Our Class Wiki - So Far

So far I have contributed some information to the class wiki.  It has not been substantial enough to be graded but I plan on adding a lot more.  So far I have been working on the Cyber bullying topic because it is something I have been interested in for a long time, also it has been highlighted recently in the media.  Based off of my term paper, I have gotten some extra information to add to the wiki.  I also intend on choosing another topic to elaborate on, but what topic I will choose is a mystery. 

P2P File Sharing

File sharing is a self explanatory term; Sharing files.  File sharing is defined as the electronic sharing of digitally stored information, which are usually, documents, pictures, videos, and music. P2P file sharing is a system of file sharing by various amounts of people. Some of the big P2P file sharing systems which have been exposed via the media are Limewire and Napster but there are others that exist and others that have been shut down by the government.
The act of downloading files, particularly music, is very controversial because of the argument of it being ethically wrong and considered stealing.  This brings me to the article released last year about the Minnesota mother who was fined $1.5 million for downloading 24 songs off of this P2P file sharing website called Kazaa.
I personally do not see anything wrong with using file sharing websites or systems.  If you cannot afford buying an actual album of an artist you are a fan of, why not download it?

Privacy & Confidentiality

New Media devices have created new ways for our privacy and confidentiality to be compromised. The more new media devices created, the skill people have to hack these new media devices increases. High skilled hackers have the capability to enter into your actual computers and see your online activity. 

While doing research for my term paper, I read an article that mentioned that at least 200,000 Facebook accounts are compromised everyday. New media devices such as social networking sites, puts privacy into question because people tend to share so much information about themselves to the point where you wonder if such a thing as privacy should exist on these devices. A quote I took from the New Media wiki is:

"People who live in glass houses should dress in the basement." -Jeff Neuburger

This is why information that people tend to share on social networking sites can get them into trouble in there real lives.  I heard of an employee at my friend's job that was fired for making derogatory comments about her manager on Facebook.  This really makes you wonder about where the line is drawn when it comes to the privacy of your social networking page.  I feel as though if you share information for everyone to see, it is no longer private and you can not argue for privacy.  

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Advice to Baruch

The use of new media is becoming increasingly important in people's lives. Most college and university students use some form of new media device in their daily activities.  Thus far Baruch has done a good job in using new media devices.  Baruch has both Twitter and Facebook pages.  Baruch also has an Apple app geared around student life.  If I were hired by Baruch, I would have someone create a website where all the professors have an account so that students can instant message their professors and classmates.  This way if there is an urgent class related issue, the professor can respond right away.
Another new media system I would have created if I worked for Baruch is something similar to Facebook, where the professors have a profile and students can look at these profiles, particularly during registration time.  These profiles will include information about the professor such as their teaching style, how they grade their classes, their plans for the class, etc.  Inclusive to reading reviews on RateMyProfessor.com, these profiles will help students choose a class with a professor that will suit them.
As a student these are 2 systems I would be interested in.