Quitting Social Media - Blog #5

When teenager Sonia Bokhari was in eighth grade her mother gave her permission to join social media.  Once she joined she was horrified to find that her mother had posted Sonia's hundreds of photos of Sonia on Facebook., and Sonia quickly learned that her life was not private.  Sonia was furious.   She felt betrayed and lied to.  

Click on the hyperlink below and read this article about Sonia's experience and how she eventually felt compelled to quit social media.  

I'm 14 and I Quit Social Media after Discovering What Was Posted About Me  

After reading the article share your observations.  What do you think about Sonia's response to her mother having posted images of her? Can you relate?  Explain your experience.  What do you think is the best use of social media for a young person?  What are your thoughts about parents' use of social media and their children.  Use 300 words to comment on this article.  

"Facebook is a Propaganda Machine" - Blog #4

Sasha Baron Cohen is known to many of us as an actor and a comedian starring in films like The Dictator, Bruno and Borat.  These films satirize political and social aspects of our modern world in ludicrous, uncomfortable and brilliantly funny ways.  SBC does not shy away from awkward and difficult situations.  He uses comedy and satire as a means to communicate certain truths.  

Sasha Baron Cohen (centre) is known for such comic characters as Ali G (left) and Borat (right).

Recently, Sasha Baron Cohen turned from comedy and took a serious stance against certain social media platforms' willingness to allow hate and propaganda to flourish.  He criticized FACEBOOK and its creator Mark Zuckerberg for lack of integrity because Facebook allows anything on its feed even if it's false, hate-filled, racist and antisemitic calling it a "propaganda machine." 

Watch the attached video of Cohen's criticism and comment on whether or not you think he is accurate in his observations.  In your response outline the 3 suggestions Cohen makes to Facebook and explain whether or not you think they would work in stopping propaganda to flourish.  

The Guardian - Nov. 2019