The Dartmouth 02/05/2020

MIRROR 2.5.20

TECH-LIFE BALANCE 2

TIK TOK AND MEDIA 4-5

WHEN THE TECH BUBBLE BURSTS 6 SAMANTHA BURACK/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

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Editors’ Note

Tech-Life Balance STORY

DIVYA KOPALLE/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Names like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple and YouTube are pervasive in our world today. As these companies have grown, many have also sprouted their own media outlets, affecting not only how we access information but also what kind of information we are accessing. Many people worry that as we become more and more reliant on screens, we lose our ability to think critically and to meaningfully interact with other people. Others argue that technology has improved our world by making information more accessible and connections easier.

This week, the Mirror examines the potential pitfalls of modern technology and the media in addition to the ways they have bolstered our society. We unpack tech-life balance and break down how the dynamic between technology and privilege plays out at Dartmouth. We explore how TikTok promotes instant gratification and discuss the impact of the media’s coverage of Trump’s impeachment trial with a government professor. Chances are high that many of you will read these stories online, on platforms only made possible by recent technological breakthroughs. While many of us have become accustomed to the screens beneath our fingertips as an inherent part of our lives, we hope that this week you will take a moment to consider how technology and media may affect us more than we know.

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2.5.20 VOL. CLXXVI NO. 129 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DEBORA HYEMIN HAN PUBLISHER AIDAN SHEINBERG MIRROR EDITORS KYLEE SIBILIA NOVI ZHUKOVSKY COPY EDITOR JULIAN NATHAN ISSUE LAYOUT GRANT PINKSTON

By Kate Yuan

Youth ages 15 to 18 spend about seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen using entertainment media, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it’s become effectively impossible to live in today’s society without being immersed in technology, increasing concerns about the excessive use of phones, tablets and laptops have led to efforts focused on limiting screen time.

“Those kids and their damn phones” has become a staple boomer statement, very easily dismissed by younger generations. However, there are genuine health and safety concerns when it comes to the use of technology. For instance, the impacts on mental health and wellbeing are far-reaching, whether they be sleep deprivation, lessened productivity, insecurities or more. A study conducted by Common Sense Media found that 36 percent of teens wake up and look at their phones in the middle of the night to view notifications or browse social media.

This disruption of the sleep cycle raises concerns for productivity, mood and energy during the day.

Often blamed for anxiety and depression in youth, apps like Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat fuel the concept of comparison culture. Thirty-seven percent of teens say they feel pressure to post content that will get a lot of likes and comments. Users pick and choose to display the aspects of their lives that reflect most positively while leaving out and concealing those that are less desirable. While recognizing that technology provides an easy avenue for connecting with lots of people, communities and culture, there exist externalities that are far less celebrated.

Efforts seeded at Dartmouth have focused on promoting a healthier tech-life balance. Lookup.Live is a nonprofit organization co-founded

by Susan Reynolds ’85. Reynolds said her charge for this cause began in 1997 when she took the position of academic director of technology

at The Fenn School. While doing from a mental health standpoint.” research with this job, she said Initiatives that the club has taken she became aware of the dangers include booking tech-free study of digital addiction and has been rooms, where phones and computers investigating the issue ever since. could only be used for academic “One of the problems with the purposes, according to Hileman. amount of screen time is that it takes They have worked with Reynolds to away from non-screen activities that promote initiatives such as the Look actually make Up Challenge on you feel good campus.

“Intentional use of like exercise or “When spending time technology is very you hear the with friends — different from being words ‘mental being completely health,’ people engaged, face-to- swept away in passive think of things face,” Reynolds use. It’s important like depression, said. a n x i e t y , A c o m m o n to ask: Are you medication, but challenge that creating or are you I think mental p e o p l e f a c e consuming?” health works on today with digital a spectrum,” addiction is that Quezada said. it often occurs -SUSAN REYNOLDS ’85, “ U n l e s s i t ’s without the user branded like even realizing COFOUNDER OF LOOKUP. ‘yoga’ or a ‘silent it. There aren’t LIVE trip,’ it doesn’t many people out really get talked there saying that about, so getting they want to be addicted to their into those things that we can do every phones, but it is a behavior that is day is important to me.” learned very quickly.

