To be honest, I did not give much thought to the impact of digital media and artificial intelligence on our lives before taking this course. I am a frequent user of social media and artificial intelligence tools, but in the majority of cases, I consider them as neutral tools. However, following this course, I changed my mind. I understand now that digital media is not the tool, but it is also actively forming our perception of ourselves, others and the world.
In my case, one of the most new things that this lesson presented to me is that identity is not predetermined, but constructed with the help of digital media. In the past, I thought that self-presentation, such as selfies or online profiles, only shows who we are and how we want to show it is up to us. Nevertheless, this course made me realize that platforms, technologies and even algorithms influence these presentations. For example, in my artificial intelligence selfie project, I noticed that despite my attempts to convey my feelings and explain what details I would like to capture, the end result will still be influenced by the artificial intelligence system. This prompted me to start doubting the extent to which I can control my self-presentation.
The most impressive reading materials to me were the works of Chubb et al. (2022), Manovich (2001) and Barnea et al. (2023) readings have all made me reconsider digital media in various perspectives. Chubb et al. (2022) put forward the concept of “missing narrative” in the field of artificial intelligence. Their study reveals that the majority of the reports on artificial intelligence are rife with extreme opinions, including the idea that artificial intelligence is harmful or can fix everything. However, there are few reports on the practical application of artificial intelligence in daily life. This opened my eyes to the fact that the way the media portrays artificial intelligence is not always complete and cannot be representative of the actual experience. This also makes me wonder whose voices are not heard in these stories.
Manovich (2001) made me realize that digital media does not merely mirror reality, but creates reality. This perspective is quite useful to me in order to comprehend my artificial intelligence selfie project. In my photographs, I mix my present life in a foreign country with my family recollection in the Spring Festival. Such moments cannot co-exist in the real world, but digital media can merge them into a single photo. This demonstrates that digital identity is not only captured but created. The research of Barnea et al. (2023) has given me a new way to think about the ephemeral content such as Instagram Stories or Snapchat. They said that when the content can be viewed only once, individuals will listen more attentively since they will be scared of missing the message. Once I realized this, I started to think about my actions. In my case, I do enjoy reading the posts that other people share, but I hardly ever bother to share my life. Although the content is published, I would still prefer to share it in an ephemeral way. On the one hand, it's because I don't want others to overinterpret my life, but on the other hand, I also realize that when I know that something will disappear, I will focus more on watching it. This experience helped me to be more conscious that the design of the platform will directly influence our attention and the manner in which we engage with the content, as well as alter my perception of attention and memory in digital media.
Among the primary benefits that I received during this course is the fact that it helped me to understand that digital media is not neutral. The impact of artificial intelligence, social media and online platforms are all influencing the manner in which we communicate and perceive ourselves. The other significant benefit is that identity is not fixed. It is influenced by technology, culture and environment. This has altered my perception of selfies and online pictures. They are not just simple images, but built-on versions of identity. I think that in the future, I will be more careful and critical when using technology. For instance, I will be more attentive to the impact of artificial intelligence on my self-expression or the way it makes it easier. I will also attempt to listen more to various voices and opinions, particularly those that are frequently overlooked in mainstream discourses. Moreover, I will also consider digital content in a new light. I realize why ephemeral content is more appealing now, and I will also be more critical of how the platform is structured to influence the attention of users.
All in all, this course has transformed my perception of digital media, artificial intelligence and identity. It has made me transform my perception of technology as a neutral tool to the understanding of the positive influence of technology in creating meaning and experience. This new outlook will still influence my future use and thinking of digital media.
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