainment but often find myself drawn into watching way longer than I had planned. I interviewed my parents, who are in their late 50s. They said that technology has benefited their lives with advancements such as mobile phones, computers, smart TVs, and many appliances.

    What they see as a detriment is when these items that they use on a daily basis no longer work, and the repair then takes them to a computer instead of a person. They feel there is some frustration as prior to the advancements in technology, a person talking to a person was the most complete form of communication. Technology has seemingly replaced humans in this area. I see this affecting our society on many levels as technology is destroying our relational ability. Children are growing up in a world where there is less and less person-to-person interaction. Nearly 70% of Americans think the internet is good for our relationships, but it remains to be seen if children who are growing up with smartphones develop the kinds of interpersonal and relationship-building skills they need to form deep and meaningful relationships or if our species will become isolated from—and uncomfortable with—close, personal contact.

    Technology has replaced “being in the moment.” I find myself recording a special moment to later post on social media instead of just experiencing it for what it is. Many of us are addicted to our smartphones. “According to addiction expert Dr. Anna Lembke, our smartphones are making us dopamine junkies, with each swipe, like, and tweet feeding our habit.” It concerns me a bit to think that I am actually addicted to something as simple as playing a few games or watching TikTok on my phone. I would have to say that my online footprint is strong at present. If a prospective employer were to research my name, they would see that I spend a lot of time online enjoying TikTok.  I am rethinking how I would want a future employer to see me. I will also encourage my family to reconsider their relationships with smartphones. I can honestly say that we all spend more time on our phones than what is considered healthy. “Old school” ways of reading a book or magazine may be the new way to pass the time.

Online Influencers

    Being a 22-year-old male, I enjoy what the average guy enjoys. Sports, Music, Video Games, and almost anything that makes me laugh. I admittedly spend a fair amount of time online. Whether it be scrolling across Instagram, Tiktok, or Youtube. I find enjoyment in gaming and music videos and really enjoy comic relief. One of the topics that interested me from a presentation my classmates gave was “Online Influencers.” I am fascinated with the idea that someone can raise awareness on just about anything and turn it into a marketing avenue or create entertainment with it.  An influencer “is a person who can influence the decisions of their followers because of their relationship with their audience and their knowledge and expertise in a particular area, e.g., fashion, travel, or technology.”

    Many influencers have a mass following of people who are intent on paying close attention to their posts. These people have a unique power to persuade people to buy things. Companies now view these influencers as a “direct way to customers’ hearts.” Brands are now having more popular influencers market their products and seeing great results. These social media powerhouses are charging as much as $42,000 dollars for one post.

    It was interesting to learn how these influencers are paid. “Influencer rates should be based on follower count and engagement rate. However, there are other factors that can impact a rate, such as talent and access to a niche audience.” There are things such as rate sheets that are used to base the pay according to the reach.

• Nano influencers (1000-10,000 followers): $10 - $100 per post
• Micro-influencers (10,000 - 50,000 followers): $100 - $500 per post
• Mid-tier influencers (50,000 - 500,000 followers): $500 - $5,000 per post
• Macro influencers (500,000 - 1,000,000 followers): $5000 - $10,000 per post
• Mega influencers (1,000,000+ followers): $10,000+ per post

    The rate is $100 per 10,000 followers + number of posts + additional factors (i.e., expenses for shoot, usage, exclusivity) = total rate.

    We, as humans, are a visual species. Today in excess of 3.2 billion photos and 720,000 hours of video are shared per day across social media. We spend an average of 145 minutes per day on social media worldwide. It is easily a stated fact that we are addicted to our technology and all that it does to influence our lives. Look at us and how we can’t get enough of social media.

    The cons of being so extremely involved with our favorite influencers are that we can often be misled, misinformed, and often be persuaded by someone, which causes us to fall into a trap of false expectations. Influencers are often just average people with great ideas. We are so easily lured in as a child is lured to candy.

    “Since influencers often present a clean, shiny, and fun version of their lives, it can create a sense of comparison for young followers. This increased social comparison has been linked to anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and negative body image among youth.”

    Regardless of the pros and cons, the people of this world are going to be influenced by social media influencers. I choose to make it a positive and enjoy the quirkiness of the people I follow and laugh at what I choose to watch and buy because of their posts. 

The Age of A.I.

    The 1950s introduced us to a world-changing technological advancement. The inventor John McCarthy gave us the reference to Artificial Intelligence. This accelerated advancement has now been woven into our everyday lives. From being awakened by our smartphones to asking Alexa what the weather will be like for the day, AI is an actual simulation of human intelligence. AI provides a computer program the ability to think and learn on its own.