Quezada also said that Unplugged “Intentional use of technology is has been working closely with very different from being swept away Reynolds and LookUp.Live to gain in passive use,” Reynolds said. “It’s momentum and support for the important to ask: Are you creating initiative. The most important aspect or are you consuming?” to Reynolds is that students are at the Sara Hileman ’20 and Diana forefront of the effort because they are Quezada ’20 are in the process of the generation that best understands creating a club, Unplugged, with the the issue and can, therefore, design primary goal of promoting healthier solutions. tech-life balance. While the club is in During the fall term, LookUp. the process of being recognized by the Live partnered with the Magnuson Council on Student Organizations, its Center for Entrepreneurship and founders emphasize that they do not the Dartmouth Design Collective to advocate for a complete shutdown, sponsor a $2,500 grant competition quit cold-turkey view of technology. to promote a healthier tech-life Hileman and Quezada said that there balance. This Designathon provided is a healthy balance between too a winning prize of $5,000 to the team much technology and too little, and that produced the best solution to the it is finding that balance that can be issue of tech-life balance. challenging.

“Dartmouth students have the “I never really noticed how much opportunity to be out in front of this technology impacted me until I went issue,” Reynolds said. “What we are on things like Trips,” Hileman said. trying to start is the whole movement, “It was really just cathartic to get away and Dartmouth really has the chance from it. It’s really beneficial, especially to lead this social change.”

Q&A with Government Professor Brendan Nyhan Q&A

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By George Gerber

Brendan Nyhan is a government professor whose areas of expertise include misperceptions and conspiracy theories, political communication, the media, political scandal and corruption.

This week, The Dartmouth sat down with Nyhan to learn more about the media’s coverage of the impeachment trial of President Trump and potential biases in such reports.

What are the different ways liberal and conservative media outlets are portraying President Trump’s impeachment?

BN: Well, the conservative outlets are more likely to portray the impeachment as partisan and question the facts supporting the charges brought forth by the Democrats.

That varies across the conservative spectrum. I would say Fox News opinion shows have been the most dismissive, but other conservative voices have instead focused on questioning whether the charges would merit removal from office. Some conservative outlets are challenging facts, and others are challenging how those facts are being interpreted.

On the liberal side, I think they’re pretty uniformly portraying the case against Trump as very strong and meriting removal. The mainstream media, of course, is somewhere inbetween those two sets of ideological outlets.

How is mainstream media been presenting the trial?

BN: The mainstream media’s approach has generally been serious.

I think the historic nature of the third impeachment in United States history has encouraged reporters to treat the process more seriously. The stakes are very high. At the same time, there is a temptation to cover the trial in the style of a partisan food fight — there are competing impulses in the media.

On the one hand, you can cover the trial like a campaign; who’s up and who’s down. On the other hand, you can talk about the very serious issues at stake that have to do with the limits on the powers of the president.

Depending on the day, outlets same way as their co-partisans emphasize substance more some in Congress. The problem is our times and at other times focus more constitutional system depends on on pure politics. Of course, people members of Congress being more than want to know rubber stamps for how the trial is “There are very few the party line on going to turn out. matters that are At the same time, members who are this serious. So, though, that kind willing to cross party the question going of coverage is forward is: “What, likely to cause lines, especially on if anything, would people to view high-salience votes like merit removal the process office? When whether to impeach a from through their would a party vote partisan filters. President” to remove a coThis is the kind partisan president of sports-style from office?” We coverage — is -BRENDAN NYHAN, don’t know. my team winning GOVERNMENT or losing? In Many people PROFESSOR that k ind of b e l i eve t h a t framework, it’s T r u m p ’ s probably harder for people to see past acquittal is imminent. Are which team they support. less people engaged with the trial because they feel that the How much of a partisan issue outcome is predetermined, and has impeachment become, both there’s no need to bother? for those in Congress and the BN: Maybe. We don’t know. You public? can imagine if there had been new BN: The entire process has been evidence introduced in the Senate almost perfectly partisan in terms trial that people would have followed of how members of the House and the trial more closely, in part because Senate have voted to this point. That that would have increased uncertainty corresponds to the trends we’ve seen about the eventual outcome. Just in Congress, where the parties have like people tune out of sporting become more divided than at any events where one side is winning point in past congressional history. overwhelmingly, it may be the case There are very few members who are that people lose interest in this process willing to cross party lines, especially when it seems to be a foregone on high-salience votes like whether to conclusion. I don’t think we know that impeach a president. Now, we haven’t to be true, but there are lots of reasons seen the final removal vote, but the to think that’s plausible. votes on the various motions have been almost directly along party lines What role, if any, has “fake news” with only a couple of Republicans played as the impeachment trial crossing over. So I’d expect that trend progresses? to continue.

