The Rise of the Internet 

From newspapers to radios and televisions, to now, the Internet and social media, popular forms of media content are always changing. Currently, we live in a world run around social media and the Internet. News that was once only found in print is now broadcasted on Twitter, Facebook, and other internet outlets 24/7. With the rise of the Internet, connecting billions of people around the world in an instant social media, search engines, and apps have become an everyday part of people’s lives. Social media has stretched far from its initial purpose with social influencers now making a living promoting products, social movements allow people to use social media for political engagements, and dating apps use unique algorithms to create relationships. 

The Internet Industry

Although it might seem hard to remember a time without the Internet, it isn’t that distant. According to Media Today: Mass Communication in a Converging World, the World Wide Web was not even a thing until Tim Berners-Lee created it in 1990 (Turow). The Internet is a global system that is connected through computer networks linking billions of people together. The ability for a message to be released to the world in an instant has made social media so influential.  Used amongst all ages, but more specifically, the younger generations, social media allows people to interact with others around different content (Turow). Applications, otherwise known as apps, bring content to the audience on a phone or tablet rather than websites. Most companies have both websites and apps to convergence their material to all viewers. Along with the power of social media, many ethical issues have risen. The problem that has caused the most concern is privacy. Many users worry that the information they enter on one website can be shared amongst others. While the consumer worries about their privacy, media outlets state that this information that is given freely is used to stay competitive for advertisers (Turow). The rise of the Internet and social media has allowed for the initial purpose to spread far and impact more people.  

Social Influencers 

Being a celebrity nowadays can mean many different things. Social media allows you to connect with the actresses, sports players, or singers that you want. Nowadays, we typically refer to those online who fall under one of those categories or make personal brands with the use of social media as a “social media influencer.” Celebrities have been around since the beginning of time, but with the use of social media, “getting famous” is not as hard as it once was. Depending on their popularity in the industry, those who are social media influencers have a wide variety of audiences, and based on their followers; they have varying amounts of credibility. These influencers have caused their audiences to establish parasocial interactions. Social media has taken the idea of a celebrity to a whole new level.

The Kardashian’s have now become a household name. With the use of social media and their TV platform, there is no doubt that they have become one of the most famous families in the world. Endorsements, advertisements, and appearances are all places where the Kardashian/Jenner family has made a lot of money. While it depends on what sister is posting, it has been rumored that Kim Kardashian, with 37.9 million followers, makes $200,000 for each tweet that she posts as an endorsement. If you compare that to Paris Hilton, another media personality, who makes $80,0000, it is clear that that there is a significant difference (Kirst). On the other hand, Instagram is paying a whole lot more. Kylie Jenner, who has 141 million followers on Instagram, makes 1 million dollars per paid Instagram post (Mejia). Most of the time, these influencers do nothing for free. That can be very dangerous, depending on what they are endorsing or advertising. We cannot be certain that these celebrities are using what they are endorsing and a lot of time they advertise substances that you are putting in your body. An instance occurred where Kim Kardashian was forced to take down a post by the FDA because Kim did not evaluate any of the risks in her post, and only appreciated the benefits (Kirst). Now on any social platforms it is required to state if a post is a paid sponsorship or not. With these sponsorships influencers were able to establish brands. 

            Kylie Jenner has primarily created her empire through the use of social media and was named as the youngest self-made billionaire. This started many controversies because many people were unsure that she fit the title of self-made with her companies. Despite these controversies Kylie Skin and Kylie Cosmetics has made Kylie Jenner very successful. She started using Snapchat to advertise her products, and eventually, her products were selling out in a matter of seconds. While Kylie Jenner has been raised in a famous family, she took full advantage of it as soon as she could. The social media industry has opened many doors for influencers, but also allowed for political movements to occur. 

Social Movements 

While social media can cause a lot of harm, it has the ability to have a significant impact. One of the most well-known social movements as of today is the #BlackLivesMatter. This movement was started in 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin. While the hashtag did not get popular during this time, it eventually became an advancement that everyone was aware of. As of May 1st of 2018, the hashtag is used 17,002 times per day on average (Anderson). The effectiveness of these movements has been questioned over and over again. Social activism is critical, and social media allows us to advocate for what we believe in. Social media has also caused us to question whether or not it should be used for political gain. As the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag was getting popular, the use of the #MAGA (Make America Great Again) hashtag was also gaining momentum. According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of Americans feel that social media is effective for creating movements for social change (Anderson). Creating social change with the help of social media can be very effective if it is conducted correctly. 

