Crossroads

 

We find ourselves at a crossroads. Do we make technology the end all be all and rely on it to do everything for us? Or do we rely on it to make things easier for ourselves, but still maintain our own control? I would certainly be in trouble if I had to depend on a city map and my skills instead of Google maps! I do also travel with an Atlas because Google does not always know best.

There is a reason that technology, especially AI and VR are so frequently the topics of science fiction writers. There are some scary possibilities. We enjoy reading about those but do not necessarily want to experience them. There is nothing to say that what an author has written about will come to pass. That is why it is called fiction.

AI is an amazing tool while there are some potential scary outcomes, with a little foresight and understanding, there does not need to be.

The key is understanding technology and its uses. Those uses need to be responsible ones “for it [technology] is neither a promise of salvation, nor a prophecy of doom (para. 4). It is all about using the technology responsibly, not all that different from how we use our other tools. It does mean that we need to be more proactive with our technologies, not just those who program them, but us, those who use the technologies. Do you know what information about you companies are collecting and selling? You should, at the very least, be aware. That is an important part of being media literate.

We must move beyond simple acceptance, we need to read and become educated on making our digital experiences better and safer. We are all gatekeepers now, we need to take that duty seriously, not just sharing random videos or headlines to our social accounts. Ask questions. Become more media literate (Baran, 2021). This means understanding that while we have the freedom of speech/communication against persecution from the government (in this country) that is not true for private companies. Companies like Meta. At anytime Facebook or Twitter (X) can decide to remove content they do not like or approve of.

Everyone has their side of a story, as a media literate, educated, responsible, and ethical consumer of digital media, we should not only remember that, but we should demand to hear bothsides. Otherwise, we make judgments and choices with only some of the facts. If we do not deem all stories important, then only some have a voice. That is not what any of us want. After all, what happens if it is our voice that is silenced and our stories that are thought unimportant?

That is the beautiful thing about digital media, we are no longer at the mercy of what other
s believe we should know. The information is out there, and we all have the power to be story writers and producers of content (Baran, 2021., & Filak, 2020). That too is part of being media literate, knowing when to share the stories, and knowing when those stories are not yet ready for the world until more facts have been gathered.

There are times where technology may not work, power outages, driving across the west, being in another county, hiking in the wilderness. It is your responsibility to know another way, not just the digital one. Be able to save yourself if your technology stops working. Do not simply rely on AI to drive your car, remember the feeling of the freedom to drive yourself. Know how to read a map, do not just rely on Google maps to get you there (Sometimes, Google is wrong. Those algorithms that are used are programed by people and while AI is designed to learn from itself from those same algorithms, sometimes mistakes are made).

We should not run away from technology; it should be embraced. Technology is allowing us the ability to do things that we would never have been able to do otherwise. Technology in general, and AI specifically, is helping the educational, medical, and farming fields, we should simply remember that there are other options.

Standing at the technological crossroads, we should choose responsibility, education, and ethical choices striving to become media literate. This will allow us power over the mystical tech.

Interested in knowing more? 

Red Faced Test

 

Ethics are greatly in our mind of late. The digital age has made content creators and publishers of all of us (Handley & Chapman, 2012). With the increasing inclusion of AI and VR ethics are more crucial than ever to instill in our communications. There are all sorts of ethical guidelines out in the world, like the one for the Society of Professional Journalists or SPJ code of ethics. There is a code for the Public Relations Society, or for photojournalists, and I am guessing there is even one for the company you work for.

Ethics is something we think about for big things. Big decisions. But we should consider everything we do, especially our social media, with an ethical lens.

(Gilliland, 2023)

Social media has completely changed the way we look at, and in fact receive our news.
Interestingly influencers have more, well influence, over what might be considered news than professional journalists. This is not to say an influencer does not get to have an opinion, or that their news is not accurate, but an influencer is not the same as a professional journalist. A distinction must be made between an opinion about a topic, and factual information.

Too, there is the desire to be noticed and liked. Would you say or do anything to go viral? It turns out that there is a chemical reaction in our brains when receiving likes, shares, and followers. We like the feeling. Once received it is hard not to want it over and over again making social media potentially addicting. Just think about it. How often do you check your phone? If you say I check it when I first wake up, and then regularly throughout the day, you are not alone. 

Somewhere along the way we changed our behavior and began believing everything that came up on our social media feeds as facts. It is important to ask questions as well.

Ethics comes into play when we ask ourselves “should I?” Not should I buy that lipstick or that dress, but should I kick the dog? There is perspective too, however. If the dog is looking cute and just wants a
pat on the head but you are having a bad day, no you should not kick the dog. 

Most would agree it is wrong and unethical. However, if the dog is trying to bite you, perhaps kicking it would be an appropriate response. 

That is the big thing – there are perspectives, and everyone’s differs. We do not always see the whole picture. Sometimes we just get a sliver of it making judgments based on what we see. 

(Nikolopoulou, 2022)

This holds true, not just of our own experiences, but also information that we find on the internet, and in particular social media.

