By Elijah Delgado
Growing up, the internet has always been a scary place. I have only sometimes had the best experiences using it and other times it was scary. I was constantly manipulated by the constant use of advertisements, which were designed to entice me into buying products I did not need. There were also predators and weird people that I had to avoid, as well as people who were constantly trying to scam me out of my money. As I interacted with numerous people who held discriminatory views, I was also exposed to the world of prejudice and bias. As a young adult, I have become more aware of the dangers that lurk on the internet and the consequences that come with inappropriate use. I've experienced what it's like to feel powerful when using the internet, such as when you can comment whatever you want under someone else's post, but I also understood that I was just a small clownfish in a big ocean. It can be a humbling experience to recognize that, despite all the power I had to access information and connect with people, I was still a tiny speck in the grand scheme of things. In the film The Social Dilemma, this idea is explored further, where the documentary examines how the immense power of technology and social media can be so overwhelming and lead to a feeling of helplessness when faced with its huge capabilities. The Social Dilemma looks at how big social media companies take advantage of their users by putting algorithms on their platforms that make people addicted to the sites. It also shows, quite rightly, how platforms gather personal information about users to target them with ads, which is something that has mostly gone unchecked up until now. I highly suggest viewing this documentary because it offers great insight into the effects of technology and social media on people. The best way to guard against media bias is to be aware of where your news is coming from and whether it is trustworthy. By reading a variety of different news sources and being aware of the potential bias in each, you can gain a more comprehensive picture of the world and make more informed decisions. I recommend using the Graphic/Interactive Graphic: Media Bias Chart and Graphic: Legit-O-Meter. The main goal of the Media Bias Chart and Legit-O-Meter is to give you a visual way to compare the political bias and levels of credibility of dozens of the most important news outlets. This can help you figure out how accurate and trustworthy a news source is. Using these tools can be a little difficult but that’s why I’m here. When using the Media Bias Chart, you will see thousands of news sources in the shape of a triangle. The new sources on the very top in the green square are the most reliable. The news sources skewed to the left are very liberal based and the ones skewed to the right are conservative-based. If they are in the orange rectangle they are somewhat reliable but also kind of biased. The ones in the red rectangle are NOT!!! To be trusted. But I do encourage you to take a look at some of the ones that are not really reliable or do not lean toward your political views because it can help you gain an understanding of other people’s views and standpoints and what to look out for. With these tools, you can compare news sources and make an informed decision about which to rely on for your news. It's important to avoid disclosing important information. Before publishing something online, give it some careful consideration because you won't be able to take it back. Do not respond to emails, text messages, or phone calls from strangers. I encourage you to watch the Ted Talk, "What Makes Something Go Viral?" in your spare time. Watching the Ted Talk, What Makes Something Go Viral? is a great way to gain insight into how quickly information can spread online and how careful we must be when consuming content. Dao Nguyen describes how BuzzFeed staffers live-streamed their boss's reaction to goats in his office in her Ted Talk. Their boss took over thirty minutes to see the goats due to delays. They found almost ninety thousand people viewing the stream. They wondered why this video went viral and what viewers were thinking and feeling. They understood it was because people might share a future event. This hypothesis eventually led them to test it out. Lastly, just be cautious when browsing the internet. Don't get addicted to spending too much time online; ensure you are taking breaks to engage in other activities.
2 Comments
Lynn Girven
2/28/2023 04:03:09 pm
This is very well written and perceptive. Congratulations
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Lynn Girven
2/28/2023 04:04:40 pm
I love your last sentence about engaging in other activities. Do instead of respond!
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