The question on wether technology is good or bad has been a long argued debate. However, it is hard to dispute the effect technology has on completely transforming our world. Inventions such as computers, cell phones, and now AI technology, have provided us with all new connections and ways to communicate. Computers and cell phones are able to provide you with a network of information with just a touch of a button, this information also can be received within a few milliseconds- which is way faster than having to go to the library and looking through books until you found what you needed. AI technology has also widely changed our productivity by either solving complex equations in seconds, using previous data to develop medical cures, and even perform tasks that require precision and care. Self-driving cars are also now possible thanks to the evolution of technology; the hundreds of sensors and cameras within the car system also provides an extra layer of safety we didn't have before.
However, these technological benefits have also come with some not so good aspects. For example, after cell phones were created, social media apps grew in popularity and terms such as "cyber bullying" came into existence. Many adults and teenagers were not educated on the dangers of apps like Facebook and Twitter, as many did not know there were any dangers at the time. The delete button made it seem like you could post whatever and if you wanted it gone you could just erase it and it would be gone forever. Unfortunately, as we know now, that just isn't the case. Whatever you post is permanent (whether you hit delete or not) and can always be retrieved from servers. Over the past decade we have seen a handful of teenagers that were rejected from college due to old posts that were either recovered or the teenager hadn't thought twice about posting. I have also personally seen an increase of people my age or younger who are choosing to not go on social media. Some of my friends are even limiting their own screen time. An article about a 14 year old girl who decided to not go on social media is an example of how more and more teenagers are starting to realize the downsides of social media.
I think I have a healthier relationship with technology than I used to in middle school. Being away at college and having the ability to send my mom a quick text or even video call her is such a helpful tool. I've been getting better at my relationship with social media by realizing when I may need to take a break from it. I do my best to think about what I am putting out on the internet and minimizing my digital footprint. As of recent, I have also been more cautious of the websites I give my email to and making sure the site is trustworthy.
As a child of two parents in the Navy, I think they were more concerned and alert to the dangers of the internet and in turn, warned me early on so I would have the chance to make more educated decisions. I do think my parents have healthy relationships with technology. For example, they both recognize the benefits of technology as they work in the government and they are able to see exactly how these technologies have improved our military capabilities. My dad doesn't really use social media very often and when my brother and I were younger, he was always encouraging us to stay off screens as much as possible. I really value his advice now (as I didn't at the time) and find it very helpful as it taught us there were other things to if we are bored, instead of going straight on our phones.
So, is technology good or bad? In truth, I think it is both. There are so many different aspects and types of technologies that it becomes hard to have one general answer. Everyone has their own story of how technology has helped them one way or another, but they also have ways its been more of a burden. As technology continues to evolve and computer systems such as AI begin to become more developed and wide spread, we will all have to continue to learn and shape our relationships with technology.
As consumers of online media and constant sources of information, it is critical that we know how to decipher the information we see. Based on my classmate, Chase Eller's blog and presentation, here is what I learned about disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation.
Disinformation
Disinformation is defined as false information that is deliberately and often covertly spread to influence public opinion. This type of information is also used by terrorists to spread propaganda in other countries.
Misinformation
This type of information is very similar to disinformation as it is incorrect and misleading. However, misinformation is not spread and posted with malicious intent. This is seen a lot on social media and can be very easy to spread.
Malinformation
The last case of false information to be aware of is malinformation. This uses real life details which are based off facts but then cuts out important pieces of context for the purpose of misleading and manipulating the reader. Slandering and encouraging fake news for the negative effects are big aspects of malinformation we see a lot of today.
What can we as readers and consumers do to combat this fake information? Firstly, we can fact check it against similar information and articles of the same topic. We can even go right to the source, for example, if we are viewing information on a political figure giving a speech and see that they apparently said something troubling, we can look up and watch the full speech on our own. During big political races, a lot of speeches are taken out of context to make that person look bad. As readers we can also search for opposing views on the same topic and see what lines up as our biases may lead to us believing false information.
We are surrounded by all kinds of information channels such as news, radio, social media, and online web services like Google. It's no wonder we are susceptible to believing everything we see, but we must learn how to combat the constant stream and be critical of our news.
