EOTO #2: Propaganda

All throughout high school and middle school, teachers tossed around the term propaganda. I was usually in relation to political leaders creating and spreading posters that depict how great and wonderful they are at leading a country to greatness. We were exposed to these “advertisements” because they were perfect examples of what propaganda looks like. Google defines propaganda as “information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.” Throughout history there have been countless examples of this: in North Korea with Kim Jong-Un, in Russia with Vladimire Putin, and in China with Mao Zedong. In each of these cases, these leaders have used propaganda to legitimize themselves, and encourage the people to support them and their ideas.

Historically, propaganda has not always been a negative term, despite the fact that in our current era we view it as a manipulative approach. Just as feelings about propaganda have changed, so have the platforms that it uses. With all the technological advancements, posters, painting, and political cartoons are considered very outdated. Almost everything today is going to be digital and get posted online. Video, TV commercials, or advertisements on podcasts or radio shows are gaining more and more popularity, and are getting the most views and responses from targeted audiences. 

But the digital age is giving “fake news” the ability to spread faster and reach even more people. Biased sources are spreading information and having a major impact on the way people view political candidates. Whether it be slander, or painting somebody as a better person then they are. Propaganda is becoming a huge problem in our modern world.

How can we go about minimizing the negative effects that propaganda brings, without limiting the freedom of speech and press that every american citizen is born with? My simple answer: we can’t. At least in America, will will never be able to prevent media outlets from misleading the public. It would violate our rights and the government would never be able to stay ahead of it. Anytime they squashed one “fake news outlet” another 3 would just pop up. The only way we can really work to minimize this effect is by placing responsibility in the hands of each individual. Every person should fact check the information that they read on the internet, nothing should be taken at face value. Especially when looking for information about political candidates. You should go to their official web pages and try to steer clear of low level blogs or discussion boards. Individuals should be electing officials based on fact, not opinion. 

   Propaganda is a valuable tool that can really provide positive benefits when done correctly (like above). I think that the massive pay increase that can come from news stories has completely cheapened the industry. People are no longer writing and publishing stories to inform the public, they are doing it to make money. This not only leads to misinformation, it leads to the public having a lack of trust in all media outlets.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda 

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

https://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/war_peace/media/hpropaganda.html 

https://www.canva.com/learn/examples-of-propaganda/ 

VSCO: Communication Through Images

VSCO is an app that was created in 2012 by a company called ‘Visual Supply Company’. Basically, VSCO “is a photography app where you can create an account and upload or take photos, edit and add filters, and share them with other VSCO users or on other social media sites.” Many users post a link to their VSCO in their instagram bios. Further, many people in younger generation view this platform as a place to post for scandalous and controversial photos. 

When the app was first released it was primarily used solely as an editing app (mostly to apply different filters to photos). It was common for people's “profiles” to be set to only allow the account user to see the images, more of a personal photo gallery than a social media account. But over time the apps popularity grew, as did the need for the younger generation to share their information.  

Yet, Unlike instagram and almost every social media platform, VSCO doesn't have likes and until recently, comments either. It is simply just a way to share photos. You would think this would make it safer for younger people, when in fact it has done the opposite. With no way to receive any feedback, people feel more comfortable putting themselves out there (probably because there is no way to receive any negative comments, at least over the internet).

I feel like the original purpose of this app has been lost, and at this point VSCO is only adding the negative connotations that stem from social media. Everybody warns people about being judged negatively based on your online profiles, but maybe the fear of being judged is the driving factor behind people censoring their content at all.  

Apple’s Next Great Idea: CarPlay

Apple’s latest and greats no product is actually not a product at all. It is a service that is installed in the user's care and connects to their phone. Apple says “CarPlay is a smarter and safer way to use your iPhone in the car — allowing you to stay focused on the road.” CarPlay allows users the ability to get directions on the cars dashboard monitor in addition to making calls, sending and receiving messages, listening to music, and with a little hack, sometimes even using the monitor to watch Netflix or play games from the users phone (only while the car is parked of course). 

With the new IOS 13, CarPlay allows users to have a simpler and more accessible view of the road ahead. It also provides users with a single place to keep track of Maps, audio controls, and Siri Suggestions, which provide easy access to things like your Calendar events. CarPlay “can even take control of your HomeKit accessories, like door openers.”

This revolutionary invention from Apple has not only changed the way people travel, but it has created a way for people to literally never need to go offline again. Before, the only time, aside from sleeping, that you couldn’t be connected is when you were driving... until now. Text messages and any other notification you get on your phone, will now come through the car. Apple virtually eliminated the problem of texting and driving because CarPlay is almost entirely voice controlled. Both hands can stay on the wheel, and so can a majority of the users attention. 

I think this is a terrific invention, that can mostly go under rated until tried. I fully support this and I can’t think of a single downside to this service. If nothing else, it will reduce the number of accidents that would have been caused from texting and driving. Everyone on the road is safer because of CarPlay.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205634 

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/what-is-apple-carplay/ 

https://www.techradar.com/news/apple-carplay 

Online Self Audit:

For my age, I think I have a relatively small online footprint. Every single one of social media accounts are private. I almost never post anything on my accounts, and when I do, I post a single photo on instagram (maybe 1 every 9ish months). The information on all my accounts is very basic, just stating my name, the high school I went to and my age. I haven't updated or changed any of the information since I created the accounts roughly 5 years ago. 

I have an instagram account, a snapchat, a Tik-tok, and a facebook. I use them all but they are all private and I didn’t link any of them together. The information a visitor could glean about me, even indirectly, by visiting my pages on social media is very limited to the information in my bio. They would also be able to see my face in my profile pictures, but since all my accounts are private, and only my friends can see photos I'm tagged in on FB they wouldn’t get much else. 

