Throughout this assignment, we were given a task to complete a number of postings. The postings allowed me to learn so much about the new media and how its affecting our generation and what we should be concern of towards the fast growing Internet. Despite that, I've also discovered my interest in blogging. I believe I have completed my task in a concise manner, allowing readers to digest the information competently. Ample of images and examples are also provided for easier understanding and adding more flavors to the blog posts.
I would like to take this opportunity to show my gratitude to my lecturer, Miss Jenny.
She's fun, witty and adorable. It's amazing how she could make classes so enjoyable and entertaining.
It has been a fun learning journey with her.
Thank you Miss Jenny!
Yours truly,
Thian Zen Yee
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Hey! Stop Tweeting On My Behalf!
Topic chosen: Issue 3: Tweeter, Social Networking, Credibility, Impact on Journalism, Ethical Publishing, Regulations.
In my previous post, a brief introduction about Twitter was brought up. As this 'Twitter Storm' hits the world, many Hollywood celebrities got swept and sign up for their own accounts to join this amazingly fast growing microblogging website. However, how sure are we that the John Mayer or Ashton Kutcher you're following on Twitter are the real celebrities themselves? Often, Twitter users are not aware or not bother to verify that they're following celebrity imposters (Sciretta, 2009).
According to Simon Owens (2009), with thousands and thousands of new Twitter users signing up every day, it is not practical and absurd for Twitter's limited staffs to monitor accounts for imposters. Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter thinks its a parody can be a healthy expression if it does not cross into impersonation. However, in my opinion, I don't think celebrity imposters issues should be underestimated. Assuming that someone who's impersonating a celebrity using Twitter and sends out messages to hundreds of thousands of fans or followers, how bad it could affect the celebrity who was being impersonated? Moreover, in the present, newspaper and blogs have already begun to quote people on Twitter (Sciretta, 2009).
Twitter needs to do something about these imposters before things get worst. Peter Sciretta suggests that it is critical for Twitter to create a verification system that would embed a badge on high profile pages to ensure users or followers that the Twitter Celebrity is real. In that way, celebrities can connect with their fans and followers in an appropriate and healthy manner. Apart from that, writers or journalists can also avoid quoting the wrong people and get into any unnecessary legal violations. Besides having Twitter to verify celebrities' Twitter account, fans and followers can also visit celebrities' official website and get the link to their Twitter account.
As everything is happening so quickly in this fast moving new technology world, we are still learning to adapt. As we are learning, we have to be careful and not be fooled easily while surfing the Internet at all times.
References:
Owens, S. (2009). How Celebrity Imposters Hurt Twitter's Credibility. Available: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/02/how-celebrity-imposters-hurt-twitters-credibility051.html. Last accessed 12th November 2010.
Sciretta, P. (2009). The Growing Problem of Celebrity Imposters On Twitter. Available: http://www.slashfilm.com/the-growing-problem-of-celebrity-imposters-on-twitter/. Last accessed 12th November 2010.
In my previous post, a brief introduction about Twitter was brought up. As this 'Twitter Storm' hits the world, many Hollywood celebrities got swept and sign up for their own accounts to join this amazingly fast growing microblogging website. However, how sure are we that the John Mayer or Ashton Kutcher you're following on Twitter are the real celebrities themselves? Often, Twitter users are not aware or not bother to verify that they're following celebrity imposters (Sciretta, 2009).
According to Simon Owens (2009), with thousands and thousands of new Twitter users signing up every day, it is not practical and absurd for Twitter's limited staffs to monitor accounts for imposters. Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter thinks its a parody can be a healthy expression if it does not cross into impersonation. However, in my opinion, I don't think celebrity imposters issues should be underestimated. Assuming that someone who's impersonating a celebrity using Twitter and sends out messages to hundreds of thousands of fans or followers, how bad it could affect the celebrity who was being impersonated? Moreover, in the present, newspaper and blogs have already begun to quote people on Twitter (Sciretta, 2009).
