Reading response 5
1. Why does Laurel Schwulst advocate for individual websites over social media? Do you agree with her? Please explain your answer.
Laurel Schwulst advocates for individual websites over social media, as she believes that popular social media platforms prioritize advertising and don’t necessarily consider user’s happiness, needs, or privacy. She suggests that people, especially artists, should reclaim the internet’s original space by having their own websites that provide creative freedom and a direct connection with the public. I agree with Schwulst’s perspective as personal websites offer more control and are more authentic compared to the algorithmic constraints and privacy concerns of social media. In the digital world, which is dominated by commercial interests, having a personal website allows for more genuine self-expression and a unique online presence. Having this creative freedom enables creators to shape the web’s future and maintain a more meaningful connection with their audience.
In this article, Schwulst outlines several metaphors defining the behaviour of websites. Write a paragraph describing your own metaphor for a website. Put that text into its own simple website designed to extend that comparison. Upload it to your Github server and post the link here.
I believe that each website is like a star in the night sky and possesses a unique celestial presence within the
digital galaxy. Similar to how stars stand out with their shine in the vastness of space, each website shines
with its distinct luminosity, contributing to the online universe. The content of a website acts like a radiant
illumination emitted by a star, which consists of informative articles, visuals, and interactive features. This
content shines brightly, attracting digital observers and guiding them through the expansive cosmos of
information, creating an informative journey for online users.
Digital stars, exert a pull on users by making them engage in content and interactive features, creating a
gravitational force that draws individuals into their digital orbit. The connectivity between websites mirrors
the gravitational forces binding stars in a galaxy, forming a network of hyperlinks and shared content that
promotes seamless travel through the digital galaxy. Users, just like astronomers exploring stars, seek
insights, entertainment, or information from the digital stars scattered across space on the internet.
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