Private information I have voluntarily given out are mostly just to my accounts as a secondary form of authentication or to get notification alerting me of any activity on my account (in case I get hacked or somebody logs-in at a new location). This private information is really only my phone number, or extra email account (that I use for this exact purpose) or when I have accounts with companies that make me sign up to get a big discount. 

Back in high school when I made all my accounts, my dad was very reluctant to let me create one without making everything private. Back then, I went along with it because I knew it was the only way I would be able to have them. Looking back on that now, I am so happy he drilled that into my brain. Because of him, every time I make a new account, or a company asks for my information, I think twice about any potential consequence or repercussions I could experience from it. All my friends always ask me why I never post or update my accounts. To them, this is such a strange idea because most of them can't go a couple hours without posting something. But for me, before I post anything on social media, I always think about two things my dad said to me. 1- “am I going to be okay if my parents, children, employer, or employees see this someday? And 2- “would I be ok if this turned up in a newspaper for everyone to see?” If I have any doubt, I don't post it. I even apply those two questions to any texts I send. 

Having regrets about releasing private information is definitely a dangerous road, and can lead to some pretty debilitating mental health problems. I know that personal information is one of my most valued assets. Once I release it to the public, it is out there forever and I can never get it back. I can confidently say that I don’t regret anything about my online footprint. I have always been careful and I continue to be careful.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90315706/kids-parents-social-media-sharing 

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/is-facebook-making-us-lonely/308930/

Communication Through a Fitbit:

The company Fitbit was founded in 2007. They make a range of products that help people track their activity levels and get in shape. Their products track things like heart rate, the number of steps walked, steps climbed, and quality of sleep. They keep records from users 24/7 (or for however long they wear it). Many of the newer models also allow wearers to receive notifications on the Fitbit (similar to an Apple Watch). But, this is also changing the way we communicate, not only because users can get notifications 24/7, but because all the activity the product records, can be shared and compared with other users. This can results in compitition between two users or even a way for coaches or others to monitor activity.

The company has released a large variety of products that allow customers to pick the perfect model that suits them. They also range in price and colors. All products give users the ability to compete with other users though. Talk about non-verbal communication... There have even been multiple people report that they caught their partners cheating using the activity log (after seeing a rise in heart-rate at odd hours of the day or night). No information is private anymore. With devices like a Fitbit, users can never fly under the radar because their physical activity is always being monitored and recorded. 

I think this is an amazing app to help people get motivated and start working out. But it also makes me wonder how much privacy we are willing to lose in order to participate in the new and exciting technology. Any personal information that you share with the world, is something that everybody will be able to access. Letting your friend see how many steps you take in a day may seem harmless, but it could lead you down a dangerous path of you releasing much more private information in the future. 

https://www.marketing91.com/top-7-fitbit-competitors/ 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/12/14/fitbit-jane-slater-says-she-caught-ex-boyfriend-cheating-fitness-tracker/2642891001/ 

https://nypost.com/2019/12/05/nfl-host-jane-slater-i-caught-my-ex-cheating-thanks-to-fitbit/ 

https://www.fitbit.com/us/about-us 

Eight Values of Free Expression:

It is common for people holding less popular opinions to be shut out or threatened. Anybody going against the status quo puts themselves at risk, and or, in danger. When something like this happens in a friend group, the repercussions are far less severe than when it happens in a government or on a macro level. In America, citizens are supposed to be protected when they voice an opposing opinion or idea. But it seems like it’s becoming more common for the minority opinions to get threatened or blackmailed in order to stay silent, or even worse prosecuted.

In my opinion, protecting dissent is the most important value of free expression. Without this, ideas and innovation do not grow or adapt to the needs of modern times. If people are not free or encouraged to voice their opinion in order to fix (or better) certain institutions, then those institutions will remain outdated and unhelpful to the majority of Americans that need it. Protecting dissent is thought of as our patriotic duty for this exact reason. If people don’t criticize the government then it does not improve. 

Steven Shiffrin wrote about this idea in a book titled Dissent Injustice and the Meanings of America. In it he says that “Americans should not just tolerate dissent they should encourage it.” He also states that “major institutions including the supreme court and the mass media wrongly limit dissent”. There are also many websites and organizations that are dedicated to fighting back and preserving descent. They also understand how important this right is.

In addition to no longer advancing, if the United States government were to  operate without opposition, it could lead to a society that is not democratic. Without opposition, the government is not being held accountable to the people. They could implement new radical and detrimental legislation without giving minority groups the opportunity to argue the case from their side.

Lastly, I think John Whitehead stated the final reason why I feel protecting dissent is the most important value of free expression. He said, “If I didn’t love this country, it would be easy to remain silent. However, it is because I love my country, because I believe fervently that if we lose freedom here, there will be no place to escape to, I will not remain silent”. I think that he brings up two really good points. First, there is such a thing as constructive criticism. Sometimes people with opposing opinions speak their mind because they love the USA so much that they want it to function in the most successful and efficient way it possibly can. Secondly, we are all Americans, and we all live here. The government creates and enforces the supreme law of land, with no other place to go, saying that citizens can’t contribute or critique the authority figures making the legislation, in a way can turn what is supposed to be a democracy into a prison. The purpose of criticism is to improve things, without this ability, the United States would lose one of its biggest strengths.   

www.fff.org/explore-freedom/article/protect-the-right-to-criticize-the-government/ 

https://www.overdrive.com/media/1059104/dissent-injustice-and-the-meanings-of-america 

https://rightsanddissent.org/campaigns/defend-the-right-to-protest/ 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissent