The content for this week was interesting on so many different levels. First, I want to touch on the TED talk regarding algorithms and Bias. Dr. Zamora, Alan and Ryan would be the only ones to remember this, but I actually presented on this topic last year in this class. I thoroughly enjoyed it because of all of the different rabbit holes, so to speak, that it allows us to go down. The reason why this is so important is because we need to try and get a better understanding of what it means and all of the different implications that come along with all of this. The one fact that always struck me and is something that I think about often even a year after my initial research is the thought that different people could all google the same thing, and their past results and interests will drive the results that specifically present themselves to an individual depending on that past activity. We need to be careful with how we view these algorithms because of this. Any medium that is knowingly and purposely manipulating information is something that should concern us. I will leave this for the presentation in class this week as I am interested to hear what Ganeldye has to say about this phenomenon.
The other video with Ruha Benjamin was heavy. It was a kind of reminder of how much we still need to progress in these times as far and relating to it. She goes through some of the cases just in the last year that have all acted as catalysts for change and calls to action. She talks about people such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, which I am not going to go into too much detail here, I feel this could be a very powerful discussion to have in class. She also talks about the tearing down of national monuments. She then talks about her main idea of virtual justice. I can honestly say that I am not exactly sure what she means with that term, although she did go on to explain it. I am hoping to learn more about this as we meet this week because it sounds like something that will absolutely be beneficial to all of us ti understanding how our interconnectivity can help change narratives and also change the world.