The dark side of our digital era...

Cyberbullying... "oh thankfully this doesn't happen to my child"....umm are you sure about that?

Cyberbullying in particular is a very passionate topic for me.  No I haven't had any direct experiences with this, but from just touching the surface, I think parents can often be in the dark; with the magnitude of cyberbullying being underestimated.  The damage that this inflicts can be detrimental, as seen by Chloe Fergusson's family.

Chloe Fergusson was a 15 year old girl who endured years of verbal and physical abuse, sadly she ended her ongoing battle of abuse both online & offline, by taking her own life...please Take a look at her story.

                        "...In Australia, about 1 in 10 teenagers have experienced some sort of bullying using technology" (Youthbeyondblue).

If you have a couple of minutes, I highly recommend you take this interactive tour through a detective's office to discover an array of information on cyberbullying - cases, online resources, facts & statistics..... http://www.cyberbullying.info/
 

Cyberbullying is similar in many ways to traditional bullying, however, the biggest difference is, digital devices provide the perpetrators with a level of anonymity; a faceless barrier or form of protection, which results in individuals having more bravado compared to face-to-face situations.  "What makes cyber bullying distinct is the use of electronic communication technology as the means through which to threaten, harass, embarrass, or socially exclude" (Mishna, Saini & Solomon 2009). 

Sometimes, all it takes is. ONE click of a button, ONE video/picture upload, ONE sentence typed...

 

FACTS & FIGURES...

• Ages 14-17 in 2010 reported the highest rate of internet use(Queensland Government website,2013)
• 91% of 14-17 year olds log online weekly(Queensland Government website,2013)
• Most common type of bullying was 'hurtful teasing', followed by 'having hurtful lies told by another person' (Queensland Government website, 2013)
• Girls were more likely to bully in covert ways, with starting ages as early as Year 3(Queensland Government website, 2013)
• More females (64%) report being cyber victims(Queensland Government website, 2013)
• 14 year olds most frequently reported both forms of bullying(Queensland Government website, 2013)
• 83% of cyber victims know the bully in real life, with most going to the same school and wait for it....most victims described their bully as a 'friend - not an acquaintance'(Queensland Government website, 2013)
• Social networking, MSN, text & email are most common mediums for cyber bullying(Queensland Government website, 2013)
• 54% strongly or somewhat agree they 'worry about someone hacking' into their social networking pages and 35% 'worry about what others know about them from their social networking'(Queensland Government website, 2013)

The problem and the solution...
This is how I see it...Adults need to take responsibility for kids and their wellbeing.  According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, "Adults are responsible to protect children from all forms of physical and mental violence, injury or abuse" (cited in Mishna, Saini & Solomon 2009).  Adults can't bury their 'ignorant' or 'too busy' heads in the sand - parents especially need to make the time to educate and monitor their children in all facets of their online activities and behaviour. 
And on the other end of the spectrum;  parents need to put rules, practices, blocks and whatever else it takes to prevent and protect!  This means adults need to be educated themselves in the digital world, as well as understanding the enormity of it; adolescents are using this as their number one avenue for communication, interaction, entertainment, self-presentation, learning strategies and socialising (Mishna, Saini & Solomon 2009). 

"...cyber bullying can only really be understood and addressed within the context of the new world of cyber space" (Mishna, Saini & Solomon 2009).

 

To avoid other kids ending their troubles like Chloe Ferguson, adults need to go back to basics and teach kids the importance of face-to-face communication. Kids need to be capable of going to someone and communicating their problems and thoughts.  And might I add, this capability has to be taught away from text messages, emails, instant messages, blogs and social networking sites.   Today's technology invites youth to 'talk through devices', to avoid awkward/uncomfortable interactions and instead control their communications via the digital world, but social media is not going to fix deep, personal problems - humans help fix these. Parents need to remove the control from social media and gain some back!

The internet is a powerful tool for bully's, extremists, and terrorists (Gerstenfeld, Grant & Chiang 2003).  The scope and opportunity that the digital world brings fuels all different kinds of 'hate' groups and individuals, supplying them with greater power and far greater geographical reach.  The best way to counteract this as a parent is to constantly monitor and control online activity and as an individual; have good security measures, be aware of who you're interacting with and what you are sharing and lastly be conscious of the power you are supplying others with, by your online presence. And, don't forget bully's don't limit their victims to adolescents; many adults are subjected to some form of online taunting also...

reachout.com - is a website created to advise and offer resources to anyone suffering from cyber abuse, such as eheadspace.org.au, kidshelp.com.au, http://www.lifeline.org.au/

Also, this online fact and information sheet could be helpful to victims
Youth beyondblue fact sheet  



I sign out on this note, please watch and share this proof of the dark side of social media. (Beware it displays self-harming)  

 

References

Anon., 2013. 60 Minutes. [Online]
Available at: http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8751742
[Accessed 5 February 2014].

