- May 2024
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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But even people who thought they were doing something good regretted the consequences of their creations, such as Eli Whitney [u9] who hoped his invention of the cotton gin would reduce slavery in the United States, but only made it worse, or Alfred Nobel [u10] who invented dynamite (which could be used in construction or in war) and decided to create the Nobel prizes, or Albert Einstein regretting his role in convincing the US government to invent nuclear weapons [u11], or Aza Raskin regretting his invention infinite scroll.
This detail highlights the profound impact of design decisions on user behavior and emphasizes the need for designers and developers to consider ethical issues. This is closely related to the course's discussion of the responsibility and regulation of technology companies.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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As a member of society, we hope you are informed about the role social media plays in shaping society, such as how design decisions and bots can influence social movements (polarizing, spreading, or stifling different them), and the different economic, social, and governmental pressures that social media platforms operate under.
Relating this to my experience, I find that the obstacles to implementing these changes are not just external, such as a busy schedule, but also internal, such as procrastination and lack of motivation. This insight reinforces the need for a structured approach, like the WOOP framework, to set realistic goals and create actionable plans. My emotional reaction to this content is a mix of hope and frustration—hope because these strategies have the potential to make a significant positive impact on my life, and frustration because I know how difficult it can be to develop new habits.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Then, much of tech is dependent on exploiting cheap labor, often in dangerous conditions, in other countries (thus extracting the resource of cheap labor, from places with “inferior” governments and economies). This labor might be physical labor, or dealing with dangerous chemicals, or the content moderators who deal with viewing horrific online content.
This article details the work of content reviewers, revealing the amount of disturbing and even traumatizing content they deal with on a daily basis. This work is not just psychologically stressful, but also has a long-term negative impact on the mental health of content reviewers. The article points out that not only are reviewers underpaid, they also lack adequate psychological support. This further deepens our understanding of the global problem of labor exploitation and calls for the community to pay attention to and improve the working environment and treatment of content reviewers.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Why do social media platforms make decisions that harm users? And why do social media platforms sometimes go down paths of self-destruction and alienating their users? Sometimes these questions can be answered by looking at the economic forces that drive decision-making on social media platforms, in particular with capitalism.
The main source of revenue for social media platforms is advertising, so increasing user engagement and dwell time is their core goal. This often leads platforms to make seemingly harmful decisions, such as pushing controversial or extreme content through algorithms to attract more attention. While these decisions may increase user activity and ad revenue in the short term, they may damage user trust and platform reputation in the long term, or even lead to user attrition. Such short-sighted economic interest-driven decisions are one of the major drawbacks of capitalism.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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In this view [r1], a good parent might see their child doing something bad or dangerous, and tell them to stop. The child may feel shame (they might not be developmentally able to separate their identity from the momentary rejection). The parent may then comfort the child to let the child know that they are not being rejected as a person, it was just their action that was a problem. The child’s relationship with the parent is repaired, and over time the child will learn to feel guilt instead of shame and seek to repair harm instead of hide.
This view on how parents should address bad or dangerous behavior in their children resonates deeply with me. Growing up, I recall moments where my parents would firmly stop me from doing something wrong but then take the time to explain why the action was inappropriate and reassure me of their love and acceptance. This approach helped me understand that my actions were separate from my identity. It’s a powerful method that not only corrects behavior but also strengthens the parent-child bond.
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Before we talk about public criticism and shaming and adults, let’s look at the role of shame in childhood. In at least some views about shame and childhood1, shame and guilt hold different roles in childhood development [r1]: Shame is the feeling that “I am bad,” and the natural response to shame is for the individual to hide, or the community to ostracize the person. Guilt is the feeling that “This specific action I did was bad.” The natural response to feeling guilt is for the guilty person to want to repair the harm of their action.
when I felt guilt, especially when I knew I had hurt someone, I was more inclined to apologize and make amends. This distinction resonates with my experiences and highlights how important it is for parents and educators to understand these emotions and guide children accordingly. Understanding that shame can lead to withdrawal and isolation suggests that it might be more constructive to address children's actions and encourage reparative behaviors rather than inducing feelings of shame.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Harassment can also be done through crowds. Crowd harassment has also always been a part of culture, such as riots, mob violence, revolts, revolution, government persecution, etc. Social media then allows new ways for crowd harassment to occur. Crowd harassment includes all the forms of individual harassment we already mentioned (like bullying, stalking, etc.), but done by a group of people.
