Assuming that most of the contemporary digital tools are created in a “developed” country, to me it will be valuable to analyze and recognize the power relations that cross all of this tool. Our current context marked by polarization, power groups, etc., could define the use or intention behind a tool. Conflicts also are an important part in understanding the modern digital tools, the strained relations between the power groups and their relations with the rest of the world may have implication in our tools. Wars, broken alliances, new alliances, national security or even economic wars could shape a tool and the use of it.
Examples
Tik Tok:
We may think of Tik Tok as simple social media, however for many young students, it has become a new space to gather ideas, facts, etc. However recent studies have shown that China’s Tik Tok and US Tik Tok is vastly different on its content, you may think to use tik tok a platform to spread a topic or to used it at the classroom, but there is a geopolitical implication marked by the US-China conflict.
British Columbia / Google Suit
Due to institutional policies education British Columbia institutions cannot host their data at abroad serves. Google, being an american company is attached to the 2001 Patriot Act, giving them authorization to review servers content. Don’t use the Patriot Act as an excuse
