In this world today, media influences almost every aspect of our lives. What started as a form of mass communication to spread information to the public has turned into something much more influential, and at times, corrupt. The advancements in technology over the decades have provided us with faster and more efficient ways of communication. However, these innovations can have … [Read more...] about Russia, Censorship, and Surveillance
Blogs
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
Fake News: Twitter and Manti Te’o
So, What’s the issue?! Like most people my source of information is the media. The media has become such a big component in our lives. The problem is that sometimes we take things that are completely false and spread them like they are true because we believe them. This is fake news and it is all around us. The Deceiving Tale of Twitter's Fake News Fake news is … [Read more...] about Fake News: Twitter and Manti Te’o
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?
Enhancing the Past, Twenty Years Later
“Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It’s the only way we grow.” – Padmé Amidala I really love Star Wars. Full disclosure. And Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen is an important cornerstone in the constantly expanding Star Wars series from Del Rey/Random House. After Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, a controversial decision was made to … [Read more...] about Enhancing the Past, Twenty Years Later
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
Machine Learning, But Are Classes Learning?
An original version of this article was published in MxMIndia, a media news and opinion portal from Mumbai, India. My big takeaway from 2022 is that social media and pandemic have launched a joint and effective assault on classroom learning. When I look at some social media content from younger folks, I see so much creativity and social awareness, sensitivity and … [Read more...] about Machine Learning, But Are Classes Learning?
Cover Art: A Human Algorithmic Collaboration
The title of a given artwork can be particularly revealing. It can reveal the work’s medium, divulge the art’s epoch, or even give insight into the artist’s inspirations. The title of the cover image for the Journal of Media Literacy’s “Human Algorithmic Question” issue is likewise telling. At first glance, “Art by MidJourney with prompting and curation by Scott Werner and Safa … [Read more...] about Cover Art: A Human Algorithmic Collaboration
IREX Community Solution International Intern Comes to IC4ML
IC4ML is excited to welcome Safa Sadeddine, an IREX Community Solutions Program Fellow from Algeria to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a 4-month internship from August through November. She brings with her an incredible skill set as a social media content creator and a media literacy educator in her home country. Through her collaboration with our board members and other interns, we … [Read more...] about IREX Community Solution International Intern Comes to IC4ML
MídiaBox: Media Literacy as Edutainment
It is common to think of lifelong learning as the processes of education structured in curricula - as a continuation of academic education. However, the main challenge in developing public policy on lifelong learning is to think about how it is possible to develop unstructured learning opportunities. How do we learn through entertainment, for example? It is in the field of … [Read more...] about MídiaBox: Media Literacy as Edutainment
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
Do you suffer from Mean World Syndrome?
Permission to reprint via civicsoftechnology.org Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about technodeterminism— that is, the mindset that assumes technologies will continue to develop on their own terms, according to their own fixed logic, and society needs to adjust itself to whatever comes next. Even the stuff we don’t particularly like or that doesn’t really make us feel good… … [Read more...] about Do you suffer from Mean World Syndrome?
Looking back at Madison: Reflections on the 4th IMLRS
On June 27, 2022, I had the pleasure of welcoming Media Literacy advocates from around the world to my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Alongside the International Council for Media Literacy (IC4ML), I helped host the fourth International Media Literacy Research Symposium (IMLRS) founded by our President and my supervisor Dr. Belinha De Abreu. At first, it seemed a … [Read more...] about Looking back at Madison: Reflections on the 4th IMLRS
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
