Final Post- My Relationship With Technology

   As a teenager, and a college freshman, in this growing digital age, I am constantly using technology. Sometimes without even thinking about it. I use my phone to socialize and communicate, or just when I'm bored. I use my computer during classes and to complete my homework, but also to watch TV on countless platforms. I stay connected through Snapchat or Instagram, and I rely on these digital tools to organize both my social life and my academics. In many ways, technology has enhanced my world. But as I reflect on our class discussions and my own experiences, I realize that my relationship with technology can be considered complex. It is filled with benefits but also burdened by unintended consequences.  

        Let me start by saying I truly believe the internet is one of humanity's most extraordinary inventions. The ability to access nearly all human knowledge in seconds, to connect with people around the globe, and to create content instantly is nothing short of revolutionary. I can share my ideas to the world with the click of a button in a story or a post. I can educate myself on any topic, all from a device I can hold in my hand.  

        But despite all the benefits, I have begun to question whether my relationship with technology is always healthy. I often find myself checking my phone without realizing it, falling into an endless loop of apps and notifications. There have been days where I have spent more time communicating on my phone than engaging with the people physically with me. That kind of isolation can disconnect people from the real world. 

        There is also the issue of distraction. While technology can certainly be a tool for learning and productivity, it can just as easily become a source of procrastination. I sometimes wonder how much more focused I could be without the option to spend time on social media, or the temptation of scrolling through TikTok. And while the Internet offers access to limitless information, not all of it is accurate. It takes effort to sort through digital misinformation, which many people, including me, do not always prioritize in our consumption of media.  

        These are more than just personal concerns, they reflect broader societal issues. Many of the terms we associate with the internet like "cyberbullying "or "ghosting" did not exist without social media. These phrases are not just words; they reflect serious consequences that affect mental health. According to a PBS report in 2023, youth suicide rates in the United States have risen drastically in the past decade, and researcher's conclusions have led them to believe social media use has a lot to do with it. As an example, a few weeks ago in my hometown a 10-year-old girl committed suicide due to cyberbullying and bullying in school. This really shows how uncontrollable social media can be in the hands of impressionable aged people, as well as in older people too. 

        When I look at the people around me- my friends, family, and classmates, I see a wide range of relationships with technology. Some are thriving, using it as a tool to increase their education, creativity, or even to make money and connections. Others seem overwhelmed, trapped in the ideas of comparison, distraction, or dependence. Technology plays a role in every relationship I have, both positively and negatively. It allows me to keep in touch with loved ones and share moments some cannot be present for. But it also introduces more distances, especially when we are physically together but paying more attention to our phones than each other's company.  

        Another important consideration is my digital footprint. I know that everything I share becomes part of my public identity. Employers, the admissions department, and even strangers can learn a lot about me from just a simple Google search of my name. I personally am not one to post things that would show me in a bad light, or anything to be alarmed about, but I have seen strangers, as well as people I know post things I know they probably should keep to themselves, or their group of friends. These things could inhibit them from jobs, college acceptances, and even new relationships in the future. This just reminds me how important it is to curate an image I want everyone to see while I use social media. Our digital identities are not separate from who we are, they are just extensions of ourselves.         

        Ultimately, I don't believe technology should be considered either good or bad, it's how we use it that defines the impact of it. Like any relationship, the one we have with technology requires reflection and boundaries. 

    

 

Ted Talks- Privacy:

            

        In the Ted Talk videos on privacy, I learned that privacy is increasingly compromised by the growing technologies we use. With every app downloaded, website visited, or online purchse made, individuals unknowingly leave behind a digital "tattoo" that is collected and stored. These tattoos are often sold to companies and corporations to update their databases. Many people are unaware of their personal information, such as location, browsing history, preferences, and even texts are accessible online and are vulnerable to being hacked. With technology expanding many people's privacy continues to be invaded without their realization or consent, which is exposing them in ways they are unaware of. 

        As a teenage girl who is constantly online and active on every social media platform, these privacy issues can have a big impact on my life. Even if it doesn't seem obvious to me, I am now aware that every time I post, like, or share something data is being collected on me. This might include my location, interests, habits, or even who I am interacting with. Companies use this information to build a profile for me. This invasion of privacy can lead to cyberstalking, identity theft, or having personal texts shared without my control. 

