The Web 2.0 has drastically changed millions of peoples lives. Whether it be the hundreds of thousands in Egypt fighting for their freedom through Facebook, or the destruction of our brain and the addiction that people have to the bed. Twitter has brought hundreds of thousands of people together for the occupy movement here in the US, and current technology like iPhones, Androids, etc., are rewiring our brain to have shorter memory spans and become more scatter brained. Social media in the 21st century has the potential to bring millions of people together and bring positive changes to the world, if everyone is aware of the consequences to excessive use. 


Facebook did a world of wonders for Egypt. One morning Wael Ghonim was on his Facebook account, and he saw a photo posted of an Egyptian who was brutally beaten by two policemen. Wael was devastated by this news, and decided to become more active in political issues. Wael created a Facebook in honor of him called "Kullena Khaled Said," meaning "We Are All Khaled Said". Within a week, the page gained 100,000 supporters of bringing justice to the murderers. With the use of this page, the anonymous administrators were able to organize many [successful] protests. Wael and his helpers were meant to be kept anonymous for two general reasons: "...because I seek no fame or recognition, and because I feared this very moment. I knew I was attacking the apparatus that could arrest me and throw me in jail under any accusation whatsoever (204, Ghonim)." This use of Facebook was very efficient and effective, and could more positive changes to the world, like what happened in Egypt, but the general public has a much different use of their time on the net. 

Wael Ghonim also worked for Google. He was first hired as a regional head of marketing at their new branch in Cairo. Google is the master of the web, so what tech junkie wouldn't want to work for them. It is a very privileged job, too. "What attracted me the most was Google's 20 percent rule. The company allows employees to work on whatever they please for 20 percent of their time (one day a week)... The idea is based on the notion that people work best when they work on things they are passionate about (27, Ghonim)."  Wael did as best he could to keep his political activeness out of his work at Google, but so much of his time was consumed by constantly updating the page, that he wasn't able to give one hundred percent at work. When Wael was arrested and interrogated, he was inevitably questioned about his involvement with Google. "...Your job with Google is just a cover... You were recruited by the CIA, and the Google job was the perfect cover, since Google is an American company. Your privileged life in Dubai was the reward for your betrayal (206, Ghonim)."  Google may have a large portion of control over us, but nothing that extreme.


The reason Google is able to find such relevant results to our searches is because everything we search on Google is analyzed and recorded for future reference to learn more about us. "Google recruits volunteers for eye-tracking and other psychological studies at its in-house 'usability lab' (151, Carr)." Everything, even down to the shade of blue the web browser is was analyzed. Google needs to learn about us not only to keep it's Best Search Engine Ever title, but to make money. If Google is able to know what we are interested in, then we are more likely to click on the ads on each page. And that's where Google makes money. "Google was not just the largest Internet company in the world' it was one of the largest media companies, taking in more than $22 billion in sales a year, almost all of it being from advertising, and turning a profit of about $8 billion. Page and Brin were each worth, on paper, more than $10 billion (156, Carr)." 

What companies online rely on most to make money, like Google, is the fact that the more time we spend on the web, we are at higher risk of becoming more scatter brained. "Although neuroplasticity provides an escape from genetic determinism, a loophole for free though and free will, it also imposes its own form of determinism on our behavior. As particular circuits in our brain strengthen through the repetition of a physical or mental activity, they begin to transform that activity into a habit (34, Carr)." Each website has lots of flashing things, moving things, links, all sorts of things to click on. The more we click on, then the more pages get visted, and users are more likely to buy something, which is what the companies want.  



There are many benefits of having access to the web, too. "Where markets and managers have been the preeminent mechanisms for large-scale creation, we can now add this form of social production as a way to take on such tasks, linking our aggregate free time to tasks we find interesting, important, or urgent, using media that now provides opportunities for this kind of production. This increase in our ability to create things together, to pool our free time and particular talents into something useful, is one of the great new opportunities of the age, one that changes the behaviors of people who take advantage of it (119, Shirky)." One of the most rewarding benefits is that we can stay connected and involved with world wide happenings. The huge recent increase in various social networks has really brought collaboration to a new level; Egypt, for example. And the twitter page for occupy wall street has brought over 150,000 people together. There are and can be many benefits of social networks, and other websites, it just depends on if we spend all of our time loling at lolcats.

"Now that computers and increasingly computerlike phones have been broadly adopted, the whole notion of cyberspace is fading. Our social media tools aren't and alternative to real life, they are a part of it (37, Shirky)." We have the ability to stay more connected then ever now, with everything we need access to at the palm of our hand. We are more up to date now, then ever. "These companies are dedicated to providing their millions of members with a never-ending 'stream' of 'real-time updates,' brief messages about, as a Twitter slogan puts it, 'what's happening right now' (158, Carr)." IPhones and Androids allow us to buy the latest app to keep ever so importantly up to date. 

