Each One, Teach One

One of the biggest video-sharing platforms on the Internet.

In the modern digital age, few platforms have transformed communication, entertainment, and education as dramatically as YouTube. What started as a simple video-sharing website has grown into one of the most influential platforms in the world.

YouTube was founded in February 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim, three former PayPal employees who wanted to make sharing videos online easier.

 Their goal was to create a platform where anyone could upload and watch videos without needing specialized technical knowledge.

On April 23, 2005, Jawed Karim uploaded the first video in YouTube history, titled "Me at the Zoo." Although
the video was only 19 seconds long, it marked the beginning of a platform that would change the internet forever.

Jawed Karim's "Me at the Zoo"

The website quickly gained popularity. In 2006, Google recognized YouTube's enormous potential and purchased the company for $1.65 billion. That acquisition gave YouTube the resources needed to expand globally and become the world's leading video-sharing platform.

One of YouTube's greatest achievements is how it changed media and communication.

Before YouTube, video content was largely controlled by television networks, movie studios, and major media companies. Reaching a large audience often required expensive equipment, industry connections, or access to broadcasting networks.

YouTube changed that reality by allowing anyone with an internet connection to become a creator.

People could share their talents, ideas, and experiences with audiences around the world. This helped create a new generation of content creators, educators, musicians, entrepreneurs, and influencers who built careers through online video.

Education is another area where YouTube has had a major impact.

Students can access lessons on subjects such as mathematics, science, history, technology, and foreign languages. Teachers frequently use video content to make learning more engaging and interactive. Millions of people have also used YouTube to learn practical skills, from coding and graphic design to cooking and home repairs.

In many ways, YouTube has become one of the largest free learning resources ever created.

The platform has also created significant economic opportunities. Through advertising revenue, sponsorships, memberships, and merchandise sales, creators can earn income from their content. Some individuals have even transformed hobbies into full-time careers.

Businesses have benefited as well.

Organizations use YouTube to market products, train employees, connect with customers, and build brand awareness. The platform allows businesses of all sizes to reach global audiences at relatively low costs.

Despite its success, YouTube has faced several challenges and criticisms.

One major concern is the spread of misinformation. Because anyone can publish content, inaccurate or misleading information can sometimes reach large audiences. This has created ongoing debates about content moderation and digital responsibility.

Another issue involves copyright protection.

Content creators, musicians, and media companies have frequently raised concerns about unauthorized uploads of copyrighted material. Although YouTube has developed systems to address these violations, copyright disputes continue to be a challenge.

The platform's recommendation algorithm has also received criticism.

While the algorithm helps users discover content that matches their interests, critics argue that it can sometimes promote sensational or controversial videos to increase engagement. This has raised important questions about the responsibilities of technology companies in shaping online experiences.

Concerns about online harassment, cyberbullying, and excessive screen time have also emerged, particularly among younger users. These issues continue to spark discussions about digital well-being and internet safety.

Despite these challenges, YouTube remains one of the most influential technologies of the 21st century.

It has transformed how people learn, communicate, entertain themselves, and build careers. The platform has empowered individuals to become teachers, storytellers, journalists, and entrepreneurs while connecting people across cultures and communities.

YouTube Headquarters located in San Bruno, California.

Ultimately, YouTube's legacy is a reminder that technology can create incredible opportunities while also presenting important challenges.

Its impact extends far beyond online videos. YouTube has fundamentally changed the way people share knowledge, express creativity, and connect with one another, making it one of the most significant digital innovations of our time.

AI DISCLOSURE: AI was used in the creation of this blog. I guided the AI into designing me a professional blog written in a journalistic style using a prompt given to me by my professor. I then looked into every source given to me by the AI to check for accuracy and 

Privacy, Online & Off

Local law enforcement has initiated mass surveillance on streets, towns and shopping centers with the use of flock cameras. This is a huge violation of privacy of U.S. citizens.

Flock cameras are placed in high traffic areas through the United States.

They have also installed automatic license plate readers into the surveillance system. In NYC, police have automatic license plate reader on their cars.

The government is keeping our private information without our knowledge.

The government and local police forces are gathering so much data about its citizens and using it in unlawful ways such as blackmailing and stalking.

Not only are they watching us through flock cameras on the streets, but they are also surveilling us through our phones by going through the phone companies.

Through our phones, they see what we search, who we talk to, and who we are through our social media.

Especially our social media. Apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and especially Facebook create a digital dossier on their users by data mining their electronics.

According to NIH, Cambridge University in the UK was able to collect data on 87 million Facebook users without their consent.

Cambridge exposed Facebook for its data mining in 2018.

Even then, they don’t stop there. On our computers, the most popular web browser Google Chrome is one of the worst browsers in terms of privacy.

Even in “Incognito Mode” your data is still being tracked and saved in their data centers.

To me and many others, this is a huge privacy violation that we don’t feel comfortable with. With so many ways to gather personal data, random people have my medical history, friends, family, and so much more.

I shouldn’t have to delete browser history, delete recent cookies, and use a VPN all just to have some privacy in the safety of my own home. Even outside of my home, I am being watched.

Privacy is becoming a privilege to those who can afford it in the U.S.

AI DISCLOSURE: AI was not utilized in any shape or form in the creation of this Blog Post.

Marketplace of Ideas within Social Media

 

The value Marketplace Of Ideas proposed the argument that ideas of truth and quality will, without a doubt, rise over ideas of falsehood.

