When considering censorship in today's world, a major example that comes to mind is China, where videos and Internet information must be cleared by the government or else the act of creating such a site is seen as a crime. However, we do not even think about the United States as a nation that has censorship, most likely since it comes in a different form than that of China. In his article, Michael Fertik of the Scientific American magazine delves into how American websites like Google and Facebook sneakily control the information and opportunities Americans are exposed to. An effective strategy Fertik uses involves his syntax, since most of sentences in his explanation of how sites do this are quite short. When reading these sentences, it makes a concept that millions of Americans fail to realize simpler and easier to comprehend. Fertik also uses imagery, saying that "99 percent of [Americans] live on the wrong side of a one-way mirror," This comparison was especially creative and powerful in my mind, since it reminded me Plato's "The Cave", with almost all people fixed on the shadow figures on the walls and completely missing the secrets and freedoms hidden in the light. So many people seem content with what is easily available to them that Americans lose sight of a human consciousness and miss the important facts and information. As a result of all of these creative paths the article can take the well-educated American audience the Scientific American is written for, Fertik achieves his purpose and makes the country's people more aware of the world and the filters the Internet creates and we neglect.
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