The cultural politics of information. Lection 5

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.

3.

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.

4.

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.

5.

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.

6.

7.

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.

8.

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.

9.

10.

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.

11.

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

12.

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.

13.

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.

14.

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.

15.

16.

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.

17.

EDWARD SNOWDEN
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.

18.

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.

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20.

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.

21.

SUMMARY
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.

22.

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