In the past few years, we have seen an increase in AI use, but what is AI? Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be defined as computer systems which are able to perform complex tasks that are normally done by human reasoning, decision making, and creating. However, there is no simple definition of AI as a whole because it can perform many different types of tasks.
Pros
Like most everything in life, there are good aspects and bad aspects. So, what are some of the good aspects of AI? For starters, AI has enhanced healthcare as it is able to assist researchers in developing cures for illnesses. Self- driving cars have also become possible with the help of AI, and it has also improved navigation systems. AI can be helpful in the classroom by giving teachers examples to teach off, as well as helping students structure their papers.
Cons
However helpful AI has been, there are also some downsides to it. AI is run by data and the software can only become more advanced by inputting more data. Some countries, such as China, are using this new technology to monitor their citizens. According to the video: In the Age of AI, Chinese citizens are being scanned by AI technology on the street. Their devices are also built with many different data chips that ultimately give the Chinese government the data they need.
As a whole, AI has been and will continue to transform our world and how we complete our everyday tasks. The main concern of this new technology, however, is the lack of privacy. All of the devices we use- cell phones, computers, and smart gadgets you have around your home, are all tracking you. The way you talk in a conversation to the time you go to bed, it is all data that the computer systems are getting to make their overall software better.
The American news reports for the past two decades have seemed to highlight conflict after conflict, war after war. You may be an American citizen who is supportive of these governmental actions or maybe you are opposed, but think no one else shares your opinion? The constant reports of conflicts the United States is involved in abroad makes one wonder if the whole country really does support war? While perhaps in reality, the number of war supporters is a lot smaller than we think, but they just happen to be the loudest...
Flashback to the period of time after WW1- the Progressive Era, where people were attempting to solve and reform the issues brought up in the earlier Gilded Age. Many Americans during the Progressive Era were speaking up about how the U.S should not go to war- these people were then thrown into jail.
Eugene V. Debs- 1921
One person of note is Eugene Debs. In 1912 he was running for president and at the time had received almost 1 million votes. During one of his speeches he spoke about how he opposed the war at the time and although he was careful not to advocate any illegal activity, he was arrested and convicted of 'obstructing military recruitment and enlistment'. Debs was then sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The First Amendment is known to protect our right of free speech, but as we saw with the Debs v. United States case, where his conviction was upheld by the Espionage Act of 1917, free speech becomes less protected during times of war.
Fast forward to present day and you may think, "Well, we certainly don't do that anymore!" While citizens may not directly be thrown into jail for opposing war, they definitely get quieted. Articles posted on sites such as, AntiWar and The American Conservative showcase a variety of authors with strong anti-war voices.
The role of dissent plays a big part in democracy as it enables citizens to voice their opinions and participate in the governance of their nations. So then why are these voices and websites not more well known? I personally have not even heard of these websites until this course, and it makes me wonder how many more 'underground' articles and sites there are with similar opinions?
Media streams and news reports are always right in front of us, sometimes these media outlets are so loud that we don't even realize there are other sources of information. Alternative media is defined as: Newspapers, magazines, or online sites that are privately owned and circulate messages that are felt to be underrepresented by 'mainstream media'. AntiWar, Democracy Now, and The American Conservative are all examples of alternative media sites.
So, what are the pros and cons that alternative media provides citizens? For starters, alternative media isn't owned by large corporations and therefore will provide readers with more diversity in political topics. Publishers within these private companies have more unfiltered information as they do not have a brand identity to keep. Lastly, alternative media can make readers feel more connected to their peers as certain topics that they feel passionately on may be brushed over by mainstream media and these smaller websites allow them to see that others feel the same way.
However, like most things, there are some cons to alternative media. For example, even though these smaller platforms are privately owned and therefore less controlled, the downside is the information posted may not be fully accurate and you want to make sure you are being critical of the accuracy of the material that you are reading. Alternative media sites also don't make as much money as the high profit media corporations and unfortunately, may not have enough funds to be on air for a long period of time. They also may miss out on research and reporting opportunities due to money. While smaller sites create a tighter knit community as you are all sharing opinions on topics, these communities can be highly biased and sometimes even ostracized to those on the opposing view.
