EOTO #3: Sherman Antitrust Act

The United States is a mixed economy that consists of characteristics from both capitalist and socialist market systems. Therefore, the U.S. embraces and welcomes economic freedom and competition. Another trait of this system is that government intervention is allowed. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company was the first monopoly to exist. Rockefeller basically made secret deals with railroad shippers in order to transport his oil at a lower prices and dominate the market, to ensure profit. As a result of these actions, it was nearly impossible for any new companies to arise. Therefore, consumers' options were limited and because Rockefeller's was the dominate oil company, he was able to set the prices as he pleased. When there are trusts, consumers are forced to use one option because all other competitors have been run out of the market; this does not ensure the consumers' best interest as they would not be receiving high quality goods for low and reasonable prices. In light of these unconstitutional actions, government involvement was necessary and the Sherman Antitrust Act was created. 

According to the Great American History Fact-Finder, the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was "the first of several antitrust acts designed to curb power and growth of monopolies, the law forbade companies to join in a trust in order to control interstate trade." Due to "loopholes," the Sherman Antitrust Act was replaced by the Clayton Act in 1914, its goal being "clearly define unfair business practices." The Clayton Act worked to eliminate unfair business practices that included price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation among competitors, to name a few. To obtain a better understanding of illegal practices, price fixing is an agreement written, verbal, or inferred from conduct) among competitors that raises, lowers, or stabilizes prices or competitive terms. Basically, if two competitors were to form an alliance by dropping prices, then consumers would be more motivated to purchase cheaper goods. On the hand, outside competitors with similar products would be losing customers and would unfairly be driven out of the market. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was also established in 1914. This is an agency enforces and implements the ideas of the Sherman Antitrust and Clayton Act. It also is tasked with intervening if illegal trust activities are suspected. 

Facebook is an example of a modern day monopoly. In December of 2020, the FTC sued Facebook for illegal monopolization. Instead of welcoming competition, Facebook bought all of its rivals which include Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. Obviously, this limits the choices that consumers have and basically forces everyone to use their social media apps. This also does not allow new social media platforms to rise and catch on with the public. Therefore, Facebook has anticompetitive motives and was not looking out for the best interests of consumers. As a solution, the House of Antitrust Subcommittee is suggesting that Facebook should be separated back out into individual apps, known as "structural separation." It has also been recommended that congress take a closer look at other tech giants such as Amazon and Apple.

Overall, the Sherman Antitrust Act was created to protect the idea of economic freedom for both entrepreneurs and consumers.  

Lens of Diffusion Theory

An example that can easily explain Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation is Tiktok. Tiktok is "a short-form, video-sharing app that allows users to create and share 15-second videos, on any topic." Tiktok was created in 2016, however, it joined with Musical.ly in 2018 so that a more extensive video network could be established. 

I would say that the exploratory phase of Tik Tok took place in the middle of 2019. I think that the pioneers were drawn to this app because it offered new features that were not seen on Musical.ly. Also, Tiktok allows users to interact mainly through video clips and music which can be done on other apps like Instagram and Facebook; however, TikTok was designed for this purpose so audiences were drawn to it. 

Next, I would argue that early adopters emerged around October of 2019. TikTok caught on with the public because it possess a huge library of licensed music, that is conveniently located for users under "sounds." The app is well-organized and not difficult to use. 

The early majority began to use Tik Tok in February of 2020. This is when a few of my friends began to use the app and create their own content. I personally did not understand it so I was reluctant to take part in it. However, when the Corona Virus hit and sent everyone into months of quarantine, TikTok became extremely popular. This is because many people were bored and tired of being trapped in their houses, so they turned to Tiktok to kill time and to also share creative posts since a lot of people were unable to see each other in person. This was a drastic tiping point of TikTok. Had COVID-19 not occurred, Tiktok may not have become as popular as it is today. 

By the time I entered my first year of college in August of 2020, Tiktok had began its saturation period. Every student I talk to has an account and we all bonded over that fact that Tiktok is a great way to procrastinate homework assignments. 

