EOTO 2 - Online Influencers

What is an online influencer?  An online influencer is someone who has established credibility in a specific industry, has access to a large audience, and can convince their fans to act based on their recommendations.  Influencers can be categorized into five different types:

These are examples of some of the most popular influencers in 2022, all of whom fall under the "celebrity" category:

Kylie Jenner: 247 million followers on Instagram look to her for fashion and beauty trends.  It is estimated that she earns $986,000 for every post.

Rihanna: a musician with 99 million followers that also has beauty and clothing lines.

Charli D’Amelio: an Instagram influencer who gained popularity on TikTok.  She has an estimated net worth of $8 million and is only 17 years old.  On average, each of her posts gets 4.5 million views.

So what do online influencers do with all this power?  They can use it to have a positive impact on society.  By engaging with their followers through posts, appearances, and creating special merchandise collaborations, influencers can raise funds and awareness to important causes such as homelessness/poverty, racial justice, and health/medical research.

Influencers can also have negative effects on their followers.  By endorsing products (sometimes their own), they persuade their followers to spend money on things they don’t need or cannot afford.  They also use filters to perfect their appearance, which can make fans unsatisfied with their bodies in comparison and cause lower self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. 

We can see online influencers’ impact across many different segments of society.  After reading “what I wore” posts (which usually include links to the merchandise), everyone from sorority girls to stay at home moms can follow trends (sometimes at a price point beyond their budget).  “When it comes to influencer marketing, over half of women made purchases due to influencer posts.”  Women are usually the target audience, with 78% of women being active on social media, especially on Snapchat and Instagram.  

While there may be fewer men following online influencers, they are willing to spend more money based on their recommendations.  70% of men said they would spend over $50 on a product sight unseen that was promoted by an influencer they trusted, whereas only 50% of women would.  Men are also more likely to follow celebrity influencers rather than “real people.”

Influencers need to consider the age of their audience to be successful.  Baby Boomers (people aged 58-76) have the most disposable income, but prefer a simple user experience.  Gen X (42-57 years old) are more thoughtful with their purchases and rely on reviews.  They are also more likely to purchase from brands they already trust.  Millennials (age 26-41) look for authenticity and relatability.  Gen Z (ages 10-26) are vocal about their interests and are the easiest to reach on social media.  (Source: https://www.mavrck.co/influencer-marketing-by-demographic-stc-deep-dive/)

There are even kid influencers.  Ryan's World is a YouTube channel featuring 10 year old Ryan Kaji.  What started out as RyanToysReview has grown to a channel featuring science experiments, skits, cartoons and more.  There are now more than 31 million subscribers and over 45 billion views, and Ryan is estimated to be worth $32 million.  

My own social media consumption exposes me to online influencers on a daily basis.  The “For You” page on my TikTok account shows products that I might like, sometimes causing them to purchase them.  On Instagram, following celebrities such as Zendaya and Selena Gomez impacts my consumption of TV shows and movies.  My family’s exposure to influencers is much less.  My Mom, an avid reader, follows several influencers to find her next book.  She also follows home design and fashion influencers.  My Dad is not on social media other than LinkedIn, and has minimal exposure to influencers.  

When online influencers use their platforms to promote worthy causes or social change, we can all benefit.  We can also individually benefit from product reviews before making a purchase.  But, users should be careful in their spending habits and not just buy something because an influencer recommends it.  Social media is just a snapshot in time, and not the entire story.  Sometimes details are left out and only the prettiest or most pleasing photos are used.  Filters can hide imperfections or make someone look very different than they do in real life.  An influencer’s lifestyle shouldn’t be something you try to achieve or something that makes you feel bad about yourself. 

The Age of AI

 “In the Age of AI” is a really interesting documentary about the changes that Artificial Intelligence is bringing to our world.  AI affects our everyday lives, often in ways that we don’t even realize.  It can be fun to ask Alexa for the weather forecast or to play a favorite song, but I had no idea how these simple actions can be used to gather data about me.  I was really surprised to see how AI is being used to gather data in China.  Facial recognition is so advanced, it can recognize your face in 0.1 seconds.  While it is convenient for Chinese citizens to buy lunch with just a facial scan, it’s not so convenient for them to be caught jaywalking and shamed online as well as fined.  When applying for a loan, Chinese citizens can be approved or rejected based on thousands of criteria, including how they keep their phone battery charged (a lower charge often indicates someone will be more likely to default on their loan).  I don’t think that the convenience and speed of these types of transactions is worth giving up all the intimate details of your life.  