Society as a whole can really benefit from alternative media as it gives citizens a space to receive political information on a broad range of topics. These articles also provide different levels of analysis as well as show different viewpoints from both extremes. As a Generation Z student, alternative media also allows me to research political topics that may not be highlighted in mainstream media. Having the ability to read about issues from both perspectives also helps me gain a better and more educated opinion on the world around me.
Alternative Media doesn't just affect me or society as a whole, but it also affects the different groups within our society:
Old vs Young: Older generations may prefer regular news stations as they can be accessed easier and they are more trusting of the government than younger generations. The younger people are more likely to use alternative media sites due to their lack of trust in larger corporations and interest in niche topics.
Majority vs Minority: Alternative media sites can be very helpful to minority readers as they may feel not fully represented in larger media programs and connect with the smaller sites more as they feel seen and heard.
Overall, Alternative media is a helpful resource to those wanting to be more informed on topics not often talked about or even for a student wanting to make their own judgments on political issues around the globe.
As consumers there might be products that we adopt early on and when it becomes popular you say, "Hey I've been using that for years!" Or perhaps there are those products that we hold off on buying, whether its because we feel we don't need it or just don't want to hop on the bandwagon. This concept of buying into products or ideas stems from Rogers's Diffusion of Innovations (or ideas) can be seen more clearly in Roger's Diffusion of Innovations Model.
2001 Apple iPod
The innovation and evolution of music has been tracked throughout the beginning of time. There is archeological evidence that humans having been making music and musical instruments for around 40,000 years. Ancient Greek vases portrayed people playing flute type instruments and singing. In the Middle Ages, aristocratic courts and churches used music and evolved later into the Classical Period. The Classical Period lasted from 1732 to 1827 and composers such as Beethoven and Mozart helped develop the sonata and concerto.
Fast forward to 2001 when the technology company, Apple introduced their iPod. The iPod combined the past innovations of the record, cassette tape, and radio all into one small gadget that could fit into your pocket. The iPod caught on and spread to consumers as people realized that this gadget was more convenient and reliable to their old cassette tapes and radios. You were now able to plug your headphones into a smaller device and didn't have to carry around your clunky cassette player. The sound quality was also better on the iPod and ran less risk of the tracks being scratched and worn down. However, people may have adopted this technology later than others on this technology was extremely new, and they didn't feel like they had to join in as their radios, records, and cassette players still worked just fine.
Diffusion of Ideas
It's now 2025 and we are seeing the downsides of what used to be brand new technology. We now have small pocket-sized computers that not only replace the old iPod but now replace our telephones and cameras. While this technology has improved our society in many ways, the technology has evolved from being helpful to hurtful as governments and large social media corporations are stealing our data. The government and large companies are now able to gain private information on citizen's day to day lives through phones and voice command technologies.
Looking back at the revolution from early music to a small gadget that combined all of the past music innovations, to current cell phones in our hands, the positives of this technology outweigh the negatives. However, it's hard to say if in the future, will the negatives begin to outweigh the positives?
We go about our day-to-day lives surrounded by many different types of technology. All of the technology that we use today started from somewhere. For example, the computer I am using now to write this blog post, wouldn't be possible without the invention of the typewriter. In this post I will be sharing a few interesting facts I learned about the typewriter from my classmate, Destini Hunt's presentation and blog post; I will link her blog here: Destini Hunt's Blog
Sholes Glidden Typewriter in 1874
The story of the typewriter we know today began way back to the year 1714 when Henry Mill had patented a writing machine. Although, it would take almost a century for inventors to finally turn Henry Mill's dream into reality.
There were many types of writing machines that were patented over the years, however the first breakthrough for the typewriter didn't occur until 1868 when Christopher Latham Sholes, along with his colleagues, created the Sholes and Glidden typewriter.
Early typewriters no doubt began to pave the path for the technology and communication we know now, but these early machines still needed some tweaking. For instance, the typewriters up to 1878 (when the shift key was introduced) were only capable of writing and printing in capital letters. The early 20th century was also the first time writers were able to see their work in real time, rather than typing a full page only to see errors in the beginning of your writing and having to start all over again.