    One of the most beneficial aspects of AI is that it can reduce errors and increase precision and accuracy in many different areas of life. In the workforce, Artificial Intelligence can work without needing a break. Human workers need breaks, require time off, and often become bored and overwhelmed with doing a job repetitively. With the use of AI algorithms, these machines can do the same job but do it with speed and efficiency that outworks people.

    Another advantage of this technology is the AI Robot. A robot is able to do risky things like defusing a bomb, traveling to Mars, or even mining for coal. AI is also being used for digital assistance, is able to make faster decisions, and is even able to detect breast cancer at earlier stages using advanced technologies. The "cons" of AI are numerous and problematic in regard to the fact that technology is making humans lazy. Why work when a computer can do it for you? AI is replacing humans in the workforce and often causing some levels of unemployment. Artificial intelligence is excellent when it comes to efficiency, but there is nothing that can replace human connection. A machine can be programmed to work through a task, but there's no emotion if there's a personal issue. According to In the Age of AI, "Facebook and Google have been "casting their nets' to gain behavioral prediction to sell to consumers." This free service has cashed in on what we show interest in and what we buy and has taken these signals to collect our information. The more that the consumer uses the AI experience, the stronger the relationship becomes.

    Artificial Intelligence has been used for national security on a variety of levels. One of the most intense forms is presently being used in China. AI is used for surveillance, where cameras are used on a constant basis to monitor and detect people through facial recognition. According to the Age of AI video, "China has a grand scheme to extend their control across the world." 2014 introduced "The Belt and Road Initiative." It is an attempt to create political leverage. The goal is to sell cameras worldwide to inflict control over citizens.

    After having viewed the "Age of AI video," I am much more aware of just how much I am influenced by AI. After having watched the "Age of AI video," it's a bit unnerving to actually be educated and informed on just how much our lives are affected and controlled by AI. I believe that knowledge is power, and the more informed we are as consumers, the more we will know how to protect ourselves.

Terms & Concepts: Section 230

The luxury of the Internet allows people all over the globe to connect, create and share ideas, and communicate on various levels. Our U.S. Congress recognized that for user speech to thrive on the Internet, “it had to protect the services that power users’ speech.”

This is where the law, Section 230 (originally part of the Communications Decency Act), comes into play. It protects Americans’ freedom of expression online. The law states: "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider." (47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1)).

For over 25 years, the Section 230 law has kept us all safe on the internet. We are all covered under this law from individual users, websites, small bloggers, and big platforms. Users and services are kept from being sued for sharing photos, forwarding emails, and hosting online forums. When Section 230 was passed in 1996, approximately 40 million people were already using the internet. By 2019, more than 4 billion people were online. By now the estimated number of internet users is 5.16 billion worldwide.

The Section 230 law is considered to be an “exceptionalist” statute. This means that it treats the internet diversely. We are now allowed the opportunities to view things such as Wikipedia, a pee-operated encyclopedia, YouTube videos on how to repair your garage door, online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay, and many other online options.

There are some significant issues with Section 230 law. Even though the law has allowed some internet giants to gain notoriety, it has also shielded them from liability in some cases that would typically find them liable if a situation had indeed occurred, just not on the internet. One example is with SESTA (The Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act), which is now a bill that is currently being discussed in our Senate. “Sex Trafficking” has been the most controversial argument against Section 230 protections. The fact is Section 230 regularly protects websites that permit and promote prostitution from liability. Supports of the bill do not oppose Section 230 and understand that the freedom of speech portion is causing issues. Because Section 230 is protecting harmful and illegal activity, SESTA would address some of the significant problems.

Because Section 230 creates a broad immunity for online platforms, a “free for all” has been made in reference to freedom of speech without any fear of censorship or legal liability for any content that may be posted by their users. With the internet being used by the vast majority for communication, work, school, marketing, and more, almost all of us are affected by Section 230 in some form or fashion.

Section 230 does not affect individuals based on race, gender, socioeconomic class, or orientation. Section 230 affects all citizens, regardless of any situation. The bill stands to protect those who create and distribute content online from multiple legal liabilities. By allowing such broad protections, Section 230 aids in reducing inequality and discrimination.

The Supreme Court has never heard a Section 230 case—until now. February 21 and 22, 2023, will be days that go down as the start of some significant changes for the internet as we use it today. An agreement has been made that the court will review Gonzalez v. Google, in which the plaintiffs argue that YouTube's "targeted recommendation" of videos falls outside the Section 230 shield. When they examine Section 230, the justices could end the internet as we know it.

With the goal of Section 230 to protect online platforms from liability for the third-party content that they distribute, technology has evolved and changed online experiences dramatically. The U.S. Congress has failed to revisit policy issues considering those changes. It now has fallen into the hands of the Supreme Court to determine the future of the 21st Century’s social media practices.