Currently, I believe that Tiktok is still in the saturation period. I think that those not on Tiktok simply are just not interested in it or are confused on how to use it. For example, my parents could care less about such an app because they have no use for it. I also think that older generations view Tiktok as an app for younger age groups. 

EOTO#1: Invention of the Email

Email is defined as "messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network." The first mail system was very limited. Individuals would have only been able to communicate through computers that were exactly the same make and model, within a close proximity. Also, if too many people were using a computer system at the same time, messages would not send properly. Computer-based mail and communication capabilities were expanded with the invention of "time-sharing." Time-sharing is "the sharing of a computing resource among many users at the same time by means of multiprogramming and multitasking." This made it so that more than one individual could use the messaging system at a time. Time-sharing was a huge building block that led to the creation of the email. The email was officially created in 1965 by Ray Tomlinson. He is credited with creating the email as he was the first individual to send one. Even after Tomlinson's first email, messages could not be sent to computers that were different models. The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) clearly determined protocols that were necessary for the exchange of emails from dissimilar computers. ARPANET's original intended purpose wast to connect computers through telephone lines, for research agencies supported by the Pentagon. To date, there are currently 3.8 billion active email accounts. This invention caught on with the public because it is quick and they replaced the need to send written letters in the mail, which could take forever to reach the recipient or could even be lost en route. 

There are several positives and negative concerning emails. Emailing systems are not challenging to use, and it is a fast and efficient way to converse with people. Email is also convenient as the recipient does not have to be present for the email to actually come through. Numerous copies can be made of an email if it is sent to a large group of people. Much like the "reads" feature on my iPhone, users also hav the ability to send an email with read receipts on it. Emails can be prepared as drafts so that you can take your time drafting them. Messages can be encrypted to keep private information secure.

Even though email is for the most part a positive invention, there are a few cons. I think that we can all agree the worst aspect of email is receiving spam mail everyday. Annoying spam mail can build up and overcrowd your mailbox. If you people do not have wifi, they cannot send emails. It can also be irritating to find the right email as many individuals constantly change their email address. Occasionally, email attachments can contain viruses that damage your computer or gather personal information. I use my email everyday. In fact I have three different emails that I use each day. I think I receive an average of about 30-40 emails per day. I like the fact that email is a more formal method of communication. Sometimes people use text message too casually by incorporating a lot of slang terms and abbreviations that can be difficult to understand. Moreover, email is present in my life similarly to almost four billion other individuals, and it is an extremely helpful resource. 

 

EOTO Reflection: Invention of Paper

The first form of paper was created by a dignitary that served the imperial Chinese court by the name of Cai Lun. He made it out of old rags, tree bark, and fishing nets. Before paper, people used stone tablets, cave writings, papyrus, parchment, bamboo, wood, and silk to keep written records. I could not imagine lugging around rocks to write on or using expensive materials such as bamboo. Paper is easily made, it is affordable, and is now used everyday in today's society.

A major advantage of paper's creation, is that it has aided in the evolution of humans. Pen and paper have been tools that have helped humans learn to read and write. Not to say that people did not learn how to read and write before the invention of paper, but paper made it easier for more individuals to practice language and become educated. Also, paper has allowed humans to efficiently share ideas with no limit to the length of words. 

Today we use paper for almost everything. Although I know that online learning is becoming more popular than the traditional style of pen and paper learning, I grew up using paper to write out all of the letters of the alphabet, learn grammar, and express my ideas through essays. Even if schools are gradually using paper less, businesses use paper everyday to keep files on their customers, and they also use it for receipts of transactions. Additionally, newspapers and magazines have been our main ways of staying updated of current events and trends and are produced everyday in bulk. However, even news sources have moved online. I think that eventually, there will be no need to use paper in countries like the U.S. as everything is become so online-based.

Although paper has been a super helpful invention, a negative aspect associated with its use is deforestation. Obviously, we make paper out of trees so we have to chop down several to continue to produce it. Every invention has an unintended consequence that we should be aware of.

antiwar

In the Age of AI

I think the most considerable conflict that we as a society face, is deciding if we should trust AI. I would argue that AI posses a greater threat than actually having a positive impact on society. 