The last part of the typewriter's transformational change is when electric typewriters came into existence. Allowing for faster and more efficient work to be produced as well as less strain for the typer.
QWERTY Key Layout
The Typewriter's Legacy
Even though typewriters aren't commonly used today, it's legacy can be seen in the QWERTY set up on our phone, computer, and any other online keyboard we use today. So, while typewriters may be a thing of the past now, we wouldn't be able to communicate as effectively without its existence.
It is widely known that the United States government has a wide data base on its citizen's personal information. The question is however, how much information do they have and is it necessary for the government and security officials to keep this information? I have linked below various Ted Talk speeches on this topic and in this blog, I will discuss my opinion on the concerns that were brought up in the following videos.
Why are these issues even important? To start, growing up and having my childhood and teenage years- where I and my peers around me are our most impressionable, being surrounded by online businesses such as Facebook who is actively invading your privacy is dangerous. Especially when these businesses don't advertise that they collect your data, track, and inspect what you had otherwise thought to be private.
Many younger kids between the ages of 10-12 are now getting cell phones and therefore having access to online websites and social media. This can be dangerous if they are not taught how to be responsible with online sites and once posted, is online forever. These young kids could also be shown mature content that is pushed out by the owner company when their brains aren't old enough to comprehend it and then this could lead to psychological issues down the road.
Individual's Data Captured on Highway
Then is the issue regarding the information and surveillance done by the police force. I understand the need for the technology and think it is a very useful tool when used for its designed purpose.. finding and tracking the suspected and convicted. The storing of data from day-to-day civilians, I do not think is necessary. All the extra data that is recorded and has nothing to do with current police investigations should be deleted. The argument "we might need it in the future" is understandable, but by keeping the data, its invading innocent American's privacy. Besides, if a case comes up, they can go out and find the information again.
To sum up, the internet is a newer concept for us as humans, and it is important for all of us to know and to be aware, that just because we are behind a screen... doesn't mean we have privacy.
With the increased access to technology and even new innovations where iPads can be used as a notebook, there seems to be less need for paper. The phrase, 'History of Paper' might even seem a bit silly, but humans have been documenting and recording their thoughts since the dawn of time. Many early civilizations used mostly what as available at the time as an early form of 'paper', clay slabs, tree bark, and even pressed papyrus, which is actually what early paper was made out of.
200 BCE- China
Early Chinese Paper Mills
The earliest known paper was traced back to the early ages in China where a paper prayer was embedded on the brick of a home. In this time, paper was generally reserved for religious purposes, the government, or wealthy business owners to complete transactions. The early papermakers used old fishing nets, bamboo, mulberry bark, and even hemp to make the papers. Firstly, fibers were collected from the materials and then sent to pits either lined with stone or wood to soak for up to three months. Next, the papermakers would ground the fibers into a pulp using wooden tools or rocks. Scoops of the pulp where then poured on top of a rectangular framed mold and spread out evenly with their hands. Water was then drained through a screen to separate the pulp from the wet paper. The molds with the paper where then left out in the sun to dry and then peeled of the mold once done. The average papermaker at this time owned approximately 25-30 molds.
600 CE- Korea
By 600 CE, the art of paper making had spread to Korea. The core basics of the process stayed the same, but by this time, the Koreans were using new advanced technologies to help speed up the paper making. For example, they were using an animal powered grinding or pulping mill process. They also invented the laid paper mold- a bamboo frame with a screen cover and two deckle strips; and started to lay the wet paper sheets to a wooden board to dry instead of leaving them in the molds, allowing for the molds to be reused more quickly.
610 CE- Japan
Ten years later, the paper making process made its way to Japan by Korean Buddhist Monks. In 770 CE, the Empress Shotuko ordered a mass printing of paper, which is commonly know as Hyakumanto Dharani.
1264 CE- Italy
Early Italian Paper Mill
Fast forward to 1264 CE in Italy where there were already many established paper mills. The Europeans by this time used cotton and linen in their mills, which is more similar to the paper we know today. The method of using linen consisted of, cutting the cloth into strips and then rolling these strips into balls, coating them in lime, and then leaving the cloth to ferment for weeks. Around one third of the rags rotted and were unstable while the other two thirds were ready for the next step of the process. The papermakers in Italy were also the ones who perfected the paper molds. They used wood and metal, which consisted of a wood frame and a metal screen that they dipped into a vat of 90% water and 10% pulp. The water and pulp mixture was then shook on the screen to evenly distribute the pulp while the water drained out.
