SOC 250 Notes PDF

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All of the lecture notes. Professor Ann Frost...

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Government 

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The government is not supposed to act in secrecy. o Media is the 4th branch of government that checks it o Exposes government actions and ideas Media is supposed to be fair and not have very much power but now it can be biased and has a lot of power over society Quickens policy making because so many people know about the issues and more people are involved in helping on issues such as police brutality and school shootings. Abusive authority of the government

American Politics Politics: 1. the activities, actions, and policies that are used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence a government. 2. a person's opinions about the management of government; the process of making decisions applying to all members of each group. Media: the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the internet), regarding collectively; "an intervening agency, means, or instrument" and was first applied to newspapers two centuries ago. What do we want media to do/to be?  Unbiased  Informative  Objective  Participatory 

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Media as the fourth branch of government o The fourth branch of government refers to a group that influences the three branches of government defined in the American Constitution (legislative, judicial, executive). Such groups can include the press, the people, and the interest groups. o The media informs the people of what the government is doing  Like a check for the government Representative democracy - free and fair elections o Information required o Faith in electoral process required o Provides legitimacy for elected government Political knowledge, perception of fairness-influences whether people participate or protest o How has this played out in recent election/American politics'  President Trump's critique of media  Mueller's investigation and report-which public hasn’t seen  Russia connection  Electoral college v. popular vote  Women's marches Social media/internet

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Changes landscape/relationship between government and citizens Instant communication Citizens can initiate communications with government Government can bypass traditional media Providing (objective) information --> actively engaging citizens, intervening in society  Conversation rather than one sided communication  New way for citizens to be involved, another mechanism for proving legitimacy for government.

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Information Bias #1  

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Framing a story o Setting up a story to make it appear how you want it to Narrative o Imposed on material o The story you want to tell o Leaves out underlying issues o Illusion of presidency  Ideology/competence  President shaping events President Trump's narrative o Us vs. them mentality o Unapologetic o Successful businessman, going to run the country the way he runs his businesses. How people topple his narrative: o People have pointed out that he his businesses have become bankrupt; he has had lawsuits. o People respond to his tweets o Talking about his family issues Personalization of politics is important to know what the definition is Four sources of information bias: 1. Personalization 2. Dramatization 3. Fragmentation 4. Authority disorder bias

Information Bias #2   

Using our voice as a weapon against oppression Rodney King - LA riots 1992

Four sources of information bias: 1. Personalization  Emphasizing the personal narrative and making it seem relative to everyone else. It could happen to you/it has happened to you so you can relate and be drawn into the story. 2. Dramatization

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Focusing the story on the sensational parts, people will be more interested. Pick parts of the story might not tell the entire story. 3. Fragmentation  Cutting up the story so that it is digestible, gets to more people quicker. Leaving a lot of the story out even if they only report the informational bits. 4. Authority disorder bias  When something is wrong and scares the citizens, but citizens are hopeful because there is someone who can come in and solve it like the president, the CDC, the military, etc. Video example: 1. Dramatization:  Calling it the "The Final Showdown"  Showing the fires of a burning building due to protests  Police brutality trying to stop the protests 2. Personalization:  Had a woman saying she was a mother and didn't want to be hurt or go to jail, people can relate to being a mother. 3. Fragmentation:  Doesn’t explain why the company says pipes are cheaper and safer than trucks and trains.  Only shows the violent protests even though there have been peaceful ones. 4. Authority disorder bias:  Said that President Trump signed something that overturned Obama's previous Bias in media: 1. In the context of politicians controlling narrative, story frame 2. In the context of media controlling narrative, story frame  What about the context of citizens controlling narrative, story frame? What does civic engagement mean? 1. How should/do citizens interact with politics, social issues, etc.  Voting  Protests  Social media talks 2. Catfishing:  Telegraph as ancestor to social media dating  Anonymity, mystique - ability to create a new identity  This aides in online dating - what about politics?  What are societal expectations in relation to what a person posts on social media?  How does anonymity, or the ability to create an online persona, impact politics?  For a politician vs. a citizen 3. Historical social media:  Human beings are wired for sharing  "Let truth and falsehood grapple"  Truth vs. false can duke it out and we'll find the truth  We have always had the means to share, social media just makes it faster Internet history:

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Range of actors: web users, producers, and investors that make decisions about which tech or media to promote and use, how to use them, which ones to invest in, etc.  Not simply the product of individuals making rational decisions  Shaped by culturally specific values, beliefs and practices, political and commercial interests, and constraints of available tech 2. Instead of our interaction with the medium being driven by some tech force such as the web's true nature, it is the opposite: these decisions and the cultural, political and economic values they stem from have real impact on how the web develops through time.

