- Week 1: Evgeny Morozov. “The Nonsense of ‘the Internet’ – and How to Stop It” To Save Everything, Click Here (Public Affairs, NY: 2013) pp 17-64
Facebook is a social media app that brings together people from various backgrounds. The article summarizes the nonsense of the internet. It highlights the multiple issues perceived of the internet and the numerous measures that can be adopted to ensure that the nonsense on the internet is stopped. Once individuals have various feeds on Facebook, they can always go back and reread the information, thus ensuring that the information has been forgotten or lost its relevance. Facebook guarantees that for one to go back to such a message, one will have to tap messages at the top of the page near one’s profile and the home link. One can then choose the thread in which one wants the history. The thread will then open at the bottom of the app. One can then scroll up and down and have a look at the previous messages. This information can always be retrieved in the app, being against the notion that it is forgotten once the message is on the internet and can not be recovered. Many individuals have had numerous ideas on how the internet works, with every individual having a different perspective.
Various individuals have had multiple concepts and ideas on why the internet should be stopped. Facebook has brought about globalization, where individuals from all likes of life can integrate quickly and share information. For example, Facebook severally has topped google in monthly traffic, which shows the extent of integration. Preventing the internet and limiting these apps’ existence and operations will significantly affect the people’s ways of life due to the impacts that the platform had had on people’s lives. Facebooks manifesto clearly states that only individuals that have been left behind can opt to want to withdraw from the connected world. People that feel that they have been left behind by globalization are the real causes behind wanting the internet to be stopped, an action that will accrue significant losses to the community.
Understanding the various matters on establishing the patterns is made hard due to the multiple concepts that support it, such as algorithms. “You should know that your interlocutor believes your views to be reactionary and antimodern. But where is the missing manual to “the Internet”—the one that explains how this giant series of tubes works” (Morozov, 18) Facebook formation is a significant example of the complexity of the internet. For any system to be in operations, various algorithms and coding techniques have been instilled. For example, Facebook has algorithms where posts and ads are posted to the people whom it considers relevant.
The picture above shows how Facebook is able to determine what is relevant to a person by looking at the contact list and the association between people.
The same way Facebook necessitates constants backups and checks, the same applies to the internet where care is required for the apps to be effective. Facebook, however, has strived to ensure that it is easier to navigate through their sites as they control posts so that users can see what is relevant to them at all times. Facebook gains much from the internet as individuals use the platform to mingle. The topic of stopping the internet seems to be unviable as technology, and the internet has been deeply embedded in people’s lives and away with the internet and apps such as Facebook being an uphill task.
The Internet has significantly been embedded in individuals’ lives. The same way as Facebook, where an individual’s online presence is a norm in which individuals cannot veer away from as usage of platforms, has been embedded in people’s lives. “It’s not surprising then that imagining life after “the Internet” is so often an exercise in despair, a one-way ticket to irrelevance, cynicism, or madness” (Morozov, 21). Facebook, to a greater extent, has relied on the internet. A perfect example is that of Facebook and its connectivity. Individuals use Facebook at all times to connect to individuals while at the same time, ensuring that they keep other individuals informed of the actions that they are undertaking. For example, Facebook has a friends icon that helps people connect with acquaintances, the watch icon that keeps a person updated with the latest video and group icon that helps to expand the network.
The faux didacticism of the internet is to highlight the significance of Facebook in daily operations. Most organizations believe that Facebook is the best platform that an individual can market products and, at the same time, gain consumers. For example, going through my Facebook app, there are more advertisements on the home icon than in friends and group icons. Facebook has much to offer to any given population, and getting rid of it may not be the best solution. Does “the Internet” have a message to impart to humanity? “Does it contain important lessons that we all need to heed and perhaps incorporate into our institutions?” (Morozov, 25) There exist many disadvantages that are associated with the internet, the same as Facebook. However, the advantages outweigh the challenges, and individuals understanding that the internet and Facebook play a significant role in society’s activities will, over time, accrue benefits.
The internet theorists, to a greater extent, has much truth in it. The openness allowed on Facebook has played a significant role in what the internet has become today “On “the Internet,” no one has to ask for permission to start a new service such as live events, page, ad group among others. Google could build a search engine without negotiating with ISPs. Wikipedia could build an encyclopedia without negotiating with the likes of Microsoft or AOL. Skype could build its impressive software without negotiating with AT&T” (Morozov, 31). The openness allowed on the internet is due to the various regulations being made in a manner that will ensure that operations are carried out effectively and efficiently. Facebook openness, for example, is shown by the fact that its software is open source where it is available for any individual who might want to have alterations with to come up with more effective software. If an individual comes up with a change that might benefit Facebook, then they donate it back to the software project so that everyone can use it to advance it to perform more significant functions.