1869- United States
Early U.S Paper Mills
The process of paper making reached Mexico and the United States around the year 1575 when the first paper mill was created in the city of Culhuacan, just south of present day Mexico city. The first uses of wood fibers to make paper weren't until 1869 by Denison Remington of Remington Paper Company of Watertown, located in New York. William Russell, another papermaker, has built two paper mills in New Hampshire and Vermont around the same time as Remington. One of Russell's salesman filled the Boston Herald's news print order with wood and didn't tell the publisher. The printing process worked so well with the wood made paper, that they refused to use anything else afterwards. Now, majority of paper is made out of wood as it is less expensive to mass produce and the materials were more abundant than cloth.
The Impact of Paper:
As humans, we use some form of paper everyday. To the paper we use to take notes in school or work, the napkins and paper towels we use in the kitchen, to even the money we exchange day to day. Paper has even revolutionized the way humans could now communicate with each other. Letters could be written and sent thousands of miles away, ideas could be written down and remembered later, and it is now used for advertising and convincing communities to buy your products. The collaboration of different cultures over thousands of years to create the paper we know and use today is truly remarkable and really exemplifies human's ability to create and evolve.
As an American citizen, one of the first things you learn about in history class is the different United States Amendments. Specifically, the first amendment. The first amendment gives U.S citizens the freedom of free speech, but what exactly falls under this category of "Free Speech"? Listed below I will discuss and evaluate four of the values/ideas that are protected by the first amendment.
1. Marketplace of Ideas
John Milton
The main idea behind this first value was originally said by John Milton- a former secretary for the commonwealth of England; when truth and falsehood are allowed to freely argue, truth will win out. The freedom of being able to have opposing views or false information and be able to voice them without the government punishing you is not only a freedom, but beneficial for a country as well. When an establishment only has one stream of information and opinions, it can weaken the creativity of the individuals within this said establishment, and in turn weaken the whole as they are not able to grow and shift with new and opposing ideas. The stream of information being given could also be just generally incorrect and without the freedom of letting truth and falsehood grapple out, no one is to know the truth that their establishment is based on.
2. Check on Government Power
The Watergate Scandal
The second value of free speech I wanted to discuss is the ability for American citizens and the press to be enabled to know when there is an "abuse of power" within the government and then the choice to change the leadership at the ballot box. I think this is freedom is beneficial to promote a transparent and healthy government system. This freedom is also unique to many other nations, which I find fortunate to live in a society where citizens have the ability to hold the government accountable. Moreover, countries where their citizens have the freedom of press- to report news and circulate ideas without censorship from the government- creates a government who is less likely to take advantage of their citizens. The ability for voters to check the government decreases the chance of economic exploitation, unsupported violence initiated by a country's leader, and even the possibility of anarchy or dictatorship as citizens are enabled to learn about abuses of power.
3. Promote Innovation
Flag Map of North Korea
Another value is the idea that when communities, countries, and establishments give their individuals the freedom of speech, it promotes creativity, and therefore innovation. For example, the communist country of North Korea has severe restrictions on their citizens when it comes to freedom of speech and religion and are known to be significantly behind in their technological innovations. The ability to share ideas and collaborate with others helps create new ideas and in turn new inventions. The promotion of free speech and ideas also equates more prosperous societies as the citizens feel like their voices are valued. Such societies are more diverse and interesting and provide a more complex place to grow and live.
4. Individual Self-Fulfillment
C. Edwin Baker
Lastly, the fourth free expression value is the right to express themselves and create their own identity. I think this value is really special and citizens are able to be their true selves and in turn helps form a more positive society. As stated by C. Edwin Baker- a Professor of Law and Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, "Speech or other self-expressive conduct is protected not as a means to achieve a collective good but because of its value to the individual." The freedom to create and express your own identity also allows for individuals to find those that they genuinely connect with.