        As for my family, this problem is prevalent for my siblings as they are around my age and also use social media like a lifeline. My parents are not as easy as a target because they do not use it as often and are less likely to share posts or like anything. My friends should also be aware of this problem because some of them are more active on social media than me, and probably have more data collected. 

        The government should be doing a lot more to protect people, especially teens, from privacy risks that come with being online. First, there should be stronger laws that limit what data, and how much of it, companies can collect. Teens should have extra protection since they are more vulnerable and easier to target. The government should also require apps and websites to be more transparent, clearly showing what data, they are going to collect and giving people choices to opt out of anything they want to. On top of that, there should be better education about digital privacy for everyone and all ages, so that people understand what is happening with their data. Lastly, there needs to be tougher consequences for companies that misuse or leak personal information. It should not be up to individuals to protect themselves from hidden data collectors they are unaware of.  
 

        People can protect themselves from invasions of their privacy online. For one, they can check privacy settings on most platforms and make sure their accounts are private, this will mean only people they approve of can see their posts or personal information. Next, avoid sharing any personal information like locations, phone numbers, addresses, school names, or more. This will keep people from knowing where you are, other than the online data collected which is kind of impossible to avoid. Other online problems like hacking, can be prevented with a two-factor authentication of your accounts, and make sure you have different passwords for all accounts. Another thing to investigate is using ad blockers, VPNs, private search browsers or data collection blockers to prevent tracking. Read into what apps use what data and make sure you're up to date, so you know where your information is going.

The Supreme Court:

       

        

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. It is part of the judicial branch of government and has the final say on legal issues regarding the Constitution. The court dictates whether or not laws and actions by the government are considered constitutional. The court is made up of nine justices who are appointed by the president and voted on by Congre
ss before taking a seat. The highest ranking position on the Supreme Court is called the chief justice, it is included among the nine justices. 

        Something interesting I learned from this lesson on the Supreme Court was there have only been around a hundred court justices since the Supreme Court began, with most of them serving up to sixteen years, as they have the ability to serve until death. This was something I did not know and was very intrigued to learn as I thought there would have been many more since it began in 1789. Another thing I learned about the Supreme Court was shown in an interview with Justice David H. Souter, saying that many of them do not feel comfortable, or like they are doing their jobs well for three to five years after they begin working there. I find this compelling because that seems like a long time to settle into a job, but it is interesting to know how real Justices feel at their work. I also learned that the Supreme Court receives over a hundred cases a week, about seven thousand a year. This was insightful to learn because I expected more people to try to have their cases handled by the Supreme Court. 

        The biggest takeaway from learning about the Supreme Court is realizing that, even though each justice has their own personal beliefs and opinions, their job goes way beyond their own personal feelings. They must consider how their decisions will affect the entire country, not just in the present but also in the future. It's not just about who's right or wrong in a specific case, it's about finding the answer that could shape how laws are decided and interpreted for years. 

            These videos and lesson gave me a deeper, more meaningful, understanding of the Supreme Court and how important its role is in shaping our country's law and future. Learning about the justices' experiences, the number of court cases they receive a year, and just how long many justices serve made me realize how powerful this institution is. Before this lesson, I did not think much about the Supreme Court, but now I see it as an essential part of our government. It made me want to learn more about how it operates and how its decisions affect everyday life. My perspective has definitely changed for the better on the court.

Eight Values of Free Expression

         

        The eight values of free expression are marketplace of ideas which is the idea that when truth and false can freely fight in the market truth will win. The second is participation in self-government which is that if free speech is vital for people to make informed and wise decisions for voting. Third is stable change which is the idea that when angry citizens can freely express their beliefs violence is less likely to occur. The fourth is individual self-fulfillment which is the idea that when individuals can express themselves freely, they can live their lives the way they want to. The fifth is check on governmental power which is that when people can call the government out, they are less likely to wrongdoings. The sixth is promote tolerance this means that through free speech a more tolerant society is better. The seventh is promote innovation which is when a society can freely express themselves their creativity and innovation is better. The eighth and final is protecting dissent meaning people that disagree with the majority are protected. These beliefs are all necessary and apply today the two I will specifically focus on are participation in self-government and check on governmental power. 

        Participation in self-government applies today as this is still the backbone of our election system. In recent presidential elections turmoil between the two major parties have been extremely high.  Due to this turmoil participation has never been more vital as the democratic and republican parties grow further apart, for American’s to be pleased with the results more people need to participate. This is also important as it keeps the government in check and allows the people to keep their rights without them being affected. Another reason why this is till important is that it causes the American government change to what the citizens want and not what the people elected to power do. 

