Facebook Exchange: a step too far?

I'm sure most Facebook users have heard or noticed, that Facebook are able to cater the adverts they think are relevant to you from your likes/dislikes internally within Facebook. Last month the news leaked that Facebook is currently testing and will soon be launching a Facebook Exchange. This being a real-time bidding ad system where users can be shown adverts related to their browsing externally to Facebook when they return to Facebook. Why? Basically because Facebook will earn more money from their advertisers as they will be giving more direct and relevant ads that could have a bigger impact on their viewers.

Obviously, the decision to implement the exchange into their site has caused some bad press for Facebook as users are increasingly concerned about privacy issues. Should Facebook have a right to our browsing history externally to Facebook? Also, Facebook is a social network site to connect with family and friends, do we really want more ads taking up our screen, we don't use Facebook for this, so will we even take notice of them?

Would love to know any ones thoughts.

Also, heres some interesting articles/blogs on the subject:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/223849
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-13/facebook-to-debut-real-time-bidding-for-advertising.html
http://www.highervisibility.com/blog/facebook-exchange-bidding-system-to-launch-soon/

Jade

Do you find Rap music sexist?

I'm a fan of most genres of music; Pop, Dance, House, R&B, Rock, Indie and the topic of my post...Rap music. However, reading articles and blogs I have noticed a rising rate of journalists discussing about how rap music communicates to its audience and whether it is in fact Sexist? When I listen to rap music talking about women in a degrading manner, I feel like I should be offended... I should.. but strangely I'm not? Is this because I'm so used to rap speaking about women in that way or because I don't take it seriously? A part of me wants to stop listening to it, cut it out of my life out of respect for my sex! But... I don't find it offensive, so I can't! In this post I want to explore whether rap music is sexist and why? and if it is, why don't I and millions of other females find it offensive.

 

Artists like 50 cent just seem to be trying to present how strong and powerful they are through their lyrics. In a sense they are trying to show how masculine they are by distancing themselves from femininity. However, in order to distance themselves they try to dehumanise women by calling them names such as 'bitch' or 'hoe' and typically objectify them as sexual objects for their satisfaction. I have found research to suggest that the genre of rap is being blamed for normalising misogynistic attitudes and celebrates the physical abuse of women. So, could this rap music I sit at home listening to be subconsciously forming negative attitudes towards my own sex? and to males that listen to rap, could it make them think its ok to objectify women?

Lil Kim is a famous female rap artist known for lyrics that talk about her 'ability to please men sexually'. Authors suggest that with female rap artists objectifying themselves, it could imply that even women within rap music think its ok to degrade themselves. However, on the other hand it could be that Lil Kim is in fact using the 'erotic as power'. So rappers such as Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj and Salt n Pepa could actually be using masculinist language about sexuality, to reclaim it and to assert their right to speak of desire and thus, gain feminist power over men.  I personally agree with this as I think women have a right to express sexual desire without caving it to the male gaze so could this be why I'm not offended by the lyrics?

Looking into the background of rap music I found that rap music is described as a form of oppositional culture that offers a message of resistance and empowerment. Also, that when you listen to rap music it's only offensive if its misinterpreted. According to some articles on the topic they suggest that it needs to be evaluated in the light of its humorous and poetic contrivance. So I think rap could be interpreted as offensive but it could also be seen as parodic humour, it all depends on how each individual person decodes the genre.

An interesting article I found when researching: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-517681/Listening-rap-music-makes-sexist-say-experts.html

Enjoy!

Jade

Could you be an accidental online decieiver?

There is no doubt that online communication has completely transformed the way our identity is portrayed. I explored this within a chapter of my dissertation on 'Identity Online' and it has really interested me. It's now made me more conscious of whether my online identity portrays my real life, face to face identity or just the identity that I wish people to perceive me as.

In face to face interaction we communicate with our physical appearance as well as our language and behaviour. To some level we can control certain physical qualities of what others know of us by the different choices we make in life. However, particular qualities are beyond our control and are predetermined for us for example our gender and race. However, these cues are not visible online (unless you want them to be of course)!

Therefore, online communication has created the opportunity for us to redefine how we are to be perceived online and I think this is really empowering! I mean personally I thought my online identity was the same as my real life identity, but after researching this topic for my dissertation I realised my online identity is how I WISH to be perceived but not necessarily how I am perceived and this is really interesting. Therefore, I am myself probably an accidental deceiver! When talking about this to friends they agreed that they probably try to make themselves more 'professional' or more 'glamorous' looking online  for example, than they are perceived by their peers face to face. This is empowering for some people as it stops them being judged by their age, race etc, but there is a thin line between portraying how we think our identity is perceived when it is really perceived differently, to point blank deceiving others online. The use of language to misrepresent ourselves online is not uncommon and becoming more popular. This type of deception is now making us doubt whether people are really how they describe themselves.

So the thought I want to leave you with is; are you deceiving others with your online identity purposely and if so could this lead to disappointment if they met you in real life? If your not purposely deceiving, do you think after reading this post that your online identity is a clear representation of your real life identity? or could you be an accidental online deceiver?


Jade X

No more Pot Noodles for my tea....

I'ts official! I am no longer a student...I've entered into the real world of JOB SEEKING! I have finished my degree over a month ago now, and although I'ts all over and I'm looking for a job to kick start my career.. I still have to wait until November to graduate! So technically, I can't say I'm a real graduate which is pretty frustrating!


I have had an amazing three years at university and it's the best decision I ever made to sign up to complete a degree. I have learnt alot academically as well as personally about myself. I have found that PR is the career for me. Personally, I have found that I am a hard worker, I am enthusiastic to learn and I am striving to achieve and make something of myself! That being said, it is very hard to get that dream job I've had in my mind the whole time I've been at University: An entry level job into the world of PR. I've spent weeks searching the web for this role and finally I have a few interviews lined up.. However, although I am confident in myself that I would be a great person to hire, the job market is HARD to say the least and I'm being realistic in the fact that I will probably have quite a few interviews to attend before I get anywhere... That being said I am preparing as much as possible! I organised lunches with friends of friends who work in PR for any of their help and advice. I have spent hours and hours making sure my portfolio is perfect! and I've even made myself a slideshow of possible questions I could be asked and a rough idea of my answers, which I watch almost hourly! I feel as prepared as I could possibly be for these interviews.. and yet.... I still feel utterly helpless and can't help feeling that I'm going to fall flat of my face and ruin my chances somehow! I'm sure this is a completely normal sensation to have with your first REAL career type interviews so I'm going to ignore that feeling and stick with my: 'I think I'm perfect for this job' and 'Ive prepared as much as I could possibly prepare'. I think this is the best mind set to go with..!


For anyone who is trying to prepare themselves for an interview in PR here are some of the webistes that I found to be the most helpful !
 http://www.prfutures.co.uk/jobseeker-tips/interview-questions
http://www.cvtips.com/interview/public-relations-job-interview-tips.html
http://www.prsa.org/SearchResults/view/7971/105/interview_tips_for_today_s_tough_job_market
http://racetalkblog.com/2008/08/29/your-first-job-in-pr-questions-you-should-prepare-for-and-questions-you-should-ask-in-the-job-interview/



Wish me Luck & Enjoy!


Jade X