Twitter needs to do something about these imposters before things get worst. Peter Sciretta suggests that it is critical for Twitter to create a verification system that would embed a badge on high profile pages to ensure users or followers that the Twitter Celebrity is real. In that way, celebrities can connect with their fans and followers in an appropriate and healthy manner. Apart from that, writers or journalists can also avoid quoting the wrong people and get into any unnecessary legal violations. Besides having Twitter to verify celebrities' Twitter account, fans and followers can also visit celebrities' official website and get the link to their Twitter account.
As everything is happening so quickly in this fast moving new technology world, we are still learning to adapt. As we are learning, we have to be careful and not be fooled easily while surfing the Internet at all times.
References:
Owens, S. (2009). How Celebrity Imposters Hurt Twitter's Credibility. Available: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/02/how-celebrity-imposters-hurt-twitters-credibility051.html. Last accessed 12th November 2010.
Sciretta, P. (2009). The Growing Problem of Celebrity Imposters On Twitter. Available: http://www.slashfilm.com/the-growing-problem-of-celebrity-imposters-on-twitter/. Last accessed 12th November 2010.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Is Twitter Taking Over Blogs?
Topic chosen: Issue 2: Tweeter, Social Networking, Political Discourse, Audience Expectations, Ethical Publishing, Regulations.
It seems like it was just yesterday when all heads turn to blogs as an alternative source for information such as political news, entertainment news and whatnot. But today, all eyes seem to lay on Twitter, a social networking and micro-blogging service. Twitter enables users to send out and receive messages known as 'tweets'. Twitter is also subscription based like YouTube, except that subscribers are known as 'followers' instead.
When exactly did this 'Twitter' storm hits our country, Malaysia? Twitter was believed to brought upon vigorously in Malaysia by opposition icon Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Sodomy ll trial. As twitter allows users to have real-time communication, the Malaysian politician, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was actively tweeting as his way of telling the public he is innocent and the government was trying to frame him up (Zahiid, 2010).
Image source: http://mybloghub.my/2010/03/page/5
What made Twitter possibly more appealing than blog is probably that all tweets come in 'bite size', with only 140 character limit per tweet, users are made to update short and straightforwardly. Hence, readers or followers will get all updates in just a couple of seconds. Although blog provides more information, nevertheless, Twitter is easier to fit into readers' increasingly busy lives as it allows us to get right to the point (Sieberg, 2009). Moreover, Twitter followers get all live updates from Twitter users they subscribe, whereas blogging does not provide readers this type of feature.
Back to Anwar's case, Anwar currently has 26,352 followers. Just not too long ago, he had 5,108 followers during the peak of the trial. You can simply imagine just how fast is Twitter growing by looking at these numbers. Another reason Twitter could be possibly taking over blog is that the users of smart phones and 3G mobile are rising rapidly. According to Zahiid (2010), from 3 million in 1999, now the numbers have raise to almost 30 million. Apart from that, smart phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and certain 3G mobile phones can also download Twitter as an application in order to gain easy access by just a click!
So, have you gotten your very own Twitter account?
Till next time!
References:
Sieberg, D. (2009). Twitter Vs Blogs. Available: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-5195291-501465.html. Last accessed 1st November 2010.
Zahiid, S, 2010, 'Blogging is so yesterday, politicians turn to Twitter', The Malaysian Insider, 11 February.
It seems like it was just yesterday when all heads turn to blogs as an alternative source for information such as political news, entertainment news and whatnot. But today, all eyes seem to lay on Twitter, a social networking and micro-blogging service. Twitter enables users to send out and receive messages known as 'tweets'. Twitter is also subscription based like YouTube, except that subscribers are known as 'followers' instead.
When exactly did this 'Twitter' storm hits our country, Malaysia? Twitter was believed to brought upon vigorously in Malaysia by opposition icon Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Sodomy ll trial. As twitter allows users to have real-time communication, the Malaysian politician, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was actively tweeting as his way of telling the public he is innocent and the government was trying to frame him up (Zahiid, 2010).
Image source: http://mybloghub.my/2010/03/page/5What made Twitter possibly more appealing than blog is probably that all tweets come in 'bite size', with only 140 character limit per tweet, users are made to update short and straightforwardly. Hence, readers or followers will get all updates in just a couple of seconds. Although blog provides more information, nevertheless, Twitter is easier to fit into readers' increasingly busy lives as it allows us to get right to the point (Sieberg, 2009). Moreover, Twitter followers get all live updates from Twitter users they subscribe, whereas blogging does not provide readers this type of feature.