How We Communicate 

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Impact of internet on personal communication o Does the internet drive us apart or connect us?  People pay less attention to people closer to us (face to face), but with the internet, we can reach out to more people in the world than ever.  Communication through technology almost cheapens the experience. E-invite vs. asking in person o Losing personal connection  Connection vs. conversation  We are alone together o People still connect:  Use public spaces  Red Square, Seattle Center, The Hub, etc.  Study about phones and communication found that people are usually in groups, and only about 3-4% of people were on their phones.  Does this really mean that phones don't disconnect us from people?  Depends on location - in class vs. at the dinner table vs. at the mall vs. in bedroom  You can be with a group of people and feel lonely  You can be by yourself with your phone and feel content o Without cell phones, a person could go an entire day without contact with anyone because they are too busy to go and meet someone, but with cell phones at least you are able to communicate with someone even if it is not face to face. People can use the internet to troll others, put on a persona. They threaten to beat people up but would never do it in real life if they met them. The dark web o Criminal enterprise o Forum for debate/political dissent o Clear web-government surveils, and sites can remove activists’ pages o Pseudonym (not anonymity)  Hide your identity, nothing is traced back to you. o Not only used for criminal activity  Also used for social benefits, furthering political gains, and communicating propaganda. Internet surveillance Trolls o Someone who comments on someone's post negatively

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Some can do it jokingly, but it is usually done in a more negative manner To get a reaction out of people, To get attention (especially when trolling someone famous) There are no repercussions because you're hiding behind a screen and a username

- Midterm Review 

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role of media in US politics; media as fourth branch of government - think about what we expect from media v. what actually exists Schoolhouse Rock - as an introduction to media and politics for kids (pros and cons)

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how citizens use media; citizens initiating contact with government through media - think about how internet and social media have changed the ways in which citizens interact with government/politics

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information bias; narrative; four sources of information bias - think about all of this in the context of how politicians can control a story, how media can control a story, and how citizens can control a story (definitions don't have to be word for word)

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internet history - think about the parts of humanity that always exist regardless of the methods of communication; instinct to communicate similar regardless of available technology

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communication - how has internet/social media impacted how we communicate with each other more or less connected; more or less communication; ability of people to troll others

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lack of diversity in contribution to technology - think about issues that arise with this Dark web: as another platform of communication, not only used for criminal activity but also used for people to communicate ideas such as politics that might otherwise be opposed by the government/censored or have the ability to discuss them freely. Not only Americans. They can do so anonymously so it allows for completely free expressions of thoughts. What is good about the anonymity and what is now? What we expect from media: to give us information about our world and society.

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What we actually see: bias, personal opinions by some media outlets, reporting stories that may not be accurate. Information bias (what story is going to sell)

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Know both sides of the story (BOTH PROS and CONS) MC questions are more concrete but for the short answers, both pros and cons apply (know a couple points from each side)

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Social media helps connect or drive us apart: no correct answer, most likely will be a short answer question, give answers about both sides.

Topic 1: Media and Politics  What is the historical relationship between the media and the government in the American context? Explain why the media is sometimes considered a "fourth branch" of government, and discuss the treatment of journalism in America's founding documents o Used as a check for the government o Journalists get a special protection because of their long history with the government.

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Relationship between media and democracy, the relationship between "press freedom" and electoral integrity o More people involved o Freedom of press = first amendment o High level of press freedom = higher electoral integrity o Comes from week 2 reading How has social media altered the ways in which citizens and governments can communicate with one another o Social media enabling horizontal spread of ideas much quicker o London riots 2011 o More direct, effective to get the government's attention Summarize iGen's argument discussed in the Livingstone's (2018) review of Twenge's book. Book author claims that smartphone users are "less rebellious, more tolerant, and less happy." Livingstone's critique of Twenge (the book author) o Less binge-drinking = less rebellious o More internet, early on, exposed to more ideas becoming more tolerant o But you can't pin all these factors on smartphones alone (Livingstone)

Topic 2: Information Bias:  Rise of opinionated news. Opinionated vs. objective views. How do consumers perceive bias in the news media? What is "narrative" in the context of news and news bias. How do politicians attempt to control and frame these narratives? o People only accept bias if it agrees with their viewpoint and vice versa.  Define four sources of information bias. How is information bias different from "partisan bias"? o Personalization o Fragmentation o Dramatization o Authority disorder bias o In the news, even if it is striving to be objective o Inherent in the news media Topic 3: History of the Internet  Why is social media not as "new" as we think it is? In what ways is social media actually new/distinct? o Catfishing article, still happened in the past through telegraphs o Social media is just more broad and easier to access now, everyone can access whereas in the past it was only for those who had access to telegraphs. o Humans are naturally wired to share information  Scrolls with the Romans, pamphlets, etc.  How has ideology and culture influenced the development of the internet? How has the internet changed over time, and it what ways has it stayed the same? o Larger scale now, the values we have when using it are the same. o Chronicles how the internet was not a spontaneous idea but developed over time, with the ideas that we all wanted, to communicate with each other. Topic 4: Relating to Each Other:  Turkle (2012) reading and Oppenheimer (2014) reading. In what ways might the internet bring us together? In what ways might it make us more isolated? o Together alone (Turkle) o Talk to more people than ever

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People aren't on their phones as often as you think (Oppenheimer)

Schoolhouse rock: -Pros: straight-forwarded -Cons: can be confusing for them later when they learn more, only from one POV.