It’s not our fault

We have been taught to “trust information provided by elites… without questions” (para. 6). Honestly, there is so much information available to any one of us, that overload is a reality. Becoming citizen journalists is not a bad thing; it just means that we must remember there are multiple sides to stories with real, feeling people behind them.  

It Lies With Us

We have the power to do better.

Take the time to do some fact checking before blindly sharing a story. Keep a list of news sources that you do trust. When something pops on your feed, do a quick fact check with your news source of choice. (It is necessary to make sure that they are a “real” news source).

Your feed is for you. It is personalized based on algorithms that are created based on your likes, shares, and follows. By the same token, if you hide things or click on the “show me less” option, the algorithms will do just that. You might miss something.

Read more than just the headline. At the very least commit to skimming the whole article. Be conscious and conscientious of what you are reading. This practice ensures you are more aware of what you are sharing. This will garner you greater respect and the ability to pass the ethical red face test and make the world a better place at the same time. 

 

Learn more

The Gatekeepers of Truth

 

Digital Age Commodities 

Information is a commodity. We can go out and get information like no other time in history. It is literally at our fingertips. Getting this information is an active process. There was a time when we had to wait for the stories to come from someone else. From somewhere else. Others decided what we needed to know about (Baran, 2021).

Not only can we go out and find more information, or stories that actually interest us, we have the ability to take our own video and share them – with anyone in the world.

But should we?

Before social media, Journalist would go out and interview and ground truth the story for us. This is not to say they were always right, but they deal in facts. Social media has given the “common man” the power to decide what is newsworthy and to go after and share that story with others. This is a heady power. With all power there comes responsibility.

It is not just the humans who are creating and sharing questionable stories, but the very way algorithms meant to make our lives easier. As AI is used more and more in journalism it is important to remember that there is a human programmer behind the robot. While the robot might not have any biases, the human does, realized or not.

Algorithms are meant to show you what you want to see, what you enjoy seeing on your social media feed which is one of the things that is so great about social media. It is also something that creates a bit of an information bubble around us. It is worth looking at stories and truths that make us uncomfortable as well. This practice makes us more well-rounded and gives us perspective.

All of the companies we use for social media are private companies. This means that platforms goals and your goals are not necessarily in sync it is also important to note that freedom of speech is not the same with a private company as it is with the government (at least the U.S. government).

 Be the Example

You are the gatekeeper of truths. It is up to you to check the stories you choose to share and create. Everyone has a perspective, and their own truth. If you are sharing your opinion, be sure to tell others that it is just that. Your opinion. 

Do you have all of the facts? From both sides? Will the sharing of the story lead to hurt and mistrust, or will it enlighten and heal? It is important to not read a headline and share it with your friends without looking at the article too. The well-intentioned headlines can be misleading.

 

It is not that words hurt. It is the intent behind the words. Create the stories. Share the stories. But – be mindful of those stories too.

 

Learn more. 

Immersion

 

 VR is here. It is the next big thing. 

Virtual reality or VR is “a computer-generated environment that …  simulates the physical world …”. VR is an immersive experience using a computer, console or goggles/helmet. 

Many of us have met a form of VR watching a 3D movie, or perhaps gaming in the World of Warcraft, Skyrim, or DOOM  Those games are gradually turning from semi-immersiveto fully immersive games. Many gamers have at least tried VR. 

                            Not your thing? 

You don’t game so VR is not going to affect you?

 VR is being used for more than just gaming and movies. Companies have started using VR to train their employees from onboarding before the employee shows up at the office, to creating realistic scenarios for employees to safely engage in learning new skills. This method helps employees gain confidence and makes them feel more valued, especially the remote ones.

 

  

Not just a training tool for adults, VR is making its way into the classroom. Students use all of their senses when learning in VR, making the experience more memorable. These lessons can be adjusted for each student’s interest. Want to see the Jurassic Period? Want to save a life? Truly be a “Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” VR allows kids to experience things in a way books cannot. Students can quite literally experience that other shoe, improving empathy.

                                        Still not sure?

Virtual Reality has recently come to museums as Vincent van Goghs' art becomes so much more than impressive paintings on a wall, but a true experience.

Disney is stepping in as well with Immersive Disney Animation exhibit which is touring to a (potential) city near you allowing you to truly become part of the Disney world.

VR does come with some cautions. Those still developing may run some risks of hindering eye and brain development if allowed to spend too much time in alternate realities. It is not entirely known how too much time in VR can affect adult eyes, but it can make them tired and can cause dizziness and motion sickness. There are even a few cases of broken bones or bruised bodies because there is no concept of what is in the world around you in realty when you are in VR. It is important that you have a safe place when immersing into another reality (Think Avatar).

There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, so making sure you spend more time in this reality is crucial. There is a concern from some scientists that VR can be addicting, especially if your reality is not one you want. More research needs to be done.

There are those who think relying too much on technology is a bad thing (Check out Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt” circa 1950).

 

                                         Here to Stay 

 Regardless of how we feel about it, technology is here to stay. We must understand that there are always inherent risks, and it behooves us to understand what they are before full immersion.

Curious to learn more?