Twitch.tv is a live streaming medium, that has taken the internet by storm. BUT if you’ve been in this class, you already know that! In June 2011, Twitch began as a spine off of Justin.tv. In five short years, Twitch has become a lifestyle for many young gamers. What is a bit concerning to me, are the younger viewers. I have read multiple articles about violent or disturbing content coming from these live streaming shows. The generation of gamers ranges from children to adults. While twitch.tv does not have a “children friendly channel” option, there are some streamers who stream games that have a younger aged population of players. These games include Minecraft and super Mario. However, the issue for me is that the violent streams are just one click away. Younger children are more susceptible to become influenced by media, and having violent or disturbing content so easily accessible to them may be bad for their mental health. That being said, there is also the issue of cyber bullying as well. Being a free medium, Twitch.tv allows anyone to comment on streamers or even about watchers. Chat rooms become filled with people of all ages and their comments. Furthermore, children could potentially become influenced to buy things or other activities through the internet.

I believe that Twitch.tv is a great innovation for the gaming community. I think that the internet should be avialable to everyone, and there is a lot to learn from the internet. However, there are concerning factors. One of these factors, for me, is younger viewers accessing mature content. I have found multiple articles online for parents, in efforts to educate parents on the best ways for their children to not be exposed to mature content. However, I am curious about how many parents actually adhere to these guidelines. In all honestly growing up, my parents never really restricted what I could see on the internet. Mainly, because they did not know how. As a member of the generation of kids to grow up in the digital age, I can say that I do not think that mature content was a huge factor for me. I think that the fear of my parents seeing that I was viewing mature content, was enough for me to not explore too much. However, this may not be the case if mature content finds young viewers, rather than the other way around. For example, a parent might think that their child viewing a Minecraft stream might not be so bad. Mainly, because so many kids are into minecraft, and also other parents may allow it as well. However, an individual streamer may have violent commentary or mature commentary, and a young viewer would see this content without necessarily searching for it. Therefore, I think that Twitch.tv should develop its community. I think that, that is the best solution. The community should look for streamers that post inappropriately and should be able to appeal to shut them down, a sort of online etiquette if you will. For example a minecraft streamer, since minecraft is very appealing to younger gamers, may be appealed to be shutdown for having overly mature content.

Phil Simon’sThe Age of the Platform: How Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google Have Redefined Business was very intriguing to me. However, the section titled The Platform as a Business Model especially caught my attention. The platform is one a of the most successful business models of this generation. Companies such as google, Amazon, and Facebook have redefined the way start up companies view business strategies. In the pre-platform age companies targeted single markets, valued stability, had competitive culture, had centralized marketing campaigns. However, in today’s platform era companies target businesses and consumers, form vibrant partnerships with various sources, have group mentality, and rely on bottom up a technological and marketing advancements. This section of Simon’s The Age of the Platform further illustrates the actual business model of platform based companies.

To me it is intriguing that such a simple business model is able to be so successful. To me this underlines a generational switch in the marketplace. With the digital age fully booming, it seems corporations are taking full advantage of social change that has been related to the digital era. One example of this may be twitter. Previously relaying a single message to millions of people was a difficult task to do. However with twitter, messages can be sent instantly directly into the hands of millions of people in an instant. This is a huge advantage for corporations. One thing that stuck to me was that there was a change in marketing technique, from a centralized one to one utilizing word of mouth. Before the social revolution of Facebook, intstagram, twitter, and snapchat, word of mouth was not a useful technique for mega corporations. Marketing in the form of magazine ads, TV and radio ads, and other traditional advertisement techniques were the most effective means of message delivery.

To me this concept is fascinating while terrifying. The potential good in this is outstanding. Instant information on natural disasters, current events, and news are just some of the potential topics that could circulate to millions of people in an instant. However, the potential for misinformation and sabotage are also there too. For example, one instance may be the heavy media coverage of Donald Trump in this years election. The media tends to favor those who are vocal and entertaining. Therefore, Donald Trump has been circulating through social media at an alarming rate. I am not going to say Donald Trump is or is not a good presidential candidate. However, it does not seem fair that in a certain presidential candidate is portrayed in social media more often than others. In a democratic system, all candidates should have equal access in terms of media. This way all their views and qualities are visible. However, this just simply is not the case. Perhaps some sort of regulation for fair media is necessary.

Overall, the concept is very simple. Create a plank. Create a platform. Let people advertise and spread the idea. Then collect money, and develop more planks. Evolve the platform, and then take over the world.