The Internet revolution has been experienced over time, and individuals should accept the various changes associated with change (Morozov,35). “Technological amnesia and complete indi1erence to history (especially the history of technological amnesia) remain the defining features of contemporary Internet debate”. Facebook has evolved in working with various companies such as amazon to ensure that they transport products to their customers. Facebook is already partnering with banking services to ensure in the long run that one can send money through the app. Recognizing the multiple changes related to the internet will play a significant role in the evolution and growth of society. The nonsense of the internet in the chapter indicates the various assumptions that various individuals have had on society. The internet has played a significant role in the advancements of technology. Thus, the internet should be preserved, and individuals should look at efficient means to make the internet better.
- Week 10: Terry Flew. “National Media Regulations in an Age of Convergent Media: Beyond Globalisation, Neo-Liberalism, and Internet Freedom Theories” in Flew, Iosifidis, & Steemers [eds] Global Media and National Policies (Palgrave, Basingstoke: 2016) pp 75-91.
Media regulations is an aspect that has changed over time. There has been widespread news on the dwindling in power associated with national states regarding control in media and communication, with various factors playing a significant role in decreasing the power of the national states “it can be misleading to interpret these in terms of ‘lapsarian’ narratives of a decline or lapse from an institutional environment where regulatory capitalism was once strong” (Flew,76). Notable examples cited as evidence for dwindling power in national states include globalization and neoliberalism, which have been occasioned by Facebook and other social media platforms. There has been a widespread shift in media regulations with corporate companies such as Facebook having a more substantial say on the various aspects and pass decisions based on whether the choices will impact the companies negatively or positively. The document clearly states, “One factor that has led to the assumption that nation-states have less influence over media policy today is the view that globalization more generally has weakened the power of nation-states” (Flew, 76). Facebook is one of the significant cooperates that abides by strict regulations. The user policy on the app clearly outlines the various policies that should be followed at all times. Any user that performs negatively in regards to the set regulations is automatically kicked out or their accounts disbanded.
The government has continued to play a significant role in media regulations, including Facebook, an aspect that has been made evident by limitations that have been imposed by the government. Facebook has to abide by given government regulations and ensure that the platform is run in a manner that ensures that at all times, information being run in the platform pauses no harm to the national government and the overall population.
Freedom is an aspect that has changed significantly over time, with media regulations being limited due to globalization. However, the government plays a significant role in most activities that individuals indulge in at any given time. Facebook is an ideal example of an app that can be used to analyze the readings in week ten. Neoliberalism is a concept that has tried to be used by many individuals to showcase the loss of power by national governments and assuming that companies have control over operations without relying on government. The statement is highlighted in the passage where it states, ‘the old normative media policies have been challenged, and policy-makers are searching for a new communications policy paradigm.’ However, it is critical to note that an app such as Facebook has multiple rules and regulations that abide by their licenses to be renewed.
Economic globalization has been made possible by apps such as Facebook. However, it is vital to note that the app strictly follows various rules and regulations set in different countries. Thus, this highlights the power that the national states have had on media. Media controls to be regulated in multiple countries with the main aim being to ensure that countries’ population’s interests are not violated. Globalization has played a significant role in the success of Facebook as a company. Many governments have ensured that there is freedom in terms of speech and expression. However, some countries have different measures to limit information. Information is treated differently in various countries, an aspect that is determined by the various rules and regulations that have been set in a given country as highlighted where it states” but the territorially bound nation-state, with its own legal, political and other institutions, continues to be central to binding together these multiple socio-spatial relations” {Flew, 80).
Media regulations have changed over time. Globalization, Neoliberalism, and internet freedom have played a significant role in ensuring that there has been a shift in media regulations. Advancement of technology and apps such as Facebook has made it easier to pass information. However, it should be noted that the government is still central to media regulations. Media regulations are based on a government’s policy. The benefits of the apps have ensured that there is communication with limitations depending on the government. Thus, supporting the argument that the government is no longer central to media and communication is not entirely accurate as governments regulate information while implementing and passing policies on media regulations.