With time spent wisely online, it can be a rewarding, possibly educational, engaging  experience, we just need to know it's boundaries. "Increasing the number of things you have can be useful, but increasing the amount of knowledge you have can be transformative. This is what makes the ways a society shares knowledge so critical, and what helped give the Invisible College such a dramatic edge over the alchemists (140, Shirky)." The world wide web is a very powerful place, so our awareness of what we are putting ourselves at risk of with each click we make will forever be of utmost importance.  

Upon being granted the opportunity to follow a politically-focused organization's use of social media, I chose one that was literally close to home, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, or most commonly known as COTS. COTS is involved with Facebook and Twitter. Their Facebook page is used more than their Twitter, but they have had it for longer. However, each platform is used to notify their followers and people who "like" them of events and benefits for the shelter. On Facebook, they post links to relevant video clips or articles.  Twitter tweets a lot of thank yous, and recently has not been posting as many events, so Facebook has been more reliable.

Last weekend, over St. Patty's Day, there was a benefit called "Baroque but Going" which was held at the College St. Congressional Church. There was a five dollar suggested donation, and 90% of the profits were going to benefit local nonprofit organizations, including COTS, Puppets in Education, and many others. But this event was posted to Facebook, and even though not everyone who was invited responded, some did, and if one person does, then it's worth the effort.

COTS does not have much interaction on their Twitter page. It is mainly used for them to post about events, however they do have a fair amount of followers. Well, I assume 670 is a good amount, but my Twitter knowledge is lacking. Their Facebook page is average for a small scale nonprofit. Each post receives a few likes, maybe three or four, and a couple comments. Their page is not overrun with people who "like" it and wall posts, but has some activity. So for what COTS has to work with, I'd say that  their social media platforms are effective enough for what they need it for.

The purpose of COTS is to provide "emergency shelter, services and housing for people who are homeless or marginally housed in Vermont." COTS advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness. The volunteers and the workers should be out the community advocating COTS more than updating their social platforms. Their Facebook and Twitter will help get the awareness out to the people who can help, so it is important, but since homeless people probably do not have access to the web, they won't help them. 

COTS is doing a very good thing, so everyone should check out their page see what they are up to!!

Cloudy Sound

In keeping up with modern technology, Soundcloud has entered the game. Soundcloud is a social media platform for music lovers, music creators, and music enthusiasts of all types. You can comment on and follow pages, and you can upload and record mixes of your own. Generally, the music found on the site, are simple beats.

A local mixer of Vinalhaven, who hasn't been in the game long enough to name himself yet, is Max Morton. He has only been mixing for a few months now, but has always had a passion for music. As a sophomore in high school, he has had an amazing opportunity to work in the music department and purchase a MPD 26 by Akai Pro. Generally speaking, these pads are called Midi Controllers. In the past few days, Max uploaded his first two mixes onto his account, Batman and Drift.  

I recently had a chance to ask Max a few questions about his use of soundcloud, and here are his responses. 

How long have you been using soundcloud?

 "I've been using soundcloud for a few months now on the regular, using it to post music I make, but I have known about it since it came out."

How often do you use it?

"I use it everyday."

Why do you use it?

"I use it now so that I can stay in contact with other artists and so I can share my music. It also gives me the chance to find and connect with other artists like me."

Do you think it benefits music positively?

"It has definitely benefited music positively, especially the electronic scene."

If you further your music career, do you see soundcloud as a decent starting point?

"This is a great starting place for everyone. As I get deeper in my career, I can't tell you for sure, but for now, I plan on using and supporting soundcloud."

What do you think will be next, in terms of music media available online?

"It's hard to say, it seems like, and almost guaranteed, that social media networks for music will keep being created, and probably be similar to soundcloud."

What Max has produced so far is ill, so it will be interesting to see where the music industry puts him. 

Again, check out his beats at this link, http://soundcloud.com/max-morto-11, or by simply clicking here. 

Until next time

-- Catherine

introducing myself..

Hey everyone, I'm Catherine Haley and I'm from a little island off the coast of Maine called Vinalhaven. Living on an island has always provided me with many photo opportunities, which resulted in an incredible passion for photography. Coming to Burlington College, I took some psychology classes, and realized how much I was missing out on. Now for a career path I am not only looking into photography, but combining it with psychology, and having my own practice.

sunrise from the ferry

Being a photographer, I will need to use many different marketing sites in the future, so knowing the web is important. As of now, I am involved with FaceBook, YouTube, Tumblr, and Google+. One of my favorite people on YouTube is luanlegacy; he always has something to say.

I look forward to seeing what new medias I learn this semester, and how I can become more connected.