Opposition in All Things; (Even On The Internet, And How We Use It!)
This week in social media psych we had many required
readings, that were meant to finish up talking about some positive aspects of social media, and positive things that social media can bring to societies, and humanity as a whole. Additionally this week, we
discussed some negative aspects about the internet and the web. Some of the
required readings which I thought were interesting included articles, videos on
the news where people used social media to show altruism, as well as talked
about the difference between slacktivism and activism.
My opinion on
slactivism which I learned from reading the required articles and videos is
defined as "anyone who does something in support of an issue or cause that
requires minimal personal effort" versus activism " anyone who does
something in support of a cause that requires maximum personal effort" is
that there must be a balance between the two Slacktivism by itself won't do hardly
anything for people, but activism by itself sure will.
Even though in
my opinion, slactivism doesn't bring as much power to good causes or changes as
does maximum effort of activism gives in face to face help of problems, we
learned from the required readings that slactivism, still does bring a lot of
good in the causes for humanity, at least because it brings awareness to
causes, and may inspire those slactivists, or others viewing the causes online
to make a difference through what the viewed online.
Here's an
example of a kid that inspires people to donate to a cause online, that
actually attends BYU Hawaii.
As seen in this video,
through social media this kid at BYU Hawaii has earned over $8,725 for his
familys cancer cause to help cancer research, that a kid that is currently attending BYU Hawaii
has helped earn $8,725, through this social media sites like Facebook, YouTube
and people also donate to this crowdrise.com website.
Additionally here are some links to articles and good news
stories where social media, helped people show, or become aware of altruism
happening in their communities, that we were required to read and watch for psychology
of social media class.
As well as articles and a video that talks even more about slactivism and
activism, that is also very helpful in understanding the differences, and
social media's effects on prosocial behaviors.
In addition to the required readings, I arrived half way
through Paul Wilsons talk but the general idea and gist of it I asked my group
members, during the group meeting because that I missed the beginning, was that
there is a whole lot thousands upon thousands of websites that none of us, even
know about or have access to. A technology called TOR allows people to not be
identified, but to present, sell, view and engage in mostly very very negative
acts. I went online to YouTube, to describe this better, because it was kind of
confusing to me since I showed up later, and this a you tube video that
described it better. From this video I don't know if it's real statistics, but
it says that 80 percent of the deep web's budget comes from the U.S gov't and
then the rest of the budget comes from other gov'ts and other groups. I was
never aware of the fact of the "deep web" existing, but it sounds
kind of dangerous so I want to stay away. I wasn't aware, of all the evil that
is truly out there also. People watch T.V shows like NCIS, but you think "oh people don't do this stuff
in the neighborhood around me," but the thing is the deep web has
thousands of pages, selling drugs, showing people killing others, really bad
porn and more. It just broke my heart to hear that people just to stay
entertained or whatever purpose go look, and then engage in these sites! I
guess there is some good things people can do with the software Tor like donate
to causes to remain anonymous, and also the deep web or known as hidden web to
some, is also used by our government, to send data to the military and help in
protecting our national safety and wellbeing. Overall though, I want to
discover what's on there, but the classmates said its mostly all bad things, so
I want to know if there is only bad things on the deep web, or can people
access good information on the deep web that could benefit us? I of course
honestly would only want to access the good information, but right now "no
body got time for that!" Way too busy with school, and would only go
browse if it was required for my classes because between work and school and
trying to sleep I don't have time to go get more distracted in the deep web,
the Google browser is good enough for me right now! :)
Lastly, When talking about this topic, about the "deep
web" and thousands and thousands of sites and things out there on the web
that we aren't even aware of, it made me think, the internet really is like a
whole other world on top of our world sometimes. Having so much technology and
loads of random information constantly popping up lighting on our browsers, up our
smart phones, all over the internet, out there makes me extremely thankful to
learn knowledge honestly, but at the same time, wouldn't go completely Amish,
but sometimes makes me want to have no TV, sometimes go back to a flip phone.
For example, I recently got a
smart phone and I'm extremely thankful but it seems to constantly be going off
with notifications from emails, Facebook, text messaging calls, updates, there
is barely ever time it's not flashing, but hey that's life it's not going to
stop. Overall, I hope to always live in the moment where I am at, not be living
in the past looking at old friends Facebook updates from high school, or looking
at other random people from Arizona or extended families websites. Might sound
confusing or dumb, but although every Sunday I make sure to use the internet for good as I email my little
brother on his mission, or use my smart phone to call my family, those things I
am extremely grateful for. But for those that literally can't live without their
constant postings and smart phones, I learned that when I live in the moment, face-to-face
with people and events in the physical world I have deeper revelation, and
deeper experiences and deeper learning.
Talking about some negative dark sides
of the internet, and using internet in moderation, made me think of a video Dr. Kinghorn showed us awhile back in
class was really incredible and really good,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
heres another video called " I forgot my phone" about balancing technology social media, and real face-to-face communication.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
All in all, lessons on altruism in social media, as well as
some negative things on the internet shows, fulfills the scripture "there
is opposition in all things." Even though there is a lot of scary, negative and bad things on the internet, many things on
the internet that I have no idea, what it's like for example, like the deep
dark web, drug sites, or pornography scary things sound scary, luckily I have
never ever ran into those sites, I just got lucky though. I honestly always
have, and always want to only use it for good educational, helping spread a smile
to others, to help others and help share information to gain truth, light and
understanding, not deep dark filth found on the deep web supposedly my
classmates were describing to me! I know some of my friends on facebook post
filth, and I have walked into a party where guys were literally looking at porn
which was absolutely disgusting. But I honestly on my own time have honestly strived to always only look up good things always, but I need to limit my time online sometimes, like a lot of people these days, but in regards to my browsing, I want to keep
my browsing to a minimum, as least time on the internet as possible, and I want
to when I'm finally done with school, have a job that's outside.
Those are all my thoughts, reflections, from this week
regarding the links, assigned readings and topics of altruism, slactivism, the
negative affects the web has such as cyber bullying, pornography and learned
about the deep web, which was a really scary thing, made me think of!
Here is some more links to sites that allow people to donate
to causes and show altruism!
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