The Supreme Court- a judicial power that makes up one of the three pillars in the United States government. The name on its own gives the impression of regal, elite, and impassive. In simpler terms, the Supreme Court seems untouchable. At least that is the opinion I held before watching the following videos:
Supreme Court: Part 1
Supreme Court: Part 2
The Quiet Workings of The Supreme Court Justices
Current Supreme Court Justices: 2025
The position as a Supreme Court Justice is one of honor and dedication, not only to the career itself, but to uphold the rule of law. While watching the attached videos, I learned that an average Supreme Court Justice serves for 16 years. They often are in their position for decades after the president who appointed them leaves the oval office. Each Justice does their own work separate from their colleagues and come to case decisions in private. Before this video, I had always viewed the Justices as cold and reserved from the American people. However, I have learned this perception is far from true. This group is dedicated to uphold the freedoms and liberty laid out throughout the past 200 years, the Justices are simply just people given a case to think about and compare it to The Constitution.
The Supreme Court's Complex Process
The Supreme Court Building
Every week the court receives around 100 news cases and approximately 7,000 new cases per year. Many of these cases come as petitions or arguments hoping to persuade the Justices on why a lower court ruling was incorrect. Out of these thousand of cases that pile up, only a hundred a year will be chosen for full consideration. New petitions as well as cases that have already been accepted are then stacked and sent to the Justice's chambers once a week. Each Justice has a team of law clerks and secretaries who assist them, however, the individual Justice is responsible for coming to a decision about each presented case. The main task of The Supreme court is to review the facts from a lower court preceding such as, was the law applied correctly or is the law constitutional? The Court meets weekly to decide which cases should be accepted and vote on previous discussed cases. The first draft of a written opinion on a case decision usually takes four weeks, the drafts are then sent to the other Justices to view or edit. The author of the written opinion may then adjust their writing as to get the rest of the Justices to agree with their position, this process of editing, discussing, and compromising on cases can take many months to resolve. Overall, The Supreme Court's job is limited to issues that are pushed up by the American people and each petition, wether written by a Harvard legal professional or by a prisoner in jail, each case gets the same individual consideration, which is a very surprising thing I learned by watching the videos.
My Takeaways: The Supreme Court
The biggest idea that I came away with after watching the two videos is that The Supreme Court and its Justices are very engaged and open to the cases and issues presented by the American people. The videos also changed my perspective of The Supreme Court as being cold and untouchable to dedicated and level-headed. Another aspect I took away was due to The Court's openness with the large amount of cases they review and how it allows for The Supreme Court, along with the pillars of the institution and the core aspects of The Constitution, to continue to grow and evolve with the American people and the United States and giving it the stability to continue throughout the country's future.
With the age of technology and having so many news sources at the touch of a button, it may be overwhelming to figure out where to find different types of information to stay up to date. Listed below are are my top five news and information web cites that I think give me a well-rounded perspective on the world!
I look at USA Today because it covers national news and gives more of a broader scope of topic and news reporting. This is helpful in times where I want to see what is happening on the other side of the country. I also think USA Today does a good job at staying more middle biased when it comes to reports about politics.
The second source I use is, Fox News. I mainly look at this source for political reports as they are known to be more right leaning and I think it is good to look at news media that fall on both sides of the political scale.
In elementary and high school my teachers would play CNN 10 for our class everyday, so I have been familiar with CNN for a few years now. As stated before, I like to look at Fox News, in contrast I also look at reports from CNN as they are known to be more left biased and therefore, gives me the ability to compare their reports to Fox News and see what is consistent between both sources.
I go on People mainly to view pop culture news. I think People has a lot of good connections that allow them to get inside views into events or interviews with celebrities, which I always find interesting.
Although, Instagram isn't an actual news station, it does provide information on friends I don't see as often and provides information more in photo form than in words. Instagram may not be the most reliable in terms of politics, but for the social aspect, I think it is very useful.
To conclude, the process of viewing news and information has drastically changed from the way the generations before us have previously done it. Thousands of articles and websites are available at the touch of a button. While this age of new technology has many positives, it is important as media consumers to be conscious of the websites we are viewing and fact checking the information we view against other news and information websites.