        Another value that still applies today is that of check on government power. The idea of checks on government power is still extremely important in today’s world to protect the democratic system that America set in place. By having three branches of government two of which are elected by the people can check each other limits the harm that one branch can do. This keeps individual branches from becoming too powerful over the others This value is still extremely important as it helps the government work together to help the people living within the country and gives the people a way to stop the government from passing unwanted or harmful laws or bills. It also allows the elections hold more weight as even if people disagree with the president, they may still have Congress. 

        

        Overall, while all the values are still vital in today’s day and age. As they aim to protect and ensure that the citizens first amendment right of free speech is being protected and not infringed upon. In my opinion the two mentioned in detail above those being, participation in self-government, and check on governmental powers are the two most important for citizens in the current political climate in the United States. 

EOTO 2 Reaction: Facial Recognition Software

        I really enjoyed the presentation on Facial Recognition Software because it opened my eyes to how often I actually use this technology. As an avid user, I realized I should know more about its history.

        I was surprised to learn that the technology dates back to the 1960s. Although early attempts were ineffective, they marked the start of mapping facial features and exploring camera and processing capabilities. It's crazy to think that this technology, which I now use to unlock my phone, began all the way back in the '60s!

        Today, facial recognition has evolved significantly. Thanks to better cameras, faster processors, and machine learning, it's more reliable than ever. It's used in more places than I imagined like airports, law enforcement, and even retail stores.

        What really intrigued me during the presentation was how facial recognition actually learns your face. The software detects your face and creates a “faceprint,” which is like a fingerprint but based on unique facial features. This faceprint is then compared to others in databases to grant or deny access. For me, it's used to unlock my phone, which makes me feel secure knowing no one can replicate my faceprint. The presentation even mentioned that Apple claims there’s a one in a million chance of someone being able to use your faceprint.

        While I appreciate how secure and convenient this software is, it also raised concerns about privacy. As facial recognition data becomes more widespread, the question arises: Who has access to it?

        Overall, the presentation made me think more about the technology I use every day. It gave me a deeper appreciation for how secure facial recognition is, but it also made me realize the importance of privacy and security. It definitely encouraged me to do more research on these concerns as I continue using the software.

EOTO 1- The Invention of Paper:

        Paper was invented around two thousand years ago in Lei-Yang, China by a court official named Ts'ai Lung who wanted to make keeping track of his writings easier. Before paper people used items like animal skin or bamboo slips, these worked but were unpractical as they were expensive and hard to acquire. Ts'ai Lung came up with the idea to mash old rags, mulberry bark, and hemp together to create what is now paper.

    To make paper they would mash all of those ingredients and press them firmly together until all the liquid was gone, set them in the sun, and when they were dry they had paper. This new invention was cheaper, lighter, easily accessible, and the ingredients were available. The invention of paper made its way across Asia, and eventually everywhere else, which changed the way humans recorded history and shared information completely. 

    There are many benefits of paper. Starting off with easy knowledge sharing, one paper became more common it became easier to write things down. This led to books becomi
ng m
ore affordable which they could use in schools for lessons and textbooks, so education was more available. Continuing with knowledge sharing, many scientific discoveries and other ideas were shared because paper gave them the opportunity to spread these findings around the world. Another reason is better communication. With letters, newspapers, and official documents becoming easier to produce and handle. Paper provided an easier way to write and send messages. This helped build governments, businesses, and even friendships. One more reason paper was beneficial is creativity. Paper gave way for people to spark creative ideas. Art, books, and designers, all rely on paper to begin and share their work. These creative ideas would not have been able to spread without paper. 

    While there are many beneficial parts of paper there is still negative impact. Starting with environmental damage, paper comes from trees and even though recycling is an option, there are many people who do not recycle. Lots of forests must be cut down to acquire the materials needed to create paper, since we have become so reliant on it. This deforestation harms wildlife, increases carbon emissions, and messes with the climate. Another harmful impact of paper is waste problems. There are many pieces of paper in everyday life that just get tossed into a trash can instead of recycled. Receipts, flyers, packaging products all get thrown out frequently. 

    Paper is worth the negative impacts because it offers us so much, like education, information spreading, packaging products, cleaning products, and more. All these things are worth the negatives because it helps us complete everyday life.