media Flashcards
Definition of
Media:
Mass media:
Media: the collective communication tools used to store and deliver info and data
Mass media: means of communication designed to reach a wide audience. Its message may be disseminated through various forms like advertising campaigns, TV shows, internet
TRADITIONAL MEDIA
Characteristics:
TRADITIONAL MEDIA
TV, books, newspapers, film, radio
Characteristics:
- One-to-many dissemination of content
- Passive involvement of reader/audience
- Formal language
- Controlled
- Opaque processes
- In the past was a potent force in shaping public opinion and influencing the way we think, act, speak, dress
{} Local sitcom Phua Chu Kang (1997-2007) and contractor Phua Chu Kang with his trademark yellow boots, large facial mole, penchant for SINGLISH (gov not happy abt how Singligsh influence the young so gov want them to say proper english)
Roles & Functions of media
Roles & Functions
- Watchdog
Monitoring the gov (impt responsibility for a functioning democracy)
Informs public of gov wrongdoing and publicizes info from whistleblowers and investigative journalists
{} The Spotlight Team: investigative journalists won Pultizer Gold Medial for Public Service in 2003 for researching into child sex abuse in Boston area by Catholic priests
Challenges: Bias
Challenges: Bias
- Media must always choose what to report, and how to narrate it (usually got bias)
{} 2020: ST did not intend to have any racial connotations when the 3 profiles were categorized acc to housing types when showing a news series on home-based learning exp of 3 diff students
{} Non-profit online news organisation The Intercept analysed over 1000 articles during 1st 6 weeks of Israel’s siege on Gaza in NY times, LA times. Israeli deaths reported avg 16x more often than Palestinian deaths
- Bias to gov
Gov propaganda: tightly-controlled media may act as gov mouthpiece
Self-censorship: journalists may omit anti-gov pov due to fear of reprisals - Bias in corporations
Towards owner’s political interests
{} Study found Wall Street Journal downplays the impact and threat of climate change cuz WSJ owned by News Corp and owner Rupert Murdoch oppose climate change policy
{} SG: SPH media and MediaCorp are fully owned by gov’s investment arm, Temask Holdings. Alt medias are often critical of gov - Disrupted by the status quo(new media better so more ppl will use it)
Mass media serves as an (informal) social institution
Status quo: ensure timely and unbiased content, diff pov reaches the masses and to make informed decisions
To adapt to changing times, they have 24/7 news reporting cycle, articles w interactive media elements, stories… - Legacy media
Rich history, widespread influence can still sway the masses = still relevant
SOCIAL MEDIA facts
- 4.62 billion active users
- Gen z + millennials = 8.5 social media acc per user
- Time spent; 147 min per day
Social media purposes
Purposes:
1. Fostering connections - media acts as a bridge, linking diverse segments of society and enabling individuals from varied backgrounds and locations to share common interests
- Connect w like-minded others
In authoritative countries, it allows disenfranchised ppl to air their grievances and galvanise support for change
Easier for ppl to rally tgt immediately and engage in collective action to bring down these authoritative rulers
{} The Arab Spring: Facebook/Twitter revolution. Used to mobilise ppl to protest despotic regimes. Veg seller Mohamed Bouaizizi self-immolated in dec 2010, started protest that spread to all of Tunisia, ouster President Ben Ali who ruled for 23 years.
{} # StopWillow: Mar 2023, American gov deciding if shld confirm ConocoPhillips Willow Project. Can drive economy but will increase carbon pollution. Tiktok users living in diff states coalesced around to halt the project. But Biden still approved it. 🙁
Commercial & entrepreneurial platforms: carousell, revolutionises advertising, business, and sales by connecting buyers and sellers globally
Romantic endeavours: tinder, match.com streamline the search for love and companionship
Community engagement: facebook, telegram host interest groups, facilitating new connections. SG - GoodLobang unite individuals over shared interests - Socialisation - media is a conduit for the transmission of cultural values and norms, showcasing diverse representations of behaviours and societal roles
Cultural Narratives: Shows like Fresh Off The Boat portray nuances of motherhood within an Asian American context, contrasting with Western depictions in series such as The Simpsons which present alternative views on parental roles
Digital Activism: Influencers and activists leverage social media to disseminate values and engage in discourse on political and social issues, exemplified by figures like Kirsten Han, Sonny Liew and Alfian Sa’at
- Entertainment - offering vast array of content from movies and music to games
2023 research from S&P Global highlighting the pivotal role of social media in entertainment discovery among younger generations - Gen Z adults (84%) and millennials (73%) rely on social media for entertainment discovery - Education - media is an indispensable resource for information
S&P Global found that younger demographics (77% Gen Z, 67% millennials) relies on social media as primary news source while only 28% for baby boomers and seniors
Social media: disrupting the status quo
Disruption: globalisation & rapid tech changes led to improved accessibility of sources previously out of reach for traditional media consumers (can conduct cross-checks and comparisons of content published by many outlets)
+ more empowered populace with an increased desire to see more egalitarian societies (cuz got new tools to question authority, power)
Causing traditional media to come under public scrutiny
social media: providing alt pov
Challenge problematic mainstream media narratives that were published without any significant pushback
Rise of citizen journalism forced them to ensure coverage is more balanced and reflects reality. If not, = irrelevant.