Dating Apps 

Although social media being used to spread political and ethical messages, it is also used by many to find love through dating apps. In recent years dating apps have had a significant impact on marriages in society. In a study done by the University of Chicago, they determined that “more than one-third of marriages between 2005 and 2012 started online” (Marotti). The Internet is a way for people to connect, and dating sites and apps like eHarmony have allowed people to meet each other romantically. It isn’t just random luck of finding someone you’re interested in, but a specific algorithm goes behind the matchmaking of these sites. 

While some site uses facebook and comparing friends, others use a rating system to find potential dates (Marotti). An algorithm created by sites use data gathered on how the consumer interacts on different profiles and who they would be attracted to. Although these algorithms are always changing depending on the different users and activities,  dating apps are still a crucial part of how people in society meet today. According to our textbook, the Internet is a way to link and connect billions of people, and over time, this has allowed relationships to form and a new way for people to meet their significant others. 

Questions Risen From the Internet Industry 

Chapter six in Media Today went over a vast amount of factual information including  the small parts that make it function, its history, and the spawning of social media. With the chapter encompassing so much information, it created many questions pertaining to how everything is implemented. 

Many questions could be drawn from the chapter on net neutrality. The 2015 Net Neutrality decision had the potential to create massive change; it can be debated if it would have been positive or negative. Then the 2015 decision concluded that the Internet should be regulated as a “common carrier.” What exactly does that mean? It means that Internet service providers would no longer have to treat all Internet communications equally, and not discriminate or charge differently based on user, content, website, platform, application, type of equipment, or method of communication. How does the Internet compare and contrast with other common carriers such as telephone companies, water companies, and or railroads? One thing that is different between them is that the Internet is singular while telephone companies, water companies, and or railroads are plural and who are owned by many.  Will this positively or negatively impact innovation and development on the Internet? This can be debated both ways depending on opinion but will be interesting to discuss with a diverse audience. 

Another topic that can drive questions from chapter six is the duality of how mobile devices both provide Internet access and information for publications. For example, what is the difference from reading the New York Times article on its website or browsing through its mobile app? Web apps need an active Internet connection in order to function, where mobile apps have the ability to work offline. Mobile apps have the advantage of being faster and more efficient, but they do require the user to download updates, while web apps will update automatically regularly.

One last source from chapter six that may stem some questions is digital profiling and if a person’s online use represents who they are and if messages should be targeted towards a person based on their online behavior? This question has no right or wrong answer, but again, it would be interesting to hear the responses from individuals in a group. The act of monitoring a person’s behavior online may seem intrusive to most, but others may like having advertisements directed towards them on things that they may like rather than random advertisements.

Conclusion

In conclusion chapter six is really informative on how the Internet works and makes readers think and ask questions. Media literacy is fundamental in today’s modern economy and society, thus learning everything in the chapter has been truly rewarding. Over the last few decades the Internet and social media has allowed consumers to interact which each other around the world. As a result, social media has created an environment where social influencers, social movements, and dating apps thrive.

Sometimes, you just need to take a walk. I find it really relaxing to go for a walk, especially when I’m stressed out. So I did just that, I went exploring Downtown. There are so many places I didn’t even know about. Everyone always says that Penn State is in the middle of nowhere and now that I think about it they don’t know what they are talking about. You haven’t seen nowhere until you have been to my town. People come there just to go hiking and skiing because there is literally nothing to do there. It is like a thirty minutes drive just to get to a grocery store.

But of coarse halfway through my little adventure downtown, it started to rain. When I left, it was clear blue skies and no sign of rain in the forecast. I did not bring my bag, so that meant no umbrella. So I started my way back and then the rain stopped. I looked back, and there was a rainbow. I just had to stop and take a picture. What I learned from this adventure is to always bring an umbrella and make the most out of crappy weather because sometimes you will see a rainbow.

I am unaware as to why I find such competitions between companies so humorous, but I am sure that I am joined by many. To be honest, it is an excellent advertising strategy.  All a lot of companies do this type of “trolling.” It gets people laughing and talking, so it does what it was made to do. These kinds of ads are lighthearted and arguably really funny. It must be hilarious to see these signs walking down the street. I am unfortunately not lucky enough to have a McDonalds and a Burger King in close vicinity to one another where I am from. So no funny signs for me, but I do get to enjoy them online like the many other consumers.

This advertisement was not only meant to be funny signs; it was intended to go viral. This kinda advertisement benefits both companies its almost like free advertisement. If they make a funny sign or troll companies online, many of these kinds of things go viral. Thus expanding the companies’ reach without exactly paying for it. It’s creative.

Natalie Montanez is a Junior at Penn State, and I met her in the HUB. Natalie is Columbian and comes from a tiny but diverse town in rural Pennsylvania. She is actually roommates with a girl who graduated from my school a couple of years ago. We didn’t have much time to talk, so she gave me her phone number and we Facetimed later.

