Media is a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, so integrated that we cannot live without being affected by it. What we watch shapes our perception on topics, it changes our behaviors, and it has become a major part of our culture. Research from the National Center for Health Statistics from July 2021 – December 2023 revealed that teenagers from the ages of 12-17 spend four or … [Read more...] about Media Literacy Guide for Minorities
Social Media
Unplugging the Myth: Why Smartphones Aren’t the Only Cause of Modern Anxiety
The Internet and news articles are full of advice on the need to cut screen-time and go fully off-line for the sake of well-being. The ideas went to schools and now we have international debates about banning phones in the classrooms. I myself was a big advocate for removing phones from everyday life, or, at least, having a 45 minutes limit for using social media. However, … [Read more...] about Unplugging the Myth: Why Smartphones Aren’t the Only Cause of Modern Anxiety
Social Media and Diasporic Digital Communion: Ukrainian Digital Diaspora in the USA
The shift toward digital environments has introduced a range of new and transformed ideas and concepts. Digital communities and digital diaspora as one type of such communities are among those concepts that entered discussions of scholars in the field of communication and media studies with the advances in technology development – the theories of deterritorialized and imagined … [Read more...] about Social Media and Diasporic Digital Communion: Ukrainian Digital Diaspora in the USA
You Won’t Believe the Media’s Biggest Issue
Congratulations! You’ve just been clickbaited! If you spend any time on the internet, whether it’s browsing Google, YouTube, or even social media platforms, you’ve 100% come across articles or posts with titles that would be considered ‘clickbait.’ Clickbait is a form of media propaganda which includes a title that is often misleading and far off from the … [Read more...] about You Won’t Believe the Media’s Biggest Issue
Snapchat’s “My AI”
In February of 2023, Snapchat released the new artificial intelligence powered chat box “My AI” to subscribers of Snapchat Plus. The feedback has been nothing but negative. The chat box, powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT feature, functions to offer up appropriate answers to any question that a user asks. According to Snapchat’s CEO, Evan Spiegel, the chat box intends to … [Read more...] about Snapchat’s “My AI”
Body Image in the Age of Social Media
In today's day and age, we are all very aware of media concerns regarding all types of topics. The one that truly stands out to all ages is a person's body image on social media. Images of women are everywhere because of celebrities and influencers. Popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that … [Read more...] about Body Image in the Age of Social Media
Algorithms: Everyone’s an Influencer
With the growth of TikTok and other social media platforms, just about anyone can blow up on the internet. The rise to fame can happen instantaneously; we have seen this recently with influencers such as Charli D’Amelio and Alix Earle. These everyday people grew into internet superstars after their TikTok videos went viral. Playing the algorithm makes it so easy to rise to … [Read more...] about Algorithms: Everyone’s an Influencer
Youth and Anxiety: Captivated by Social Media
Society today revolves around social media. Whether it is to read the news, keep up with friends, or watch videos as a pastime, it is difficult to go a day without using social media. Social media can be very damaging to one's mental health and anxiety. While social media is a great asset, some people do not always use it in a positive way. No matter someone's age, they … [Read more...] about Youth and Anxiety: Captivated by Social Media
Media Literacy Education Refutes Stereotypes
Historically, the media has been guilty of perpetuating various stereotypes through the images in newspapers, television, and movies. Television in the late 20th century most commonly depicted Black individuals as athletes or, more destructively, criminals. During the same period, very few women were in roles reflecting them as individuals in power or heroic roles. … [Read more...] about Media Literacy Education Refutes Stereotypes
Elon Musk Purchases Twitter
On October 28 of 2022, Elon Musk officially purchased Twitter. With all of the built up anticipation, soon after came confusion. Immediately, Twitter saw new problems. Misinformation flooded the site, and hate speech plagued Musk’s new reputation as Twitter’s new owner. According to Darrell Etherington of techcrunch.com, “he fired CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, General … [Read more...] about Elon Musk Purchases Twitter
Growing Up with the Internet
The internet is one of the most powerful and influential forces today, affecting nearly every aspect of our lives. Almost everything, in some way or another, connects to the internet and the media, and because of this, many positives and negatives come out of them. One of these subjects is how the media and the internet generally affect kids and teenagers. In today's age, … [Read more...] about Growing Up with the Internet
Delete that App: TikTok and Mental Health
Have you ever been scrolling on TikTok and found yourself lost in your phone, not remembering how long you’ve spent sitting looking at your screen? If you have, you are certainly not alone. The newly cemented app, TikTok, is a streaming and video content app that has over 30 million active users. 60% of these users consist of Gen Z young adults. These young adults are … [Read more...] about Delete that App: TikTok and Mental Health
Toxicity in Sports Media
The world of sports media and journalism can be a wonderful and horrific place. It can be a beautiful place where fans of a team or of a sport can discuss and debate in what you hope to be a friendly manner. However, this world of social media mixed with the sports can be harsh for the athletes as it now truly pays to be toxic in sports. The Kevin Durant Injury In … [Read more...] about Toxicity in Sports Media
Are TikTok and YouTube affecting Broadcast?
