Media Mentions

CIT’s media producer, Prakash Perumal Haridas was featured on the article; ‘The algorithm does it for you’: Why social media users are ditching 'boring' Facebook and Instagram for shiny new toys, by CNA.

Prakash was reached out by a journalist from the CNA Digital team who wanted to understand why some Singaporeans were making the switch from mainstream social media services to alternative options.

Prakash made the switch from Twitter to Mastodon in early November 2022. Mastadon is a network of privately operated servers. Prakash told CNA he likes how Mastodon focuses on the content more than likes and retweets, which was “different and quirky” for him.

After using Twitter for about 12 years, Prakash has found a new authentic network to connect with other Singaporeans from different walks of life. He mentioned that this is a new experience he did not have on Twitter.

Prakash also engages social media to fine tune his skills as a Media Producer. “Social media platforms allow me to learn new skills related to graphics, animation and video post-production. I get to be more efficient in troubleshooting common or obscure technical issues. They allow me to discover new ways of creating from other fellow creators around the world” he added.

With his new found experience and skills, he recommends Mastodon to fellow NUS Staffs and Students who are opened to trying out new platforms, motivated to find their own content instead of relying on algorithms to feed them content, to build and engage with a community and comfortable to join in or start a conversation.

Prakash also mentioned that, “Mastodon is led and moderated by admins and each instance will have its own rules for users to abide by. This helps with establishing ground rules for how people are meant to behave and help to reduce online abuse”.

In a nutshell, Prakash encourages everyone to pick and engage with social media platforms that encourage meaningful connections, learning useful skills and absorbing the intended content instead of indulging in the idea of ‘likes and shares’.

Click here to read the full article:

‘The algorithm does it for you’: Why social media users are ditching 'boring' Facebook and Instagram for shiny new toys

in The Straits Times, 2 August 2011
by Leow Si Wan

The Education Resource Centre of the University Town (UTown) is poised to become a souped-up learning hub for the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The $50 million, four-level building, to be open 24/7, bristles with technology that will promote the active exchange of ideas among students, including collaborations across disciplines....

During a media tour yesterday, the director of NUS' Centre for Instructional Technology Ravi Chandran explained that the Education Resource Centre will be a test bed for collaborative technologies.

He said: 'We are working with companies to test the latest software and hardware, and if it works well here, we plan to extend these technologies to the Kent Ridge campus.'

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in New York Times, 1 May 2011
by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop

Misha Petrovic, an assistant professor of sociology at the National University of Singapore who has been using wiki tools for five semesters, said he believed that using the wiki format made the learning experience more dynamic. The approach encourages peer-to-peer learning, rather than passive waiting for the instructor’s feedback, he said.

Mr. Petrovic, who has also taught in the United States and Europe, notes that in the context of Asian culture, wikis can help students who tend to be less outspoken.

“Many here are often uncomfortable speaking in front of the class,”’ he said, “so dividing them into wiki teams and allowing them to contribute from home and at their own pace works great.”

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