Metrics and Analytics: LJ2.

We Are Data

I believe We Are Data is an extensively well-written article describing how our gender, color, sexual orientation, and citizenship status are all assigned and changed by algorithms utilizing personal data. Modern data collection goes beyond just learning more about us in this era of constant surveillance. The significance of such information is likewise determined by organizations like Google, Facebook, and the NSA, who thereby create the worlds and identities we occupy. We have very little influence over our algorithmic selves. The article explains thoroughly how it is up to someone else to make our identities useful.

Some may consider it an extra layer of personalization when it comes to algorithms deciding what one will see on social media. This is what most business practices use when it comes to advertising on social media platforms, such as Google Ads monitoring what products to you look at to advertise that same product to you later on a separate website or platform (12). Personally, I would be a little more cautious of how algorithms monitor what content I see or decide what becomes of me on the internet. It's really important to know that information that comes from an initial search term can reveal the location of your phone, the time and day when you searched, what terms you searched for before/after, your phone’s operating system, your phone’s IP address, and even what apps you installed on your phone (10). In a professional capacity, this has the potential to be major security risk and could compromise any business or professional entity that holds a large digital footprint. 

Because the internet is so fast, the ethics of this hold significant value, as the argument can be made that being able to find ones location and the ability to find numerous traits of a user just based off of a single search term is a strict invasion of privacy. At the same time, Google is entirely within their own right to track data of their users. The evolution of the internet and the expansion of Google has transformed the digital landscape to the point where the digital footprint of any particular individual is available on the internet at a moments notice. In the case of Google, collecting user data can be useful to the company when they update their content

Bibliography - CHENEY-LIPPOLD, J. (2017). We Are Data: Algorithms and The Making of Our Digital Selves. NYU Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1gk0941

Hands-On Assignment 2

 

Defining Social Media

Media in itself is the main means of mass communication of where digital content is gathered, whether that be broadcasting, publishing, or sources throughout the internet. Social networking involves the particular sources or platforms that allow users to interact with others that hold similar interests. Currently, I tend to use Instagram and Twitter has my main social networking sites, where my main purpose of use is for social networking (interests) and entertainment respectively. Instagram is particular is an app where I share many photos or videos of experiences I have around the world, and I use what I post to try and find others who have also done the same, while Twitter is an app that I will use primarily to keep up with world events, sports entertainment, pop culture, etc. I tend to use both of these apps daily. Additionally, I occasionally use Facebook Marketplace to find things people might be selling, or sell something myself. Though I do not use this as often, I think it is a nice tool to use when I fell like shopping every now and then.

Using social media helps me connect with others in ways that I would never have imagined. With myself specifically, I fell that Twitter helps me understand others opinions' in comparison with my own, and Instagram helps me understand the way other people express their personal experiences. Social media gives me a sense of community, whether that be between my friends, family, or others throughout the world. 

My Thoughts on Social Media: LJ1

The Basics of Social Media.

The Do's and Don'ts:

There are numerous rules to be aware of when interacting with social media. One important thing I always remember when putting myself out there is to always be yourself. There are 8 billion of us on the planet and over half of that population uses social media, so no two users are going to have the exact same personality and live the exact same life. Everyone is different and diversity within expression is what makes social media attractive. Don't be afraid to express yourself, whether that be your beliefs, experiences, or lifestyle.

At the same time, do not assume that other people you may see or meet on social media are authentic. Just like phishing calls or e-mail scams, social networking platforms that offer to link people from the same school, business, or community may establish a user profile pretending to be someone else. It's important to not post any personal information that could lead someone to you outside of social media. Be careful with who you choose to add as a friend or a contact, as there may be instances where you won't truly know who that person is.

Social Media Behavior:

Back in the early days of social media, I mostly stuck with the early versions of apps that I use today: Instagram and Twitter. I still tend to have the same variety of posts that I do now, mostly vacation photos, family events, and fun personal experiences. Personally, I feel that social media today compared to back then has changed drastically, with most posts nowadays usually only involving repetitive content. Social media has an influence closely relating to that of a popularity contest where people try to show off how nice their life is. While that may not necessarily be completely toxic, it shows what modern culture, especially youth culture, tends to value most. If I could go back, I wish I would've taken advantage of where social media was at the time, when social media was actually used for documenting daily/weekly experiences more than just going to the beach or a night at the club.

When it comes to social media and self-expression, selfies, and overall online image, I feel that it can positively benefit the self-esteem of an individual who desires introduce themselves to a world outside of their own when done correctly. If you find yourself constantly comparing yourself to others, social media can turn into a very toxic trait to have. I find rules and criteria to posting another positive thing about social media, as it filters out any content that the majority of users may find disturbing or inappropriate to put on a certain platform. Finally, I believe everyone at some point should take a break or even quit from social media. If at any point it becomes exhausting or even depressing to look at social media, it's best to turn it off and focus on something else. 

Sunday, January 15th, 2023

 

Welcome to My Blog!

Hello! 

My name is Alec Gremer!

Background
I am a student in my final year at the University of South Florida. Prior to my enrollment at USF, I attained my AA degree from Hillsborough Community College, and I am currently seeking a Bachelor's in Information Science with a concentration in Data Analytics.

I was born in Tampa and have lived here ever since. I graduated with honors from Gaither High School in 2019. I was a proud member of the Marching Cowboys for all four years and I have a strong love for music. Leading up to and through the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked at Guitar Center of Tampa where I worked as a Sales and Operations Associate. Currently, I play guitar, drums, and bass.

I have had the opportunity to travel to numerous different destinations throughout the world, including Mexico, France, Italy, and many more. Most recently, I took a trip out to Arizona to celebrate the holidays with some family I have in the region. Despite being in a desert, it was actually one of the coldest trips I had ever taken.

Since high school, I found an interest in computer informatics and database design. My courses in school dealt heavily with computer science and computer oriented programming. I have dealt with numerous different computing languages such as Python and JavaScript. I also have an interest in building computers and have my own PC that I built back in 2020. Additionally, I have experience in photo and video editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Premiere.

Social Media
I have used a lot of social media in the past, but now I only tend to use Twitter and Instagram. Twitter is an app I usually only use to keep up with news or sports, while Instagram is what I use to document my life a little bit. I also use Facebook from time to time, but only for the marketplace feature to sell or buy things I may need. Snapchat was an app I used throughout high school to communicate with friends, but I rarely ever use it nowadays.

Blogging

This is my first time creating a blog, and I do not have much experience with blogs, either posting to one or keeping up with one. I don't really have an opinion towards blogs as they are simply something that I haven't invested a lot of time into, however I expect this to change as I do take some more time to learn about them. I do admire how blogs have the potential to reveal a lot about a person.