COM 340 post 1

We are always looking to protect ourselves, but we tend not to filter what we share with others online. The web is where thieves can gain access to your accounts the easiest. This article simply talked about what users can do to protect themselves.

Online identity theft has increased from 17% in 2001 to 24% in 2012. Social networking sites have become a primary source where your identity can be stolen.  A number of people tend to use the same password for a lot of their accounts. Yes, this does help you with not forgetting so easily, but also makes your very vulnerable to identity theft easily.

This means that people online need to be careful what they choose to share with the world. It is not just thieves that are looking for your information, also employers. If you have a social site whether it’s private or not, they can still access it. A few states have passed laws where this is illegal, but others can base whether they will or will not hire you on your online identity.

Some may not care what others think about them online, but there are some who do.  Others should take it upon themselves to self-censor. Look at your profiles online and see what you would assume from just looking though some of the posts you have made. Are you the person you really put out to be online? If the answer is no then you have to be real with yourself. Self-critic some of the things you write or publicly broadcast on twitter and Facebook. Not everyone needs to know every moment of your life.

Our virtual identities are what we see most of on these personal profiles. Some may read this article and still continue to post irrelevant facts about themselves. The reason behind this is because they have found a space where they can be who they truly wish they were.

Change would be good for the content that goes on these sites, but it can’t really be controlled. Since we don’t really know everyone personally we can’t really judge their content. Unless you do know someone then you can kind of tell whether they are telling the truth or not. It’s not up to the web to change it is up to the users. Our moral compass should play a factor in what type of image we are putting out.

305 Post 2

The internet may be second nature to some, but not to all. This may be because of how fast the digital divide is constantly growing. What that means it that even though you may or may not have access to a computer those indivuals still don’t know how to use it. Computers are a luxury that we take for granted in the states because they are so obtainable. In other countries others do not have this opportunity due to lack of resources, environment (social and economical) and language barriers as well. Having this equipment and being able to teach people to use it properly are the steps we have to take to close this digital divide. If not others who cannot translate this language feel left out and is susceptible to doing terrible things such as terrorism. They lash out in this way because they feel like outcasts.

In the Daily Beast, it is said that 90 percent of schools have computers, but older versions that are unreliable and slow. The minority schools have less internet access and computers than the schools that have Caucasians as their majority population.

This is unfair and is a main reason why the digital divide keeps growing. Students born into poverty potentially tend to have more parents that do not understand the importance of computers and education today. This can be due to their parents’ lack of education status and resources.

Since the internet is heavily influencing education more as the years go on there is another digital divide that is emerging. Would you rather have all of your school work, teaching, and learning done online? This is an issue that is sparking some attention. Educators and parents are debating whether to add a sort of newness to the way they teach their students in the 21^st century. The reason this is happening is because more students are being born into this technological era than ever before. Some teachers are against this even if the laptop the students do get will have built in internet access.

Not everyone is born into the best situations and America is trying to work around that with programs like Teach to One. To close this digital divide you have to not just provide the computers but teach the skills to educators as well as the students. This will help with expanding their learning of how to use the technology resources properly and what they were created for.

Net Neutrality

Click here to listen to my podcast on Net Neutrality.

305 Post 1

Anonymity, one of the four things that makes the internet novel, insightful and powerful has also allowed large levels of violence such as cyber bullying to escalate. It is easier to dislike people who have different views than you.

The internet is now being used as something other than a tool to share information, but also as an outlet for bullies to revoke havoc on their innocent victims. The system created to share information with others outside of your instant reach is now a war zone of hatred and glorified lies when used for cyber bulling.

The new anti-cyber bullying law is trying to get passed immediately when the House of Representatives are set to resume work. This means that anyone tormenting or send derogative messages will not just pass with a slap on the wrist. A fine will be issued starting at $50,000 to $100,000 and possible jail time from six months to six years as well.

Cyber bullying has developed at a rapid speed since the new installments of social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and etc. In school bullying does not happen as much as online. Web bullying does obtain more offensive language and pictures that can be deleted, but still remain on the internet. The numbers of viewers that take part in these bullying incidents are getting larger as well. In school, the issue was sometimes a school bound or possibly a problem within the community. When the incidents are now being transferred to the web there are all types of people who will come from all over the world and happen to stumble upon the indecent photo or negative message the bully has put out about their victim.

Breaking into locked accounts other than yours is not only online identity theft, but will result in a criminal charge if this bill passes. Other reasons why they are buckling down on this issue is because the third known cause of death in young people is suicide.

Virtual identities cannot be tested out on these emancipator sites due to the masculinities of some viewers. Those who are still taking matters into their own hands will soon get the consequences and repercussions for the agony they have caused to their victims. Just because one does not have what is considered worthy of your own reflexive or ascribed identities does not give anyone else the right to judge another.