Metrics and Analytics: LJ2
After I Read, We Are Data Algorithms and The Making of Our Digital Selves by John Cheney- Lippold I was not shocked about the things that I learned while reading. I have known for quite some time that we have to be careful what we allow on our page because it will never truly go away. What I did not know while reading the preface was that non celebrities have the “right to be forgotten.” Unfortunately, celebrities do not have this choice and have no sense of privacy. I decided to go to Google.co.uk and put my name up to see what I would find but luckily for myself I only saw my previous degree that I had received as well as my high school graduation. I rarely post on any of my social media accounts other than Snapchat and even then, I knew that our data is being watched at all times since my memories would pop up and say for instance “Trip to Alabama.” Even when I did not post my location. Our phone GPS alerts our mobile carrier, Facebook, and our other mobile applications where we are, what time we were there, how long we stayed, and potentially who we are with.” (Cheney-Lippold pg.25). Goes to show how our data algorithms are used to determine our race, class, ethnicity, and much more. You can search up anything and after a while you will start to see those ads pop up on your applications such as Facebook.
In the preface it states, “who we are is not who we think we are, who we are is what our data is made to say about us.” (Cheney-Lippold xii) Algorithms change our personas. This then controls what we see. What I decide I like online does not define me but since this is what my data says about me then that is who I am. In the preface it also states, “Our aspirations, desires, and expectations of life are influenced in some way, by the star images we all encounter.” (Cheney-Lippold xi) I agree with this statement because those in the star image introduce us to different people, materials, and places that we then search up to create our algorithm with. We believe we know those that are in the star image but since our data creates us by determining the places we go and the people we see it can create us in a good or bad image. This is why everyone has to be careful what they post and allow themselves to see. Personally, this reading did not change my way of thinking because I knew that our personas can be created opposite than who we are in the eyes of others, and I will also stand and try to be my true self at all times. I do not want anything I post to affect my personal or professional life badly in any way which is why I am always careful what content I search for and allow on my social media accounts.
Resources:
Cheney-Lippold, J. (2017). We are data algorithms and the making of our Digital Selves. New York University Press.
Hello Arianna!
ReplyDeleteIt seems you and I both had a similar approach to this reading in that we were both long aware of these matters. As many people did, I had many a lecture about being careful about what to post and share online. But I was also aware of many of these matters from a young age. Though I agree with you! I was surprised by the idea of the right to be forgotten. It mentions that in regards to if you had the data results being removed "the answer to this question...will tell you how Google, or more precisely Google's algorithms, have categorized and thus defined you" (Cheney-Lippold, 2019, p.ix). I didn't have any results about me, so I suppose I do not exist to Google. Then again, I also always log out of my google account and usually browse without eing logged in. I love how you brought up the fact that celebrities don't get this idea of the right to be forgotten, it isn't something that they own which should make everyone who does have that right be a bit more appreciative of it. Your caution to what you post is a very good idea and it sounds like you know exactly what to do. Great post!
References:
Cheney-Lippold, John. We Are Data Algorithms and the Making of Our Digital Selves. New York University Press, 2019.
Hello Ariana,
ReplyDeleteIt is advisable to always be aware and understand how social media and internet as a whole can monitor us even without obtaining our consent. This has long been both an ethical and sometimes even legal issues for most social media users, sadly there is little that was done to eliminate such matter. You have done something right, which is to limit personal exposure on the internet by not oversharing and posting unnecessary information. However, that alone might still not be enough to complete erase our footprints off the internet, as you have stated, phones and other handheld GPS devices could potentially expose our identity unknowingly and at any given time.