Deceptions of Social Networks

Deceptions of Social Networks are not a surprised to the common user of favor sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Match.com and Twitter. Most users are in fact not aware to the use of their personal information once they create there profiles. Whether it is being sold to data companies or under surveillance by our government, there is no privacy or confidentiality. In recent years, there have been many cases of sexual harassment, or sex crimes omitted due to these social networks because the deception between profiles and privacy issue. A user can never be 100 percent certain that the profile of another user they interact with is accurate and truthful. In past years, companies are using these social networks to advertise, but little do employees know they are also being monitor by their employer of their whereabouts, behaviors and actions behind the office.

About My Term Research Paper

My research paper focuses on the Deceptions of Social Networks mainly directed to Facebook, Myspace, Match.com and Twitter. I analyze a bit in depth about many deceitful things about these sites regardless of the positive affect on society their are many negative ones also. I used my current knowledge of all four social networks, along with google scholar for articles and previous evidence of my observance with personal experience by friends, coworkers and myself. Some things i learn while doing my research is the widespread use of these by companies to monitor their employees whereabouts, behavior and personal life and the deception of he privacy conditions by the sites. I also learn how profiles can easily be manipulated. I feel as though my paper contributes quite alot of information about New Media since in this day of time, almost everyone 18 and older have 1 profile or more on these social network sites, and they should be aware of the negative aspects of them and how they can easily be deceived without catching on. Two of my most major findings were many social network sites gather the basic information you provide to create a profile and sell them to data companies that use that information for many reasons. Another major finding was government agencies tend to use these sites as a monitoring device, since applications on mobile phone can serve as a form GPS this allows them to know your whereabouts and everyday actions. Overall, the research paper allowed me to better guard and protect myself from what I exposed on these sites since there isn't really any form of confidentiality or privacy.

Privacy & Confidentiality

New Media may have many advantages to it but there's also the disadvantages. A major issue of New Media is privacy and confidentiality. For example, exposure of indecent content without your consent. Social networking sites and blogs allow other users to upload photographs and personal information about anyone without their consent and this can jeopardizes and have a job or even a family. Today, you have kids at the age of 13 using these sites and sometimes this can pose a danger since a user can design their profile to be whatever they want it to say and many of the information they provide can be all lies or truth. Privacy is a big issue because if its not confidential then what control do you have over the doings of other users that involves you.

Our Class Wiki - So Far

I have completed a few of the prior Wiki assignments that includes the Bio. and contribution. Contributing to Wiki was a new and fun experience for me in new media, because it allows you to contirbute to your research and that of others. Its interesting to see what others also contribute to your work. This made me view my research in a different perspective. I will continue to look for more sources and further interesting information that will contribute Social Networking and Privacy. Wiki is really informative as we keep on researching and add the information to the topic. It shows you all the information others find that you may have miss.

The Next New Thing

The next new thing should be the ability to mobilize video chat. Sure with live video chats such as Oovoo & Skype you can chat with anyone in the world using a webcam and internet connection. But it would enhance the capability of cellphones if you could see the person your speaking to by enabling a video feature or basic. With the ability to video chat on your mobile phone this would bring a new definition to conference calls in the business sector. For emergency response team, this feature would allow a person at the scene to send a visual of where danger or the emergency is. Mobilize video chat can be beneficially in many aspects because you can see what you here.

ADVICE TO BARUCH COLLEGE

I must commend Baruch College for its technology enhancements since I became a student here in 2006. But with all these enhancements the college fails to update the software's they operated under. For example, most of the computer labs have Microsoft Office 2003 while modern computers are mainly running Office 2007. This becomes a big problem due to capabilities issues when students are writing papers and doing presentations at home and then using school computers to present which aren't capable of opening the file. With this being fix professors would have more time to teach material than having students rescheduled presentation dates or turning papers in late. Another problem is the wireless connectivity, there are many dead zones throughout the campus which can be a problem when computer labs are filled and those students with laptops have no connectivity. Another issue is Blackboard, many professors use the database to post class documents and communicate with students and turn in assignments. But the most common problem is students are mislead since Blackboard does not have a email or text feature so the only form of communication is when the student actually signs in. With many technology enhancements ongoing the college should also promote the use of online courses since it sets a different environment and expectation of the student.

