The We Are Data reading looks at the
way that algorithms are increasingly interpreting and affecting our behavior.
Daniel Zwi applauds the book for both skillfully illuminating the challenge of
algorithmic regulation and arming us to address this issue, with the author finishing
with some practical proposals for challenging the digital status quo. I really
enjoyed We Are Data and think that readers who desire to reclaim some
independence in our increasingly algorithmically built and monitored society
will find knowledge and inspiration in We Are Data.
This
has an impact on my personal love of social media as well as the internet.
After reading it, it almost makes me not even want to touch social media, even
though I talked about never leaving it in my latest blog. What makes me say
that is when it says that internet users are exposed to more media sources. For
example, the reading mentioned how our identities are impacted by the lack of
data privacy beyond the overused subject of online privacy. The lack of privacy
is what sort of scares me away from social media and could play a huge factor
in how it affects my use in a professional capacity. I don’t want the lack of
privacy to hurt me in any way or form down the road.
I do
not have any big ideals about ethics, but the one thing I did learn is that I
understand more about what I am doing to myself as a digital citizen each time
I interact online, along with a better understanding of how to resist methods
of control. Overall, I really enjoyed the reading. There is a lot of
information to take in from it, so it really took a while to process it all and
express some of my feelings towards the questions asked. I'm sure everyone has
different opinions on it and won't see any problems with continuing to use social
media knowing the privacy aspect I mentioned, but I believe privacy is very
important these days and if you feel uneasy, then you have a solid reason for
not wanting to use the internet.
References
Cheney-Lippold, J. (2019). We are data: Algorithms
and the making of our Digital Selves. New York University Press.
Hi Mason,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. What stood out to me in your post was you stating that the storing of information and what you learned from "We Are Data" has an impact on your personal love for social media and the internet. In a different blog post I responded to someone stated if you have nothing to hide its not a big deal. However, I am on your side with this that lack of privacy can be scary whether you are hiding something or not. Reading what we have I will still use social media and the internet in the capacity I do because my useage is far from personal or about me.
Good post.
Hey Mason,
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with what you mentioned about how our identities are impacted by the lack of data privacy. This forces us to be highly cautious of what we allow to be public. On the flipside however, it allows us to sometimes see who a person truly is.
Mason, I see that you wrote about losing your love for social media because of this issues and I can imagine many people do to when talking about it. In my opinion, people can often say this, but the truth is that everything and everyone nowadays depends on at least on social media, that being the reason why not many people demanding more privacy wins this argument. Social medias are a powerful tool business wise and no matter how many people will want to stop using them, someone is going to require them to. LinkedIn is an example of a very common and crucial social media to have.
ReplyDelete