Media and Collective Identity

1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'

"Who are you?" 

This section is about, the different things we do, either fit in or not, and the things and people we follow in order to become like. 

"I think therefore I am"

We are now in an age where we are now groups instead of individuals, and we do not take up the normal role of either men or women.

"From citizen to consumer"

Before, we only consumed the things we needed, now, its more about our wants, anything to look good.

"The rise of the individual"
We now are our own people, and want to be different, we do not want to conform to traditional values.

"Branding and lifestyle"
A product that is created, can be sold on the identity it creates, and if the consumer is in touch with that identity.

"Who will we be?"
Due to social media, people are hiding behind avatars.

2) List five brands you are happy to be associated with and explain how they reflect your sense of identity.

Nike 

Tropicana

Liverpool Football Club

The Blind side movie 

GridIron Gang 

3) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean? 
I think the media is now mostly about 'style over substance' this is because different things like the news, would put stories in particular order, of how much views they would get, and not relevance to the nation. Style over substance is an imitation of something, as it is nice looking on the outside, but has nothing in the middle.

4) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.

 Media saturation is a sort of cleanse we get by the media, as they bombard our lives. We now use media for everything, meaning there is a lack of normal conversation and contact with people due to a persona put on by people online, meaning that there is some things said online that would not be said in person, and people think that is fine due to media saturation.

5) Is your presence on social media an accurate reflection of who you are? Have you ever added or removed a picture from a social media site purely because of what it says about the type of person you are?

I think my presence on social media is a reflection of who i am, this is because i tweet about football, and occasionally lyrics of songs, and as someone who is a football fan and like listening to music, i think that is a valid representation. I have removed a picture, because i have realised it is not the image of me that i am trying to portray.

6) What is your opinion on 'data mining'? Are you happy for companies to sell you products based on your social media presence and online search terms? Is this an invasion of privacy?

I think data mining is fine, but to a certain extent. This is because somethings should be kept private, so having things like an in private browser when products that are similar to the thing you search doesn't come up all the time. It can be classed as an invasion of your privacy, but it also gives you a chance to see other deals that you may be interested in.