I agree with Brock’s argument in “Toward the Rhetorical study of Digital Code” that computer code is more than just a set of instructions. It can influence how people interact with technology and understand information. Brock explains the way software is designed can also communicate ideas and influence people’s decisions. Social media platforms use algorithms and design choices to determine what users see and how they interact. These choices can affect people’s opinions and behavior without them realizing it. I also believe that technology is not always neutral because programmers make decisions about how their software works. Those decisions can reflect certain values or assumptions. It’s important to understand not only how to use technology but also how it works behind the scenes. Code can communicate an argument through the way a program operates because programmers decide what actions the software allows and how it responds to its users.
Something that stood out to me was Brock mentioning the rhetorical study of software and code, and advocacy for code-related literacy. It’s something I’ve never heard of, so I found it interesting. Learning about code could help people better understand why certain programs work the way they do and how they influence users. I think this is especially important today because technology is involved in so many aspects of our daily lives. Especially considering the year Brock made this argument (2019). Technology has come so far and has gotten so much more advanced. Most people might not even know how the code for apps they use work.
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