Anon., 2013. Queensland Government. [Online]
Available at: http://www.qld.gov.au/disability/children-young-people/bullying/facts.html
[Accessed 5 February 2014].

Anon., 2014. Australian Human Rights Commission. [Online]
Available at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/cyberbullying-what-it-and-how-get-help-violence-harassment-and-bullying-fact-sheet
[Accessed 5 February 2014].

Anon., n.d. Cyberbullying. [Online]
Available at: http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/factsheets-and-info/fact-sheet-23-cyberbullying/
[Accessed 5 February 2014].

Gerstenfeld, P. B., Grant, D. R. & Chiang, C.-P., 2003. Hate Online: A Content Analysis of Extremist Internet Sites. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 3(1), pp. 29-44.

Mishna, F., Saini, M. & Solomon, S., 2009. Ongoing and online: Children and youth's perceptions of cyber bullying. Children and Youth Services Review, December, 31(12), pp. 1222 - 1228.

Skylinex, A., 2013. Cyber Bullying - The Effects (Short Film). [Online]
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7ztnN_wpUk
[Accessed 6 February 2014].

Webster, C., 2004. Cyberbullying.info. [Online]
Available at: http://www.cyberbullying.info/about.php
[Accessed 5 February 2014].

 

 

 

 

 

 

Produser, user, creator, editor, publisher....which is it?!

The world where producers and consumers collide....

               ..."transforming how knowledge gets produced and how culture gets generated at the present moment" (Jenkins 2008). 

Produsage... is exactly this; producer and user combined!  Or defined in a little more detail ..."The collaborative and continuous building and extending of existing content in pursuit of further improvement" (Bruns, cited in Jenkins 2008).
Examples of this is wikipedia, blogs, mash-ups and YouTube clips as well as more alternative avenues that allow users to create their own virtual reality through online characters, interactions and games.

Through my research on this topic, I came across the theory blog and I'd like to share how this particular post referred to produsage..... "when you start contributing and sharing and connecting with the work of those who connect with yours, you're engaging in produsage"(Stewart 2012).  But, beware to not limit produsage to only two-way interaction processes....

• It may be a one-way interaction where you might simply view someone else's contribution to the digital world, such as a YouTube clip to find out how to DIY etc. or looking up wikipedia to find out what something is or means from another's perspective (keep in mind reliability of source...)  

• Or, it may be a way for you to promote your own material/creative flares by posting/sharing a music clip or a created product; many business opportunities...
• A form of interaction and communication, connecting users with others through different mediums of produsage
• Used as a virtual simulation; giving opportunity to create and control your world

Produsage is in line with Henry Jenkins theory of participatory culture, whereby he conveys that the key principles behind participatory culture are "low barriers to participation, strong support for sharing, informal mentorship, members who feel that their contributions matter" (Costanza-Chock, 2012).  Here are some examples...

-YouTube –

online video-sharing website

-Social networking sites –

such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram...these users are content creators and consumers simultaneously

-Wikipedia –

a site where all can add and supply information to others - covers all topics & genres

-ccMixter –

a music site that allows individuals to remix music collaborative style

-Blogs –

that invite others to comment and voice opinions on topics, encourages communication

-All Voices –

allows users to collect and reproduce articles from the web

-LiveJournal, Slashdot and Indymedia –

journalism websites/online communities where all can come and socialise, interact and self-express.  You can provide any form of information through a blog, journal or diary style

-Clickworkers –

a NASA experimental project that users public volunteers

-The Sims, Second Life–

an online simulation video game, where you create and participate in online communities

-Time Magazine –

a magazine that offers ordinary citizens to freely access, communicate and interact their ideas and thoughts

- WordPress -

online sites that provide users with opportunity to create a website or blog

"More than one-half of all teens have created media content, and roughly one-third of teens who use the Internet have shared content they produced" (Jenkins, 2009).

