Blog Post #7: Diffusion of Innovations

Instagram through the lens of the Diffusion Theory

Pioneers: 

Instagram was launched in 2010 by two Stanford graduates, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The app was first called Burbn, which was inspired by Kevin Systrom's love for the drink. The platform gave users the opportunity to post check-ins with photos, which was not yet considered social posting. 
 

Early Adopters: Users who were early adopters began to use the app at the time when it was released to the public in Apple's App Store in 2010. Instagram reached 25,000 users on its first day. The app mainly focused on images that had the option to add filters, comments and liking features. According to an article published by Post Builder App, Instagram hit 1 million users on December 12, 2010. 

Late Majority: Instagram later transformed into a straightforward platform and service, with its main focus being on posts containing images and/or short 15-30-second videos. Instagram has become relatively similar to the app TikTok, especially with the addition of Instagram Reels in 2020. Users can now share and watch 15-second- 5 minute videos on Instagram. This is a great alternative for those who don't have Tik Tok, many Instagram users post their Tik Toks on Instagram Reels as well to help their content reach to a variety of audiences. 

Laggards: According to Statista, only 2.6% of users are aged 65 and older. This is mainly due to the fact that both Instagram and Tik Tok are apps known to be used by younger generations, while Facebook is known to be used by the older generations since that is what they are used to. The only time I have seen older people to use Instagram is only for the purpose of following and commenting on their family member's posts, but they rarely ever post their own content. 

Pros & Cons: Instagram has been proven to be a great tool to build brand awareness and provides many sponsorship opportunities. Additionally, a lot of customers rely on Instagram for product recommendations and there is even an opportunity to shop and find links to the creator's Amazon storefront. However, the app can get very disorganized when scrolling through your feed with the increase in the amount of ads that pop up instead of just being photos and videos. 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Instagram

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/638033472215998123/visual-search/?x=16&y=16&w=532&h=532

https://postbuilderapp.com/blog/instagram-history-and-updated-timeline

https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/introducing-instagram-reels-announcement

https://www.statista.com/statistics/325587/instagram-global-age-group/

Blog Post #6: Antiwar Voices

 I reflected on the role of dissent and how the First Amendment protects it, especially during the Progressive Era which was present during World War I. According to Brittanica, dissent is an unwillingness to cooperate with an established source of authority and is known as a powerful source for developing effective public reasoning. Those with anti-war voices did not want the American government to be involved in the war. As a result, they were persecuted for their views and hundreds of them were thrown into jail. After reading articles published by anti-war writers for the first time on ANTIWAR.com and The American Conservative, it was interesting to see a new perspective on more because most of the mainstream media we see today only includes pro-war perspectives rather than anti-war. 

One of the main reasons why anti-war voices are silenced is because it goes against the American government, many large corporations rely on war as their source of income. However, this doesn't give them the excuse to silence anti-war voices because both sides deserve to be heard. According to an article published by Liberation, almost 84 percent of New York editorial articles regarding the Afghanistan war were in favor of continuing it and over 91 percent of Post articles published also supported the war. 

According to an article published on ANTIWAR.COM, Senator McConnell from Kentucky says that calls to calls to condition military aid to Israel are "ridiculous" as Israel has been killing civilians at a fast rate in Gaza. In some cases, this statement can be seen as valid since the U.S. government has spent billions of dollars, which has caused a rise in inflation. However, there should be a balance between having advocators for world peace be able to voice their opinions in the media and also having those who rely on war for their income be able to share their opinions as well as perspectives on on the pro and anti-war movement.   

https://www.britannica.com/topic/dissent-political

https://news.antiwar.com/2023/11/28/sen-mcconnell-says-calls-to-condition-israel-aid-are-ridiculous/

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/

https://www.liberationnews.org/09-12-11-antiwar-voices-silenced-in-main-html/

Blog Post #5: EOTO Presentations

 All of the presentations given were extremely informational and I can definitely say I learned something new in each one. The presentation that stood out to me the most was Alexa Beck's presentation on the history and origin of Facebook and Instagram. While there are many negative factors surrounding social media today, I think it is important to be knowledgeable of the history and origin of social media platforms in order to understand the purpose of why it was created. I believe that social media can be extremely helpful and beneficial if it is used for the right purposes. Additionally, the topics discussed in her presentation directly relate to my presentation on the Apple iPhone because today many people associate these apps with the early years of the iPhone and the App Store.

Facebook was launched in February 2004 by current CEO Mark Zuckerberg with the help of four of his fellow schoolmates at Harvard University. It amazes me how this app created and used by college students was transformed into a major social media platform. According to an article published by Britannica , Facebook became known as the largest social media platform in the world, having nearly three billion users as of 2021. I like that Alexa mentioned in her presentation how its interesting that Facebook was a social media platform initially created by and for college students. However, in today's world, Gen Z views this platform as an app used mostly by older generations. 

