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Blog 7: The Value of Expression

Social Media is the Gateway to Free Expression

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In my first EOTO, I discussed the emergence of Instagram, how it was used in day to day activities, and the influence it allows me to have on other lives. I feel that for the younger generations social media, especially Instagram, is often their only source of political news. For that reason, the Value of Free Expression that is most important to me is the idea of Participation in Self-Government. It is becoming more and more uncommon for people in the younger age ranges to watch the news or stay informed on political issues at their own convenience. 
Social media can often bridge the gap between political leaders and the younger generations. Average citizens are able to generate content, post it in the form of an Instagram story or post, and have it shared to millions of users on Instagram. Instead of going out of their way to sit in front of a TV and flip to a particular news channel, they are able to stay up to date with political issues from scrolling through their Instagram feed, something that isn't abnormal for their daily activities. Freedom of speech comes from the ability to share whatever you want, whenever you want from the convenience of your cell phone. 

The downside to using Instagram as your form of receiving or putting out political news is the possibility of an echo-chamber. By seeing one post, you may not get the whole story behind something. If you are only seeing that one version of the story, you will believe it to be your truth. Unfortantely that can happen no matter where you get your news from though. CNN and Fox News broadcast the same issues in often very different lights, pushing the viewers to believe one half of the story and not the other. For me, I think social media is a great way for people, especially the younger generation of voters, to educate themselves and involve themself in knowledgable political discussions. 

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Welcome to my blog

My name is Katy Parisi, and I am a double major in Political Science and Strategic Communications with a minor in Public and Professional Writing at High Point University. I hope to one day attend law school and own my own law firm. Throughout my life, I was a competitive gymnast and cheerleader and won the biggest competition in the cheerleading world, NCA nationals in Dallas, Texas. F rom my experiences in the sport, I learned dedication, grit, and leadership. Something interesting about myself is that I am a vegan, and I actually love vegetables. 
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Blog #1: Digital Echo-chamber

What are we learning if our ideas are only being reinforced? A problem that many Americans have is that they think they are more educated on a topic than they really are. Freedom of the press relates to social media in the way that it gives people an outlet to create user-generated content and allow for their own voice to be heard. But the problem begins when people use their echo-chamber social media as their only news source. An echo-chamber, defined by The Oxford Dictionary in the video below, is an environment where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own.  A  digital echo-chamber  is formed because social media users tend to only follow and like posts of people whose opinions agree with them. For example, if someone was a liberal and voted Democrat in most elections, a lot of their friends and followers on social media probably align with their views. Because of that their ideas are not being challenged, onl...
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Blog #3: Current Event

Freedom of Speech Being Denied by Police Force While we have seen protestors swarm the streets the country, in small suburbs to big cities, the police have met peaceful protestors with violent forces such as teargas, rubber bullets, and arrests. It is undeniable that destruction was done by looters and rioters as well, but when people peacefully protesting are being stripped aware of their First Amendment rights, more anger began to stir in these communities. Peacefully protesting is protected by the First Amendment in the following lines: "abridging the freedom of speech...or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." In this scenario, protestors are having their voices heard; they are doing so peaceful. And they are asking for change within our police and law enforcement systems after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. This specific  article  gives light to a situation that took place...
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