Convergence Culture

Jenkins understands convergence culture as the participation and acceptance of society members to technological, industrial, cultural and social changes in the way media circulates. For instance, the distribution of information has become more widely accessed through social media sites because technology has converged with our cultures need for immediate gratification, which is why we can access twitter, facebook, and other social accounts through our mobile devices. Creative engagement relates to the way in which society participates in these convergences. Text-surveys, online voting and blogs are some examples of ways we creatively engage in new media platforms.

Long Tail Theory

The Long Tail Theory is evident when big stores carry popular new movies that are in high demand, but not more rare or special versions of the movie. For example, I can go to the local Walmart and purchase the movie When a Stranger Calls (2011), but if I want to purchase an earlier version, When a Stranger Calls Back (1993), I will have to look at online stores such as Amazon.com or other specific movie websites. When considering the 6 types of online consumer behavior, I consider myself a “surfer”. I spend a lot of time looking at online stores, but I rarely make purchases. I browse my favorite clothing, jewelry, art, and music sites, but I only buy when I am looking for a specific item.

Privacy

The overall findings of this article are that people are weary of their privacy being taken advantage of online. One survey indicated that 94% of people believe they should have a legal right to know everything a website knows about them. We want to have control over the use of our personal information and consumers really do not like to be tricked into giving information to websites. Consumers most appreciate when websites operators are 100% transparent with the terms of use of their personal information clearly stated and easy to find. This is why several studies found that the presence of a privacy statement alone was enough to have a positive effect on trust and disclosure between the consumer and operator.

New Media and Technolgy

http://www.dailytech.com/After+Catching+1000+Pedophiles+CG+Child+Scores+First+Conviction/article36759.htm Sweetie, a ten year old Filipina girl, was created to catch online sex offenders. This article was published in late 2013, but I had not heard of this story until recently. “Sweetie” hits the nail right on the head when thinking of something about new media and technology to relate to internet communication. New media and technology has been growing insanely fast. The internet has played a major role in facilitating this growth. People from all over the world now have the ability to instant message and video chat to any country in the world. While that is amazing, and certainly a recognition of the smarts that those who invented these technologies and communication platforms possessed; it also creates opportunities for pedophiles to reach vulnerable young girls and boys in developing countries (and in wealthier countries) and exploit them for a dollar. I recommend this article to my classmates in Internet Communication because it highlights the capabilities of new media and technology. Terre des Hommes, the children's rights activist group behind Sweetie, was able to create a virtual girl that could catch thousands of predators without using a real child to find them through online communication. Having never heard of “Sweetie,” I was so intrigued by this virtual girl and the makers behind her and I thought many of my classmates would find this really interesting as well.

Networks Laws

After reading about the network laws, I most agree with Reed's Law (web 2.0) which claims that the utility of a networks with n members increases exponentially or 2 to the nth power. From Dr. Lou's PowerPoint, we note that the law “explains the power of social networks and the various groups that form because of network affiliations.” Having a minor in political science and being an advertising major has led me to a lot of research on social media networks, and I know that social networks are very powerful, connecting people and spreading information at very rapid rates. This background makes Reed's Law standout to me; I understand this law the most and have seen it in action on social media sites. In five years I think information will most likely spread through the sharing of information on mobile devices- not just cell phones, but tablets, laptops, etc. This sharing will take place on sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and news apps such as ABC News, that people read on their mobile devices as opposed to TV, radio, newspapers, etc. We have already seen a rapid rise in this type of information sharing, but it will continue to increase at rapid rates during the next five years and other information sources use will decrease. More and more people will have social networking profiles and rely on the information shared on these feeds to educate them on the changing world. There will still be information spread through television and other mediums, but news channels and educational television programs will make a social media account for their brand and use those accounts to share information, which their followers will share on their accounts, and this will continue and be the main way that people get their information. More than anything, I know that information will increasingly spread at rapid rates through any medium in five years form now. What will be an issue is the rapid spread of false information.

Why we blog

The article “Why we blog” brings up common motivational factors found by a sample of blog users form California and New York. The study compiled a list of five factors that most influence why we blog; documentation of one's life, expression of deeply felt emotions; articulating ideas through writing; and forming and maintaining community forums. I have most commonly seen blogs for the purpose of documenting one's life and providing commentary and opinions. I have social media accounts that serve similar purposes to a blog, but the rise in actual blogs - not websites or personal pages – has sparked my interest in a few of my “friends” blogs which they shared a link to via twitter, facebook, etc. I only keep up with one particular blog which is a cause-related outlet for a recent App State graduate who expresses her opinions and comments on mental illness in her blog. “Why we blog” states some individuals blog as a muse; a way to test their thoughts and writings on an audience that the author can collect feedback by comments, page views, etc., from. This stuck out to me because I have recently seen friends' poetry on blog sites that they maintain and I think it is a great way to get confident in your ability to write and express personal opinions. I am interested to see how the blogging world evolves as I begin my first blog.

First Blog