In a recent reading, there was discussion regarding deepfakes and their risks. A question that I have is how people can avoid being duped by these deepfakes. What sorts of things should people be looking for when trying to determine what is a real clip and what has been edited? #UWJ201 #304

Good question. To avoid bias, this AI can be regulated by people with interests in multiple different areas in order to preserve neutrality. There should also be a way to see exactly how the AI was able to obtain the information, as the sources should be public to maintain credibility. #UWJ201 #304

This is a great question. I think that memes can be very effective at conveying information to younger people and people who aren’t as interested in politics. This is because there’s already a familiar concept in place that involves humor, so people are more likely to be receptive. #UWJ201 #304

In lecture, Professor Wagner talked about how automated journalism will continue to get better at human-like writing, even if it is currently inferior at it. Should AI’s rising dominance in aspects like this be viewed as a threat or opportunity at this time in society, and why? #UWJ201 #304

Automated journalism will likely reduced the roles of journalists that cover daily news updates like weather and sports, especially if there is a lack of analysis in the reporting. Automated journalism is best used in situations where only the facts are needed, and analysis is not. #UWJ201 #304

Good question… while deplatforming can build resentment, it can also raise tensions and reduce exposure to extreme viewpoints. While a reduced exposure to extreme viewpoints can be both a pro and a con, it does make it so there is more uniformity and less variety of opinions… #UWJ201 #304

This is a great question. It’s ultimately tough to decide who deserves the privilege of a platform given that they’re privately owned. It’s not up to the general public to decide who should be allowed to have a platform, although they can still influence that through protest/activism. #UWJ201 #304

This is a good question… I think that it comes down the fact that these platforms are privately owned, so the government really doesn’t have a say over what companies can and can’t do, at least for the most part. #UWJ201 #304

In lecture, Professor Wagner talked about deplatforming and content moderation. My question relates to the recent removal of fact checking resources from prominent social media platforms… now that free speech is even more protected, will we also see less “deplatforming” of extremists? #UWJ201 #304

In lecture this week, the guest speaker mentioned that digital media companies utilize extremely precise ad targeting techniques to maximize efficiency. This circles back to an earlier course theme… where is the line drawn between effective personalized ads and personal data privacy? #UWJ201 #304

This is a good question. I feel that normal advertising might have to be adjusted, but in the end, it will definitely remain prevalent. Sometimes no matter how you look at it, old-school methods of advertising will always be trustworthy and effective, so I don’t think they’ll go away. #UWJ201 #304

This is a great question to ask… I think we will continue to see social media usage rise and become more popular in general as Gen Z gets older and older. As they start to have kids, I think there will be a transition from TV to social media as the main source of news in this country. #UWJ201 #304

This is a good question. I think that a big reason for the underestimation of the amount of older people in society is the fact that they are rarely covered or reported on. You rarely see them in the news, on TV, or in any other settings, and thus people’s views of them become skewed. #UWJ201 #304

This is a great observation, as I too was surprised at how the media reports largely on outliers and extreme examples and gets away with it… I think the whole idea speaks to a greater issue on how the media can often control us and wire us to think a certain way based on their coverage. #UWJ201 #304

In a reading this week, it discussed mean world syndrome and how it can affect us. My question is… how can we self-evaluate ourselves and our own viewpoints to determine if we are affected by mean world syndrome, and can its effects on our thinking ever be reversed once they’ve set in? #UWJ201 #304

In a reading this week, it discussed the main motivators behind the media’s reasons for why they operate. My question: is it concerning that some of the motives are not necessarily in the public’s best interest, or is it simply a fact of reality now that the media isn’t totally pure? #UWJ201 #304

I feel that tailored ads can be appropriate in modern society as long as companies don’t overstep their bounds. They should only be utilizing data that you voluntarily consent to, like optional cookies. There should always be an option to opt out of cookies in order to maintain privacy. #UWJ201 #304

This a good question to ask, especially in this day and age where political polarization is running rampant. I do still believe that journalism can function as a societal watchdog, but it’s unrealistic that there will be absolutely no bias, so the public has to be aware of that! #UWJ201 #304

In one of the readings for this week, it discussed how journalists play the role of both cops and firefighters. So here’s my question- should ALL news outlets play both of these roles, or should different ones become specialized in different areas to maximize accuracy/legitimacy? #UWJ201 #304

This is some great insight. It seems to me that while these four functions explain why + how the news does what it does, they don’t explain how we know if we can trust the news! So for me, the best course of action would then be to consume a news diet with lots of variety/perspectives! #uwj201 #304

This is great question to ask! As you said, it feels as though in this day and age of the digital world, everything is accessible in only a few clicks, but not everyone will take the time to consume all of what they are seeing… so it seems as though relevance may be more important! #uwj201 #304

The reading assigned for this Wednesday discussed how Wisconsinites who talked more with family and friends also expressed a greater quantity of polarized political opinion. Here’s what I’m wondering… are other states besides Wisconsin seeing a similar trend, or is Wisconsin unique? #UWJ201 #304

Great point, Bret. Social media certainly isn’t going away anytime soon, and it seems like the younger generations (that most of us are a part of) will continue to rely on social media for their information. This is troubling to say the least, as false information could run rampant… #UWJ201 #304

That’s a great thought, Gabriel. I too wondered about, as it feels like social media companies would only be feeding its users content that has been proven to be watched by that specific user. Just as you referred to, this would result in some narrow political viewpoints… #UWJ201 #304