In By any media
necessary: The new youth activism, Jenkins and his colleagues discussed the
relatedness of young Americans’ social involvement and media. The authors argued
that everything is political. Moreover, they suggest engaging and participating
in a social activity, and trying to make a change for the society to be a
better place is all a political activity. According to the authors, the new
media play a big part in youth’s political activity due to its characteristics
of connecting likeminded people from time and space.
Political activity on online media is especially beneficial
to the precarious public, namely discussed on the article as Muslim Americans
and nonimmigrants without citizenship, which is threatened on the risk of
exposure. Authors suggest that the young perceived to be a dangerous public
actively creates content and shares stories on media to better their unfair
treatment in the United States. The risk of sharing their identity online is a
possible surveillance and privacy infringement. The writers added sometimes
popular activists could avoid investigation from the immigration office. Given
the current political circumstances, however, such young activists may not
escape the eyes of immigration office now.
During Trump administration, young activists on social media
may have a hard time to openly act upon their political thoughts. President
Donald Trump won the campaign for U.S. presidency with his slogan “Make America
great again.” He plans to build a border wall between United States and Mexico
to decrease the number of illegal immigrants. Trump is carrying out a
closed-door policy, isolating United States from other countries. Not only is
he showing hatred toward other countries. Trump shows clear discrimination
against gender, race, and religion. His discrimination will persecute Muslim
Americans and undocumented immigrants even more intense during his time. Youth
activists may prepare for more harsh surveillance, privacy invasion, and being
treated as possible criminal. The authors argued that youth activists make
political stance by sharing stories on social media. If social media becomes a
limited space for youth activists, their political activities are limited as
well.
Trump’s policy of seclusion is a contrary concept with the
purpose of social media that connects everyone. He may be able to lock up the
doors to other countries by changing trade rules and accepting fewer
immigrants, but he cannot surely stop his citizens from connecting to the
outside world through social media. As the leaders of many countries recently elected
are extreme rightist and show strong nationalism, it is difficult to tell the
future of social media. Instead of going global, the social media may do its
part locally or domestically. As the discussion we had earlier, it is debatable
if people use social media to connect with friends whom they actually make
contact offline, or to connect with strangers. If prior argument were correct, social
media being local wouldn’t be much trouble to the public. However, youth
activists who are trying to connect with diverse public would lose many
audiences.
It is always hard to balance privacy and security. As much
as I want diverse youths of America to express and share their thoughts to make
an ideal America, there is always a risk of safety. Due to social media’s
capability to connect with likeminded people from far away, it is possible that
some extreme activists may plan a terror with someone they met online. It is so
hard to figure out where the line between privacy and security should be drawn
to protect both the rights of youth activists and the national security.
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