Artificial intelligence(AI) may very well be the future. This statement is certainly true for China. The most shocking thing that I learned from In the Age of AI was that it can take people a total of 8 seconds to complete the process of getting a loan. It was also shocking to hear that the AI system that was used would assess customer's credibility by considering battery percentage and hesitation when answering questions. I think that if I was aware that an AI system was analyzing my response to questions looking into aspects like my battery percentage, I would feel extremely pressure. Firstly, my battery percentage is always low. This is not a result of lacking responsibility, my battery simply just needs to be replaced because it is fried. Also, when I feel like I am being monitored I have a tendency to act more suspicious. Unfortunately, I do not know why this occurs but I cannot help it. Due to these factors, I would know that I am credible but how would AI know that based off of battery and behavior patterns? This makes me wonder if AI would actually be able to accurately predict and interpret my behavior, as well as others. 

As cheesy as the SyFy movies are, they contain ideas that remind us of the potential dangers of AI. Although AI systems have been programmed by humans, the goal is for AI systems to think for themselves. A positive aspect that was mentioned in the video, is that AI has the ability to come up with several alternative outcomes or solutions that humans have failed to think of. In the video, N.Y.U Professor Amy Webb states that AI systems "are able to think and imagine and see things, in ways that we never have before." She then suggests that AI could potentially lead us to solutions for major issues like climate change and cancer cures. In this sense, AI is welcomed for its unique thinking patterns. However, what if AI overpowers us? It may sound foolish yet we should be skeptical of the unintended consequences of AI, as every technology has them. For example, when cars were invented it made getting from two different places easier and faster; but no one accounted for the idea that automobiles would lead to immense air pollution that is deteriorating the ozone layer. What if AI develops a mind of its own? This theory is displayed by several films,

most notably 

Oblivion and Alien: Covenant. In both scenarios, a super computer decides that the best course of action for the human race is extinction. Now although both movies are hypothetical examples of the potential impacts of AI, it is not impossible for these events to occur. As pictured in the video, AI scientist Kai-Fu-Lee mentions that the more information a system is fed, the better it functions. What if the more AI learns about humans and their destructive exploitation of resources, the less favorable we become in its eyes? Authors Nick Bostrom and Luke Muehlhauser both stress the idea that AI may posses opposing goals and values that may not be "human-friendly." They also emphasize that fact that it would be nearly impossible to create an AI system with "common sense." Contrastingly, psychologist Steven Pinker believes that AI systems would be "peacefully" work alongside humans. However, he uses diction that suggests that harmful AI systems could still come to surface by using words such as "unlikely." This word-choice does not inspire a lot of confidence for someone who is for AI. 

I fully believe that AI is the next our society's next big technological innovation. However, I suggest that we proceed with caution. 

My Relationship with Technology

I believe that my relationship with social media is both healthy and unhealthy. The relationship is positive in a sense because technology has evolved into our modern pen and paper. All assignments are online based and teachers no longer require hard copy assignments. This is especially prominent today as the majority of teachers have stopped asking for hard copy submissions as an attempt to decrease the transmission of COVID-19. Even textbooks are becoming more online-based. Every time I am buying a textbook, I always get the e-book as well. Using online textbooks has allowed me to use features such as highlighting, adding comments, and even bookmarking the page I am on. Software like this is extremely convenient when studying and I no longer have to lug around a heavy textbook, or run the risk of losing it. I have even spent a lot of the semester chatting with the online librarian. Even though the library is probably only twenty steps from my dorm, I prefer the option of using online resources. The chatting system makes it so that I can ask the librarian about formatting issues for my papers, and the librarian will even help me find sources for my paper when I need help. In this aspect, I can get my work done efficiently. Nonetheless, I spend several hours of the day staring at my computer screen to complete assignments, find sources on the web, and read course materials. I think that because I am using technology for educational purposes, I have somewhat of a positive relationship with it. However, sometimes I tend to take advantage of resources like google and the online librarian. If I am feeling lazy or if I am just in a rush to complete an assignment, I may use these tools as shortcuts. For example, if I do not feel like finding a source, I could easily ask the librarian and he or she would find it for me. Another example would be that if I had a lengthy reading assignment that I did not feel like doing, I could easily use google to find out what the book or article is about. Therefore, technology makes it really simple to cut corners and I may not always be learning to the full extent that I could. 

