Kathleen Kalk
Election 2024
Despite residing in Canada, the battle for President of the United States was inescapable thanks to Facebook and social media. It was common for friends of friends to wage comment wars. Despite an individual’s political beliefs, one thing everyone could be excited about was the end of the election related interactions on social media. Social […]
Is Google redefining the meaning of research?
The Washington DC based think tank the Pew Internet Research Center just released a study about the educational impact of the internet. Titled How Teens do research in the Digital World, the study takes aim on how the internet is changing students and their perception towards education. The surveys were conducted over March and April […]
Predditors, Redditors and the repercussions of “free speech”.
Anonymity is difficult to achieve in today’s media driven world. Names are no longer simply matched with faces but also Twitter accounts, Linkedin resumes and of course Facebook profiles. Sites are slowly bringing together online and offline personas. The Internet giant YouTube is attempting to coax commenters into revealing their identities by connecting through Google […]
Twitter-induced panic for UBC Athletics
According to campus newspaper The Ubyssey, Twitter account @UBCDimeWatch was deleted yesterday, after allegations were made against student athletes regarding their involvement with the Twitter feed and its corresponding website. The Twitter account, said to contain non-consensual photos of and suggestive comments about UBC’s “dimes” – (attractive women worthy of top scores on the infamous […]
In the wake of Amanda Todd’s death: it’s time for us to wake up
All of last week and still today, my social media feeds have been flooded with news of and reflections on Amanda Todd’s story. According to the National Post, the 15-year old Coquitlam student took her life on Wednesday as a result of a cyberbullying campaign that first took its form when she was in Grade […]
Boston T People: A Facebook page celebrating Boston’s most laughable commuters
As a commuter student, I can only admit that I do not always look and feel my personal best while on public transit. A lady from Boston named Erika has all too evidently come to a similar conclusion of the MBTA (Boston’s version of TransLink) and its passengers, creating the “Boston T People” Facebook page. […]
Photos of student athletes offensively altered and shared online
Some University of Alberta students have found the transition back to school a little more strained than most, after several of their photos were recently taken from social media sites, altered to include sexually explicit captions, and shared online. A report by CBC News discloses that the students, mostly female members of the U of […]
Rising mobile security threats: how to stay as smart as your smartphone
I love my iPhone. It’s my security blanket and when I leave home without it, I feel like a disoriented, sad, lost puppy, incapable of making phone calls and telling time. Truth be told, most of us rely on our phones quite a bit. And according to Forrester, “the number of smartphone and tablet owners […]
Michael Dell’s daughter banned from Twitter for unfiltered postings
Michael Dell, founder of computer company Dell Inc. pays about $2.7 million/year for his family’s security, according to his company’s filings. However, how effective are Michael’s efforts at security? Forbes reports that Michael has now allegedly shut down daughter Alexa’s Twitter after she posted a photo to her Instagram profile of her younger brother enjoying […]
The most difficult obstacle Olympians face may not be something they can train for
Olympians spend nearly the entirety of their lives training. And yet, no amount of preparation could possibly ready them for the scariest judges of all– the general public. For 17 days, these athletes lay prey to viewers all over the world. The London 2012 Olympics have been no exception. Dubbed the “Social Olympics,” sites like […]
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