 I have started to participate in produsage through my online studies; ranging from interactions on user-created threads in discussion boards, creating and publishing my own blog through to engaging in research through other forms of 'produsage' such as YouTube.  Through this active participation, I have shared my thoughts and ideas with the entire world!  This is somewhat liberating and at the same time, the participation back from other users such as comments and further discussions fuels me to keep going.  I feel the more that I share, the more I will receive back from others which gives me a bit of a 'warm and fuzzy' feeling; a connected feeling, a sense of belonging.  I have to say, I am little surprised by this, as I was quite the pessimist when it came to online activity!  I viewed online participation as purely a socialising tool and was a strong believer that there were no real benefits or valid reasons of why people should participate in these time wasting activities - I know, know... a little judgemental!  However, I've realised I wasn't that wise in my thoughts!  A large percentage of the world is already heavily involved in this kind of collaboration and online communities; it is not just a minority, nor is it the 'computer geeks'!  This is modernity and the new revolution of producing, consuming and communicating!   

 

Produsage and the future...

Currently, the media, organisations/businesses and as well as individual's are all shifting towards this trend of user-content productions; produsage.  Trendwatching.com describes this shift and its participants as a new generation, 'Generation C'.  This newly appointed generation, dictated by user-led information sharing and producing, is predicted to disintegrate traditional "beliefs, rituals, formal requirements and laws modern societies have held dear"(cited in Bruns 2007b).  This view, sees produsage in the future breaking traditional ties, industries and hierarchy structures.  Burgess (2005, cited in Snurblog 2005) see's produsage as developing the expansion of grassroots or vernacular, yet at the same time possibly creating a greater digital divide between classes. 

My thoughts...

I think produsage is facilitating a far more assessable and democratic world.  Produsage removes traditional barriers, structures, policies, rituals, rules and regulations - but why does this have to be a bad thing?  I think that encouraging users to participate and collaborate as a producer, user and consumer is possibly just what our world filled with inequality, corruption and hegemony control needs. 

 

There seems to be a pattern emerging with the digital world; wikileaks, produsage, mobile devices, and digital activism are all working towards the same goal; removing power from large corporations, governments and other authorities and instead creating transparency and accountability; placing more power with the public. 

 

 

References

 

Bruns, A., 2005. Some Exploratory Notes on Produsers and Produsage. [Online]
Available at: http://snurb.info/index.php?q=node/329
[Accessed 31 January 2014].

Bruns, A., 2007. From Production to Produsage: Research into User-Led Content Creation. [Online]
Available at: http://produsage.org/node/11
[Accessed 31 January 2014].

Bruns, A., 2007. Produsage: Towards a Broader Framework for User-Led Content Creation. Media & Communication Creative Industries Faculty, pp. 99-105.

Costanza-Chock, S., 2012. Henry Jenkins: Participatory culture, politics, and learning. [Online]
Available at: http://civic.mit.edu/blog/schock/henry-jenkins-participatory-culture-politics-and-learning
[Accessed 30 January 2014].

 

Jenkins, H., 2008. Confessions of an Aca-Fan - The Official Weblog of Henry Jenkins. [Online]
Available at: http://henryjenkins.org/2008/05/interview_with_axel_bruns.html
[Accessed 31 January 2014].

Jenkins, H., 2009. In: Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture. Cambridge, Massachusetts(London): The MIT Press.

Stewart, B., 2012. The theory blog. [Online]
Available at: http://theory.cribchronicles.com/2012/07/03/what-produsage-is-and-why-it-matters/
[Accessed 15 January 2014].

 

 

 

 

 

Reality v. Representation...

Jean Baurdillard puts it pretty simply...

In our postmodern society, we have developed such reliance on 'virtual reality', we have actually lost touch with our true reality that preceded these technologies, platforms, models, applications and maps (cited in Felluga 2011b).

 

Simulacra is referred to as something that replaces reality with its representation.  The theory behind simulacrum (plural: simulacra), as Baudrillard asserts; is that it is not merely a copy of what is classified as 'real' but rather it becomes 'real' in its own right.  Hence, representations of the truth turn into truth in one's mind, often referred to as hyperreal.

 

Hyperreality is defined as simulations or images that "distort the reality it purports to depict or does not in fact depict anything with a real existence at all, but which nonetheless comes to constitute reality" (Collins English Dictionary, 2013).  Take a look at Jean Baudrillard's 'hierarchy of simulation' which consists of 4 levels (orders).

