NATS 1505 Assignment #4: Cybershaming

Instructions:
For this assignment you will need to:
a. Watch a video entitled “Cyber-shaming: Retribution in a Digital World.” Link is located below.
b. Read the article by Z. Tufekci, “This Social Media Media Mob Was Good” (The Atlantic, May 28 2020). PDF is
located in this section below.
Assignment Questions:
After reading the article, “This Social Media Mob was Good” and viewing the CBC documentary,
“Cyber-shaming: Retribution in a Virtual World” (source: curio.ca), please answer the following questions
(some provided by CBC learning):
1. What is Jon Ronson’s avalanche and snowflake theory?
2. What does correspondent Neil MacDonald mean when he says, “the scary thing about the internet…is that it
allows human nature to do as it likes. Shamers abide by no due process. No government oversees them…what
has taken form is the biggest Kangaroo court in human history – capricious, vicious, stupid, out of control and
all with effective impunity.”
3. Do you think the punishment of cyber-shaming outweighs the “crimes” committed by the targets of
cyber-shaming? Explain your thoughts.
4. In what instances (if any) do you believe cyber-shaming is justified? Support your argument using the
assigned reading, video and course materials.
Guidelines:
You can answer the questions in first person (“I”).
Your assignment should be submitted as a WORD or PDF file only. No other extensions (e.g. pages) will be
accepted.
Your completed assignment should be 1.5 to 2 pages in total (single-spaced). Answer each question separately
in paragraph format.
Use 12 font, Times new Roman, Ariel or Calibri.
Cite all materials you use in APA or MLA format. If you don’t know how to cite certain materials, please look
this up or consult with York’s library services.
A works cited page is required.
All assignments should be done individually. Students who plagiarize will be subject to the appropriate
consequences as determined by the instructor and the Natural Science director.
The due date for this assignment is Sunday August 9 at 11:59pm. You will submit your work in the Turn it In
assignment drop-box located below these instructions.
For this assignment, the penalty for late submissions is a deduction of 5% for the first 2 hours past the
original deadline. Following this, the penalty will be 10% per day up to a maximum of five days.