Google, Twitter, and Culture

      In my recent posts, I've waxed philosophical and talked about the specifics of population genetics (as I understand them).  Now, I'd like to discuss some things that I am always careful to avoid in public forums: technology and politics.

    This morning I was listening to NPR when they did a segment on Google, multinational information traffickers (like google), and social media sites (like twitter).  There were several interesting tidbits of information presented, and I think that these might be useful to discuss as they most certainly are examples of technology influencing culture.
   
     First, the story mentioned Google and its usual freedom-of-speech-approach to information sharing.  However, not all information of the web is available via Google in all places.  Some of this has to do with different countries banning certain content from its citizens (the legal ramifications of this make operating sites such as google a challenge as workers in those countries are held responsible for content by law).  But also, Google sometimes chooses wether or not to make information available to different places.  Thus, a non-government organization, in this case a business, controls the trafficking of information.  Decisions are made without the population's input.  In essence, a group of individuals make choices that affect potentially thousands of individuals with no oversight.  How does this effect the transfer of knowledge, or even what we understand to be the way knowledge is transfered?  Clearly, information technology can be used to distribute knowledge, but this example of Google's decision making demonstrates that corporations can manipulate what people learn or even have the ability to learn.
   
     Next, NPR discussed the use of twitter in response to Newsweek's "Muslim Rage" cover.  It seems that many are using twitter to mock the provocative and rather narrow-minded cover of this popular new magazine (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/newsweeks-muslim-rage-cover-mocked-online/).  Clearly, a social media website is being used to attempt to repair relations between different communities.
   However, the recent violence in the Middle East can be attributed to what may be considered a social media website, specifically YouTube.  A single posting of a video mocking Islam has lead to widespread unrest, violence and tragic death.  This is a great example of cultures conflicting and technology being used to fan the flames of intolerance and hate on an unprecedented scale.

   Finally, I would like to discuss the recent clash between Bill Nye and Senator Todd Akin.  Nye criticized creationism vie YouTube, and Akin, as well as different Creationist outlets, have responded in kind via the internet.  This debate has not taken place in person, but within chat rooms and different websites.  What makes this example interesting is that the conflict has gone viral because it is online.  More people have access to both parties via the internet.  Clearly, the web is changing how different cultures interact, how violence spreads, and how information reaches different people.  The problem arrises when technology can be used to promote agendas.