 

EXAMPLES OF SIMULACRA...

The Sims

a life simulation game that depicts life as we know it.  "....lets you play with life like never before.  Create and control new Sims with mind, body and heart.  Build their unique worlds" (The Sims Official Site, 2013)

Dungeons & Dragons

modern role-playing fantasy game

Avatars

a representation (generally graphical) of a online user and their characters/ego's etc.  These may be employed in virtual games or as an icon in online communities, forums, video clips

Robots

mechanical machines controlled by computers or electronics, which enable replacement of humans!

 

 

 

CHECK OUT THIS YOUTUBE CLIP  - very interesting!

 

 

 

Baudrillard, asserts that there are 5 main causes of simulacra evolving:

1. MEDIA CULTURE... contemporary media (internet, TV, film, magazines) controls us as consumers by playing on our desires, needs and wants, encouraging us through virtual and fictional concepts and images, to move from reality to hyperreality.  Encourages us to remove ourselves from reality (Felluga 2011b).

2. EXCHANGE-VALUE... the capitalist culture converted citizens from purchasing goods in terms of use-value, to instead terms of 'what can it be exchanged for, how much is it worth'; hence exchange-value.  This has created a loss of material value and appreciation of 'real' goods, instead a culture based around money and personal gain (Felluga 2011b).

3. MULTINATIONAL CAPITALISM... As industrialisation develops more complex processes, we are losing touch with the basics and the underlying reality of the production of goods/services including the material labourers.  For example, how many could 'identify the actual plant from which the coffee bean is derived from?' (Felluga 2011b).

4. URBANISATION... through its expansion & development of geographical boundaries, it creates a larger space and hence citizens get lost in a large world; losing touch with the natural world (Felluga 2011b).

5. LANGUAGE & IDEOLGOY... Baudrillard asserts that we rely so heavily on language to 'structure our perceptions' and language in modernity today is constructed by simulacra.  Therefore, this is another avenue that allows simulacra to overcome true reality (Felluga 2011b).

 

 

Jean Baudrillard argues that through simulacrum, we have lost the ability to distinguish between reality and representations (Felluga 2011b).  Baudrillard posits that through modernity, real life and virtual fiction are being blended together so that there is no clear distinction, lulling humans into a false world.  Humans are becoming absorbed into an online world where you can control interactions, feelings and emotions...

 

Sherry Turkle's (2009) research suggests that the online virtual world; communities, games and interactions are numbing individuals, especially adolescents.  The virtual world allows our youth to escape and short circuit tough face to face conversations and uncomfortable situations, that are not controllable through a device.

 

My thoughts...

It encourages adolescents especially, to step out of reality and lose touch with 'real' emotions, feeling and empathy for one another; desensitising the generations that are forming our future!  Connecting and somewhat escaping online is disadvantaging kids by diverting them from learning and gaining experience in basic social tools that enable 'real' personal growth and self-esteem.  

References

Anon., 2013. [Online]
Available at: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hyperreality

Felluga, D., 2011. "General Introduction to Postmodernism". [Online]
Available at: http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/postmodernism/modules/baudrillardsimulation.html

Hedges, W., 2010. Art & Technology 8.2 Baudrillard & Simulacra. [Online]
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MmSPo5gg2E

Swinburne, 2013. [Online]
Available at: https://ilearn.swin.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_group=courses&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2FdisplayLearningUnit%3Fcourse_id%3D_149973_1%26content_id%3D_3796657_1%26framesetWrapped%3Dtrue

Turkle, S., 2009. Interview Sherry Turkle [Interview] (22 September 2009).

Vaughan, R., 2013. Introducing the Sims 4. [Online]
Available at: http://www.thesims.com/en-au/the-sims-4#/what-is-the-sims

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Leak or not to Leak....

 "...States have national security concerns, we do not.....we have concerns about human beings" Assange (cited in Cadwalladr).

WIKILEAKS... is a non-profit organisation, explained as a new form of investigative journalism, (Kinsman 2011), that provides everyone with a chance to share and receive news and information through an anonymous channel; referred to as an "electronic drop box" (Wikileaks.org 2013). The goal is to update and inform the public sphere.

 

Initiated by Julian Assange in 2006, WikiLeaks is based upon the principle of freedom of speech and media publishing, in particular Article 19 which states that "everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers" (Wikilieaks.org 2013). 