Instagram was created in 2010 by two Stanford graduates, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. While this social media platform is very similar to Facebook, the main difference is that Instagram started as a mobile app in the beginning because the Apple App Store did not launch until 2008. Now Instagram and Facebook are a part of the same company, Meta. The company was launched as a result of Mark Zuckerberg wanting to rebrand Facebook, which is a great strategy if you want your company to grow and expand. 

Blog Post #4: EOTO

Technology is constantly evolving, it allows us to communicate efficiently with the world and our loved ones. As Steve Jobs says "Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything." Millions of people around the world today use smartphones as their only computer, camera, GPS device, music player, communicator, trip planner, and payment tool. In the beginning, a majority of the design elements of early smartphones resembled those of the company BlackBerry. Later on, The Apple iPhone became known as the most influential gadget in the world. According to WCCFTech, Apple has sold 2.32 billion iPhones since Steve Jobs first announced them in January 2007 at the Macworld conference. At the conference, he mentioned that his goal was to reinvent the phone by combining an iPod, a revolutionary mobile phone, and an internet communications device. He spent one hour explaining the device, from the ability to gain access to multiple apps and news sources from a touch interface to even making a phone call placing what some say is the largest Starbucks order in history.  While the phone didn't hit stores until six months after the initial reveal, people were lined up outside stores to buy one. According to an article published by Wired, Apple sold 270,000 iPhones the first weekend it was available. 

 

 

The first iPhone offered a 3.5-inch screen and a 2-megapixel camera. Allowing users to watch TV shows and movies, take and store photos, listen to music, and make phone calls all from one small and lightweight handheld device. Each year, Apple introduces a new model of the iPhone with improved design elements while still keeping the phone's most beloved features. Nearly a year later after the first iPhone was launched. Apple introduced the new iPhone 3G with larger storage space as well as an addition of a new built-in GPS. Most importantly, it added the App Store, which gave software developers the opportunity to sell and build apps to millions of smartphone owners.  

In 2017, Apple removed the home button with the new iPhone X. Which made room for a new security feature: Face ID. Users could now unlock their phones and make transactions with Apple Pay simply by looking directly into the camera.  These same features continued into newer models. Personally, I love owning an iPhone because it allows me to communicate easily with friends and family as well as browse social media platforms and store important information.  Social media apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, etc, are easily accessible all on one device. The iPhone has made a long-lasting impact on the lives of people around the world by making communication more convenient and easily accessible than ever before. 

 https://www.wired.com/story/guide-iphone/

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3692531/evolution-of-apple-iphone.html

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_One_Device/kwsvDQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=history+of+the+iphone&pg=PT8&printsec=frontcover

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2007/01/09Apple-Reinvents-the-Phone-with-iPhone/

https://www.exposedmagazine.co.uk/features/importance-of-iphones-on-the-society/#:~:text=Impacts%20of%20iPhones%20on%20the%20society&text=Apple's%20iPhone%20was%20a%20great,needs%20done%20in%20one%20device.

Blog Post #8: Privacy Online and Off

Technology is a great tool that allows us to communicate with our loved ones and gives us the opportunity to learn something new every day. However, as discussed in the TED talks, technology can also be the reason our privacy is violated.

 Juan Enriquez talked about the idea that tattoos can reveal a lot about a person's values, personality, personal story, and past mistakes without them even having to say a word. On the other hand, large corporations have the ability to do this as well. Juan Enriquez refers to this as Electronic Tattoos, where our online life is as permanent as a tattoo. Anything we post or say on social media could be used against us. This is why we should be mindful of the image we are creating for ourselves by having a social media platform. An article posted on TED Blog  states that the solution to these issues isn't to get rid of social media completely but to be thoughtful, smart, and conscious of our decisions and the consequences of our actions. 

Catherine Crump says that location information can be very sensitive, the government can use mass location tracking. This is a huge invasion of privacy because location should only be shared with family and friends. Crump claims that this information used to be private, but thanks to modern technology the government can now identify what each citizen is up to behind closed doors. As an out-of-state college student who also has a car on campus, I feel uncomfortable with the fact that there is a mass tracking system on my phone that knows where I am at all times. This could be very dangerous because this information could potentially be taken into the hands of human traffickers. 

In contrast, Christopher Soghohian addresses a similar issue, but this time with the use of telephones and the networks that carry our calls. Without us knowing, the government has the ability to hear personal conversations with our loved ones. I was intrigued by the fact that these were wired for the purpose of surveillance first.  The last issue that was addressed by Darieth Chisolm, is the lack of registration and laws to protect victims who have had nude photos posted of them online without their consent. According to the Data and Society Research Institute, 1 in 25 women are impacted by this issue. Additionally, there is only one federal bill pending and there are no tough penalties. As a result, many women have suffered from damaged reputations and relationships as well as fallen into illness and depression.  

