#5: Privacy, Online and Off

Maintaining privacy in today’s digital world is increasingly difficult and impacts everyone. After watching these videos, I am more informed of the negative effects of technology and social media on privacy.

Although I was aware that personal data is shared and stored, I now understand the significant consequences of this process. In today’s world, our data is being utilized on a large scale causing the concept of privacy to be diminished.     

From watching these TedTalks, I discovered how the personal information of billions of people is saved and accessed. The author or professional speaker, Juan Enriquez, compares how data is like tattoos. Although they may seem unrelated, he demonstrates how tattoos are permanent and can convey a lot about someone’s personality. Similarly, with every social media post, Google search, and even emails being tracked, individuals can discover an abundance of information.

This situation applies to me, as well as my friends and family, because certain information can ruin your reputation. To help reduce the impact of this problem, people should be more conscious of what they are doing and sharing online.

Additionally, I did not realize the extent to the type of data being stored and accessed. American law professor, Catherine Crump, explained how the federal government and police departments have information on their citizens. For example, due to automatic license plate readers the government can track your location and understand how private citizens interact. I believe that these actions are an example of government overreach and can be dangerous for citizens in this country.

With many Americans not aware of how the government is collecting this information, it could potentially be exploited. I agree with researcher Christopher Soghoian, when he argues that the government’s invasion on our data should be restricted. He addresses how more technology companies need to use encryption to keep our information safe. To add, I believe that the government should be regulated on what information they can see and store. It is crucial that people advocate for online privacy rights and that laws are enforced to protect us.

To protect ourselves from invasions of privacy, I believe the most important aspect is to be informed. Understanding the threats your privacy is facing is the first step to finding the solution. Finn Myrstad, a director at the Norwegian Consumer Council, highlights how unaware most consumers are about the terms and conditions they consent to. I agree that many people bypass the unreasonable numbers of conditions and in the end, do not know what their information is being used for. 

This is why I believe it is crucial to demand for transparency between users and technology companies, as well as governments. People need to be extremely careful of what apps they use and content they share to prevent their data from being utilized wrongly.

#4: EOTO History of the Printing Press

 

The Gutenberg Printing Press

The invention of the printing press revolutionized society by changing how we communicate and making information widely accessible. The printing press made books more affordable, spread new ideas, and played a role in challenging authority.   

The creation of the first movable-type printing press was developed by Johannes Gutenberg in 1439. While other block-types were made in Asia, the invention from Strasbourg, Germany was more efficient and gained the most attention. The Gutenberg printing press allowed books to be printed on a larger scale because the individual letters could be arranged to create a page. The Gutenberg Bible was the first book to ever be printed, starting the wave of printing religious, political, and academic texts.

By the beginning of the 16th century, the invention had spread with the establishment of multiple printing shops throughout Europe. This allowed books to be more accessible and affordable; therefore, a large number of people could be exposed to new ideas and be informed. During an age when education was limited, the printing press was crucial in providing more with opportunities to learn and gain knowledge.

Martin Luther

In 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to express his conflicts with the Catholic church. Luther realized the valuable uses of the printing press and spread his beliefs to a wider audience. Additionally, Luther translated the Bible into German, encouraging people who did not understand Latin to read and interpret the scriptures themselves. By utilizing the printing press, the Protestant Reformation gained the attention and support of the public. 

Similarly, the printing press was a significant part of other cultural and academic revolutions. For example, during the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution, artists, authors, philosophers, and scientists shared their ideas. The printing press provided them with resources to communicate with a larger audience and created an interest in mathematics, humanities, and sciences. 

In the 17th century, printing press shops expanded to the Americas and Asia. More regions were able to have newspapers, books, and pamphlets. This development led to the spread of news and information across the globe. To add, people could learn more about different cultures, religions, or political opinions. The widespread use of mass information allowed people to have more autonomy because they could explore different perspectives and form their own beliefs.

The Steam-powered Printing Press

Lastly, in the 18th century, the rise of industrialization and the invention of the steam-powered printing press enhanced the efficiency of production. This relates to today where the speed of posting content on social media and finding information on the Internet is instant.  Looking back to the 1400s, the concept of having access to such a widespread of information would have seemed shocking. In addition, the democratic values and beliefs that were caused by the printing press allowed individuals to express themselves and challenge authority.

On the other hand, the printing press did lead to some challenges. For example, the idea of spreading information to the public caused governments to practice censorship and promote propaganda. Also, when anyone can print information for a wide audience, people tend to spread and believe misinformation. This issue pertains to the world today because social media and the Internet allows individuals to share false information. Therefore, I believe it is essential to be cautious about where information is from and what to trust.

While the invention of the printing press did create some issues, this technology had a significant impact on communication and influence on history. The outcomes from the printing press positively shaped our world and marked the beginning of mass communication.

#3: The Eight Values of Free Expression

The First Amendment is crucial in protecting individuals’ opinions and rights; however, this allows for disagreements and causes controversy. After learning about them, I recognized that the Eight Values of Free Expression are the foundation of American democracy. 

The belief of Individual Self-Fulfillment resonates the most with me because not only allows but encourages people to form their own opinion and express themselves. As a college student, I am in the stage of my life where I am discovering my interests, thoughts, and beliefs.

The First Amendment allows me to be protected in my right to exploring opinions, without the government censoring them. Additionally, this theory enables me to look at diverse viewpoints and decide where I stand on certain topics. I believe that by protecting freedoms of expression, it holds them accountable and allows for inclusivity.

The values that I believe are most important are Check on Government Power and Participation in Self-Government. The check on government power allows people to have varying opinions about the government. Also, it ensures that the government does not go against the governed.

