Final Course Reflection
Over the course of the semester, I’ve come to appreciate waking up early. Coffee in hand by seven, laptop open, easing into the day with learning about the latest happenings in the world of communication technologies. Through our blog assignments, class discussions, and the Kickstart Project, that morning ritual became more than just routine it became a gateway into understanding technology as a part of our daily lives. What stuck with me the most wasn’t any single fact or concept, but the way my perspective shifted. I now think more critically and more curiously about the digital tools I use everyday.
The most significant trend I explored was the rise of AI-assisted creative tools, particularly in my work on the Kickstart Project about the app pAInt. This project taught me that we’re in the middle of a transformation in how creativity is produced and consumed. What struck me wasn’t just the numbers like the projected $11 billion market by 2028 but the cultural influence behind them. The demand for tools that speed up the creative process reveals a generation that is both empowered by and overwhelmed by content. This trend, to me, is less about what AI can do, and more about what we are willing to offload in the name of efficiency.
When it comes to theory, the most impactful concept I learned was the social shaping of technology. Instead of viewing technology as something that dictates behavior, I began to understand it as something shaped through human behavior. Our talks about platforms like TikTok really got me thinking about why something becomes popular and how long a tend lasts before the next one comes around. I realized that platforms don’t just support certain types of content they are designed to push them. Through algorithmic design, they actively encourage content that is likely to go viral. I now ask more critical questions about how and why we use certain technologies and how those patterns of use eventually loop back into the way platforms are designed.
When it comes to policy, I was surprised to find out that design is policy. Our conversations around algorithmic transparency and data privacy taught me how little I understood about the technology I use in my daily online life. In my blog post about ethical AI and corporate responsibility, I learned about Google’s AI ethics principles and how vague they often are and it’s designed that way on purpose. This led me to think more about the importance of not just regulation from the above government, but ethical responsibility from corporations.
The most important social issue I learned was digital divide.Through the Kickstart Project and our class discussions, I became more aware of how digital platforms often cater to a specific demographic.This raised bigger questions for me about access, equity, and who gets to be seen, heard, and supported online.
This class taught me to look at my own personal relationship with technology and how I use it and in some ways how I take it for granted.