I was also surprised to hear that there could be autonomous driving vehicles, particularly freight hauling trucks, in 5-10 years.  Autonomous driving will probably be safer, but unfortunately will cause drivers to lose their jobs. "Mid skill" jobs such as food preparation, cleaning, and driving have the highest likelihood of being replaced.  In the documentary, a family who relies on a truck driver’s income was forced to use the money in their child’s piggy bank to pay for a doctor’s visit.  Automation brings efficiency, but at what cost?

In certain circumstances, I think the data collected with AI can have benefits.  I was impressed with the improvements AI has made in breast cancer diagnoses and treatment.  By comparing mammograms of large groups of women, doctors are now able to diagnose and treat cancer earlier.  Doctors can also use AI to treat patients without a hospital visit, such as the use of glucose monitoring apps in diabetic patients.  If a person consents to sharing their data, it can be harnessed for good.  But something one of the people in the film said really stuck with me.  We are not using social media - social media is using us.  Companies that use our data may not share our goals.  And that is something everyone should consider.

Is your privacy really private?

 

After watching the videos related to the issue of privacy, I was very surprised to learn how I am being watched in ways that I never realized.  I thought that license plate surveillance technology was only used by the police for law enforcement purposes (for example, to recover stolen cars or help solve crimes).  In reality, by observing when and where a vehicle travels, a company can learn if someone goes to church (or not), where they shop, where they work, and even who is in the vehicle with them.  I also was surprised to see how much personal information can be obtained using facial recognition technology.  The ability to identify a person with just a snapshot of their face can give companies mountains of personal information, like internet browsing habits, credit scores, and criminal records.  This can lead to financial hardship (being denied a mortgage) and discrimination (being charged a higher rate for health insurance).

When using an app or website, most people don’t bother to read the Terms & Conditions.  They are very long and too complicated for the average person to understand.  I think the government should force companies to make them simpler and easier to read, so users understand how their data is being used.  In Finn Lützow Holm Myrstad’s TED talk, he used the example of a dating app that pre-checked a box allowing access to all of his Facebook photos.  If he had not taken the time to read the Terms & Conditions carefully, he would have had no idea, and someday his photos could have been used without his knowledge.  Informed consent would go a long way towards building consumers’ trust in companies.

What can we do to protect ourselves from invasions of privacy?  Most importantly, make sure your social media accounts are all set to private.  That way, only the people you choose can access your content.  You don’t want a prospective employer browsing photos of you at fraternity parties!  When granting people access via friend or follower requests, make sure they are someone you actually know.  And when posting or commenting on social media, think before you post.  As my mom likes to say, don’t post something online that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to read.  The extent to which my privacy is violated makes me consider what I post online very carefully.  Privacy concerns affect my family in their choice to post online, or not.  My Dad does not have any social media accounts at all except for LinkedIn, but my 92 year old great grandmother is on Facebook!  She says she uses it primarily to see our family’s posts and photos, but I am sure she doesn’t know what is being done with her personal information.  She is not alone.

War Coverage in the Media

 In this week’s lecture, we learned about the Pentagon Papers, a study commissioned by the federal government to examine the history of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War.  The report revealed that military leaders, politicians, and even U.S. Presidents had lied to the American people about the United States’ activities in Vietnam.  When Daniel Ellsberg, one of the co-authors of the report, released it to The New York Times, President Nixon filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the report being released, claiming it was a threat to national security.  The suit went all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the government had failed to prove this threat, and that the report could be published under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of the press.  

So if the media is protected by the First Amendment, why don’t we see more anti-war coverage?  The media is driven by ratings because higher viewership leads to financial gain.  If a media outlet supports the government’s agenda, the government will be more likely to grant them interviews with high level officials, which leads to high ratings, and in turn, more interviews, and on and on.  Antiwar coverage can also be perceived by audiences as supporting the enemy.  You don’t see a lot of coverage that opposes the war in Ukraine because media outlets do not want to appear as though they support Russia.  That could lead to a decline in ratings or bad publicity, driving viewers to other news sources.