In contrast, my relationship with technology is also negative; specifically my connection with my phone. Similarly to most teens, I spend entirely too much time on the social media apps on my iphone. When I go to lunch with my friends, a lot of the time we are on our phones instead of actually engaging in conversation with one another. Additionally, there have been multiple instances where my parents have conducted sit down talks with me about how I am constantly on social media throughout the day. They have pointed out that because I am on my phone so frequently, I am not as conscious of my surroundings as I should be. They have also told me that I need to be more present and focused on maintaining relationships in person. Of course, I realize that they are probably right but I am not willing to limit my usage of social media at this time. Social media also can serve as a distraction. When I am doing my homework, I will take a "mental break" by going on my phone for "only" five minutes; before I know it, I have been on Tik Tok for an additional thirty minutes than I originally intended. This just goes to show how consuming technology can be of a persons time and attention. Below I have incorporated a visual of my how many hours I spent on my phone throughout the month of April. My weekly average levels out to about six and half hours. If you take a closer look, you can see how I allocated my time. The apps that I am on most often are all social media apps including Snapchat, Instagram, and Tik Tok. When I compared my screen time with my roommates, I found that their averages exceeded mine by an hour or two. Moreover, my generation wastes a tremendous amount of time on their phones which can negatively impact relationships and distract people from important school assignments.

What is your digital footprint like? Unfortunately, my digital footprint is so easy to find as my name is so unique. Not only is my name uncommon, my mother also changed the spelling from 'Thais" to "Taiz." Therefore, it is even easier to distinguish my name from others with the same name. I recently googled myself and found a few concerns in the results (taiz barata). I discovered that my voting records indicate my address and party affiliation. It is extremely discomforting to know that anyone could easily find my address and could simply show up at my house or send unwanted mail. Also, I witnessed many relationships come to an end due to conflicting political views; my stance is my own opinion and I do not want my private thoughts to be public knowledge. Luckily, I am shown as unaffiliated so this decreases the chance that I will be judged for my viewpoints. I think that this kind of information should not be on the web as it could be a danger to me and my family. On the other hand, all of the accomplishments that are listed below my name show me in a good light and could be an advantage if employers were to search me on google.

Social media has become a huge time suck for me and many others my age, and one's digital footprint can reveal personal information that they may not have wanted known otherwise. It is important to recognize that although technological advances have made everyday tasks easier, there are still negative effect associated with every new creation. 

Current Events

Rioting During the Black Lives Matter Protests

After the death of George Floyd, an issue that was heavily covered by the news and media where the riots that occurred during the Black Lives Matter protests. When these riots took place, looting, vandalism, and violence occurred. In class we discussed that under the first amendment, our freedom of speech and of assembly is protected. Therefore, those who wanted to could participate in the protests whiteout trouble as long as the protest was peaceful. However, when the riots developed, people's businesses were damaged and even destroyed in some cases. The picture below shows the aftermath of a business that was affected by the riots. One could argue that the riots were an expressive action as the intent was to send a message, however, these actions were illegal and therefore, individuals were held accountable for the crimes committed. The best example of a protected action is flag burning because it is symbolic yet it does not place anyone in danger.

One might ask why protestors continued to riot knowing that they ran the risk of being charged for vandalism or stealing. Author Sarah Sheppard wrote an article called The Psychology behind Rioting, where she explains that "Violence is not a preferred action by protestors, but rather a consequence of being ignored, criticized, and oppressed after numerous attempts to be seen and heard." Therefore, rioters where willing to be run into legal problems in order to get their point across. Although the riots grabbed the attention of several American's, the way in which they were conducted was against the law.