Group harassment is often more serious than individual harassment because it is not just the malicious behavior of one person, but a joint attack by many. This phenomenon is very common on the Internet and has even led to the formation of the so-called "cyber violence". I personally believe that social media platforms and the government should work together to formulate tougher laws and regulations to curb the spread of this phenomenon. At the same time, users themselves need to improve their online literacy to avoid participating in or contributing to online violence.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Individual harassment (one individual harassing another individual) has always been part of human cultures, bur social media provides new methods of doing so. There are many methods by which through social media. This can be done privately through things like: Bullying: like sending mean messages through DMs Cyberstalking: Continually finding the account of someone, and creating new accounts to continue following them. Or possibly researching the person’s physical location. Hacking: Hacking into an account or device to discover secrets, or make threats. Tracking: An abuser might track the social media use of their partner or child to prevent them from making outside friends. They may even install spy software on their victim’s phone. Death threats / rape threats Etc.
The phenomenon of personal harassment on social media concerns me deeply. As technology evolves, harassers have more means to violate the privacy and safety of others. Cyberstalking and hacking, in particular, are not just psychological fears, but may pose serious threats to the real life of the victims. I believe that social media platforms need to take more responsibility to protect the safety of their users through stricter regulation and more effective reporting mechanisms.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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There have been many efforts to use computers to replicate the experience of communicating with someone in person, through things like video chats, or even telepresence robots [p5]]. But there are ways that attempts to recreate in-person interactions inevitably fall short and don’t feel the same.
My personal experience tells me that these technologies still cannot fully replace real face-to-face communication. For example, you can't really feel the atmosphere of the other person through video chatting, and it lacks the full expression of body language. This technological limitation can sometimes make communication seem stiff or lacking in emotional depth. I'm curious to see if future technology will be able to break through the existing limitations and provide a more authentic and deeper interactive experience.
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When tasks are done through large groups of people making relatively small contributions, this is called crowdsourcing. The people making the contributions generally come from a crowd of people that aren’t necessarily tied to the task (e.g., all internet users can edit Wikipedia), but then people from the crowd either get chosen to participate, or volunteer themselves.
This freely edited encyclopedia brings together the knowledge of thousands of users around the world, each of whom can contribute a small portion of content. This open nature of crowdsourcing not only improves the efficiency of information gathering, but also enhances the diversity and richness of content. From personal experience, I often refer to Wikipedia when searching for specific historical events or technological developments, and find that the content therein is more comprehensive than many specialized websites. This proves the great potential of crowdsourcing in knowledge sharing and information dissemination.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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After a company starts working on moderation, they might decide to invest in teams specifically dedicated to content moderation. These teams of content moderators could be considered human computers hired to evaluate examples against the content moderation policy of the platform they are working for.
This analogy emphasizes the repetitive, algorithmic nature of their work, yet also highlights a significant ethical dimension. These individuals face immense psychological pressure as they sift through potentially harmful and disturbing content. This brings up important questions about the support systems in place for these workers.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Another concern is for the safety of the users on the social media platform (or at least the users that the platform cares about). Users who don’t feel safe will leave the platform, so social media companies are incentivized to help their users feel safe. So this often means moderation to stop trolling and harassment.
For users who have experienced online harassment or unpleasant interaction experiences, they are likely to choose to leave if social platforms fail to provide effective security. Therefore, social media companies have invested resources in content auditing and user behavior management to respond to users' safety complaints in a timely manner, which is not only responsible for users, but also necessary to safeguard their business interests.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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While taking a break from parts or all of social media can be good for someone’s mental health (e.g., doomscrolling is making them feel more anxious, or they are currently getting harassed online), viewing internet-based social media as inherently toxic and trying to return to an idyllic time from before the Internet is not a realistic or honest view of the matter.