Natalie enjoys going to the gym, we once even bumped into each at the IM Building. She loves listening to all types of music and doing volunteer work, another thing we both have in common. She loves everything Disney and just recently went on a trip there with her best friends. Her friends all vary in ages, genders, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic standpoints. Natalie doesn’t look for specific people to talk to, so it is effortless for her to make friends, she says being brought up in such a diverse place plays a key fact into this. She planned on becoming an eye doctor, but now she is not certain, but she definitely still wants to work in the medical field.

She feels very connected to and proud of her Hispanic roots. Her family has loads of traditions such as putting an angel on the Christmas tree and not a star, kissing family members on the cheeks as greetings and having empanadas on Thanksgiving. She used to miss being home a lot because of the massive change of culture, but then Natalie realized how vast the culture Penn States has. There are so many different types of clubs and events celebrating the Latina/Latino community.
Coming to Penn State was a real shock for her, she wasn’t even going to apply, but when she visited her top choice, she hated. So then Natalie visited Penn State and then she knew right away that this was going to be her home. Penn State is so welcoming and has so many clubs, and organization aiding in the letting diversity thrive here on campus.

“Of coarse” Natalie says, when being questioned if she has ever been faced with prejudice or stereotypes. She spoke of one incident that happened with a friend where Natalie got a call from her Mom while hanging in this girl’s dorm, and the girl was like “pass the phone to me I can speak Spanish,” which really upset Natalie because her Mom speaks English just fine. Another incident is when she made an Ambassador for a group, where the majority of Ambassadors are white people, and somebody said it was because she looked mostly white. I can personally relate to this incident because being biracial I don’t really look black or wholly white and people always say phrases like you are the whitest half-black person I know.”, or personally my favorite” I thought being half black would mean that you could dance.”.

Natalie is a very polite person whom I have a great deal in common with. We both use Instagram and get our news from CNN and Twitter. We were both in the National Honor Society and Choir in high school. Plus we both love Penn sates and are so excited for the kickoff of the football season. She said her first football game will always be one of the memories when she thinks back to her first year at college. I just can’t wait to begin my fall semester here at Penn State.

Outside of Sparks on this nice rainy day.

Again this was an assignment that I was not looking forward too.  I thought it would be weird or awkward to show up to a professor’s office hours, but again, I was proven wrong. Professor Firgens helped me a lot with this Problem Policy Speech outline. I did not do as well as I had hoped on the assignment. I had thought I did really well and so I didn’t understand my grade, but after speaking with Firgens, I realized how complex my policy was and how I poorly organized it. He gave me tips on how to correct it and his opinion all while explaining it in a way that did not make me feel incompetent. I wish I weren’t so hesitant to go to office hours before because it would have been more helpful to accomplish this while I was writing the outline not after, but lesson learned.

I also learned a lot about him and his educational voyage. Hearing his tale of him discovering what he wanted to do at college and how it changed from what he thought it was from high school to halfway through college was enlightening. I have this great fear that I will not find out what I really want to do and I will graduate with a degree that I have no use for, then struggle to pays bills for the rest of my life. So many people talk about how the vast majority of people change their career path at least six
times, and it seems so daunting to me, but hearing a real testimony of that was a little bit reassuring.

Now that I got over the hurdle of meeting a professor during office hours, I feel I will not be as hesitant to go to more in the future.

Okay, so I am not going to lie, at first, I thought this was a stupid requirement for an assignment. Like why do I have to go a tutor to review my group paper, but now after the fact I am so thankful that I did. I never knew of all the fantastic resources the tutoring center offers or how helpful it is to have a person who is not a peer or someone of similar intellect to review a paper. I met with a tutor how was super helpful in the aspects of content, grammar, and format. I would never have thought of some of the things that he showed us, and now I am really grateful that meeting with a tutor was a requirement for this assignment.

I am also genuinely grateful that meeting with a tutor was a summer session requirement because now I am now aware of where to go and what resources are available to me. I am taking Italian in the fall, and I learned that Italian, French, and Spanish language tutors are not appointment based and I can walk in any time. I am so going to do this all the time, I really want to prepare myself for studying abroad, so I want to master the language the best I can before the time comes.

I kind of feel bad for complaining because, in the end, the assignment came to be really useful in furthering my education here at Penn State.