Supreme Court

Supreme Court

By watching the videos about the Supreme Court, I learned more about the process in which the it conducts its business. The supreme court must wait for complaints to be brought it, the nine justices do not seek out problems to resolve. First, an appeal is made against the ruling from a lower court. This means that the party who is appealing the ruling is requesting certiorari. Certiorari is "a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court." Next, the Supreme Court has the power to decide whether it will hear the case or dismiss is. If they decide against hearing the case, it is implied that certiorari was denied to the party which requested it, as the court ruling was deemed constitutional. Contrastingly, if they decide to hear the case, then a date is set for an oral argument. Once the oral argument takes place, the lawyers from two opposing parties each have thirty minutes to speak. During this hour, the judges ask the lawyers difficult questions to determine whether or not the ruling was unconstitutional. Next, all nine justices vote on the case, private from everyone except each other. Then, a judge from the side of the majority vote drafts an opinion over the course of a few weeks. Finally, all that is left to do is find a general consensus among all of the justices. Like the video mentions, "compromise is inevitable."

One aspect of this video that surprised me was how lengthy this process is. It was stated that once the judges have voted, it takes about four weeks to create the first draft of the detailed opinion. Due to the importance of each ruling, this would make complete sense as the opinion will be "binding" to all future cases. The judges must give thorough and tremendous consideration to the written opinion, as it will serve as a precedent. I think that this would be an extremely difficult job to handle due to the responsibility of interpreting the constitution, and creating detailed guidelines for states, congress, and the president to abide by. The position holds even more pressure when one considers how different the constitution is today than when it was created. The constitution was made at a time when the people it addressed did not account for women or African Americans. Since then, rights have been added through amendments. It would make me extremely anxious to be in charge of comparing cases to a document that is over two-hundred years old, with a meaning that pertained to a different time period and body of people.  

The most important takeaway from my new knowledge of the Supreme Court is that there is slim to no chance that the Supreme Court can be unfair towards individuals. The structure of nine justices makes it so that there has to be a majority vote and the deliberation that occurs after voting ensures that every decision has been well thought out. Additionally, another takeaway that changed how I view the Supreme Court, is that the justices are normal people like you and me. I had always viewed members of the Supreme Court as individuals above society, untouchables if you will. Although, in all reality they are people from society, that are able to relate to and understand the needs of the people. I thought that the video explained it perfectly; "the judges opinions are only influenced by the constitution and by their conscious." They have no ulterior motives or personal gain and making unfair decisions would result in the loss of trust from the people, and therefore the loss of power. 

Eight Values of Free Expression

I think that the most important speech theory is participation in self-government. This is the founding concept of our democracy that dates back to the New England Colonies. The colonies were created resulting from the mass migration of Europeans to New England, in hopes of escaping religious persecution. Within the next several years of their arrival, colonists would endure tension and war against Great Britain in order to escape a dysfunctional system of government, and create their own. It was ineffective to be governed by a system that was intended for Britain. The colonists needed to establish a system that would allow them to make regulations as it related to the new lang. Once colonists gained their independence and established the constitution, America became "the land of the free." In our society, I would argue that democracy is what it means to be free. As defined by my high school history teacher, democracy is when the majority rules, with minority rights protected. Participation in self-government is the foundation that our nation was constructed on. 

America became a place of self-government when the power was given to the people. The colonists wanted to create a system in which there was no monarchy to dictate what was best for the people. Who better to make the decision for the people than the people themselves? Ultimately, we are economically affected by every regulation, so it is we who should shape them. This concept is so significant because it is what makes America's government unlike any other. 

Although self government is an extremely important theory to our society, it is difficult to declare it as the most important. None of the eight theories can really stand alone. The theory of stable change by Benedict Spinoza is intertwined with the self-governing aspect. In speaking our minds and pointing out the flaws that we see in our governmental system, criticism creates a stronger government. Imagine if we did not or were not able to express our discontent with a regulation. This would mean that every time the government passed a new rule, they would have gotten it right the first time. This is just not very realistic as societies are forever changing, and to keep up, policies must be modified so that they can best suit the 

needs of the people. For example, a policy created in 2019 may be difficult to enforce in the present day if it is not redefined, considering that society is different now due to the coronavirus. Furthermore, the government is not perfect and rules may need to be change to adapt fit the present. 

