Our Class Wiki - So Far

My role in the class wiki is a contributor to the "New Media & Economics" section. As of yet, i have not posted information to wiki directly, but i have researched some current events that need to be noted. Events such as how the economy's development ins constantly updated, discussed and argued through new media sites such as yahoo and through networking sites like Twitter. Also, more importantly how the crisis that started in 2007 was projected and globalized through the internet. Undoubtedly, the fact that this crisis was spread vastly through new media had a deeper psychological effect on how people viewed the current economy's state and that affected their expectations on how the economy will do because the negative news was a lot more accessible and viewed more on a daily basis.

P2P File Sharing

File sharing is when an individual distributes digital information through many means such as the internet, servers, storage and many more. What makes P2P or "Peer to Peer" file sharing different is that digitally stored information is acquired directly from a peer by another peer and not from the internet or a server. Individuals connected to a network"upload" files from their computers and other individuals connected to the network as well "download" the files onto their computer. This network effect links many people who may be uploading and downloading the same information, which makes that information almost impossible for it to disappear from the network.


An example of P2P file sharing is illustrated in Jamie King's "Content producers should take advantage of P2P, not fear it" In the article she describes how the film titled "Steal This Film" was digitally distributed through various means, but mainly through BitTorrent sites like The Pirate Bay, which are a form of P2P.The article is making the point that P2P is extremely effective at getting information distributed. King states that the movie was downloaded over 2 million times and viewed by 3 million people in the span of 18 months. Those are impressive numbers. Ultimately P2P has negative connotations attached to it like "illegal" and "piracy," but beyond that misconception, there are those like King who recognized that P2P is a very efficient and effective way to spread information around and that is a tool that cannot be neglected.

Privacy & Confidentiality

   Along with the benefits of new media, there are also negatives such as the issue of privacy and confidentiality. Since new media is vastly integrated in the internet, it is extremely difficult to control something after its uploaded to the web. For example, if one uploads a picture to Facebook and later on decides that its not an appropriate one, they may delete it of their profile, but that picture is already stored in Facebook's database and there's nothing that person can do about it to truly remove it from the internet. With the right tools, another person could be able to retrieve this picture and use it for purposes the uploaded never intended to.

   When somebody creates a profile in a social networking site, they fill in a lot of personal information that may seem harmless while they are doing it. The fact is that by displaying one's real name, age, e-mail, phone number, and location,one has given extremely powerful information to the right user, like spammers and and hackers, looking out to steal one's identity to benefit themselves.

   The truth is that new media platforms like social networking sites bring about great issues pertaining to privacy and confidentiality, once such info is uploaded to the internet, its there for good. Others with ill intentions come along and use that information for others detriment. So before uploading anything on Facebook, Myspace or Twitter, think of it from a perspective of somebody looking to inflict harm on you and if they can use such information. If you have a reasonable doubts, DO NOT upload it, avoid the time and trouble of having to deal with it later. 

Advice to Baruch College

   If i were to be contracted by Baruch College to use new media in order to improve the collegiate experience, i would advice Baruch to adopt a social networking community. A sort of community that enhances the student's level of education and overall college experience. Such a community would integrate many of the already existing services that Baruch provides. Like, integrating Blackboard, Degree Works, e-sims and many others into a condensed page that is more easily accessible without having to log in individually every time one wants to use one of the services. On top of that i would advice that Baruch establish a social network community that enables students to communicate with others who may aspire the same degree, are taking the same courses at the present time or may have taken the course previously. This community would have features that would allow students to converge and discuss similar ideals since they are already linked in the social network by their scholastic aspirations and experiences.

   The students could help each other or give advice to each other pertaining to the courses they may be taking. For example, a student that is going to take a chemistry course the following semester could inquire another student he/she is linked to because that student already took chemistry. This community would give Baruch a more traditional experience of student engagement while in college because as of now, Baruch is seen as a fast paced school with barely any focus out of the everyday schedule of coming into school, taking classes and leaving. Through a social network community, students could engage on-the-go on matters other then scholastic ones, like fraternities and sororities, and sports at Baruch. The big picture is that through new media as the one illustrated above, Baruch could enhance the collegiate experience for its students by providing a deeper level of engagement and integration in a fast paced environment.