TikTok and Youtube are slowly taking over the world generation by generation. When I say slowly, I mean just within the past four years– which is not slow at all. Media has been a big problem since the advent of these platforms. The term fake news spawns, and it can all start with a TikTok someone comes upon. There are very few rules and regulations you have to go through when … [Read more...] about Are TikTok and YouTube affecting Broadcast?
Prioritizing You: Understanding the Influence of Social Media
Let's be honest... If you're reading this right now and you have a social media account, you probably spend more than an hour a day scrolling. But do not worry, you're not alone. I do it too as do 80% of Americans, according to DataReportal. The average use of social media in America is 2.5 hours (Dixon). That being said, the real questions we should be asking ourselves are how … [Read more...] about Prioritizing You: Understanding the Influence of Social Media
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a Fantasy Fiction novel by author V.E. Schwab published on October 6, 2020. The story follows a young girl by the name of Addie LaRue who lives in 1714 France, as she is about to be married off to a man she does not know. In a moment of utter desperation, she prays for more time. Unfortunately, the god she has prayed to answers her plea, … [Read more...] about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Logged in and Stressed Out: How Social Media is Affecting Your Mental Health and What You Can Do About It by Paula Durlofsky
We live in a prominent digital era where technology continues to evolve. These technological advances alter social norms in which society tries to fit into. Evidentially, social media is here to stay which has a detrimental effect on mental health. After thoroughly analyzing Paula Durlofsky’s Logged in and Stressed Out: How Social Media is Affecting Your Mental Health and What … [Read more...] about Logged in and Stressed Out: How Social Media is Affecting Your Mental Health and What You Can Do About It by Paula Durlofsky
Social Media Isn’t Free
I have two questions for you today. The first is: Do you know how many times you have been treated and sold like a commodity today? The answer is as many times as you have logged onto social media apps like Facebook or others that allow Facebook to collect data about you. Hard to believe, but it is true. Haven’t you ever wondered why you do not pay for apps like Facebook? It is … [Read more...] about Social Media Isn’t Free
Social Media as a Primary Vehicle for News
In our growing age of technology and increasing dependence on our devices, individuals have turned to digital news rather than broadcast or print to be informed about current events. “In these days of pandemic, protests, economic recession and angst among the world’s population a recently issued report shows that consumers continue to shift away from traditional media sources … [Read more...] about Social Media as a Primary Vehicle for News
The Parasocial Relationships of Twitch
In September of 2020, Dextero reported how popular Twitch streamer “Sweet Anita” collected the tales of multiple female streamers who found themselves facing “police inaction” at the hands of their stalkers (Glaze 2021). Anita notes how her stalker has gone as far as to move “within four minutes of where she lived” and “followed her to a shop and chased her out into the street, … [Read more...] about The Parasocial Relationships of Twitch