While taking breaks from social media to avoid negative outcomes like increased anxiety or harassment is indeed beneficial, the narrative that all of social media is inherently toxic and that we should return to a pre-Internet era overlooks the nuances of digital socialization. Social media has transformed into a vital platform for community building, activism, and support networks that were not as accessible before its advent. It also offers unprecedented opportunities for learning and connecting across geographical boundaries.
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Many have anecdotal experiences with their own mental health and those they talk to. For example, cosmetic surgeons have seen how photo manipulation on social media has influenced people’s views of their appearance:
The impact of social media is complex and multifaceted. While it provides a platform for communication and self-expression, studies indicate that excessive or inappropriate use of social media can negatively affect the mental health of adolescents. However, social media can also provide users with social support and useful information, especially when they feel isolated. This suggests that more attention needs to be given to improving how social media platforms are designed and used to minimize their negative impacts on mental health while enhancing their positive social functions.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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A meme is a piece of culture that might reproduce in an evolutionary fashion, like a hummable tune that someone hears and starts humming to themselves, perhaps changing it, and then others overhearing next. In this view, any piece of human culture can be considered a meme that is spreading (or failing to spread) according to evolutionary forces. So we can use an evolutionary perspective to consider the spread of:
It's intriguing to consider memes from an evolutionary perspective, where their "fitness" could be determined by their ability to capture attention and compel sharing. This view challenges us to question which aspects of a meme make it more likely to survive and proliferate in the competitive environment of social media, akin to biological traits in natural selection.
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Replication (with Inheritance) An organism can make a new copy of itself, which inherits its characteristics Variations / Mutations The characteristics of an organism are sometimes changed, in a way that can be inherited by future copies Natural Selection Some characteristics make it more or less likely for an organism to compete for resources, survive, and make copies of itself
As habitats transform due to shifting climates, we observe real-time natural selection where only those species that can adapt to new conditions, or migrate to more suitable habitats, will survive. This demonstrates a dynamic example of Darwin's principles at work in the modern world, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to preserve biodiversity.
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- Apr 2024
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Now, how these algorithms precisely work is hard to know, because social media sites keep these algorithms secret, probably for multiple reasons: They don’t want another social media site copying their hard work in coming up with an algorithm They don’t want users to see the algorithm and then be able to complain about specific details They don’t want malicious users to see the algorithm and figure out how to best make their content go viral
The rationale for keeping recommendation algorithms secret raises significant ethical questions about transparency and user control on social media platforms. While the reasons for secrecy are understandable from a business perspective, they can be frustrating for users who wish to understand and possibly influence what they see online. This lack of transparency can also hinder academic and regulatory efforts to assess the fairness and biases of these algorithms. It prompts me to question whether there should be more public oversight or standards that these platforms need to meet, similar to other industries that significantly influence public opinion and behavior.
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When social media platforms show users a series of posts, updates, friend suggestions, ads, or anything really, they have to use some method of determining which things to show users. The method of determining what is shown to users is called a recommendation algorithm, which is an algorithm (a series of steps or rules, such as in a computer program) that recommends posts for users to see, people for users to follow, ads for users to view, or reminders for users.
theoretical discussions about the consequences of personalized technology. It also raises questions about the responsibility of tech companies in managing these algorithms to avoid societal fragmentation. I'd be interested in exploring more recent studies that examine whether users are becoming more aware of these bubbles and if that awareness affects their interaction with content differently.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Some disabilities are visible disabilities that other people can notice by observing the disabled person (e.g., wearing glasses is an indication of a visual disability, or a missing limb might be noticeable). Other disabilities are invisible disabilities that other people cannot notice by observing the disabled person
People with conditions like chronic pain, mental health issues, or sensory impairments that are not immediately apparent face significant barriers not only in accessing support but also in having their conditions recognized as legitimate. This calls for a broader understanding and sensitivity towards all forms of disability, emphasizing that not all disabilities are apparent and that all deserve equal recognition and accommodation.
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A disability is an ability that a person doesn’t have, but that their society expects them to have.1 For example: If a building only has staircases to get up to the second floor (it was built assuming everyone could walk up stairs), then someone who cannot get up stairs has a disability in that situation. If a physical picture book was made with the assumption that people would be able to see the pictures, then someone who cannot see has a disability in that situation.