This is a reflection of my group’s Amazon presentation, as well as some of the readings.

Amazon is, a without a doubt, a huge marketplace. Amazon has dominated the market, even pushing its competition either out of business or close to it. One example of such is Staples. Amazon has quickly become the main competitor of Staples, an office goods niche company. Staples has had a nationwide decrease in revenue as Amazon becomes a behemoth. However, what is alarming, in smaller scales, is what it is doing to local businesses. The smaller stores simply cannot compete with Amazon’s large scale distribution of goods. Sure, there is the argument that smaller stores should adapt to the changing times or even sell on Amazon itself. However, there is a problem that local communities will simply vanish. One example of this, that hits close to me, is the town of Amherst. I interviewed Nat Herald, the co-owner of Amherst Books today. He mentioned to me that there used to be eight books stores, two hardware stores, and a fish market in Amherst town. Inevitably Amazon and the lack of support from UMass caused this reduction in local businesses.As I spoke to Nat I realized how much that UMass had turned its back on the community.  The town of Amherst receives some support from Amherst College, a private university. However, UMass Amherst continues to create an oasis for students, depriving them of the need to experience the culture of the town of Amherst. Structures such as the campus Amazon pick up, bluewall, and an overall strive to keep students on campus cause local communities to not be able to thrive.

Why is this important? As a student, this may not be concerning. Having all the conveniences needed close to your dorm is probably preferred. However, think about the professors, the community, the quality of experience. To a professor or staff member at UMass Amherst, having a local town that you can connect to is valuable. This would show that Amherst is not just a place they work at but rather a place they live in as well. Having this connection is important. As a student don’t you want your professor to be happy with where they live? Being happy with where professors live may influence the quality of their teaching, their willingness to help students with individual problems, and their affinity to invite their qualified colleagues to teach in the area as well. The community is so important as a college student. Formal education is what draws us to a University, and what you take away could potentially be so much more. With local businesses come job opportunities and internships. Real world experience in the field that you are pursuing. Further, becoming involved in the community is fulfilling and completes your experience.

Richard Berry’s “A Golden Age of Podcasting? Evaluating Serial in the Context of Podcast Histories” was a paper on the “Chitlin Circuit” or “urban podcasters”. These podcasters are a group of black podcasters who seek to recreate traditional black hang out spots, such as the barbershops, beauty shops, and churches. These podcasts generally have no central topic. Rather, they are a collection of conversations that range from comedy to more serious topics of discussion. However, some podcast groups do have a central theme such as “Wheres My 40 Acres” (WM40A). The podcasters within the Chitlin Circuit promote each other, forming a sense of community in the universe of podcasting. These podcasts are unapologetic and meant for black listeners. The formation of the Chitlin Circuit is a testimony of black culture and the need for its representation.

The disparities are real. In the United States black people have a huge disadvantage to whites. Not just through socioeconomic levels but health disparities as well. It seems that black people need a voice, and these podcasts are a necessary achievement for equality.

Throughout my youth I found it difficult to connect to white culture. I felt that hip pop/rap, MTV (back when it was good), sneakers, and basketball much more enjoyable than what my white friends were into, although some of my white friends were into the same things as well. Not that I have anything against white people, its just that I found black culture to be more entertaining. And so when I immediately felt a connection in this article. Not so much because I idolize black culture or anything, but rather because of the fact that its something I am somewhat used to. I see my own culture to be influenced by black culture, but it is more along the lines of asian culture. This is interesting because artists like Nujabes or various YouTubers such as Rich Chigga, seem to share what I consider to be “my culture”.

As a Korean American, I found this article to be fascinating. The main thing I thought was do Asian-Americans have podcast communities? The answer is: “Kinda”. In my simple google searches I found some Asian American comedians and small celebrities have started a small community for podcasting. The next thing I asked myself was do Asian Americans have enough culture to recreate an enclave in the way the black podcasters have been able to? This was a little vexing to me. There’s no denying that there is a rich history that originated thousands of years ago in Asian culture. However, Asian-American culture is relatively new. For us, the story is different. We are Asian. We are American. It feels like you can’t be both but you are. In Asia, we are tourists in our parents’ native land, foreigners in our traditional homes. However, even though we were born in the United States, we are not really American but rather Asian-American, being Asian first before being an American. Therefore, is there enough history for people like me to find a place of belonging through podcasts?

** hint answer = yes