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This week’s readings really opened my eyes to how trolling is more than just bothering people on social media. In fact, it’s often targeted, violent, and political. The TIME article on trolls, especially the section on Weev, revealed how online harassment can escalate into real-world danger. What disturbed me most was how these trolls justify their actions under the guise of “free speech" even when it includes doxxing or hate speech. I’ve also noticed how platforms don’t always intervene which makes users feel unsafe. This reminds me of the SNL sketch about Beyoncé “turning Black” in our quiz this week, which exaggerated white discomfort with Black expression to make a point. Social media isn’t neutral. It reflects power structures and this week made me realize how much responsibility users and platforms both have in shaping online culture.

Tufekci’s talk breaks down how big tech manipulates users for profit plus how social media algorithms are directly tied to political polarization. A perfect reflection of this week’s reading on surveillance capitalism. #MCO335

A protester holds a sign with a QR code leading to information on human trafficking. This image captures how digital tools are now embedded in modern activism which is something deeply explored in the Pew Research article on #BlackLivesMatter and social media.