One of the sources cited in the chapter discusses the principles of universal design in architecture. This source emphasizes that designing environments and products to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design, not only assists individuals with disabilities but also benefits the broader population.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Some governments and laws protect the privacy of individuals (using a Natural Rights ethical framing). These include the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation [i3] (GDPR), which includes a “right to be forgotten”, and the United State’s Supreme Court has at times inferred a constitutional right to privacy [i4].
The detail about the "right to be forgotten" offers a compelling juxtaposition to how data permanency is handled in the U.S., which lacks a direct counterpart. This highlights a significant cultural and legal divide in attitudes toward data privacy and individual autonomy, underscoring the need for a more harmonized global approach to privacy rights.
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But in most cases those “private” messages are stored in the computers at those companies, and the company might have computer programs that automatically search through the messages, and people with the right permissions might be able to view them directly.
This chapter's examination of data privacy in digital communications sparked an emotional reaction in me, particularly the discussion on how "private" messages aren't truly private. It's disconcerting to realize the extent to which our supposed confidential interactions are accessible to company algorithms and potentially employees. This highlights a significant gap in public understanding about what privacy means in the digital age, underscoring the need for clearer regulations and transparency from tech companies about data handling practices.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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So, if an advertiser sees their ad is being displayed on an Amazon page for shoes, then the advertiser can start showing shoe ads to that same user when they go to another website.
The chapter's discussion on advertisers tracking user behavior across websites using ad displays, like on Amazon for shoes, brings up mixed feelings. While I understand the commercial value and efficiency this provides in marketing, it also raises concerns about privacy. It makes me question where the line should be drawn between effective marketing and respecting user privacy.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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If you are interested in learning more about what you can do with praw and what information you can get back, you can look at the official documentation for those. But be warned they are not organized in a friendly way for newcomers and take some getting used to to figure out what these documentation pages are talking about.
Navigating the official PRAW documentation can be quite daunting due to its complex organization, reminiscent of my early days learning programming. Community forums and blogs are essential, as they break down complex topics into more digestible parts, providing a gentler introduction to newcomers. This experience highlights the crucial role of community support in mastering new technologies.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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If the immediate goal of the action of trolling is to cause disruption or provoke emotional reactions, what is it that makes people want to do this disruption or provoking of emotional reactions?
My personal opinion is that the chapter could further delve into psychological and societal contexts that fuel such behaviors. I have observed that environments lacking in constructive engagement or facing conflict often become fertile grounds for trolls. How can platforms better design their community rules or algorithms to not only deter trolling but also encourage positive engagement
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Trolling is when an Internet user posts inauthentically (often false, upsetting, or strange) with the goal of causing disruption or provoking an emotional reaction. When the goal is provoking an emotional reaction, it is often for a negative emotion, such as anger or emotional pain.
The definition of "trolling" provided prompts me to consider its impact on online communities. Trolling often deteriorates meaningful discourse and can alienate positive contributors. This experience leads me to question whether internet platforms should enforce stricter regulations to curb such behaviors, balancing the need to protect free speech while fostering a respectful community environment.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Does anonymity discourage authenticity and encourage inauthentic behavior?
The question of whether anonymity discourages authenticity and encourages inauthentic behavior touches on a complex interplay between identity, social interaction, and moral behavior. Anonymity online can indeed create a double-edged sword. On one hand, it provides a veil that can embolden individuals to express opinions or perform actions they would not normally undertake in identifiable contexts, potentially leading to inauthentic expressions or harmful behaviors shielded by anonymity. This phenomenon can be observed in various online platforms where anonymous users engage in trolling or cyberbullying, behaviors they might not exhibit under their real identities due to social and legal repercussions.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Many users were upset that what they had been watching wasn’t authentic. That is, users believed the channel was presenting itself as true events about a real girl, and it wasn’t that at all. Though, even after users discovered it was fictional, the channel continued to grow in popularity.