English poet and philosopher John Milton, born December 9, 1608

This value was created by John Milton for the purpose of arguing against publication licensing in 1644, England. This argument against the Parliament, as well as others, were written in John Milton's Areopagitica. 

John Milton's Areopagitica

The Areopagitica suggested that the acceptance of an idea or concept should be open to the people instead of needing the approval of the government and its churches. John Milton named that acceptance process the Marketplace Of Ideas.

I find this idea similar to the more recent idea of "The Court of Public Opinion" due to the judgement of a notion being in the hands of the public.

John Milton believed that the people would use critical thinking to overcome misinformation and bad ideas. He wanted people to question whether an idea was good or not and let them decide for themselves.

Unfortunately for John Milton, the English Parliament ended up rejecting his idea of free speech for the next 51 years. However, today his value of free expression became a foundation for new ideas and innovation for the U.S. 

John Milton's value of free expression is still relevant today, especially in social media. Across various platforms and apps, everyday people are posting their ideas, opinions, and creations. The only thing limiting what they post are the platforms themselves and not any direct government. 

Present day social media is putting John Milton's Marketplace of Ideas to the test due to the amount of misinformation that spreads across online platforms.

        

One of the biggest social media platforms today is TikTok. It allows anyone to post anything they want as long it isn't explicitly graphic or lewd.

TikTok also allows anyone to post political opinions and news. This can give a user many different perspectives on the same story or political figure.

        

According to John Milton, the best ideas and the most honest videos should dominate TikTok's feed. However, that isn't true. Video containing misinformation and false narratives are posted everyday and reach the same popularity as those that are honest and good.

That misinformation spreads and can cause serious issues, especially if its on more serious topics such as politics.

TikTok used to be a place of creativity and a pretty good news source, but now people use it just to grow their popularity by taking advantage of controversy and drama. TikTok has become a tournament to see who can fabricate the craziest opinion on a real world issue.

    

However, this negative aspect of social media isn't only on TikTok. People post misinformation and lies across all of the internet. What is worse is the intent behind their post. There are many that post with the sole intent of lying or hurting someone.

While I believe that John Milton's Marketplace of Ideas can hold true in todays world of social media. I also see an abundance of evidence that contradict his value of free expression. Wrong perspectives and false narratives spread like wildfire on social media, we can counter that with critical thinking and an open mind.

Supreme Court Reflection

 

The U.S. Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial system on Earth.

Watching this documentary changed the way I think about the Supreme Court. Before watching, I knew it was an important institution, but I did not realize how much of its power depends on public trust rather than force.

One of the first things that stood out to me was the idea that the Supreme Court's authority comes from the faith of the American people. The documentary repeatedly emphasized that the Court's power is earned through trust, and I found that perspective interesting.

I was also surprised to learn how difficult it is to become a Supreme Court justice. One quote from the documentary described the appointment as being "akin to being struck by lightning," which highlights how rare that opportunity is.

Another thing I learned was how many cases the Court receives. The justices review about 100 cases per week, adding up to nearly 7,000 each year. I had no idea the volume was that high.

The documentary also explained that judges cannot simply choose issues to address whenever they want. Instead, they must wait for cases to come before them, unlike the president, who can actively choose priorities and policies.

I found the discussion of oral arguments especially interesting. What looks like an intense argument is often a conversation between the justices and attorneys. The documentary even joked that there are three arguments: the one you plan to give, the one you actually give, and the one you wish you had given afterward.

The process behind decisions was also fascinating. After hearing a case, the nine justices meet privately and work through drafts of opinions that can take weeks to develop as they try to persuade one another.

My biggest takeaway is simple. The Supreme Court's influence does not come from military power or direct control over the public.

It comes from the trust Americans place in the institution and its role in interpreting the Constitution. That idea changed the way I view the Court and helped me understand why its legitimacy matters so much.

AI DISCLOSURE: AI was NOT used in the procurement of information, all information came from notes, that I took while watching a video titled Comms3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1. I Then prompted Claude to shape my notes into a 300 word blog post written in a smooth professional style.

Top 5 News Sources

1.) Google News

My main source for information and news. It is reliable because of the numerous trusted sources it provides. I can trust google news to provide me the most recent and biggest events occurring across the world. You will commonly find the same story appearing on various sources. This provides you more perspectives and information so you can see the big picture.

2.) TikTok

TikTok provides short form videos and slides as their main form of media. It also only takes a few minutes to post a TikTok video, so news and other important information find their way onto your feed fast. Another positive aspect is that you can build your own feed by taking advantage of its algorithm. However, one of the only downsides to TikTok is it can sometimes be untrustworthy since anyone can post a video. You'll get your news fast, but it is also important to double check if the information is true.

3.) Instagram

Similar to TikTok, Instagram's main form of media is its short form videos and slides. It is a reliable source to turn to when searching for recent news. There are many big name news sources who post on Instagram, but like TikTok. Anyone can post on Instagram, so just make sure to double check all information. It also very accessible to anyone who wants to use it.

4.) X (Twitter)

Many major news sources and political figures use the X as their main platform. You are also able to follow specific sources so your feed is tailored to your interests. The platform also  allows users to see a variety of perspectives on the same story, which can help them better understand different viewpoints.

5.) CNN

I use CNN because it is a reputable news source who employ trained journalists who follow professional reporting standards and fact checking procedures. The network provides coverage of both domestic and international events through a large team of correspondents and experts. CNN's reporting often includes multiple sources, interviews, and detailed analysis, which help me better understand complex issues. CNN is the most trustworthy out of the 5.