In the video, Raquel Recuero - Digital Youth, Social Movements, and Democracy in Brazil, we learn about the way that Brazilians are using social media sites like Facebook to affect social change. In fact, Brazil’s youth are finding new ways to spread democracy by discussing hot topics like politics and gay marriage in an open forum where individuals are introduced to the opinions of others (2014). Whenever an exchange of opinions occurs, whether in the real world or online, learning and change for the better are bound to result from gaining new insights into a concept or situation. I remember learning so much during dinner time discussions when I was a child, and I learned at a young age the value of a single discussion in changing one's perception of the world.
Brazilian youth are finding new ways for social mobilization stemming from discussion, exchange of ideas, and by influencing the media. Brazilian's are finding new ways of learning and teaching, such as using YouTube videos to introduce and teach a new style of music and dancing.
On the political front, there are other ways that Brazilians have helped to create a more democratic society. For instance, in 2010, a website was created "to help Brazilian's publish report of candidate misbehavior and electoral crimes" (Recuero, 2014).
Despite the advantages of technology, Brazil is experiencing some problems. Too much information causes Brazilians to have privacy problems. Children and teens are sharing too much information about themselves, and there is rampant bullying in schools and online, and an overall decrease in sensitivity to violence (Recuero, 2014).
According to Recuero, "spaces are used for youth to talk about what is happening in their locations 2014). For instance, "I may not agree with you, but I have to see what you think" (2014). The downside if that this can have the opposite effect of “shutting up those who don’t want to be judged” (Recuero, 2014). Apparently, those who are less confrontational in nature shy away from this type of participation.
According to Durant & Green's model, Brazilian youth are learning to decode the Internet on sites like Facebook and YouTube and others. This is having a direct effect, both positive and negative, on the Brazilian culture as they work to spread democracy while minimizing the negative effects of online participation. In addition, Brazilian's are being introduced to the thoughts and ideas of others, and this requires critical analysis to come to a better understanding of where other's views fit or conflict with their own.
This week, we were also asked to view a video by Saskia Sassen, entitled Saskia Sassen: Networks, Power, and Democracy (2012). Sassen asks in her video, "how do we construct an objective study of networks and interactive domains, and this is where she lost me. Much to my dismay, I found Sassen's video to be extremely hard to follow as she digresses constantly, but the fact that her video has over four hundred views and only two likes is somewhat comforting to my bruised academic ego. I look forward to what my colleagues have to make of Sassen's message.
Reference
Durrant, C., & Green, B. (2000). Literacy and the new technologies in school
education: meeting the l (IT) eracy challenge?.
Recuero, R. (2012, July 24). Raquel Recuero - Digital Youth, Social
Movements, and Democracy in Brazil | Connected Learning [Video
file]. Retrieved from
ments-and-democracy-brazil#notes
Sassen, S. (2012, July 26). Saskia Sassen: Networks, Power, and
Democracy [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Hpw1GpHzAbc&feature=youtu.be
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