Lection 5. THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF INFORMATION презентация

The amount of information available on the internet is incredibly vast. It used to be measured in megabytes, but now there is so much online media consumed that new terms are needed. One such term is the "zettabyte era," introduced by the American tech company Cisco. A zettabyte is a huge amount of data, equivalent to about 250 billion DVDs.

The internet functions as a memory aid for people, but its continuous growth also creates more data for us to remember. So, it poses both a problem and a partial solution.
In cultural studies, several questions arise in relation to this paradox of information.

AN INFORMATION OVERLOAD
Some people think that having access to a lot of information on the internet is a great thing because it helps us learn and pursue our interests. They see the online world as a place where we can collaborate, participate, and have fun by creating our own identities. On the other hand, there are people who are more skeptical.

SEARCH CULTURE
We've learned that being overly optimistic or pessimistic about the internet isn't helpful. However, without good search tools, the vastness of the internet would be overwhelming and meaningless. Searching is one of the most popular activities online, with billions of people using Google to search for different things every month.

SEARCH CULTURE
We've learned that being overly optimistic or pessimistic about the internet isn't helpful. However, without good search tools, the vastness of the internet would be overwhelming and meaningless. Searching is one of the most popular activities online, with billions of people using Google to search for different things every month.

When we use Google, we pay for access to the search culture with our personal information, which they can monetize. However, the exact price we pay and how it's used is not clear. Google's focus on being open and transparent doesn't apply to their search and advertising algorithms, which are their main source of profit. Google has also been criticized for prioritizing money-making activities over user privacy, which raises ethical concerns.

THE INTERNET ATE MY BRAIN
In his essay titled 'Is Google Making Us Stupid?', writer Nicholas Carr argues that the internet is having a negative impact on our minds. He believes it makes us less able to concentrate, contemplate, and think deeply. Carr explains that reading on the internet is different from traditional reading because hyperlinks constantly distract us and take us to other places, causing us to lose focus.

THE INTERNET ATE MY BRAIN
In his essay titled 'Is Google Making Us Stupid?', writer Nicholas Carr argues that the internet is having a negative impact on our minds. He believes it makes us less able to concentrate, contemplate, and think deeply. Carr explains that reading on the internet is different from traditional reading because hyperlinks constantly distract us and take us to other places, causing us to lose focus.

In response to Carr, Clay Shirky provides an optimistic counterargument. He believes that the internet doesn't diminish literacy but actually makes reading and writing more central activities. Shirky points out that in the history of print, lowbrow content often precedes highbrow content.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Do you think these concerns about
the internet are just another wave of techno panic?

THE RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN
The information we share online often creates a different image of ourselves compared to how we see ourselves or how we want to be seen. This can cause problems because online data can stick around and affect us in the future. Career counselors advise students against posting inappropriate photos online because they could harm their professional reputation later on. In fact, the importance of having a positive online presence has led to the rise of professionals who offer services to improve one's online image.

In terms of the philosophical aspects of the "right to be forgotten," Julia Powles and Enrique Chaparro highlight the difference between the complex nature of human remembering and forgetting and the permanent nature of digital memory. While human minds reconstruct and contextualize memories, the web retains data in a perpetual and decontextualized manner.

INTERNET AUTISM
Although the internet allows people from different backgrounds to connect, it doesn't necessarily result in more diverse political discussions. Instead, it can lead to fragmentation and the emergence of separate groups that only interact within their own circles.

INTERNET AUTISM
Although the internet allows people from different backgrounds to connect, it doesn't necessarily result in more diverse political discussions. Instead, it can lead to fragmentation and the emergence of separate groups that only interact within their own circles.

EDWARD SNOWDEN
In 2013, a former NSA analyst named Edward Snowden leaked classified information to the media, exposing the extensive domestic and global surveillance conducted by the American government. Snowden revealed how digital technology and new software enabled the NSA to monitor people's activities and movements worldwide, making them the virtual controllers of digital information belonging to both Americans and foreigners.

Thanks to Snowden's disclosures, we now know that the NSA had the ability to access emails, Facebook accounts, and videos of people around the world. They secretly obtained the phone records of millions of Americans and acquired digital information from internet companies. In a 2015 interview with talk show host John Oliver, Snowden discussed how most Americans are indifferent to NSA overreach. Oliver humorously suggested that people would only care about the spying if the agency had access to their personal photos.
EDWARD SNOWDEN

CASE STUDY: WALTER SCOTT
In April 2015, a police officer shot and killed an unarmed black man named Walter Scott during a routine traffic stop in North Charleston, South Carolina. The police initially claimed that Scott had gained control of an officer's taser and was trying to use it against him, but bystander videos obtained by the media showed a different story. The videos revealed that the officer, Michael T. Slager, shot Scott eight times in the back as he was running away. The police did not perform CPR on Scott, despite their earlier claims, and instead handcuffed him while he lay motionless on the ground. Slager was later charged with murder.

CASE STUDY: WALTER SCOTT
In April 2015, a police officer shot and killed an unarmed black man named Walter Scott during a routine traffic stop in North Charleston, South Carolina. The police initially claimed that Scott had gained control of an officer's taser and was trying to use it against him, but bystander videos obtained by the media showed a different story. The videos revealed that the officer, Michael T. Slager, shot Scott eight times in the back as he was running away. The police did not perform CPR on Scott, despite their earlier claims, and instead handcuffed him while he lay motionless on the ground. Slager was later charged with murder.

SUMMARY
When the internet first emerged, there were high hopes and exaggerated speculations about its potential. Some believed it would bring about a new era of democracy and activism because it was non-hierarchical and allowed diverse voices to be heard.

The cultural politics of information is a significant topic in internet studies. One challenge is the overwhelming amount of data available, making it difficult to find valuable information. We heavily rely on search engines like Google. Another issue is the lack of information diversity caused by personalized web experiences, creating "filter bubbles" that limit exposure to different viewpoints. Government surveillance is also a concern, with some countries being criticized as enemies of internet freedom.
SUMMARY