Wiki So Far

For the class wiki, I am currently researching in order to contribute information to the two categories, social networking and YouTube. After having completed the term research paper on the topic of social networking, and its impacts on society, I hope to be able to share some of the knowledge, and information, that I was able to acquire in the process, and contribute to the advantages and disadvantages sections of the wiki page. In addition, I plan to contribute information about Unbox Therapy, a YouTube channel that I have been following for the past few months. Unbox Therapy reviews brand-new, unique products, and gadgets, in videos and viewers are able to learn, and experience the use of such products. Viewing experiences offered by channels like Unbox Therapy are significant, in terms of new media, because it offers experiences and knowledge, through the medium of new media technologies, to individuals that may not have experienced it otherwise.

P2P

            File sharing refers to the process of transferring, and distributing, electronic files in the form of computer files through the internet. Normally, users share files containing different types of media, including documents, audio, videos, and images. In addition, P2P file sharing, also known as peer-to-peer file sharing, specifically refers to the sharing of such media files from one individual to another individual through the use of P2P technology, or software, that directly connects the two users' devices. With P2P file sharing software, it has also raised concerns that such technologies inevitably encourages illegal distribution, piracy, and unauthorized use of some media. An example of P2P file sharing is the use of BitTorrent software which allows users to browse libraries filled with different distributors, or peers, and to obtain different forms of entertainment, such as movies, music, and video games from these distributors. Another example, that is similar to P2P file sharing, is the practice of peer-to-peer lending that is discussed in the NPR article, "Peers Find Less Pressure Borrowing From Each Other". According to the article, Lending Club, a peer-to-peer lending company, connects lenders and borrowers through the internet and a new method of obtaining loans and investing. The article states, "The system works like this: Investors put up the money to fund the loans; typically they'll have pieces of hundreds, even thousands of loans which are ranked according to risk." The article continues, "Laplanche says investors make a nice profit, but consumers still get lower rates than they would with a conventional lender because peer-to-peer lending operates like a marketplace." It can be argued that such modernized methods changes, and improves, the standard practices of interaction and sharing between human users.

Citation:

Kaufman, Wendy. "Peers Find Less Pressure Borrowing From Each Other." NPR. NPR, 10 May 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.

Privacy

            The issues of privacy and confidentiality are extremely controversial when considering the characteristics of new media. With the use of new media technologies, users place large amounts of personal information, and data, onto the social networking websites, and applications, that they routinely use. In most cases, this information, and data, can be seen and accessed by other users with relative ease. By placing such personal information online, users become susceptible to possible, future consequences. In the process of job recruitment and college admissions, recruiters tends to review applicants' online presence to further learn about the candidates and a negative online presence may lead to dismissal. The sense of anonymity that the internet allows for also means that users are generally more susceptible to illegal misuse of data, such as through identity theft and fraud. In addition, many technology companies collect such data to determine trends and to sell such information for profits, and some argue that such practices are intrusive and wrong. Many believe that privacy is an essential human right and with the popularity of new media technologies, users should remain informed about such issues of privacy and confidentiality.

Advice

            As a Baruch student, I find myself constantly visiting the many, different offices, and centers, within the school for clarification, and guidance, in regards to my own coursework. At the same time, I have noticed that many of my peers also constantly visit the same offices to speak with faculty, and staff. Many students rely heavily on the assistance that is offered by these offices, and centers, and I believe simpler and more accessible means of communications would greatly benefit the students attending Baruch. If I were hired by Baruch College to utilize new media technology to improve the college, I would implement a web page in order to improve communication between students and the faculty, and staffs, of Baruch. The web page would offer students a means to immediately contact the advisors within the different offices, and centers, while avoiding the lines during in-person visits. Through new media and the internet, students would be able to have quick access to the tutoring centers, career development center, and the numerous faculty offices at any time and at any place. In addition, students that live off-campus are then able to avoid having to schedule time to travel to the college to utilize such resources.