The value of participation in self-government is important because people are more aware of the officials they are voting for. Both of these values relate back to the idea that the government derives their authority from the people. It is beneficial that the public are informed and educated in what is going on with their government and their country.

The value I see most applicable in my life is the idea of Protecting Dissent. With the modern world being increasingly affected by social media, more people have the opportunity and platform to share their content with the world. This includes expressing their views on a topic, whether it be political, social, or economical.

With the right of protecting dissent, people are protected under the First Amendment to share their opinions. Although these viewpoints may be controversial, people are able and urged to criticize and question the government.

Many people utilize social media to share their concerns and ideas, to increase their viewers.  I constantly come across posts that share their perspective on a current event or even make political jokes. This type of content is only possible with the First Amendment protecting our right to freedom of speech.

Although these rights are supposed to be protected, I have learned that in practice, people find ways to go against these laws. Issues of censorship can fall under this topic by going against the right to disagree with the government. Additionally, we talked about how people can use the chilling effect or cancel culture to try and censor differing opinions.

The challenge with these situations is who gets to say what is right and acceptable in a situation. If the government is controlling speech, it infringes upon the right to freedom of speech and point out criticisms of the government. I believe that the concept of protecting dissent is crucial to our system of democracy because it encourages people to question their beliefs and the actions of our government.

The First Amendment is an essential aspect of democracy because it encourages people to shape their own views and includes a range of opinions. The idea of Individual Self-Fulfillment provides people with the right to form their own beliefs, independent from the majority or government’s perspective.

To add, the Check on Government Power and Participation in Self-Government are important because they allow people to be knowledgeable when choosing their officials and even criticize those who have already been elected.

Lastly, the Protection of Dissent is seen most often today on social media platforms, where people have the right to express their thoughts freely. The First Amendment and its protections of free expression help us influence the world by sharing our ideas.

#2: The Supreme Court

After watching the videos on the Supreme Court, I have a better understanding of the judicial process and the significant role the Supreme Court Justices have. Although I did have background knowledge on the court system, these videos taught me more about what goes into making their decision for each case.

I learned that each of the nine Supreme Court Justices and their teams give each case they receive individual attention. This was the most surprising to me, considering the thousands of petitions they receive each year.

One important take-away from these videos is the immense power the Supreme Court holds, while also recognizing the limits. The United States government is built on a system of checks and balances, and the Supreme Court is no different. While it may seem that they hold the most power because they can declare laws unconstitutional, they can only solve issues in a case they receive.

Additionally, I learned that the Supreme Court does not uphold a decision by the lower courts by not hearing the case. With the limited number of cases they can take, they can only apply their decisions to a select few cases. Ultimately, the Supreme Court is an essential part of the government because they have great power of shaping decisions, it is balanced by their restraint to create laws and work with the cases they get. 

Another important aspect of the videos was how they demonstrated the complex the decision-making process is for the Supreme Court Justices. First, the Supreme Court Justices review cases on their own and meet once a week to discuss the ones they will hear. The cases will be argued in public and each of the lawyers will have thirty minutes to present their side. During this, the Justices utilize this time as a way to clear misunderstandings and debate their points through the lawyers. Then, the nine will discuss and vote on the case privately.

One valuable part of the process I was not aware of before watching these videos is the opinion writing. I did not realize that this aspect was the most time-consuming, when in reality, it is crucial because it sets a precedent for the future.

These videos changed my perspective on the Supreme Court by teaching me about the important process the Justice goes through to make these decisions. The approach to giving each case individual attention is so valuable and allows for overlooked voices to be heard.

The complex method of coming to a decision is beneficial because it allows for the Justices to make impactful and controversial decisions. These videos gave me a deeper appreciation for our Supreme Court system by highlighting how they make decisions that have influenced so many people in the United States. 

Supreme Court Videos:

#1: My Top Five Sources of News and Information

1. Instagram

Instagram is a social media platform where users are able to share photos and videos. I use this app frequently to follow my friends and family and interact with them. I find news on Instagram because I spend the most time on the app and find posts that relate to my interests. Also, Instagram offers unique perspectives on news topics by allowing for individuals that typically are not seen in news outlets, such as younger people. I like Instagram because the news is formed into entertaining content and curated to my likes and dislikes. 

2. Associated Press News

The Associated Press is a not-for-profit organization that I believe provides reliable news. This website is where I turn to for most of my news articles because they are trustworthy and unbiased. Unlike many other news sources, AP does not try to spread misinformation or their political agendas. I like AP because I use them for news on our country, as well as pop culture. Overall, I trust AP news to help from my opinions on politics and world events because the articles are based on facts.

3. YouTube

YouTube is a platform that encourages people from around the world to make and share videos with others. While this allows for YouTube to provide lots of content, it also means that the news is not always reliable. Despite this, I like using YouTube for news because I can sometimes understand a topic better when it's in a video format. I enjoy watching podcasts, interviews, or even clips of an event because it can be more engaging and interesting. However, I must always be aware of who created the video and how accurate the information is. 

4. Google

Google is a search engine that allows me to find information on any topic I am interested in. When searching for broad news questions, I use Google to gather different sources. Additionally, I can get a wide range of perspectives on an issue. However, this impacts the reliability of the news, with people being able to post anything. It allows for political bias and false information on important stories. Overall, I like Google for searching for credible articles and images on a topic, whether it’s related to news or a personal interest.

5. Allsides

Allsides is a news outlet that provides clear information by making their audience aware of biases. The website presents multiple different articles on a topic, with each being labeled by their political views. I like Allsides because they show how different views can influence a person’s perception. I wish more news sources would clearly state the information or make their audience aware of their political stance. This would help more people be conscious of how reliable the sources they are using to form their opinions are. I like Allsides because I can quickly find multiple perspectives on an event and recognize the differences in viewpoints.