Prior to this class, I had never heard of Antiwar.com and TheAmericanConservative.com.  I found Douglas MacGregor’s article “When the Lies Come Home” about how the media has misled the public about the war in Ukraine particularly interesting.  Ukraine was made to look stronger than it actually was by using the same videos of Russian defeat over and over.  “Russian losses and the true extent of Ukraine’s own losses were distorted, fabricated, or simply ignored.”  Why?  Perhaps because the U.S. has sent billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, and if the American public sees defeat, it will cease to support our government’s involvement.  I think Americans have the right to the whole story in any conflict our country is involved in so they can make informed decisions.  They shouldn’t have to hunt down obscure websites to do so.  

Diffusion of Innovations - Instagram

 Diffusion of innovations is a theory that tries to explain the “process by which an innovation is communicated over time among the participants in a social system.”  It was introduced by Everett Rogers in his book Diffusion of Innovations, which was first published in 1962.  Rogers wrote that there are five main elements that affect the spread of a new idea.

Innovators: A person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products.

Early adopters: The people who are first to adopt to a new innovation.

Early majority: The first segment of a population to adopt to a new innovation.

Late majority: People who are doubtful about change and will only adopt to an innovation if the majority of a population has tried it.

Laggards: The people who are last to adopt to a new product or service.

We can see this process through the creation and adoption of Instagram.  Instagram is a social media app that was created by Kevin Systrom and launched in October 2010.  Systrom’s first app was called Burbn and was aimed at whiskey and bourbon enthusiasts.  Users could share photos, check in and post their plans.  Eventually, he decided to focus on photo sharing and commenting, and Instagram (combining the words “instant” and “telegram”) was born.

Early adopters signed on quickly.  In its first week, Instagram gained 100,000 users.  The newest version of the iPhone, including a better camera, had just been released several months earlier, and users were eager to try it out and post their photos.  Instagram's filters offered an easy way to make their photos, and themselves, better.

The early majority of users was significantly increased when the app was launched for Android in 2012.  In April 2012, more than one million users downloaded Instagram in one day, on top of the existing 27 million users.  Features such as messaging, liking, commenting, and “stories” (photos and videos posted in a separate feed in the app that are only live for 24 hours) attracted the late majority, allowing them to connect with friends, family, and influencers.  In 2018, only YouTube was downloaded more from the Apple app store than Instagram.

As of April 2022, there were at least 1.4 billion Instagram users across the world.  However, there are still some laggards who still haven’t bought into the hype.  Older people who are not technically literate, or those who already spend their time on other apps, seem to be the last holdouts.

While Instagram is certainly entertaining, allowing me to keep up with friends and pop culture, I think the negatives outweigh the positives. Users can have a “fear of missing out,” and spend too much time on the app instead of connecting with people in person, working, studying, or even sleeping.  Influencers can also feel a great deal of pressure to constantly post content for their readers, sometimes sacrificing quality.  Even everyday users feel pressure to "make their lives more worthy of posting about."  People feel the need to use filters to alter their appearance, to showcase their aesthetically pleasing homes, or choose their vacation destination based on potential photo opportunities.  I am making a conscious effort to try and limit my time on the app each day.  

EOTO response: The Telephone

 After reading several EOTO posts, one that stood out to me was about the history of the telephone.  The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.  I did not know that Elisha Gray also claimed to invent the telephone that same year, but Bell received the patent because he submitted his application just a few hours earlier.  I was surprised to learn that the first model could only transmit a few words before needing new batteries.  

It took Bell 30 years to make a major improvement to his invention, when he started using a metal diaphragm to amplify sound waves.  This allowed voices to be transmitted over long distances.  Dialing methods advanced to a rotary dial in the early 1900s and then touch tone dialing in the 1950s.  In the late 20th century, digital technology allowed wireless transmission of voice and data signals.  The most recent innovation is the use of Voice over Internet Protocol, which converts your voice to a digital signal that travels over the internet.

The telephone has enabled families and friends to stay connected with one another, even across the world.  It also allowed businesses to communicate with both customers and suppliers quickly and efficiently, rather than relying on the US Postal Service to send and receive orders.  However, there have been some negative consequences to the technology.  One is the increase in telemarketing and robo calls, which can be disruptive and annoying.  Another is a rise in crimes like identity theft and fraud, which can especially target the elderly.  With the invention of the smartphone, traditional phone use is on the decline.  But no matter the method – traditional phone, smartphone, or computer, people will always want the ability to connect with each other.

