12 Questions
What was the initial promise of the internet and social media?
To allow anyone to speak and tailor their online experience
What is the actual experience of social media for many users?
A flood of unwanted ideas and opinions
Why is it difficult to escape the reach of social media?
Because it has become an integral part of everyday life
How is speech perceived on social media?
As a public act, contributing to the collective
What has social media effectively done to speech?
Socialized it, making it a collective act
What is the current perception of social media in the world?
It is an integral part of everyday life
What has coincided with calls for restrictions on speech?
The rise of social media
Where can you see screens open to Twitter and Facebook?
A modern newsroom
What has President Trump's tweeting led to?
A feedback loop with the media
What can make it difficult to avoid social media entirely?
The habit-forming nature of social media
What can devolve into ugly political arguments on social media?
Feeds built to serve up pictures of puppies and babies
What is a significant fraction of mainstream political journalism about?
What people are saying online
Study Notes
The Promise of Social Media
- Social media was expected to allow anyone to speak and tailor what they read, see, and hear online, free from mediation by newspaper editors, TV producers, and other gatekeepers.
- It was seen as a new frontier for unregulated free expression and individual control.
The Reality of Social Media
- For many users, social media is not about control, but rather a virtual bombardment of ideas and opinions that can be irritating, dull, and offensive.
- Despite options to block, mute, unfollow, log off, or delete accounts, social media's prevalence makes it difficult to escape its reach.
The Socialization of Speech
- Social media has made speech feel like a public act, contributing to the collective, rather than an individual right.
- The rise of social media has led to calls for restrictions on speech, both online and offline, and increased demand for limitations on speech.
The Omnipresence of Social Media
- Social media has become an integral part of everyday life, filling in the cracks of our time.
- The feeling of inescapability is amplified by politics and traditional media, where social media is always present and influential.
The Impact on Journalism and Politics
- Twitter and Facebook have become essential tools for journalists and political reporters.
- President Trump's use of Twitter has created a feedback loop with the media, leading to a significant focus on what's happening online in mainstream political journalism.
- Even for those who aren't news junkies, social media's connective power and habit-forming nature make it difficult to avoid entirely.
This quiz explores the role of social media in shaping our access to news and information, and how it has changed the way we consume media. From direct access to individual voices to the rise of unregulated free expression, test your knowledge on the impact of social media.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
