Week 15 2024
Week 14 2024

The Extremism Behind Social Media: Pros & Cons

Social media has had a significant impact on the social science field. The advent of these groundbreaking technologies has brought about a fresh understanding of the intricacies of human communication, knowledge acquisition, and social connection formation, thereby transforming the dynamics of human interaction. As a result, there has been a significant increase in academic attention to identifying valuable patterns in human behavior within the collected data. We, as extremist researchers, find social media particularly intriguing. Previously, these studies necessitated the infiltration of specific groups to observe their operational procedures. Researchers can now monitor the use of mobile devices for networking, recruiting, radicalization, communication, and mobilization. Despite the crucial role that online platforms play in supporting extremist movements, research on social media has yielded limited findings regarding fundamental questions. How does extremism pose a significant challenge at both the global and national levels? Is there an apparent deterioration in the current situation? Did the internet expose preexisting patterns, or are social media platforms accountable? Is there a particular rationale behind the behavior of certain individuals who engage in acts of violence? Researchers can monitor extremists' activities, such as networking, recruiting, radicalizing, communicating, and mobilizing, by using laptops or cell phones.

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How Has Technology Changed Us - In the Past 20 Years?

Technology has undergone tremendous changes over the last two decades, but how have these changes affected us? From this long-term view, I have learned one thing: our time is very unique. In the past, technological advancement was glacial, so the tools our forefathers had mastered as children continued to play an essential role in their daily lives as they aged. Our current era is characterized by extremely rapid technological advancement, in sharp contrast to those bygone days. Technology, which was unthinkable when our parents and grandparents were growing up, often became the norm in our generation. By investigating all relevant factors in my upcoming project, I intend to shed some light on what we can expect to encounter in this field of discovery.

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The Next Generation of Internet Users

This quote is very dear to my heart. Absolutely right. People of all ages squander the chances presented by the Internet, but the youth of today are particularly culpable. Dumb internet is everywhere. There are dozens of sites that supply useless information, such as listicles, celebrity rumors, "shocking" pictures, and the like, for every one that provides useful knowledge. At least once a week, a new website appears on my screen with catchy headlines but no content. People born after the Internet's invention have adopted the mindset of tabloid newspapers. Search engines for videos are a vast wasteland of pointless nothingness. Memes and trolls with no substance populate accumulation sites.

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Unfortunately, No Application for That is Available

Assuming a conspiratorial mindset, I would maintain the conviction that Big Tech is resolute in its pursuit to exercise dominion over every aspect of our existence. I refrain from engaging in conspiracy theories; instead, I recognize that those in power will exert their influence, often disregarding the consequences that follow. People widely regard Big Tech as the dominant driving force in the contemporary world. The European Union has recently classified six major technology corporations as "gatekeeper" services. The decision classifies Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Byte Dance (TikTok) as entities that provide essential platform services. As a result, these six major corporations are subject to regulatory measures that aim to decrease their worldwide influence over people's access to information.

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