Lastly, the checks and balances is a huge supporting role of self-government. Out of all the theories, we can visually see this one in action everyday. I think that this is the theory that has the potential for most conflict to arise. In order to prevent any branch from receiving too much power, we have a well organized system where bills are discussed thoroughly, before they are passed. While the checks and balances allows governmental power to be distributed evenly, it also ensures that the people's individual rights stay protected, in order to maintain their own power. 

My Top 5 Sources of News and Information

Five Top Sources of News & Information

I believe that people my age have began to move away from conventional methods of receiving news. I personally feel as if it is a chore to read long news articles. Instead, I prefer to read snippets of news articles to get the "gist" of current events. I also like to watch short news clips. These methods help me obtain information in a short period of time, which allows me to hear about a wide variety of topics that I can choose to explore further or just gaze over. The PR Newswire, a news agency based in New York, reveals that sixty-four percent of teens would rather learn about current events through graphics, then read a lengthy article. I think that teens like to stay informed with what is going on in the world as long as it is quick, convenient, and simple to understand. That is why I get my news from popular social media platforms, just as several of my peers do. 

Instagram

I enjoy reading into news and current events on instagram. I use instagram frequently so it is fabulous when news pops up while I am scrolling through my feed; this way I do not even have to leave the app to become informed. I find that instagram is my favorite app to use for news as it is a visual app. Instagram was created for posting pictures and videos. Therefore, all news stories are formatted through graphics that are easy to absorb and efficient in delivering the central idea of a story.

https://www.instagram.com

Snapchat

Similarly to instagram, twitter is meant for short clips and photos. It is also a visual app that delivers brief and concise messages to users. I am always on snapchat so I love that I can manage my social connections and get news on the same app. Although snapchat is extremely convenient, it probably does not do the best job of keeping individuals informed about what is occurring in society. Snapchat excels at updating users on current celebrity dramas and trend-setting influencers, but the app was really just not made for news. I can still stay well-informed through snapchat but if I want a holistic picture of current events, I would probably use a different news source.

https://www.snapchat.com

Twitter

I personally dislike twitter. I prefer not to use Twitter because I think that the layout of the app is confusing. However, twitter seemed to be the best way to keep tabs on former president Donald Trump; therefore, I started to use it more frequently. Although obtaining news from twitter has become more common, especially with younger generations, Trump used this app to make several snide comments towards his critics. As a result, Twitter has become a media platform that people use to bash each other and has a negative online environment. Nonetheless, it is a great way to stay updated on current events.

https://twitter.com

Apple News

The apple news app is one of the more traditional news sources I use. Articles presented through apple news are biased (as all are), yet when I receive information here it feels more reliable than my other news sources, as news coverage is the sole purpose of this app. My only concern is that apple may filter out top stories that would make readers view this company in an unfavorable light. I like to keep tabs on Apple as it is a modern day monopoly, but I do not think that apple would hesitate to control the content that viewers see, especially when it relates to their image as a company.

https://www.apple.com/apple-news/

Facebook

Seldom do I use Facebook in general. Although Facebook is a convenient online platform to check news and maintain your social network, I would not recommend it as a news source. I often find that the news I read on Facebook is fake or has been morphed completely out of context, making it unreliable. Also, several news posts are heavily biased furthering the unreliability of information displayed. This is a problem with almost any news source that you come across, especially when controversial topics are involved. Furthermore, I have noticed that Facebook news requires more fact-checking. The final con about Facebook is its lack of privacy. It makes me extremely uncomfortable to know that all of the data I search for is being collected by Facebook.  This issue continues to be investigated as a legal problem today. According to BBC News, "Facebook will pay a record $5bn fine to settle privacy concerns." Additionally, BBC News also states that '"Despite repeated promises to its billions of users worldwide that they could control how their personal information is shared, Facebook undermined consumer' choices"' quoted by Joe Simmons, FTC Chairman. Now with this information in mind, I most likely will still continue to use Facebook, but less frequently than I already do. 

https://www.facebook.com/

It is safe to say that convenience and visual learning have dictated the methods in which I obtain news. In general, teens have gravitated towards using social media apps for news. It is clear that creators of instagram and snapchat are exploring alternate ways to inform teens and young adults of current events. Similarly to newspapers, online news articles may eventually become obsolete if future generations continue to gain news through social media.