Posts tagged ‘new media’

Evgeny Morozov on Slacktivism

By js, 20 January, 2010, No Comment

Evgeny Morozov studies online activism and its effect.

These notes are taken from his TED talk which I found at http://www.ted.com/pages/view/id/391

He cites a study which showed that people join facebook groups without verifying information and usually do so as a way to define their own identity.

Blending of narcissism and activism= slactivism, blending of feel good activities which make us feel important  but have little practical impact and social significance

This may keep us from participating in more effective ways.

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Critique of Lanier

By js, 20 January, 2010, No Comment

Michael Agger writes a critique of Lanier.

His argues that though Lanier remains cautious, this caution is a result of “snobbery” and a romantic memory of when an elite controlled the web.

See full critique

The Geek Freaks: Why Jaron Lanier rants against what the Web has become.

Critiquing the critique of the web

By js, 20 January, 2010, No Comment

Can real time web bring real world change?

In this post, Saxberg analyzes social media as a way to provide a benefit to the individual who in turn helps to improve the collective (back to Lanier).

She mentions the needs which individuals have and how those are supported by social media.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can also reflect the evolvement of the Internet, from focus on basic infrastructure and security to the services we use today that support our need for social belonging and esteem. This thesis indicates, that the future of web will move towards supporting our need for self-actualization.

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Collectivism vs. Individualism Online

By js, 16 January, 2010, No Comment

Response to:

DIGITAL MAOISM: The Hazards of the New Online Collectivism [5.30.06]
By Jaron Lanier

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/lanier06/lanier06_index.html

I have been struggling with the benefits and the dangers/constraints of the internet.

I know several people whom I respect immensely who are very weary of the internet. They put forth the same arguments which I have heard before regarding safety, worth and authenticity of ideas, and surveillance. These concerns are legitimate and many scholars are debating these issues.

What concerns me is that we may not be taking advantage of its strengths because we are so guarded by its dangers. There has to be balance between the two. Lanier takes up the discussion of this balance between the power and danger of the collective and the individual. He argues for both collectivism and individualism.

Lanier argues that the strength of the internet is the people behind it. The danger, he argues, comes in elevating the technology above the human, that is, elevating the internet and giving it power which it ultimately does not have and behind which individuals (especially those doing despicable things) can hide.

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