BN: Well, the most important role The public sees it largely along that so-called “fake news” has played partisan lines as well. Not surprisingly, in this impeachment trial is the way those are the cues they’re getting from it contributed to the events that elites. In a context where the public are at the heart of the controversy. is only hearing from Republicans While there’s certainly been online that Trump should not be removed misinformation as the trial has gone from office and only hearing from on, the most central role played by that Democrats that he should, it’s not kind of dubious content has been in surprising that the public feels the motivating President Trump to seek

COURTESY OF BRENDAN NYHAN

information on a supposed conspiracy committed by Joe Biden, for which there is no evidence. The entire controversy centers on the search for information that came from dubious sources. That highlights an important point that, in some cases, the most important consequence of dubious information is the influence it has on political elites.

Prior to this controversy, very few people were reading online content about Joe Biden’s activities in Ukraine, but that information made its way to Trump and his associates and prompted this search for dirt about Biden that eventually led to his impeachment.

How will the Senate’s actions in limiting coverage of the impeachment trial affect how the media can disseminate

information?

BN: It’s hard to know. What took place in the Senate was public and was televised. So, ultimately, the people’s business was conducted in full view of the media. It may be the case that if the accessibility would have been greater, Americans would have been able to engage with the process more. There were tight restrictions on media access and the video feed that was available was quite limited on television. At the same time, the process was ultimately public. To the extent that I have any concerns, it’s more about the precedent of restrictions on coverage that Capitol Hill reporters said were quite unusual. If that trend were to continue or worsen, it would be problematic.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

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Tik Tok and the Future of Media STORY

By Charlie Ciporin

If you haven’t been living under a disappeared, I think this was just rock for the past six months, you’ve kind of a natural evolution towards probably heard of TikTok. The a new social media platform.” new videomaking app has taken Towle is among the ranks of users the world by storm, with everyone who have garnered large followings from The Rock to students on our in the past few months, many of own campus amassing impressive them between the ages of 15 and followings through the platform. 21. Notable names include Chase As of March 2019, it was the most Hudson, Addison Rae and arguably downloaded app on the Apple App the most famous user, 15-yearStore for five consecutive quarters old Charli D’Amelio, who has an and continues to astounding 23 attract millions "I don't consider million followers of users monthly. on the app as of The app allows myself an influencer. print time. While for the creation But obviously I do D’Amelio hails of 15-second from my own have influence over videos that h o m e t ow n o f c a n b e m a d e a certain number Connecticut, she to accompany of people, and I has just moved a variety of to Los Angeles s o u n d s f r o m do think there's a to pursue a popular songs, responsibility." professional movies and even career through other users.

TikTok. In many M a ny, l i k e -SYDNEY TOWLE '22 ways, the app Wi l l G l ov s k y has become the ’23, are quick next platform to to attribute the app’s success to usher in a new age of social media the role that the video app Vine influencers. left behind when it was shut down Towle, however, does not view in 2016. herself as one of them.

“I think it occupies the niche “I don’t consider myself an Vine left open for social media influencer,” Towle said. “But when it disappeared, and ... it’s obviously I do have influence over an excellent way for the average a certain number of people, and I person to express themselves at a do think there’s a responsibility. Like relatively low cost,” Glovsky said. before I post, I make sure I’m not Sydney Towle ’22, a user who saying something inflammatory or has amassed over 60,000 followers anything that can rub anyone the on TikTok, agrees. wrong way.”

