Blog post #8

    Social Media

Why did they catch on and spread? 

Social media offered clear advantages over previous forms of communication, such as email, phone calls, or traditional media. It allowed users to connect with others instantly and share their lives, ideas, and opinions. It also gave small and large businesses another way to advertise to customers directly and personally.

Why did so many people become early adopters?

People want to be part of something new and participate in it. They must build an online presence and connect with others in their field. Social media is an excellent tool for promoting their personal brands or businesses.

 Why are some people late adopters? Or not adopters at all?

There are several ideas on why people can be late adopters. You can be a part of a market that has not been reached yet, or certain social media may be for certain age demographics, with Instagram being for primarily younger people, X for older people, and Facebook (sorry) primarily for people above the age of 10. Some people also avoid these platforms because they are wary of how their personal data will be used or exploited.   

 What about the downsides? Do you see any negative consequences of the technology?

I honestly primarily don't use social media. I mainly use it to communicate with people and to watch videos or news. I don't Post very much, nor do I do Streaks (sending a picture to your friend daily to keep a number up on Snapchat). You might have concerns about the impact of social media on your mental well-being, particularly regarding comparison, self-esteem, or addiction.  

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 For example, why am I not on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media? 

You may not be on it because you are of a certain age, as certain social media are designed for specific demographics. You may also not want all your personal data to be used or exploited by data brokers. You might also be concerned about your mental well-being, as stated before. You might prefer a life with less digital clutter. What I mean is to avoid the constant barrage of notifications, updates, and curated content. 

Would the positive outweigh to negative? 

You may benefit from the ease of staying connected with friends, family, and professional networks. Other social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, can be used for good, allowing you to build a personal brand or promote a business.

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How do you weigh that cost-benefit analysis with a new communication technology? 

We need to weigh the cost-benefit analysis of adopting social media. You must consider your goals: Are they for staying connected, professional networking, or accessing information? Once you figure that out, you must assess the potential downsides, such as mental health impacts, privacy concerns, and time spent. It may be worth adopting if the benefits align with your goals and you can manage the negative aspects. However, if the downsides, such as privacy loss, may outweigh the positives, staying off or using it selectively might be better. Balancing both is key.

Blog Post #7

 

Mainstream media outlets often rely on advertisers and corporate sponsors for funding.  These websites, such as Antiwar.com and Theamericanconservative.com, don't have larger sponsors that have a greater agenda. They only have sponsors such as a book about stopping Ukraine and Phone Banking for keeping the National Guard out of wars. Doing more research, as stated on their website, they are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Their operations are primarily supported by the contributions of individuals who align with their antiwar mission. Shockingly, most media organizations have economic and political relationships with defense contractors, the government, and other powerful entities, which can discourage critical coverage of military interventions. According to the Pew Research Center, political advertising generates a significant amount of revenue.

 But what does that mean? If you have a specific agenda, then you get rid of some potential sponsors.  You wouldn't have trump advertising on CNN or Harris on Fox. You can say the same thing about the Medical Industry. This financial dependence can create a bias in coverage, leading to more favorable portrayals of certain drugs, treatments, or medical practices, potentially downplaying risks or controversies.  When they appear, there is a real risk of potentially downplaying risks or controversies.  According to the Guardian, " Pharmaceutical companies spend far more than any other industry to influence politicians. Drugmakers have poured close to $2.5bn into lobbying and funding members of Congress over the past decade". Swaine, Jon. "Big Pharma's Money and Lobbying Behind the Opioid Crisis." The Guardian, 19 Oct. 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/19/big-pharma-money-lobbying-us-opioid-crisis.

This is a significant amount of money that may raise some issues when politicians may have a conflict of interest. 

