Portfolio #4
Each reading and video provided a different insight into the current digital climate. For instance, in “The New Surveillance Capitalism” article, I realized how the internet is still in its infancy but has still managed to dramatically alter its perceived trajectory within the last couple of years. Years ago in the late 1970’s we could not imagine a near future where having a cellphone with a touch screen and facial recognition was commonplace. We would not believe that “giant companies have acquired the capacity to surveil our every move, both on the internet and, now that so many devices have built-in GPS, in the real world too.” And though this monitoring they are able to not only view our searches but “are able to see our innermost thoughts and desires.” And this was done is such a subtle way that it seemed almost natural, this exponential growth.
Within “The Politics of Platforms” we discuss platform as a multifaceted term that stems from four major discursive works. Computational, which relates to “an infrastructure that supports the design and use of particular applications, be they computer hardware, operating systems, gaming devices, mobile devices or digital disc formats.” Architectural in which platforms act as “a raised level surface on which people or things can stand, usually a discrete structure intended for a particular activity or operation”. Figurative, which relays ‘the ground, foundation, or basis of an action, event, calculation, condition, etc. And Lastly political which embodies “the actual stage constructed for a candidate to address an audience, from which they would articulate their political beliefs”.
In terms of my own media use, these works helped me to understand the nature and use of my digital footprint. I already knew how user information is packaged and sold to advertisers to then be used to target specific demographics, but the readings made me realize how rapidly technology is growing and this makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Knowing my data is being sold to a third party often makes me check if there are cookies on the website I’m on and modifying the settings so at the bare minimum the least amount of cookies are being used to track my interaction with the site.
In terms of associations that come up with culture, I believe culture brings up social norms, innate perceptions, society, belief systems, and core values. Although the term culture fleshes out a lot of sociological ideas it overlooks maybe smaller less dominant ideas that run counter to mainstream culture.