“I think from the days of Vine, Glovsky said that while right now people were still looking for a the popular avenue for consuming replacement, because it was such TikToks is the “For You” page — a popular thing for us growing an endless feed of videos from an up,” Towle said. “So once Vine aggregation of users across the

app — he believes that more people settings and showed me: one hour will migrate to watching specific and 58 minutes per day. influencers. Towle thinks the same While the 15-second videos are thing, noting that the number of funny and often entertaining to popular users has already increased watch, the app begs the question: dramatically Why are these “I think more short videos are and more people "People in other so compelling to are going to keep historical moments the astounding getting popular of users would have perceived number o n t h e a p p, ” TikTok attracts their speed of media Towle said. on a daily basis? I Of the people consumption as sped spoke to English I’ve talked to p ro f e s s o r who m a k e up too. For example, Christie Leigh TikToks on a in 19th century Britain, Harner to ask regular basis, about what mail was delivered in many of them the app means c r e a t e v i d e o s London between five for modern with the express and 10 times a day ... consumption of wish of “blowing media. She told up.” Perhaps the you could basically get me that while genius of TikTok a mail delivery every the immediacy is appealing to of media the hope that one hour of your working consumption of your videos day." through modern will become viral t e ch n o l o g y i s and boost you to perceived as the social media -CHRISTIE LEIGH HARNER, extremely fasts t a r d o m t h a t ENGLISH PROFESSOR paced, it might many secretly not truly be a new crave. It seems phenomenon. to be easier to do on this app than “People in other historical most others. moments would have perceived While Towle has a large following their speed of media consumption and tries to post at least once a as sped up, too,” Harner said. day, she said that she only goes on “For example, in 19th century to make videos rather than watch Britain, mail was delivered in them. For most, however, that is London between five and 10 not the case. Many users, like Didi times a day ... you could basically Tyree ’23, claim an “addiction” to get a mail delivery every hour of the app. I asked Tyree how much your working day.” time she spends on the app on an However, Harner was quick average day. Instead of answering, to note how this new form of she pulled out her phone, navigated media lacks one critical piece: to the Screen Time section of her narrative. Instead, it utilizes what

she describes as “impressions,” or quick instants that do not add up to a larger story. While media on platforms like Instagram or YouTube still try for narrative, Harner said that the “impressions” on social media right now are mostly seen on TikTok. However, Harner said she believes that the human desire for narrative will never truly go away — thus, she does not see TikTok replacing narrative forms of media like film, television or even other online media platforms like YouTube.

Still, the popularity of these “impressions” cannot be ignored.

It is certainly a trend that will continue to develop, and while it’s hard to say where it will go, more than anything, people believe the app will continue to grow.

“I think it’ll continue to blow up like it has been ... It’s projected to keep growing,” Towle said.

I will admit; in the process of writing this article, I too have b e c o m e s o m e wh at i m m e r s e d in the world of TikTok. Before downloading the app for the first time, I never understood the appeal. However, after a week of researching and talking to users, I think I finally get it. The dances are fun to watch and even more fun to try and learn yourself. The comedy sections are very reminiscent of Vine (although, in my opinion, nothing can ever truly replace it).

In all, it may not be as bad as its reputation. There certainly are worse things to become addicted to.

Sydney Towle is a member of The Dartmouth staff.

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SAMANTHA BURACK/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

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When the Tech Bubble Bursts STORY

By Caris White

The common application that most of us used to get into Dartmouth required a computer and an internet connection. Dartmouth’s website, emails from the College Board, SAT score reports — all of these things require us to be online. When 17 percent of teenagers say they sometimes or often can’t complete their homework because they lack access to digital technology at home, this is what they are missing out on. The digital divide is a growing issue in education, and Dartmouth isn’t immune to its effects.

For all of our complaining about Eduroam’s spotty connection and the one bar of LTE reception in Hanover, Dartmouth College looks a lot like a technological paradise. The tables in FFB are lined with Apple desktops and it seems like every student’s closest companion is a sleek silver laptop. As it turns out, having access to cuttingedge technology doesn’t just seem mandatory at Dartmouth — it is.

Among the many emails I received from Dartmouth before matriculating this fall, there was one from the Computer Store, telling me what kind of computer I needed. At the time, I thought that the memory and RAM requirements were over-the-top — but after a term and a half of classes, I’ve realized that having a fast laptop can make a huge academic difference.