All of these issues that were just discussed need to start being taken more seriously by government officials, invasion of privacy has huge negative impacts on mental health because citizens are living in fear and anxiety even though they did nothing wrong. There should be more measures put in place by the government that prohibit private information from being easily accessible. We can protect ourselves from the invasion of privacy by creating and maintaining a support system filled with people we trust and keep us accountable. Additionally, speaking up about these issues helps create awareness for the victims who have been affected and encourages the government to take action.

Blog Post #3: Eight Values of Free Expression

Marketplace of Ideas & Individual Self-Fulfillment 

 While reviewing the Eight Values of Free Expression, I found that the two that most resonated with me are the Marketplace of Ideas and Individual Self-Fulfillment. The Marketplace of Ideas, also known as the discovery of truth, refers to the belief that the testing of truth or acceptance of ideas depends on the competition with one another, not the opinion of someone in a position of authority. The Marketplace of Ideas is the most prevalent metaphor to justify broad protections of free speech. This value was first suggested by John Milton, who first stated that "when truth and falsehood are present, the truth will always win out." Milton argues against censorship and is in favor of the free flow of ideas.  The Free Speech Center claims that this concept draws on a similarity related to the economic marketplace, where superior products sell better than others through economic competition. People want real authentic products made with purpose and care. Therefore, the economic marketplace uses competition to determine truth and acceptability. This value was expressed during the Reed v. Town of Gilbert case in 2015, where it was stated that when the government disfavors one kind of speech, it places that speech at a disadvantage. 

 I have always believed that telling the truth holds so much value, especially in a world where many are silenced for expressing their ideas and values. An example of this would be the Black Lives Matter movement protests following the death of George Floyd. An article by Charlotte Mecklenberg Library states that many people gathered in cities around the United States to protest against police brutality and racial injustice against Black Americans. Although most protests were peaceful, orders for militarized police were requested on a national level. Police used pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber ammunition which intensified the violence. As a result, several states went under lockdown as a response. On May 13, 2021, an Oklahoma School District banned students from wearing a BLM shirt after sending out a statement saying "politics will not be allowed at school". If a student is not promoting hate or violence towards other people's opinions or beliefs, then they shouldn't be prohibited from wearing certain shirts.

This also ties into one of the next values of free expression: Individual Self-Fulfillment. Founded by Free Speech gives individuals the opportunity to express themselves and create their own identity. This value is also known as Self-Actualization. Additionally, it is an aspect of human dignity, human agency, and autonomy. C. Edwin founded this as the Liberty Model, which states that the government can prohibit three types of speech: "Speech involved in an attempt to take of, or physical injury to another person's property, speech not chosen by the speaker, and speech intended to disrespect another person's frame of mind." Practicing free speech is extremely important in our society. There can be exceptions for speech that involves promoting hate and violence to be silenced. I have always been a huge advocator to promoting a positive and safe environment for those around me. Whenever someone says something hurtful to me or to someone else, I always find it beneficial to call that person out, even if it is someone close to me.

https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/marketplace-of-ideas/

https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/469715-as-marketplace-of-ideas-turns-100-truth-is-not-what-it-used-to-be/

https://www.aclu.org/documents/freedom-

expression#:~:text=Freedom%20of%20speech%2C%20of%20the,to%20as%20freedom%20of%20expres

sion.

https://media.okstate.edu/faculty/jsenat/jb3163/theorists.html

https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/liberty-model/

https://www.cmlibrary.org/blog/censorship-and-black-lives-matter

Blog Post #2: The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is known as the highest federal court in the United States. It is the head of the judicial branch of government. Since it was established by the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court has power over all laws within the United States. Additionally, it is responsible for evaluating the constitutionality of those laws. The court is made up of nine justices, with the power to check the actions of the other two branches of government which are the executive branch of the president and the legislative branch of Congress.

As I was reading the overview about the Supreme Court created by the History Channel, I learned that the court justices are appointed for life, even though the Constitution does not specifically state it. They can only be removed by impeachment. There has only been one Supreme Court Justice that has ever been impeached, Samuel Chase in 1805. The Judiciary Act of 1789 was signed into law by President George Washington, specifying that the court would be made up of six justices who would serve on the court until they died or retired. This fact was intriguing to me because that is a huge responsibility and commitment to be a part of to be appointed as a Supreme Court Justice for life. 

The most important takeaway point about the Supreme Court is that the Chief Justice is the highest judicial officer in the nation. The chief justice is responsible for being in a position of authority over the Supreme Court as well as setting the agenda for the justices' weekly meetings. The most surprising thing I learned is that the Supreme Court has held a wealth of important cases for the last 200 years. For example, a very heavily controversial case Roe v. Wade (1973), ruled that women have a right to an abortion during the first two trimesters. This case was overturned in June 2022.  Another one is Texas v. Johnson (1989), which found that flag burning and other potentially offensive speech is protected by the First Amendment. 

The video changed the way I thought about the Supreme Court because it explained the significance and power the Supreme Court has, which is not something I thought of or realized prior to reading this article. I knew of the Supreme Court and that it decides many of the laws going into action. However, reading the article helped me enhance my knowledge about the Supreme Court and our system of government.