Technology's Impact on Privacy

In today's age, privacy is not a given; it is something that is routinely negotiated, tracked, and in some instances, violated. The four TED Talks from class collectively analyze how technology has outpaced ethics and legal protection, which raises concerns about online permanence and consent.

The first talk compared traditional tattoos to "electronic tattoos," essentially serving as a metaphor for digital footprint. The speaker explains that unlike traditional tattoos, electronic tattoos live on long after you die. Tattoos will fade or can be removed overtime, but electronic tattoos will persist. Our posts, comments, and online interactions will outlive us, remaining accessible long after our death. The TED Talk has reframed the way I think about digital presence: According to a study by Knowledge at Wharton, 56% of employers checked digital footprint before extending an invitation to interview. While online actions feel temporary or reversible in the moment, everything we choose to share online are permanent and can have long-term consequences, and it's important to consider what we post before we hit the button. 

The second talk expanded upon the idea of electronic tattoos by focusing on the loss of privacy in everyday life. Police departments collect and store vast amounts of data on regular citizens, and it raises questions about the ethics behind the data that is being stored on people who have not yet done anything wrong. When the government collects data simply because they can, it shifts the power away form the governed and back to the government.

Although the third talk was more difficult to follow, its discussion of wiretapping phone calls and text threads reinforces the idea that no conversation is truly individual. The access to private conversations online blurs the line between protection and invasion of privacy, leaving us to question how much access the government should have to vulnerable information.

The last talk about revenge pornography was the most emotionally powerful and compelling. The speaker shared her personal experience about a devastating failure of our legal system to protect her from cyber attacks and non-consensual images shared. She expressed frustration over the lack of accountability and punishment for the criminals who post revenge porn, which places the burden on the victims more than the perpetrators. According to a statistic by Fighting Knife Crime, 1 in 5 adults reported being victims of revenge porn, and of these victims, over half reported suicidal thoughts following the exploitation. The testimony from the talk highlights an important idea that our current legislation allows harm faster than laws can prevent or reverse it.

The four TED Talks underscore an important idea that communication ethics should evolve with technology. Without a proper understanding of ethics when creating legislation, it allows the permanence of online posts to be weaponized and cause more harm than good.

Interpreting the Eight Values of Expression

Why Marketplace of Ideas Matters

When reviewing the Eight Values of Expression, one in particular sticks out to me: Marketplace of Ideas. This value resonates with me because it feels foundational to the others. Many of the remaining values, such as protecting dissenting voices, criticizing the government, and encouraging social progress, cannot truly exist without an open exchange of ideas. The value states that all ideas should be on the table and a topic of discussion, even those that are unpopular, controversial, or deemed "bad." While this concept is uncomfortable, it is a crucial and necessary step to fostering change.

When Controversy Leads to Change

The idea behind the marketplace of ideas is that through debate and exposure, the best ideas will rise to the top. If only widely accepted or popular opinions are allowed to circulate, society risks stagnation. Some of the most meaningful change in history has originated from ideas or concepts that were once scrutinized- such as the fight for Black civil rights in the US. In Martin Luther King's once-disruptive words, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal,'" a vision that was initially met with tension ultimately helped reshape public opinion and drive necessary change.

Cancel Culture and Self-Censorship Today

This value feels especially relevant in the context of modern-day cancel culture. Although the First Amendment protects us from government punishment for most forms of speech, societal punishments still exist. Society has increasingly labeled certain opinions as unacceptable, even when they are legally protected. While individuals may not face imprisonment for expressing diverse ideas, they may face backlash on social media or repercussions on college campuses or in the workplace. This creates an environment where people have started to self-censor out of fear, which suppresses potentially good ideas. According to a poll from APM Research Lab, 77% of American adults self-censor, in most cases to avoid conflict. This raises an important question: why should conflict be an anticipated result of exchange of ideas?

Why Dissent Must Be Protected

The United States separates itself from other nations through its strong protections of freedom of expression. The first amendment allows citizens to criticize the government and present dissenting opinions, reflecting values #5 and #8, which emphasize the right to question the government and have dissenting ideas. These values go hand-in-hand with the Marketplace of Ideas, as criticism and dissent cannot exist without a space for all ideas to be expressed. If society limits which ideas are allowed into public discourse, innovation and growth will inevitably be hindered. Protecting the Marketplace of Ideas, even when it is uncomfortable, is crucial in efforts to move forward as a democratic society.

If free expression only protects ideas most agree with, is it truly free?

Top 5 Sources of News

1. Fox News

Fox News is a national news outlet that delivers political news through television. It is known to lean conservatively with structured reporting from consistent news anchors. I turn on Fox because I can trust it to provide accurate and timely information with great detail.

2. Instagram

Instagram is a social media platform where news can be shares through posts, stories, reels or direct messages. I get news from Instagram through political accounts, news channel accounts, or public officials like President Trump. The app allows me to quickly read headlines and summaries of an event or trending story if I haven't yet had the chance to research the issue myself.

3. X

X, formerly Twitter, is a text-based platform used to share news or viral stories. X is an app used by journalists, public officials, politicians, influencers, and normal citizens like me. 

4. TikTok

TikTok is a video-based platform where news is communicated by engaging short-form content. Although TikTok is a source to immediately discover news, I often have to fact check what I see because there is little to no fact-checking on the app, making it easy for misinformation to quickly spread.

5. Word of mouth

Word of mouth, or information shared directly through family, friends, and peers, is another news outlet I utilize. Conversations are often informal and/or biased, but it's one of the most common ways I am initially introduced to new stories.