Back to Anwar's case, Anwar currently has 26,352 followers. Just not too long ago, he had 5,108 followers during the peak of the trial. You can simply imagine just how fast is Twitter growing by looking at these numbers. Another reason Twitter could be possibly taking over blog is that the users of smart phones and 3G mobile are rising rapidly. According to Zahiid (2010), from 3 million in 1999, now the numbers have raise to almost 30 million. Apart from that, smart phones such as iPhone and Blackberry and certain 3G mobile phones can also download Twitter as an application in order to gain easy access by just a click!
So, have you gotten your very own Twitter account?
Till next time!
References:
Sieberg, D. (2009). Twitter Vs Blogs. Available: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-5195291-501465.html. Last accessed 1st November 2010.
Zahiid, S, 2010, 'Blogging is so yesterday, politicians turn to Twitter', The Malaysian Insider, 11 February.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Are we being too comfortable about sharing our privacy on Facebook?
Topic chosen: Issue 5: Facebook Privacy, Personal Data Protection Regulation, Ethical Publishing.
Facebook is a social networking website for people to stay connected with friends, family, and business associates. Facebook is now the largest networking sites with approximately 500 million users (Myers, 2010). There are many reasons why Facebook made it to be the largest networking sites. It is very simple to operate, users can simply create a profile page and friends can easily search for them via email addresses. Users can upload and share unlimited photos, update their status, write on their peers 'wall', countless of applications to add onto your profile and more.
However, the world most popular networking site has been recently dodged by complaints regarding privacy protection. Facebook has admitted that some of its applications have been transmitting user information to advertising companies (Facebook admits privacy breach, 2010). Popular applications in Facebook were found accessing its users' profiles and acquiring their information, and even their friend's information. Facebook's response towards the issue was to assure users that they will introduce new technology to overcome the violation. Moreover, applications that contravene its terms will be disabled.
However, the questions that arise the minds of many would be, are we being too comfortable about sharing our privacy on Facebook? Is it safe to do so? Should the younger generation be educated about this subject? Are Facebook users aware that all their updates posted on the website for their small group of friends can be viewed by anyone through the Internet search engine? Although users can choose to customize privacy settings in their profile, many users were not aware of that and hence, revealing personal information without acknowledging it (Herald, 2010).
Nevertheless, with all these growing complaints concerning the users' privacy, Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook finally announced that the social networking site's privacy settings will very soon be simplified (Herald, 2010). However, according to Heather Kelly (2010), these Facebook apps that are secretly added to your profile without you knowing cannot be stopped by just checking a few boxes in your privacy settings. While it is still not entirely apparent that what information are these apps trying to acquire from users profiles, Facebook users should be careful. Click on the following link to learn how to block these blameworthy applications: How to block Facebook applications.
Let us all surf safe, and surf smart!
Till next time!
References:
ABC News. (2010). Facebook Admits Privacy Breach. Available: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/19/3042594.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Heather, K. (2010). Facebook's New Features Secretly Add Apps To Your Profile. Available: http://www.macworld.com/article/151087/2010/05/facebook_addingapps.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Herald, D. (2010). No privacy: Your indiscreet Facebook updates are now public. Available: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/75864/no-privacy-your-indiscreet-facebook.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Myers, J. (2010). What Is Facebook?. Available: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-facebook.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Facebook is a social networking website for people to stay connected with friends, family, and business associates. Facebook is now the largest networking sites with approximately 500 million users (Myers, 2010). There are many reasons why Facebook made it to be the largest networking sites. It is very simple to operate, users can simply create a profile page and friends can easily search for them via email addresses. Users can upload and share unlimited photos, update their status, write on their peers 'wall', countless of applications to add onto your profile and more.