To find out more, visit http://wikileaks.org/About.html 

 

WikiLeaks agenda claims to provide truth to everyday citizens and their main way of doing this is to make governments and other powerful authorities accountable through 'transparency'....

Bertot, Jaeger and Grimes (2010) suggest that transparency, particularly through governments, is now regarded internationally, as "essential to democratic participation, trust in government, prevention of corruption".  Assange defends that this is exactly what WikiLeaks is produced around and the leaks are fulfilling a gap and providing a service to society.  This supports Henry Jenkin's view  that participatory and convergence culture enables ways to 'democratize and diversify who gets to participate in our culture' (Jenkins 2014).

Kinsman (2011) also confirms that WikiLeaks is part of the revolution of participatory culture, whereby it plays a large role in 're-shaping the relationship between citizens and the state', supplying humans with far more power and information, than ever before.

The controversy...

With this new movement of public involvement and participation, there has been much controversy in particular to  founder Julian Assange, as to whether he is a activist, terrorist, hactivist, or just a plain whistleblower - see this interview to decide... 

 

Some posit that WikiLeaks is immoral, breaches privacy and in the case of the '250,000 diplomatic cable leaks' viewed as vandalism, whilst also producing scepticism and unnecessary concern, which threatens  national leaders and security.  Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton claims that the leaks “..puts people’s lives in danger, threatens our national security, and undermines [US] efforts to work with other countries to solve shared problems" (cited in Kinsman 2011).Despite accusations like this, there has been little to prove that Julian Assange is liable for any activity that crosses any legal boundaries.  The Supreme Court rules that WikiLeaks was in its legal jurisdiction to 'accept and publish such leaks' (Kinsman 2011).  In comparison, one's like Private Bradford Manning who allegedly smuggled information on Afghanistan to Assange, are likely to be liable for breaching codes of conduct and privacy. 

 

In this case of the cable leaks, the leaked documents were extended to over 700 internet sites, not including the newspapers which Assange sent information to.  Interestingly, though it is alleged that Assange actually withheld some information that was reported as "salacious without being significant" (Kinsman 2011).  This to me, illustrates two key elements; one is the scope and coverage that WikiLeaks has, secondly, that the motive of providing useful, informative information may just be the main goal of WikiLeaks, rather than as suggested; acts of terrorism, destruction or troublemaking. 

 To gain further insight on Julian Assange, take a look at this interview...

What the future holds...
Some argue that WikiLeaks will create stricter legislation on publishing information and increased surveillance and security facilitating greater restrictions and secrecy in Governments.  Alternatively, WikiLeaks if carried on, will foster greater democracy and truth, but possibly more social conflict and mayhem!

My thoughts are this...
WikiLeaks is quite within its rights, like everyone other citizen; to publicly share information that is provided to them.  I think that the awareness of this accountability and transparency should ensure that governments, authorities and individual leaders become more diligent and honest through their work as they know that their every move can be circulated globally for intense scrutiny!

References

Anon., 2013. Julian Assange Asylum Seeker - 60 Minutes Australia, s.l.: s.n.

Asaange, 2006. Wikileaks. [Online]
Available at: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Category:Australia
[Accessed 19 January 2013].

Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T. & Grimes, J. M., 2010. Using ICT's to create a culture of transparency: E-government and social media as openness and anti-corruption tools for societies. Government Information Quarterly, 27(3), pp. 264-271.

Cadwalladr, C., n.d. Julian Assange, monk of the online age who thrives on intellectual battle. [Online]
Available at: http://tm.thiememeulenhoff.nl/waspreporter/201000/?pagkey=201000
[Accessed 22 January 2014].

Jenkins, H., 2014. Confessions of an Aca-Fan - The Official weblog of Henry Jenkins. [Online]
Available at: http://henryjenkins.org/
[Accessed 19 January 2014].

Kinsman, J., 2011. Truth and consequence: The Wikileaks saga. [Online]
Available at: http://www.irpp.org/en/po/from-climate-change-to-clean-energy/truth-and-consequence-the-wikileaks-saga/
[Accessed 19 January 2013].

Leigh, D., 2010. US embassy cables leak sparks global diplomatic crisis. [Online]
Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/28/us-embassy-cable-leak-diplomacy-crisis
[Accessed 19 January 2013].

  
 

 

Politics....all within just a click of a button!

It is predicted that in the coming years, politics and election campaigns through the use of social media will be the way of the future.  It is also forecasted that young voters will become far more engaged and involved....