The scenario where viewers felt misled by a channel's content, believing it to depict real events when it was actually fictional, touches on the delicate balance between storytelling and authenticity in digital media. This incident illustrates the importance of transparency between content creators and their audience, as trust can be easily jeopardized by perceived deception. It raises questions about the value we place on creativity and storytelling versus our desire for genuine content, urging a reflection on the evolving nature of authenticity in the digital era.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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For example, ads in mobile games make the “x” you need to press incredibly small and hard to press to make it harder to leave their ad:
The use of an incredibly small “x” button is particularly insidious because it preys on the user's intention to dismiss the ad, leveraging the fine motor skills challenge it poses to instead increase the likelihood of a mis-click that benefits the advertiser through click-through rates. This strategy, while potentially beneficial for the ad's metrics, raises significant ethical concerns. It undermines trust between the user and the application by prioritizing ad revenue over user experience and comfort.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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One of the early ways of social communication across the internet was with Email [e5], which originated in the 1960s and 1970s. These allowed people to send messages to each other, and look up if any new messages had been sent to them.
The advent of email changed the way information is shared and how people interact with each other, paving the way for the internet to serve as a global communication platform. It's particularly interesting to compare the original intent and use of email to its role in today's digital ecosystem. In the early days, the purpose was to send simple messages or share information within a small group or organization. Now, email has become an important tool for personal communication, business transactions, marketing, and more.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Can you think of an example of pernicious ignorance in social media interaction? What’s something that we might often prefer to overlook when deciding what is important?
One example is the dissemination of unverified health information, such as false self-medication methods or vaccine rumors. The dissemination of such information not only misleads people, but can also pose a real threat to public health. When deciding on the importance of information, we often overlook the reliability and scientific basis of the source, leading to misbelief and dissemination of inaccurate or harmful information. It is therefore crucial to develop the habit of critical thinking and of verifying sources of information.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Metadata is information about some data. So we often think about a dataset as consisting of the main pieces of data (whatever those are in a specific situation), and whatever other information we have about that data (metadata).
This passage on the difference between data and metadata reminds us that metadata is more than just background information; it actually gives deeper meaning and context to the primary data. Like when taking a photo, the photo itself is the data, and the information about when and where it was taken is the metadata that enriches our understanding of the photo. This makes me think about how we rely on metadata to organize and interpret information in the digital age, and the privacy and data protection issues behind it.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Bots present a similar disconnect between intentions and actions. Bot programs are written by one or more people, potentially all with different intentions, and they are run by others people, or sometimes scheduled by people to be run by computers.
Bots present a similar disconnect between intentions and actions. Bot programs are written by one or more people, potentially all with different intentions, and they are run by others people, or sometimes scheduled by people to be run by computers.
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Bots, on the other hand, will do actions through social media accounts and can appear to be like any other user. The bot might be the only thing posting to the account, or human users might sometimes use a bot to post for them.
I know a little bit about this. As far as I know there are some webcasters who will plant quite a few bots in their own booths, and a large portion of them he will swipe simple comments in the booth to act as if they have a lot of popularity. There are also some bots that will video record the entire broadcast and send it in batches to short video platforms to get traffic.
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- Mar 2024
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social-media-ethics-automation.github.io social-media-ethics-automation.github.io
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Being and becoming an exemplary person (e.g., benevolent; sincere; honoring and sacrificing to ancestors; respectful to parents, elders and authorities, taking care of children and the young; generous to family and others). These traits are often performed and achieved through ceremonies and rituals (including sacrificing to ancestors, music, and tea drinking), resulting in a harmonious society.
Confucianism seems to me to be the greater influence on me personally. When I grew up in Chinese education, I was often taught the writings of Confucius. And the overall education is trying to make us exemplary people. So I think Confucianism has had a profound influence on China.
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Act with unforced actions in harmony with the natural cycles of the universe. Trying to force something to happen will likely backfire.
I think the Taoist view is more in line with my inner thoughts. "Trying to force something to happen can be counterproductive" and I'm sure it's not just me, a lot of people feel that way. The more you try to do something right, the more likely you tend to make mistakes. I often do tell myself to focus and be calm, but the more I think about it the harder it is to get into the zone.
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