I love the IM Building. First of all, it is enormous, I almost got lost inside. Secondly, I love the fact that there are so many different types of gym equipment. Thirdly, I love the fact that there are so many different spaces dedicated to certain things, so you never have to worry about not having enough space to do something. I also love the fact that you can even rent equipment with your PSU ID card. I played volleyball with some friends yesterday, and it was so much fun. Plus if you just really want a good work out walk there and then hit the equipment, then walk back. It is quite the working out depending on where your dorm is located. Personally, my dorm is really far from the IM building, but I still love going, In fact, as soon as I am done typing this, I will be going again.

Image credit goes to

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I absolutely love going to concerts. Some people are addicted to cocaine or alcohol, I am addicted to going to concerts. So it means a lot for a large company like Google to no longer allow a risky site such as Viagogo to come up in the results when looking for concert tickets. I totally understand why Google must have felt that they needed to remove Viagogo because of all the lawsuits that Viagoao has gone right now. I just thought the fact that Google makes tons of money off of companies wanting to be on the first page of searches and for Google to ban them from showing up at its just like really rare. Like I would absolutely hate for anyone to spend hundreds of dollars buying tickets and then to find out they are fake or have been sold to multiple people. As a consumer, I really appreciate that Google has finally taken a step in removing spam sites coming up first when searching for something. I am excited to see how far Google will pursue this, meaning will Google ban other spam sites, or is it just Viagaog because of the lousy reputation that is following the company ? I guess we will have to wait and see.

“Google Bans Paid Advertisements From Ticket Reseller Viagogo.” Billboard, 17 July 2019, www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/8520489/google-bans-paid-advertisements-from-ticket-reseller.

Sephora has come out with a new campaign ad portraying the message, “We Belong to Something Beautiful” (WBTSB). This campaign is targeted towards members of the LGBTQ community. Even more specifically, it is targeted towards gender fluid and transgender people. The campaign is supposed to make everyone feel included. Typically when thinking about makeup, younger to middle-aged women come to mind as the targeted audience. With the new Sephora campaign, anyone and everyone should feel like they are welcome to shop at Sephora while being supported. 

Sephora is trying to change what is acceptable in today’s society and include everyone. They made a whole campaign video celebrating the transgender/nonbinary beauty community, individuality and celebrating the importance of being seen. The message Sephora believes in is championing all beauty, living with courage, and standing fearlessly together to celebrate our differences. They created a campaign to encourage this belief in inclusion, diversity, and individuality within society today.

A part of the execution for the We Belong to Something Beautiful campaign are the classes Sephora offers called “Classes for Confidence.” One of the classes known as “Bold Beauty” is for members of the transgender and non-binary communities. These classes consist of hands-on beauty lessons to help guide members of each community and boost their confidence. According to Sephora, they have hosted 1,750 classes that have reached around 50,000 people. As a result, 80% of the participants reported an increase in confidence. 

  Sephora joined many other beauty brands in adding inclusivity and diversity to their marketing audience. Sephora is addressing a significant problem within the beauty industry that was created by the vast inclusivity divide. For example, foundation makeup colors have always been much harder to acquire if someone were to have a darker complexion. The color ranges of foundations and concealers need to have more variation. Another example of there not being enough inclusivity is the lack of male representation in the beauty industry. Almost all beauty campaigns or advertisements are broadcasted towards women even though some of the most famous and successful beauty gurus are men. This campaign is shedding light on the issue of diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry, all while celebrating people and their individuality. Sephora is a makeup store, and they are marketing their brand and their store. 

The Sephora campaign has quite a history, with trying to include diversity into the beauty industry. Last year their campaign was called Behind the Stripes, and it was focused on inclusivity just like this year’s campaign, only this year’s campaign has more focus on the nonbinary/transgender communities. As a whole, we personally really like the campaign. The visuals are done exceptionally well, all the way from all the models/actresses and actors to the camera techniques, lighting even the music is just picked so well for the advertisements. We stand with what Sephora wants to do; our only concern is that they only created it for Pride month and just wanted to join the bandwagon. The donations were one dollar for every product bought from the pride Collection, and now that Pride month is over are they finished raising money for their cause? Some people also see the problem of not having enough inclusivity in their inclusivity campaign. Many people want to see more age diversity as well as representation for the mentally disabled, and we would have to agree. It seems only right that the employees’ diversity training includes a greater variety of diversity. Those are our only significant concerns with the campaign, but we still really like what Sephora is trying to do and support them.

Festivities for Everyone

All Together

Jamming Out with Whoever

No matter how, or who you came with it was a great time.

This was my first Art Fest and I am so glad I attended because I had a lot of fun. The first picture I chose was because I really like all the colors and all the diverse people. The second photo because I really enjoyed watching the diverse audience get caught up on watching the performance. The third photo because I loved that after everything was finished a bunch of people were still hanging out listening to music on the lawn. Lastly, I picked this photo because I loved seeing all the diverse people just hanging out.