EOTO: The History of Netflix

When Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings decided to form their own company in 1997, they weren’t even thinking about movies at first.  They considered personalized dog food, sporting goods like surfboards and baseball bats, and shampoo when trying to come up with a business.  One day, Reed Hastings became frustrated when he owed $40 in late fees for a rental of Apollo 13 he forgot to return to Blockbuster, a video rental store.  DVDs had just been invented, and he thought there had to be a better way to watch movies without all the hassle.  After Marc Randolph mailed one as a test to make sure it would not be damaged, Netflix was born.

When Netflix launched in 1998, customers could order one movie at a time, which would arrive at their home via mail.  Once they returned it, they would receive a new one.   In 1999 Netflix changed to a subscription model,  charging customers a monthly rate.  This made customers more likely to rent more than one movie, since they were locked in to paying for an entire month.  Netflix also gave customers a queue, which sped up the process for their next movie to arrive.

The subscription model was so successful that in 2000, Netflix changed to an unlimited rental program.  Customers could rent an unlimited number of movies per month, and all shipping and late fee charges were eliminated.  This program was wildly successful, but Netflix was losing money.  Reed Hastings approached the CEO of Blockbuster and offered to sell him a 49 percent share of the company for $50 million.  Blockbuster passed on the deal, and eventually could not compete with Netflix’s two key advantages – no stores (which meant no operating costs and the ability to serve customers anywhere) and no late fees.  Blockbuster eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

In 2007, Netflix launched their streaming service, called “Watch Now.”  Initially, it was an add-on to the DVD business with only 1000 titles, and was only available on PCs and Internet Explorer.   But eventually, the focus shifted, as Netflix became “a streaming company which also offers DVDs by mail.”  Netflix tried to spin off its DVD business into a separate company called Qwikster, but the attempt was short lived and abandoned after a month after shareholder and customer complaints.  While some customers continued to rent DVDs, many came to appreciate being able to watch content instantly and eventually download it on their devices to take with them anywhere. 

 

Netflix started creating its own content in 2012.  In 2013, it would be the first internet network to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy for House of Cards.  In 2017 it won its first Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for The White Helmets. Today, Netflix creates some of the most talked about programming in pop culture, such as Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Bridgerton.  Stranger Things season four is the most watched title in Netflix history, with over 781 million hours viewed in seventeen days.

Netflix does have some negative effects on consumers.  By having the next episode of a series start within 5 seconds of the end of the previous episode, people are tempted to binge watch.  Binge watching has been associated with heart disease and weight gain (due to lack of physical activity), eye strain, and sleep deprivation. 

Netflix has changed the way people all over the world consume entertainment.  There are thousands of movies and shows to choose from with a click – including popular movies and television shows, original content, children's programming, and documentaries.  You can watch for as long as you like, any time day or night, in the comfort of your own home or on the go.  Today, Netflix has over 221 million subscribers that “Netflix and chill.”

Values of Free Expression

 

                                                                

The eight values of free expression can be grouped into two categories. The first is primarily concerned with how individuals interact with our government. Free speech allows voters to be informed (by learning facts in a “marketplace of ideas”) and to use this information to hold the government in check using the power of their votes (a “check on governmental power”). It also protects their right to disagree with the government. The second category of free expression concerns an individual’s ability to tell the world who they are, what they believe, find others like them, and how to tolerate those who are different. People who are allowed to express their opinions are less likely to be violent or act out in secret. While it might seem like a bad idea to protect hate speech, we can learn why certain beliefs are hateful and what is acceptable by allowing individuals to express themselves.

A value I personally connected with was that of individual self-fulfillment.  When people have the right to express themselves, they can find others who share their interests or beliefs.  For example, during the month of June, Americans celebrate Pride Month. There have been Pride Parades, festivals, and concerts across the country that celebrate the members of the LGBTQ+ community.  These events, which are becoming increasingly family friendly, foster a sense of dignity and belonging.  Social media is another way to promote Pride Month’s messages.  By reading and sharing posts and stories on Instagram, retweeting articles, and liking and viewing TikTok videos, members of the LGBTQ+ community can find others that share their identity as well as allies that support them, promoting acceptance.  The value of self-fulfillment is  also evident in the advocacy of Best Buddies, an organization that promotes inclusion of those with disabilities.  As a high school student, I participated in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk and other events that brought a diverse group of students together to celebrate friendship and unity.

