Cyber Bullying

There is a new virus going around. It's the biggest, most horrific and tragic virus every known.. And it's quickly spreading around the world. It's origins are yet to be confirmed, but, this virus is ruining lives.

It's called Cyber Bullying. 

There is no doubt that bullying has always been an issue in society, however, cyber bullying creates an anonymity that is unprecedented. The perpetrators have nothing to hind, however are seen by the defensive audience as cowardly and weak. I use the word weak because cyber bullying involves anonymous threats and no consequences to a face-to-face encounter. Sitting behind a computer screen, these bullies have time to think about their next plan of attack. It's sickening. 

Rheingold's theory that we can use technology as a community and solve the never ending issues society faces, is probably how future problems will be solved. However, is it not technology that is causing these issues in the beginning?!

Victims of cyber bullying are speaking out through various social media outlets, particularly on YouTube, and even then, these internet trolls are posting some of the worst comments of all.

 

Unfortunately, with the rate that technology is developing, the future of cyber bullying is not foggy. In fact, I think it is very clear. Justice is not going to be granted until proper and appropriate laws are put in place. Websites that the venerable are targeted on are still going to exist while the world of technology grows. Until the anonymity is taken away, cyber bullying is staying.. permanently.

Produsage

I looooove YouTube but, it is #1 enemy.  I will procrastinate for hours by watching stupidly funny clips. My favourite? "Buttermilk" the goat (watch here). 
According to the YouTube website, 48 hours of video are uploaded every minute (YouTube, 2013). Thats a lot of footage. 

Many of the videos uploaded onto YouTube today are perfect examples of a term called 'produsage'. I define produsage as: A shift in production from traditional ways, those being producer-distributers-consumer to a less controlled way of production. Nowadays, consumers can also be producers, such as those who upload footage onto YouTube and now, myself. I can now be defined as a 'producer' because I have produced my own definition of the term onto a blog which, someday, may be used by someone for whatever purpose.  

Wikipedia is another common production platform where anyone can mound information upon information about any topic, have it edited and then added to the forever revolving piece of work. 

I can't say I've ever added information to Wikipedia, however, I have been a 'producer' before when I was unfortunately required to upload a tragic video YouTube for an assignment. 
With my brother filming, I delivered my speech and after watching it back, regretfully uploaded it for my classmates to watch. I can assure you, there were a few laughs!
My blog has been the other form of production, posting information weekly about a topic that has been passed on from the online Blackboard. 

I have a feeling that produsage will soon become the main pathway for the future of the media industry. Taking, again, YouTube videos for example, personalities such as Justin Bieber and PSY (if you can consider them 'personalities') both began their careers on YouTube by producing videos that went viral. Soon, we may see successful journalists, singers and maybe even actors step into the spotlight after uploading their reproduced work to a known media outlet.