However, the world most popular networking site has been recently dodged by complaints regarding privacy protection. Facebook has admitted that some of its applications have been transmitting user information to advertising companies (Facebook admits privacy breach, 2010). Popular applications in Facebook were found accessing its users' profiles and acquiring their information, and even their friend's information. Facebook's response towards the issue was to assure users that they will introduce new technology to overcome the violation. Moreover, applications that contravene its terms will be disabled.
However, the questions that arise the minds of many would be, are we being too comfortable about sharing our privacy on Facebook? Is it safe to do so? Should the younger generation be educated about this subject? Are Facebook users aware that all their updates posted on the website for their small group of friends can be viewed by anyone through the Internet search engine? Although users can choose to customize privacy settings in their profile, many users were not aware of that and hence, revealing personal information without acknowledging it (Herald, 2010).
Nevertheless, with all these growing complaints concerning the users' privacy, Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook finally announced that the social networking site's privacy settings will very soon be simplified (Herald, 2010). However, according to Heather Kelly (2010), these Facebook apps that are secretly added to your profile without you knowing cannot be stopped by just checking a few boxes in your privacy settings. While it is still not entirely apparent that what information are these apps trying to acquire from users profiles, Facebook users should be careful. Click on the following link to learn how to block these blameworthy applications: How to block Facebook applications.
Let us all surf safe, and surf smart!
Till next time!
ABC News. (2010). Facebook Admits Privacy Breach. Available: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/19/3042594.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Heather, K. (2010). Facebook's New Features Secretly Add Apps To Your Profile. Available: http://www.macworld.com/article/151087/2010/05/facebook_addingapps.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Herald, D. (2010). No privacy: Your indiscreet Facebook updates are now public. Available: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/75864/no-privacy-your-indiscreet-facebook.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Myers, J. (2010). What Is Facebook?. Available: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-facebook.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Say no to sexism ads!
Topic chosen: Issue 3: Advertising code of ethics, meaning, cultural/ situational context and representation.
Superficial, offensive, disturbing, discriminating and unethical, would be my words to describe advertisements involving sexism. Sexism in advertising has been around for the longest time we could possibly imagine. What is it that people seem to not get enough of this offensive genre of advertisements? Why are women constantly being taken advantage of in everyday advertisements? It appears that advertisements no longer having the objective to show their products, but rather portray gimmicks to sell their products (Sadiq, 1997). And often, women are being discriminated in advertisements.
Below are some examples of advertisements discriminating women from the 1960s to the present:
Image source: http://www.oddee.com/item_96674.aspx
Image source: http://www.oddee.com/item_96674.aspx
Image source: http://bullmurph.com/tag/sexist-ads/Don't these advertisements occur to you to be offensive and direspectful? Most of the people probably come to accept or get use to seeing sexism content in advertisements. Some people may feel offended or intimidated but would not express their disapproval in anyway accept keeping it upon themselves. According to Kathryn Perera (2010), people are afraid that they might be accused of over-reaction if they ever voice out their concerns. Although sexism in advertisement may already seem like a norm to most people, that does not mean advertisements can still take advantages by portraying women in the most disrespectful way they can think of.
Good news that there is an organization called the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) that acts as the independent regulator of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. Not so good news is that the rules they enforces are written by the advertising industry itself (Perera, 2010). However, if consumers find any advertisements offensive, they can simply file complaints to the ASA. And if the organization finds the complaint reasonable, actions will then be taken.
In order to make our complaints about sexist and objectifying campaigns significant to the ASA, consumers have to come together and file more complaints. ASA will then take actions and formally judge those particular advertisements. Thus, we should use our power to influence change through activism (Perera, 2010). We shan't allow these offensive, sex discriminating advertisements to step in our way, or our sight any longer.
To conclude, consumers should bear in mind that we have the power to have our own judgment and make reasonable choices of our own. Say no to sexism ads! So, stand up, take actions and prove that sexism does not sell.
References:
Perera, K. (2010). Time To Kick Sexism Out of Advertising. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/29/kick-sexism-out-of-advertising#history-link-box#history-link-box. Last accessed 10th October 2010.
Sadiq, S. (1997). Racism and Sexism in Advertising. Available: http://www.deltacollege.edu/org/deltawinds/DWOnline97/racismandsexisminads.html. Last accessed 10th October 2010.
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