My New Media Class - So Far

As the semester is merely pass the middle, I have learned the various types of Old Media vs. New Media and their technologies. With the sense of media changing everyday the need for new technology comes as a burden. Some of these technologies include YouTube which replace the film, Itunes replace the CD, Netflix replace the DVD, wikis, podcasts, and ebooks. Also apart of New Media, are social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter & Match.com. The internet is essential for these New Media because the advancement over Old Media is at the ease of the user and availiblity. In order to access any of these New Media the internet must be present. Whether your downloading the latest songs, watching a movie, or conversing with friends on social network sites you must be connected to the World Wide Web.

New Media are replacing Old Media to the availability of new technology. With the internet many companies have made it easier for their customers to recieve their services at the ease of a "click." Old Media refers more to a hard copy such as newspaper, books, cd whereas New Media is digital and can be access anywhere with a computer and internet access.

Cited Readings: Friedman, Linda. "Old Media, New Media." 2009. Baruch College.

Modeling Reality With Virtual Worlds

Virtual Worlds are becoming the new essence of the technological boom. It is normal to now apply these worlds to actual locations in the real world. Virtual Worlds allow users to explore the environment and interact with new people and information. Similar to Social Networking, it allows it users to communicate and interact, enabling them to share ideas and developing their own models. Virtual Worlds allow people to create characters with unique features which they'd wish to have but don't. For example, The Sims was one of the first games to introduce a virtual world were the players can create a character who would live a natural life just like we do, but everything was to the users discretion. This is not wrong, it can / have help many before to express themselves and practice interacting with society playing a role related to their identity. Virtual Worlds are a great experience if the user can control their sense of reality seperating the virtual world from the real world.

The only dark side I can a virtual world having is its mind control. It can build a urge that may control the users belief as to what is real and what is not. The joy the user gets from this world might be his/her escape for happiness creating a false sense of reality. Overall, Virtual Worlds can be a great experience for those with self-control, it can help a user better themselves and work on issues they face but do not address in the real world.

Social Networking

Social Networking Technologies have many advantages to them and can be used in numerous ways. The most common way of use is keeping in contact with family and old friends or reacquainting themselves with someone from their past. Large companies such as (Yahoo, Coach, Microsoft, etc) advertise new products and services which offers a new reach of marketing bringing business opportunities. Other ways these technologies are used for advice and feedback. Some organizations have even created charities and fundraisers solely from the use of social networking technologies. For many this new technology is a form of exposure to of their talents, Musicians often promote themselves allowing users to listen to their works and being able to provide opinions. Social Networking Technologies offer the advantage to express yourself however it may be.

Not all social networking technologies reflect pure goodness, theres always the "dark side." When subscribing to a social network, you easily open access to spam being sent to your email and allowing others to know your whereabouts. Sure, Facebook & Myspace allow users to post pictures, comment on others wall, or even learn about someone base on their profile info but theres the down side. As mentioned in class lecture notes, Social Network sites open the door to sexual harassment with inapproiate comments and random messages. This can lead to people being stalk, and or even rape. Although these sites offer a variety of privacy settings it is your choice as to who you allow to be your friend and whether or not their trustworthy.

What i like about these sites is it versatality. They allow you to express yourself in ways you cant in your everyday life, whether its updating your status or uploading a video or idea you never thought would be a success but just wanted a random persons feedback. Social Network Technologies can become a self esteem builder or make that one person who thought theyd be a nobody become that next big thing.

Check Out Social Networking Sites

Facebook - I am a current Facebook user, and I must say Facebook has become apart of my daily routine. It is near addictive that I check my profile everyday. Facebook is different compare to rival sites, for which it offers a genuine way to network whether its professionally or socially. I can find friends who I went to primary or even pre-school with, or stay in touch with managers and co-workers. Just recently, my employer Coach has started to use Facebook as a marketing tool, and a way to screen employees and their activities. This can be bad or good depending on your privacy settings and what you allow others to see and know. Its a great way to meet new people since your able to know who you have mutual friends with. I have been a Facebook user for two years and I think it was the best switch over from Myspace.