While the computer store offers many laptop options, all of them come with a relatively hefty price tag; the least expensive is still $849. I spoke with Maureen Hennigan, the senior director of service strategy and design, and Theresa Woodward, the manager of the Dartmouth Computer Store, about how Dartmouth makes technology like this accessible to all students. I was surprised to learn that when buying a computer to meet Dartmouth’s requirements, it’s up to students on financial aid to communicate with the Office of Financial Aid themselves about getting their computer packages covered, according to Hennigan.

Dartmouth’s$5.7billion endowment suggests that the problem is not whether it has the funds to make technological access affordable for all students, but

rather, effective distribution of its resources. One of the hardest parts of making technology at Dartmouth both accessible and relevant is actually knowing what students need, according to Hennigan.

“Knowing your needs is part of our biggest struggle,” Hennigan said, “We don’t have our own direct access [to students’ financial need.]”

Hennigan said her goal is to establish systems that reduce students’ stress and confusion surrounding technology.

“It’s enough work to get here; they shouldn’t have to have this anxiety,” Hennigan said.

Her words ring true. Getting into Dartmouth is a serious challenge, but once students are here, varying levels of privilege, especially when it comes to technology, can become a hurdle in the classroom, beyond just the financial aspect.

For instance, computer science can be intimidating for students who arrive with limited technological backgrounds, especially in intro-level classes where prior experience is helpful.

“It’s hard to be in a space where that this isn’t always the case. Loeb you think, ‘Everybody in here knows spoke to some of the ways she’s seen more than I do’ — and that’s the the dynamics between privilege and privilege piece, because some people technology shift do,” said digital during her years arts professor “There’s a white at Dartmouth. and cofounder privilege that goes “It used of the Digital to be that men Applied Learning on, and we certainly wouldcomeinwith and Innovation see a dearth of more experience,” (DALI)Lab Laurie said. “That’s students coming from Loeb Loeb. still the case, but A n g e l a L i African American, it’s changing ... ’20, a computer Native American, There’s a white science major who privilege that works at DALI lab, Latino backgrounds goes on, and highlighted this who are coming into we certainly sentiment. see a dearth of “CS just didn’t computer science and students coming seem like that technology.” f ro m A f r i c a n intimidating of a American, Native field to me because American, Latino I’d already had 4 -LAURIE LOEB, DIGITAL backgrounds who years of exposure ARTS PROFESSOR are coming into to it,” Li explained. computer science However, I and technology. walked away from my conversation Sometimes arts is a way to change that. with Loeb with the hopeful belief Because art crosses boundaries; it’s not

VIOLA GATTI RAOF/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF

just straight CS. It’s a little bit more accessible to people.”

However, according to Loeb, the advantage of prior coding experience becomes less substantial the more classes you take. She also said that when it comes to the digital arts program, all the technology students need is provided by the school. There are computer labs in Sudikoff that Loeb said students are encouraged to use, because modelling software requires more processing power than most laptops offer.

Loeb also stressed the importance of breaking through the notions of privilege-based advantages that are common in technology-centric fields.

She said that the idea that people who start college with previous coding experience are more likely to be successful in computer science classes and positions is not inherently true.

“There’s an initial perceived privilege bias. It’s one I really encourage people to push through,” Loeb said.

“Programs and software are only as good as the people writing it.”

There are spaces at Dartmouth that help level the playing field — DALI Lab is of these places. Li said that the equipment in DALI is worth tens of thousands of dollars, but it is all free for DALI employees to use. However, at an institution with as large of an endowment as Dartmouth, it can be easy to forget that not everyone in the world has access to spaces with highquality technology.

“Because of DALI we get used to being in an environment where we have access to these things,” Li said.

“It’s easy to get sucked into the bubble and forget what the real world is like.”

Twenty minutes away in Norwich, VT, for instance, there isn’t broadband fast enough to run the modelling software used in DALI lab, according to Loeb.

As students of Dartmouth, we all have a certain level of technological privilege. It isn’t always equal; some students come from rural areas without broadband, and many have to find ways to afford the technology Dartmouth requires.

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TTLG: Pick Up the Phone TTLG

By Emma Langfitt

If my mom wanted to call home when she was in college, she got her jar of quarters and walked across the quad to the only dorm with a payphone, dialed the number and crossed her fingers that someone would pick up. If they didn’t, maybe she’d try again tomorrow. But calls were expensive, so they were short and infrequent. And if her parents wanted to reach her? They were basically s—t out of luck. They could try to call the payphone and ask for Susan, but on a campus with thousands of students and hundreds of Susans, those were tough odds.