Internet Surveillance 

Why do we post online? o To share our opinions o To let our friends and family know what we are doing o To have conversations with people o To represent ourselves the way we want to  When is it too much/too far? o When our information is sold to third parties, o We leave "data trails"  The government cannot break our right to privacy because the Supreme Court says it although it is not in the Constitution  Corporations are the ones watching us, regular people like us aka the third parties o They are violating our right to privacy o Everything is happening without our consent with every site we visit Terms:  Politics: 1. the activities, actions, and policies that are used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence a government. 2. A person's opinions about the management of government; the process of making decisions applying to all members of each group.  Democracy: free and fair elections; Information required; Faith in electoral process requires; provides legitimacy for elected government  Civic participation: voting; protest; informed; etc.  Capitalism: an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. o Private property; accumulation of wealth; wage labor; voluntary exchange; price system; competitive markets.  Surveillance capitalism: we all receive a free service, which enables the providers to monitor our behavior o "Machine intelligence" then uses this information to create "prediction products"  These products are traded on the behavioral futures markets.  The watchers and the watched o Creates inequality in knowledge and power  With nearly no oversight  What does this mean for democracy? o Eliminating any possibility of self-determination o What use of digital technology would be empowering and/or consistent with democratic values? o What are some ways to get there?  Engineered into ignorance

Political Economy of News Monoculture: everyone can connect about the same things as each other (pop culture)

Instagram: @publiclandshateyou  How can we categorize the use of social media? Think about the concepts we have been discussing is this: o Trolling? o Protest? o Political speech? o Journalism?  What is monoculture? o What is good about it?  People can earn an income from it such as Instagram models/influencers  Connect with each other  Create a community  Possibility of exposure, putting yourself out there. Athletes, Youtubers, etc. o What is bad about it?  Creates pressure on people, they have to look a certain way or like certain things that are the same as everyone else. o Can we define a "monoculture" in a diverse society?  We all have something in common, maybe not the way we look or the way we live our lives, but our opinions about movies and songs can be the same no matter where we are from and who we are. o We can share and talk about the same things as pop culture  Why does mainstream-or monoculture remain dominant o Is this influenced by surveillance capital? If so, how?  Ownership and News Coverage o Private owner may influence according to ideology or journalistic goals  More substantive political information o Corporate ownership influence according to profit maximization  Less substantive political information o 6 media giants now own 90% of what we read, watch, or listen to.  Disney  CBS  News-Corp  Time Warner  Viacom  GE

Policing the Internet 

First amendment- "freedom of speech, or of the press…and to petition the government for a redress of grievances" o Once you allow the government to censor someone else, you cede to it the power to censor you, or something you like. o Freedom of expression for we require freedom of expression for others. It is at the very heart of our democracy o There are exceptions to the 1st Amendment protection of speech and expression:  True threat/fighting words  Obscenity

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 Inciting violence  Child pornography.  Disturbing/graphic content Russian interference with presidential election o Contract workers; lower skilled; $13-$28 per hour; have to work quickly; access to counseling The law is slow to follow the changes in society o As a result, we are also behind on regulation of the new media, what is the new appropriate use of media? Harms to the content moderatos: o Psychological trauma brought to them o People think different things are traumatizing o These workers are choosing for everyone else o No specific training is given to them o Possibility of desensitization Platform as a 'mere conduit' and not responsible for what users post Examples: o Logan Paul controversy  Impact on audience  Responsibilities of producers  Liability of providers o Facebook and Instagram - Mark Zuckerberg  Infowars, Milo Yiannopoulos, and Louis Farrakhan (among others) have been banned.  For their extremist views, and misinformation, election interference.  "We've always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology. The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and it is what led us to our decision to remove these accounts today." (from an employee of Facebook)  Facebook held liable for misuse of users' personal information, but will Zuckerberg be personally liable?  To what extent should Facebook be held liable?  Should Zuckerberg be personally liable?  What would that accomplish for privacy, and content abuse?  It's hard for the government because Facebook also has lobbying power. Platforms have economic considerations; but what responsibility do they have? o They should have responsibility; they should still care about what people want to see and what they don't want but it's hard since there is money involved and everybody wants money. Can/should the creative choices of producers (people who post on social media sites) be regulated/restricted? o Is content moderati...