Myspace - Being a former Myspace user, Myspace was more attractive during my high school years, but as I grew older it became less attractive. Myspace is great if you want to make friends around the world, and keep up to date in the entertainment business such as music and movies. Myspace can also be very deceiving since their isn't really a way to determine whether a persons profile is real or fake. Myspace also is marketing boom by which companies spend millions every year to advertise since they have over 250million members. With rival Facebook, recently opening Facebook to all ages that has taken a hit on Myspace and its impact to publicize ads.

If I had to recommend one of the two, without a doubt I would say Facebook.

Blog vs. Wikis

Blogs and Wikis are very much similar because they can both used in educational purposes or facilitate a discussion resulting to many opinions. Blogs are usually restraint to the editor and what they chose to post as a topic with the expectation of feedbacks from mutiple users. The posts are list in a chronological order, allowing you to search for past post. However, Wikis are more collaborative with numerous authors/editors, allowing other users other then its original creater to openly edit and post content. Blogs on the other hand can have collaboration by viewers posting comments, suggestions or responses. Wikis that do not have any restrictions could be edited by anyone, anytime and any prior information could be replaced or updated.

For example, many Old Media companies such as newspapers and magazines, are striving to keep up with technology and New Media as they enhance their approach through online articles, blogs, wikis or e-zines. In Noam Cohen's article, "An Internal Wiki That's Not Classified," an appreciation for Wikis is displayed. A Special Assistant of the United States used to email all officials prior to attending a meeting the biographies of the specific people they were to meet. However, it has already been enhanced. They use Wikis but call it 'Diplopedia' and all officials in the State Department are able to contribute freely with any information they find necessary or relevant. This is a key example how Wikis may benefit a federal department whereas, Blogs are more benficial to a college student.

Old vs. New

New technologies lead to new media platforms and styles. These new medias, are just a change and base on a scale of improvements from old media. Its like painting your apartment and then saying its brand new. The same concepts apply with minor enhancements, the purpose and structure remain the same. There are many types of New Media replacing what was Old Media. For example, what was TV, Movies, Radios, Books, News, etc. are now Youtube, Netflix, Shoutcast, Ebooks, Wikis, and Skype. People have adapt to this new life, allowing them to know and do almost everything on the computer. Its amazing how a person can video chat with a friend halfway around the world, as if you guys were side by side. Last year, I became a Netflix member, and it is amazing how convenient it is to rent movies and have them deliver at my door. I am concern with New Media, many people as I speak for myself also have become lazy and very comfortable with the endless ability of the Internet, which may taunt society with many suprises as a whole one day.

What Is New Media?

According to Wikipedia, New media is a term meant to encompass the emergence of digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies in the later part of the 20th century. Also called social media, the new media are internet-based technologies that characterize what we call the “5 c’s.” The “5 c’s” are communication, collaboration, community, creativity, and convergence. Major social networking giants such as Facebook, Myspace & Twitter rely on new media in order to attract consumers like yourself and I.

Importance of Internet, in our society today, the Internet is the #1 important factor in all forms of medias. As time progresses, everything can now be done from the internet, whether its reading your mornings news for free, or checking the weather, or even ordering lunch and dinner, the interent does it all. So with the Internet capabilities deemed endless, it is very importance to new media to progress at the rate of technology.


Slowly New Media is replacing old media. For example after the release of the Ipod by Apple in 2002, many were amazed by the abilities of one little gagdet. Not only did it take nano technology to another capacity, but allowed web-browsing, audiobooks, and podcasts. New Media is the easy and modern way of living with possbily doing almost everything from the click of your mouse.

Citings: Friedman, Linda. “Old Media, New Media.” 2009. Baruch College. 23 Sept 2009. http://bbhosted.cuny.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_187392_1%26url%3d