When she was away from home for months at a time, her contact with her family was limited in a way that’s hard for me to imagine.

My family has always been really close, so it’s not surprising that we keep in close contact despite all living in different places. Growing up, we were treated as a unit in my small town, referred to as “The Langfitts.” In high school, much of my time was spent with my parents.

I trained for marathons with my mom, so we spent hours on long runs and getting coffee afterwards every Saturday. I took dance lessons at a studio in the town next to mine, and before I had my license, my dad would drive me on the hourlong round trip three times a week.

Before coming to Dartmouth, the idea of not seeing my parents and siblings every day freaked me out.

I’d never been away from my family for an extended period of time, and I was scared about how much I’d miss them.

When my parents dropped me off my freshman fall, my mom left a book on my bed with a letter she wrote saying that she was worried about missing me, too. She knew she’d miss talking on our runs and hearing about my classes over coffee every day but told me to remember that she’d always be just a phone call or short flight away. I cried reading that letter and called my parents for the first time since starting college life, a full two hours after they left.

They’d barely made it out of the state.

Since then, I call my parents every day, often multiple times. Anytime I’m walking around campus, from class to class or from the library to the gym, I call my mom for a quick check-in on what’s been going on since I last called. Frequently, I don’t even have anything to say. She’ll ask what I’ve been up to. “Since we last talked two hours ago? I stood in the KAF line, drank my iced coffee and watched an episode of ‘The Great British Baking Show’ on FFB. What about you?”

When a call can’t get the message across, FaceTime is even better. I FaceTime my parents to show them mugs I made in the pottery studio, the crazy-bright Hanover sunsets and the snow as it’s falling. My mom can be more up-to-date on Hanover weather than my napping roommate. I send my parents pictures of cool jackets I find at Listen, and they watch YouTube videos of my dance group’s performances. Though they aren’t actually here with me, they are as close to here as they can possibly be while sitting in the kitchen eight hours away.

My siblings have the same habits I do. Sometimes my whole family ends up on a group call together because when I decide to call, my mom and dad are already on the phone with my brother and sister, and they merge me in. My sister FaceTimes us to show us new tattoos, and my brother sends songs he thinks we’ll like in lieu of playing it in the car together. I have to imagine my mom spends much of her day talking to us, and it amazes me that she is willing to give us so much of her time. There is little that goes on in our lives that she doesn’t know about.

When I got back from this past winter break, I cleaned out my desk and re-discovered the letter my mom wrote for me freshman fall. I cried all over again. While texting and calling keeps us close on a day-to-day basis,

that letter has perfectly preserved the feeling of connection with my family for four years. In hindsight, I can’t believe how worried I was about missing home when I have so many ways of staying in touch, even when far away from the people I love.

After graduation, I’ll have one more summer at home before heading across the country to live in San Francisco for a little while.

It will be the farthest I’ve ever lived from home and will also place me far away from the friends I’ve made at Dartmouth. I won’t be able to pop into Mid-Mass to see if my trippee wants to get lunch with me or walk around the library until I find someone to take a study break with.

Thankfully, texting and calling and FaceTiming means I can stay up-to-date with what’s going on in everyone’s lives. When communication is easy and instant, it becomes ordinary — but this regularity is exactly what keeps your relationships strong when you’re far apart. I don’t have to live on your floor to know that your roommate is being annoying and you’re thinking about getting a dog. Being included in someone’s day-to-day experiences is a special type of closeness, and I appreciate that technology allows me to do that from across the country.

However, I also want to send more letters. Even though we talk every day, rereading my mom’s letter instantly gave me the comfort of a long run and home-brewed cup of coffee. The time and effort put into a letter can preserve a specific feeling for that letter’s entire existence, acting as a time capsule of your relationship at the time of its writing. A text is great to hear about your day, but when you get a new job or turn 23, I’m sending you a letter to tell you just how proud I am of you.

That being said, I’m going to call my mom and tell her I finished writing my essay for the Mirror.

COURTESY OF EMMA LANGFITT

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Plugged In PHOTO

By Naina Bhalla and Lorraine Liu