discussion #3
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School
University Of Arizona *
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Course
317
Subject
Communications
Date
May 8, 2024
Type
Pages
4
Uploaded by ElderOpossumPerson1075
1.
In five sentences or less, summarize the connections between the articles (DO NOT
summarize the articles themselves - just the connections between them).
After reading the articles and watching the video connections that can be made between
them is that they all cover different types of cyberbullying and how they occur. They talk
about the most prevalent types of cyberbullying which includes doxing, harassment, and
cyber-stalking. Stopping cyberbullying is a difficult task because there are many different
platforms in which an offender can attack from, as well as create a new profile. Another
connection between these articles is that they talk about what makes people troll online
and various strategies of how to confront trolls. Alltogather all the articles from this week
have many similarities. In the article “Towards a critical theory of online abuse ”, it
highlights the idea that the tensions that exist between communication and
commodification is one of the main reasons that causes online abuse. Adding to that like
earlier mentioned in the “what is online trolling” it further explains who the abusers
usually are and what their reasoning is.
2.
The chapter "Towards a Critical Theory of Online Abuse" (pp. 12-28) provides an
overview of online abuse. On pages 19-26, the author Michael Salter describes
three theories of the role of technology in online abuse.
a)
Briefly describe the three approaches to the role of technology in online abuse. (In
your own words, what are they, and how do they differ from each other?)
The three approaches to the role of technology in online abuse are dystopian, utopian, and
instrumental. The dystopian account of social media suggests that the web and social
media are basically harmful and it has the ability to bring the worst out in people.
Dystopian believers usually feel the need for more regulation and preventions against the
harm that the web is able to cause. Utopian accounts of social media suggest that the
internet as well as social media are inherently good. In other words social media believes
that technological progress is a beneficial force. Instrumental accounts of social media
suggest that the internet is neither good or bad. Rather it is what people make of it which
is either good or bad.
b)
How does the utopian perspective minimize online abuse, and what does that mean
to you? (see page 21)
The utopian perspective minimizes online abuse because it suggests that apart from the
negative impacts, the internet is a place of overall beneficial force. The utopian point of
view states that online harassment is not frequent and the victim is at fault for their
cyberbullying. Thus not getting the amount of attention that situation deserves. What this
means to me is that because people pick to see only the positives, cyberbullying can't
come to an end. Also because of internet supporters saying that limitations placed on the
growth of the internet cause more harm than actual cyberbullying, it can't come to an end.
c)
What solutions does the dystopian view offer online abuse, and what does that
mean to you? (see page 23)
The dystopian view offers the solution to reject social media altogether or to shift to new
platforms that are free from “corporate or government influences”. In my opinion I don't
think that these new solutions will necessarily work. Because first of all the grand majority
of the society we live in is very integrated with social media, and rejecting it is basically
making yourself an outcast to the “world”. Also creating a new platform wouldn't work
because it probably wouldn't provide the same services that the corporate options would
have and it would be demonized as well as limited by mainstream platforms which
wouldn't allow them to take off.
d) Salter argues the instrumental view of technology "assumes that offenders can be
deterred by increasing the likelihood and penalties of detection" (p. 26) and
suggests that people engaging in these problematic online behaviors are acting
rationally. (*Note, the idea of a "rational actor" is a larger academic term with layers
of depth. Interpret the idea of "rational" as you would like.) Do you think more
penalties will stop problematic behaviors? Or are more social factors at play
motivating this behavior? What in society has made some think it is appropriate to
engage in online abuse? What could be done to decrease the amount of online
abuse?
I do not believe that increasing the penalties of problematic online behavior will stop it
from happening online and on social media platforms. Because just like people create
alternatives to slurs when an offensive word is not allowed anymore people will also find
alternatives to the restrictions placed. Having a mob mentality is also a contributor to
cyberbullying just like traditional bullying. Because if the offender feels like they have the
backing of a mob they will feel inspired as well as protected to keep up with what they are
doing. Also polarization has also made it so that engaging in cyberbullying is acceptable if
the victim doesn't share the same beliefs. What could be done to decrease the amount of
online abuse is to remove identity protection as well as not allowing anyone to be
anonymous.
e)
In your own words, based on Salter's analysis, how does utilizing the word
"cyber-crime" or "cyberspace" make it more difficult to theorize online abuse? (see
pages 26-28)
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