Are Your Eyes on the Web?

If I would you if I were to google the same search terms as you , would my search results turn out to be the same as yours? The answer is no. The search engine used to provided the searches with the same words with the exact same  results . Now search engines use algorithms that use 57 signals to create an individualized filter bubble.That means the search engine picks up on your past searches , your likes and dislikes and gives you different results based on that information in your new search.Therefore, search engine takes away our privacy by having all our information in check.We have no control of what exactly the search engine is sensitive to and what it discards.
The question that we have to answer is whether or not if the power of the search engines is a pro or a con the answer will depend on whom you ask this question to. Eli Pariser on Ted Talks and http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jun/23/mind-control-and-internet/ say that the search engines being privy to so much of your information is not such a good thing.The argument being that the search engines take away too much of our civil liberties. For example,the web provides companies with a vast amount of data which they use  as marketing devices . It is said that the web should have a code which tells on how on our information is being used just like a journalistic code.The government is also able to  censor our information based on our searches. Also your searches are based on the information that is of interest to you not providing you with a wellspring of all types of information at hand.The web being individualized takes away from the democracy by disallowing all views to be seen.
On the flipside,http://www.wired.com/2011/04/st_thompson_homophily/ says that the web having so much of your information is a good thing. The web is good being individualized because it only picks out what you are truly interested in.The comparison being made is the web is offering you only what your close circle of friends have to offer to you is usually the best for you because they know your intrests best. However, he goes on to say that to  continue with the comparison to have an assortment of friends to match various interests of that a person may have.

Social Networking Made Obama a Winner

The election of  2008 campaigning  was different than any other prior election .The usage of social networking had a primary effect of the results of the 2008 election. Social networking gave the candidates their donations to  fund their campaign. Social networking served as a source of data collection for the voter views on each candidate.What made Obama ultimately so popular was his excellence at facilitating social networking in comparison to the other candidates.
Obama caused social networking in his campaign through theMyBO website. The MyBO produced an enormous amount of revenue for the Obama campgain.The My BO got people to go out and vote who were  indecisive about their vote before. For example.the My BO affected the primaries of Texas allowing Obama to win.Obama effectively broadcast  his messages to the public through to the public.Obama was better at gathering the general public by gaining followers through social networking.
If  social networking places such a big  role  on how we  see our candidates ,  have to face the fact that we must scrutinize whether our political decisions  are solely based on social networking's  effects. The public needs  to be aware of the allurement of social networking. 

The Effects of Social Networking

What comes to mind when you think of social networking? Usually people think of their ability of being able to be socially and globally connected all points of time and in any place.But as informed members of society we have to think of the ramifications that being connected all the time has on us. Is social networking really a plus to society's needs or does it detract from what our quality of life?
For the purpose of our discussion , let us pin point the effects of social networking on kids and young adults.Social networking is a huge distraction for kids in  school, they have always are trying  to  stay connected so they are not  giving their full attention to their studies. Teachers are finding themselves forced to refocus their students' attention not through the traditional form of classroom teaching any longer. Children need to be entertained with lessons given with interactive power point presentations.Kids used to know that their homes would be their safe havens and the school yard bullying would not follow them there.Kids use the cyberspace  space so much that cyber bullying is something rampant. Cyber bullying has gone as far as causing kids to be suicidal.
The world of social networking has allowed kids to create for themselves a world that is not in touch with reality. Kids have two identities their virtual identity and their real identity. Kids maintain these " false indenties" to hide their inner pain and situations that need to be adressed. Aneroxics use the cyber space as a place connecting to others with the same issues and finding ways to make themselves more ill. Kids have many online virtual friends , but are not  focusing their "real" friendships.