Diffusion of Innovation

Every single innovation in this world goes through a form of evolution. Each new idea spreads through populations and societies from the original idea to the actual conception of the item. In 1962, Everett Rogers, an American theorist and sociologist, popularized the diffusion of innovations theory. This theory is an idea that works to describe the rate at which new technology or some new information travels.

A feature of the diffusion process is called “adopters.” Based on what the diffusion theory states, the adopters are how long it takes each person to adopt a new idea. This would be based on their openness to the innovation, culture, and education.

The iPhone is an example of innovation that can be analyzed using the diffusion theory. 2007 brought us Steve Jobs's introduction to the iPhone. He described it as “a revolutionary mobile phone,” a “widescreen iPod with touch controls,” and a “breakthrough Internet communications device.”

Before the iPhone, smartphones were being developed and evolving but not at the rate or intelligence of the iPhone. After this advanced technology was introduced, society as a whole became infatuated with the iPhone and its advancements. Touchscreen compatibility and multiple added features, such as music and internet accessibility, gave the “early adopters,” the middle-upper class of society, the advantage over other cell phone users.

The “late adopters” may have been uninterested in the IPhone at first as it was not cost effective.  Now, iPhones are all over the world and used by many in various socioeconomic classes. The benefits of this revolutionary technology allow consumers to access communication, social media, entertainment, music, gaming, Internet access, cameras, and much more.

I am sincerely thankful for the fact that I own an iPhone. It has greatly enhanced my life by waking me in the morning, keeping me reminded of appointments and allowing me to listen to my favorite music and that’s just a few of the many options it offers. What an incredible concept.

EOTO: The Radio

In 1895, an Italian inventor named Guglielmo Marconi had an idea to send a wireless Morse Code message to someone more than a kilometer away. He originally intended to use the device for use in contacting ships, but his work led to a communications revolution. He used radio waves to transmit the code. This device became known as “the radio.” Centuries later, the radio is now used as a source for information, entertainment, and communication worldwide.

FM radio, frequency modulation, has been considered to be one of the most “valuable electromagnetic waves in human discovery.” This technology is what allows us to have the emergency broadcast service that police and paramedics use today. It also allows simple things like baby monitors and microwaves.

The original form of radio was developed in “amplitude modulation,” which is what we refer to as AM radio. This form of radio was effective, but the audio quality was not very clear. There was often static, and the broadcasts could only be done on a single channel of audio. In comes Edwin Armstrong, an American inventor, and electrical engineer who developed FM radio.

Armstrong’s invention of the FM radio was the grand solution for the static heard across the AM radio waves. The bandwidth for FM radio is twenty times bigger than that of AM radio. Edwin was not initially supported by any of the large radio corporations and had to pay for most of his expenses out of pocket. 1940 finally brought a breakthrough, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed commercial FM broadcasting. By 1941, approximately 400,000 FM radios had been sold. This was a game changer for the music and advertising industry.

As FM radio became popular, the FCC announced that the 40MHz band that FM radio was relying on would now be shared with TV broadcasts. During this time, RCA had a significant investment in those channels. NBC and RCA were intent on stealing FM technology and felt like it was alright to use the service without paying any royalties. It wasn’t until Armstrong’s passing that the golden years of radio began.

By the 1970s, radios were being made with the AM and FM options as the FM audience had become much larger than the AM listeners.

The Progressive Era

The voices of anti-war are usually not heard in mainstream news as the media companies are resistant to giving airtime because they are fearful of alienating the sponsors that pay for the airtime. Often media production companies have editorial policies and are reluctant to air such topics because they are fearful of what controversy may arise. There have been situations where people will gather for protests causing panic and social uproar. Unfortunately, freedom of the press is not a protected right in all areas of the world. An example of a rally gone wrong was in May of 1970 when 13 Kent State University students were shot by National Guardsman at a peaceful protest against wars. Four of those Kent State students passed away.  “That event, combined with Nixon's invasion of Cambodia, led to protests at more than 1,300 college campuses, with some 500 closed by student and faculty strikes.” This horrific moment in time was aired because of the violent repercussions of a peaceful protest against wars.

We do not hear of these websites simply because there is government censorship keeping the voices of these groups hushed. Most of the public is drawn to controversy, and the media focuses on what draws in large audiences. Because anti-war websites don't carry the impact that the larger funded websites do, these websites are not on larger search engines.

Seemingly, the government wants its people to be more like sheep and follow the herd. The less controversy, the better. The mainstream media has a tendency to stick with one-sided political opinions. The reality of war is not a topic that a large number of viewers are willing to seek out. War is often downplayed because of its devastating effects. In order to be more informed about these antiwar websites, people need to seek out media sources beyond the mainstream options.