Friday, August 27, 2010

Do you (cyber)trust me?

There are a lot of things we use the internet for that require a certain degree of trust between users. For example, when we're downloading something we have to trust that the file is what the uploader says it is. Or, if we have doubt, we look to fellow downloaders to confirm this, which then requires us to trust that they're telling the truth.

We also trust websites with our email addresses and personal information and when tweeting, or writing a blog, or posting a status update we're also trusting that the numerous people with the ability to read them are not going to tear us apart for whatever we write. That's a lot of trust going around!

When you think about, it makes you wonder why it is that we're so comfortable putting so much information about ourselves out there for anyone on the net to see. It seems to be that privacy is being viewed more and more as an outdated concept. On Facebook, Twitter and Myspace etc. people are increasingly putting more of their personal information online, whether it be through photos, comments or status updates, they are continually creating an image of themselves that exists on the net for anyone to see.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

File-sharing or file-taking?

When I think about the popularity of file-sharing technology, the first thing that I assume is that the motivation for the users of these programs most likely lies with the desire to have access to things they otherwise wouldn't, ie. movies and music that they would usually have to pay for. But in assuming this, I'm forgetting about the fact that for file-sharing to work effectively it relies on the users to not only download the things they want, but to also make those things available to others users. This leads me to Kevin McGee and Jörgen Skågeby's question, 'Could the ability to give be one of the central features that determines the popularity and success of computer–mediated "sharing" activities, communities, applications, and services?'

As someone who does use file-sharing software, I think it's a very interesting idea that McGee and Skågeby suggest, especially considering my use of file-sharing is based solely on taking and never giving - simply because I don't like the idea of a file that's stored on my computer being made available to anyone who wants it. Even so, there are countless users out there who don't feel the same way as me and regularly share files and thanks to the vigorous enthusiasm of those sharers it means people like me are able to jump on the computer and watch the latest episode of True Blood, or whatever else, just hours after it's screened in the US.

The speed with which these uploaders get each new episode online, to me suggests that there might be some validity in McGee and Skageby's theory, because I can't see why else anyone would feel such a need to do that (unless it's their way of sticking their fingers up at the people who say file-sharing is a breach of copyright). Another thing that makes me think it might be true is the growing popularity of sites like Yahoo!Answers, where anyone can post a question and be almost guaranteed numerous answers within hours, from complete strangers in various places around the world. There's no reward for answering someone's question (except for the possibility of being awarded Best Answer), yet the idea of  being able to help someone else out by answering their question seems to compel people to write very serious and detailed responses.

It could be possible, however, that people do these things with the pretense of their actions eventually being reciprocated, by way of other files being made available to them or someone answering one of their own questions and therefore meaning it would not be just for the pleasure of giving. But I think it's nice, even if just for a while, to believe that people really do enjoy the happiness of others enough to do these things completely unselfishly and purely as a 'gift'.

Monday, August 9, 2010

500 Million Friends

Social networking sites aren't limited to the internet anymore, they're now the basis for a number of films as well. When I say "social networking sites", what I really mean is Facebook. Apparently the site is about to reach 500 Million users, a figure that's somewhat shocking and hard to believe, but when you consider that number, it's really no surprise that filmakers are seeing the potential in making a film about a website that half a billion people use.

The two films couldn't be more different in their approach, but they do both show very interesting aspects of the phenomenal site. The first is a documentary by two New York filmakers called Catfish. And I really don't want to give too much away because I don't want to ruin the experience for any one, but basically a guy falls for a girl on facebook, he decides to go and meet her and then things get really weird. It's a timely reminder that the internet is not the same as real life and there are privacy and safety concerns that come with it.



The second film is based on Ben Mezrich's book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale About Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal, about Mark Zuckerberg, the website's founder.



According to the official Facebook page on Facebook their mission is "...to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected." However, this raises a number of questions as to whether or not making the world more open and connected is infact a good thing.