                                                                                  

Blog post #6

Looking at Andrew Lefever's post about the history of the cellphone. The most interesting topic he talks about is the Japanese Sharp J-SHO4. He said, "The Japanese Sharp J-SHO4 was not only able to incorporate a camera but also slim the overall model down to weigh just four ounces, beginning the trend of making our smartphones sleek and lightweight". While doing my own research, I discovered that this was exclusive to the Japanese market and only to one carrier. Despite this, it sold around 5 million phones. This phone made cameras such a Mainstream feature in phones in the early 2000s. This is the first phone to make the rise of selfies, mobile photo sharing, and social media integration.  There was a significant shift in consumer demand, where camera quality became a key selling point for phones. It also had video, which the first iPhone did not have. Apple continuously improves camera quality with these types of phones in the market.

https://www.mobilephonemuseum.com/phone-detail/j-phone-j-sh04

History of The Radio #4

 

Guglielmo Marconi

https://hamradioacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marconi_and_his_wireless_apparatus_1897.jpg (1895)

The modern radio started in 1895, when Guglielmo Marconi sent out the first wireless transmission. Amusingly, the first message was, "Can you hear me?" It was sent using radio waves to transmit signals over a distance. Marconi also founded his own company, the Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company, in 1897. He became very successful and was crucial in developing radio communication and wireless telegraphy. Eventually, the company merged with BAE Systems and Ericsson in the early 2000s.

Reginald Fessenden

 

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On December 24, 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first AM radio broadcast. He Fessenden played "O Holy Night" on the violin. He sang a Christmas carol, read a passage from the Bible, and sent spoken greetings to ships at sea. This radio transmission is the first known broadcast with voice and music rather than Morse code. Reginald Fessenden patented over 500 inventions in his lifetime, covering radio, sonar, and electrical systems. Fessenden developed an underwater sound detection system known as the Fessenden Oscillator. This early sonar technology was used extensively to detect submarines during World War I. This was also (which will be talked about later) used to find icebergs after the Titanic disaster.

The Titanic disaster

fhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmovies.mxdwn.com%2Freviews%2Fclassic-movie-review-titanic-1997%2F&psig=AOvVaw06IDx1ClzgK6Vn6S5LIXa3&ust=1738280206763000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCKCA8sSMnIsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE (1912)

The Titanic disaster highlighted the need for radios on larger ships and for more safety equipment. The Ship had the most state-of-the-art Marconi wireless telegraph system and two Marconi radio operators, Jack Phillips and Harold Bride. The Radio Act required licensed radio operators on large ships and ships to always have licensed radio operators on duty. Marconi Technology was on the Titanic and saved as many lives as possible. It also gave the U.S. government regulatory authority over radio frequencies.

World War 2

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2042724072

During World War 2, the radio played a critical role in military communication, propaganda, intelligence, and public morale. Frequency modulation (FM) was used extensively during the war. It improved military communications by providing more precise signals that were less susceptible to interference.

Fm Radio

https://shop.nypl.org/products/retro-radio-bluetooth-speaker

FM radio became much better and cheaper during the late 40's. With FM, it had much better quality and a more excellent resistance to static This made FM particularly great for music broadcasting, as it could deliver a more transparent and more dynamic sound.

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/radio-djs/

Disk Jockeys

Due to Allen Freed, Disk jockeys became key players in music broadcasting during the 1950s. Freed, a Cleveland-based DJ, is credited with popularizing the term "rock and roll " and bringing rhythm and blues (R&B) music to a broader audience. 

Rise of Satellite radio

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/radio-djs/

Sirus and Xm were two companies that realized that they would not survive unless they merged.  A major problem was keeping subscribers. This occurred in 2008. This merger helped them cut costs, reduce competition, and offer a more potent content lineup, including deals with Howard Stern, the NFL, and exclusive music channels.

Podcasts

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/radio-djs/

While traditional radio relies on scheduled programming and live broadcasts, podcasts offer on-demand, downloadable content, allowing listeners to engage at their convenience. Video podcasts on YouTube and Spotify blur the line between radio and digital media. Joe Rogen has hosted a diverse range of guests, including comedians, scientists, politicians, athletes, and controversial figures. In 2020, Rogan signed an exclusive licensing deal with Spotify, which was reportedly worth $100 million, making it one of the biggest podcast deals ever. This deal shows the true rise of podcasts.

https://www.elon.edu/u/imagining/time-capsule/150-years/back-1890-1930/

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/radio-djs/