Political consultant expert Paul Begala (cited in Kennedy 2013) claims that the way to connect and reach young demographics is through presence on social media sites. He also believes that if politicians do not keep up with the ever changing and evolving social media platforms, they run the risk of being seen to be 'out of touch' as well as having a disadvantage with less online presence and publicity.

"Obama's victory post was the most 'liked' photo ever posted on Facebook" (Kennedy 2013).

Kennedy's (2013) research claims that social media platforms facilitate greater trust and passion for politicians and their campaigns, mainly through trusted sources such as family/friends posts and thoughts. This is far more personal and persuasive than unknown figures talking on traditional media.  In a recent study with students in America,  recent government elections were perceived as "personal, interactive, and directly targeted to them" (Kennedy 2013).  This feedback reflects Henry Jenkins and Howard Rheingold's theory of participatory culture.  Rheingold believes that with a basis of technology and humanity, the online revolution will create social change through the emergence of virtual communities and participatory culture.  Rheingold also asserts that this shift to participatory culture is a driving force in creating greater equality by removing hegemony power from traditional media, authorities & governments. 

 

Professor Clay Clemens (cited in Kennedy 2013)  has similar views asserting that campaigns through social media create far more interactive avenues for individuals to feel connected and informed..... WE are being invited to be involved in political campaigns reflecting a move to a more egalitarian and democratic world!   

 

So how do people use social media for political purposes?

According to studies conducted by the Pew Research Centre, "66% of social media users have employed the platforms to post their thoughts
about civic and political issues, react to other's postings, press friends to act on issues and vote, follow candidates, 'like'
and link to others' content, and belong to groups formed on social networking sites"

 

So what works for me?

 

Political campaigning through social media platforms for me, supplies a more explanatory message with simplified terminology through creative ways that catch my attention.  I find myself relating to the YouTube clips, the groups/pages and updates that have a brief and simple message or agenda.  Compared to a newsreader or politician being interviewed where information overload and political jargon is constant...this is where boredom sets in for me and I politically 'switch off'!  I think we very  much needed a new approach to excite and involve the public sphere about politics.

I think campaigners, associates and supporters/opposer's need to be careful that there is not too much 'political activity' presented online, especially on social networking sites, which could have the reverse effect and put users off!  

Online campaigning is centred around accountability and image whereby politicians are under much scrutiny; with one small wrong move threatening to discount their credibility.  I think this is a positive for the public as it allows for more honesty and less 'scripted' behaviour.  

One more concern and as Young's  (2011, p.212) research suggests; there is little debate on how the internet has increased the VOLUME of information and opportunity to participate in politics, yet is this enabling a fair opportunity for the wider audience?  Young (2010) discusses the issue of accessibility, providing the example of indigenous people, the elderly, low-skilled employees and or the unemployed; often with limited resources, hence no internet access.  Where does this leave them in this political outreach?

Finally, in line with Paul Begala, I think politicians need to be aware of the power that today's youths hold in determining our future and must recognise the most effective way of reaching them.  Extensive research suggests this is done by constantly updating campaigning in order to reach the most advanced and active audience.....through SOCIAL MEDIA!

What are your thoughts?

I encourage you to think about if or how you USE social media in relation to politics?  Should you participate more or less?  Do you think it is a valid method of campaigning or do you think this is devaluing and or mocking the fundamentals of politics?  Do you see the significance in reaching & involving today's youth in order to achieve in the future? 

 

References

Anon., n.d. Wikipedia. [Online]
Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participatory_culture
[Accessed 10 January 2014].

Islam, Z., 2012. tom's guide. [Online]
Available at: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Barack-Obama-Facebook-Liked-Twitter,news-16278.html
[Accessed 10 January 2013].

Kennedy, K., 2013. Use it or Lose it: Social Media in the 2012 US Election. [Online]
Available at: http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/social-media-role-young-voters-increase-future-US-elections-Obama-Facebook-Twitter
[Accessed 8 January 2013].

Rainie, L. et al., 2012. Social Media and Political Engagement. [Online]
Available at: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Political-engagement.aspx
[Accessed 8 January 2014].

Rheingold, H., 2005. The new power of collaboration. [Online]
Available at: http://www.ted.com/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html
[Accessed 9 January 2013].

Young, S., 2011. News, political reporting and the Internet. In: How Australia Decides: election reporting & the Media. New York: Cambridge University Press, Chapter 10, pp. 203 - 228.