Concerns About a Platform Society and the Influence of "The Big Five"
Your reading responses should be 500 words long (minimum 450 words, maximum 550 words).
You are expected to refer to the course material(s) in your response; be sure to cite these material(s) using APA format.
You are welcome to answer any of the questions below. You do not need to answer all of the questions unless you would like to.
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From Module 3:
1. What is the ‘public’ sphere in a platform society?
In theoretical terms,
Who makes up the ‘public’?
Where is the public located?
What does it look like?
How is it accessed?
2. What are some concerns about a platform society? How might our lives be influenced or impacted by “The Big Five”?
From Module 4:
Find an example of disinformation and answer the following questions:
How did you know that it was disinformation?
How was it presented? What qualities present this information as factual?
What are the potential implications or risks of your example of disinformation?
Have any of these risks happened already? What was the impact?
How do you think this disinformation should be handled?
the files I have uploaded are related to module #3, I will upload the files about module #4 later.
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Reading Response
Concerns about a Platform Society and the Influence of "The Big Five"
The emergence of platform societies, characterized by the dominance of digital platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon, has brought about significant societal transformations. While these platforms offer unprecedented connectivity and convenience, they raise concerns regarding privacy, surveillance, algorithmic control, and power concentration.
Concerns about a Platform Society
Privacy and Surveillance
Platform businesses' data collection, storage, and use are significant concerns (Vaidhyanathan, 2018). Platforms leverage personal data for targeted advertising, behavioural profiling, and political manipulation, raising privacy concerns. Vaidhyanathan (2018) points to Facebook's Cambridge Analytica debacle, where millions of users' data was collected without authorization.
Algorithmic Control and Filter Bubbles
According to Van Dijck et al. (n.d), Platforms personalize and curate material using algorithms. This can improve user experience and create filter bubbles where users only see stuff that agrees with them (Van Dijck et al., n.d). Echo chambers and polarization can impair democracy and social cohesiveness.
Power Concentration
"The Big Five"-Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft dominate society, raising concerns about their power and influence. These platforms dominate data, public conversation, and digital infrastructure (Vaidhyanathan, 2018). A few powerful businesses can restrict competition, innovation, and consumer choice, threatening a varied and democratic digital ecosystem.
Impact of "The Big Five" on Our Lives
Facebook, one of "The Big Five," has dramatically impacted our social connections. The platform has globalized communication; however, it has been blamed for spreading misinformation, dividing society, and worsening mental health issues owing to social comparison and screen time (Vaidhyanathan, 2018). Google, another member of "The Big Five," is synonymous with online search and information retrieval. People may need more diverse content due to the platform's algorithms. Ranking algorithms favour popular material, causing fake news and echo chambers.
Disinformation: Unmasking the Illusion of Truth (Example of Disinformation)
A popular social media post claimed that a particular brand of household cleaning goods might treat COVID-19. The post showed cleaning items and claimed their v...