I also connected with the value of protecting dissent.  After the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, both sides of the gun control debate have expressed their views.  Groups such as Moms Demand Action believe in stricter gun laws, and inspired marches such as the March for Our Lives Rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC and in hundreds of other cities.  Other groups, like the NRA, believe gun ownership is protected by the Second Amendment.  Our government has yet to act, but citizens have a right to share their views in hopes of influencing the legislation they put forward.  They can also exercise their rights at the ballot box (demonstrating the value of the check on governmental power) and vote accordingly.  

The value of stable change, or a “safety valve,” is important to both self-fulfillment and dissent.  When citizens are allowed to voice their opinions, rather than keeping them bottled up, they are less likely to become violent because they feel they are being heard.  By expressing their views, they can also be monitored closely by law enforcement, preventing future tragedies.  When citizens can gather together and express themselves in a peaceful way, everyone benefits.

An Overview of the Supreme Court

                                                

After reading "Supreme Court" on History.com, I learned new facts about how the Supreme Court began. The first six Chief Justices had their first meeting on February 2nd, 1790 at the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City. The Court did not change to its current structure of nine Justices until 1869.  I never knew that the Supreme Court didn't have any real cases when it was first assembled. Instead, it focused on its organization and rules.

A takeaway that was most important to me is the Supreme Court is the highest Federal Court in the United States and the head of the Judicial Branch of the government.  It has ruled on cases that are very important to our nation, such as those involving civil rights and freedom of speech.  I now have a better appreciation of just how powerful the Court is and how it affects Americans' everyday lives.

What surprised me the most was that there have been 115 Justices who have served on the Supreme Court. Since Justices receive lifetime appointments and many serve until their deaths, I thought there would be fewer of them.  The most recent Justices appointed to the court (Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett) were in their forties and fifties at the beginning of their terms, which means they could serve even longer than their predecessors.

Before reading the article, I thought there would be a list of qualifications that a Justice would need to have.  Surprisingly, there is nothing in the Constitution that specifies this.  It is totally up to the President to name a nominee.  The nominee is then confirmed after a Senate hearing.  There are no rules about what type of judicial experience they should have or their education.  Since the Court decides cases that impact the lives of all Americans, I thought there would be strict rules about who is allowed to serve.  I wonder if the process puts the most qualified candidates on the bench, or if it is more political than I previously thought.

My Top 5 News Sources

As a college student living in the technology era, I love being able to keep up with both world and local news right at my fingertips. These are the 5 sources I use every day to get most of my news.

Washington Post:

I grew up reading my hometown newspaper, The Washington Post. I read the sports section every day and follow my favorite teams, the Washington Nationals and the Washington Capitals. I also keep up with local high school sports, especially girls varsity soccer. I was student manager at Yorktown High School for four years and enjoy following the team's continued success. The Post's location in Washington D.C allows reporters to have easy access to political happenings as well as events with both national and international impact.

Snapchat:

As a young adult who spends so much time on social media, I get a lot of my news from Snapchat. Snapchat gives me entertainment news about music, movies, and celebrities. Some of the sources I read on Snapchat are Daily Mail, People Magazine, and US Weekly. Not only do I keep up with news on Snapchat, I also keep up with my friends both at home and at High Point. 

TikTok:

Although TikTok is mainly used for entertainment purposes, it is also a place where I can get information about what is going on in the world. TikTok has a For You Page that shows me news related to my interests, such as home and beauty products, favorite TV shows, and cleaning tips. However, some of the information on my For You Page can be false or out of date. If you are in need of a study break or a quick laugh, there is funny content you can view such as pranks, pet videos, and dance videos. 

Instagram: 

Just like Snapchat, I can keep up with my friends both at home and at HPU. I can watch friends' stories to see what is happening in their lives on a given day. I can also look at different types of news from sources such as E! News, NBC, and ESPN. Not only can I read about local and world news, I can read about events going on at HPU such as Greek events, athletics, and campus activities.

YouTube: 

I use YouTube to catch up on any entertainment news that I might have missed. I use the search bar and also subscribe to the channels of my favorite artists like Justin Bieber. It can be difficult to figure which channels show reliable news because some channels have news that are outdated or false. YouTube can also be a way to be creative and both upload and watch unique content that you wouldn't normally find anywhere else.