Fake news, disinfo, skewed narratives (problem for them too)
CONS: mental health
CONS: mental health
Promoting ideal notions of beauty via posts and other paid ads made female teens feel worse abt their bodies
{} 2022 Pew Research Centre(boys, girls)
(24%, 37%) their friends are leaving them out
(18%, 28%) makes them feel worse abt their life
CONS: Fake news & misinfo
CONS: Fake news & misinfo
Faster to travel cuz of novelty of fake news + ppl desire to share novel info to be perceived as being in the know
{} Fake news in Israel-Hamas war: claims that Hamas behaded babies and toddlers, not independently verified, were referenced in the remarks by Biden in Oct 2023. US official later clarified Biden didnt see evidence of this
CORPORATIONS: in social media
CORPORATIONS:
1268.7 bil expected to spend on social media ads in 2023
1269.
Used FOMO & personalisation to promote their business
{} Spotify Wrapped, annual feature made-for-ig stories has been a hit since 2019 launch
Surveillance capitalism: personal data sold to companies ie google, facebook(meta)
Scrutinise our online behaviours to produce data for commercial purposes
{} The Facebook-Cambridge Analytical scandal: 2018?. In 2014, Aleksandr Kogan created “thisisyourdigitallife” application for users to take a psychological test which he then collected data on their facebook friends, Cambridge Analytica used it to roll out targeted politcal ads in 2016 American presidential election and 2016 UK Brexit referendum. Note that Cambridge Analytica has significant ties to Donald Trump most ardent supporters.
GOV: in social media
GOV:
Showcase softer, more authentic version of themselves
Put forth their activities and policies propposals
{} Tiktok as a Politcal Tool: Home Affaris and Law Minister K Shanmugam said he joined Tiktok to have more convo w ppl. PSP (2020) and WP(2022) started to have tiktok acc too
Politicians want to use it to appeal to younger ppl
(-) Social media algorithms can give rise to echo chambers that reinforce their own opinions, limiiting diverse pov and amplifying pre-exisiting ideologies
Suppression of speech:
Suppression of speech:
Freedom of speech - right to express opinions without censorship or restraint
Censorship - the action of removing parts of any communication (books, films, art, etc) that are considered to be offensive or harmful, often for political resaons
21st World Press Freedom Index 2023: published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), it serves to assess the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories using 5 indicators: political contest, legal framwork, economic context, sociocultural context, security
7/10 countries -> environment for journalism is bad
118/180 countries noted that their political actors were egaged in the spread of disinformation ,severely jeopardising the right to truthful information
Moscow-estabilished medial arsenal against the Ukrainians, in conjunction with their ban on media outlets and a spike in war propaganda placed Russia 164/180
With the adoption of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) in 2019 and the forced closure of The Online Citizen in 2021, Singapore ranks 129/180 up from last year’s 139/180.
RSF commented that Singapore, while economically vibrant, has an ‘almost non-existent’ freedom of press
{} > 100 journalists intentionally killed in Gaza due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes.
{} Wael El Dahdouh, veteran traditional news media journalist continues journaling despite loss of his family
To what extent is social media responsible for the problems young people face today
Social media is merely a medium for ppl to post and view info. It is up to the reader to use this info.problems young ppl face could be a by-prouct or indirect cause from the way they consume info on social media
Problems dont stem from social media. They stem from influence of parents, friends. Lack guidance, improper upbringing, personality traits developed when they are young, exp and environment shaped them, … problems worsen and are brought to light thru social media.
Social media highly addictive, frequently compared to drugs. Spendign too much time on social media until they neglect their fam and friends. Unhealthy image, unrealistic body shape, increase in insecurities
Examples
Eg. TikTok predicts global K-culture spending will double to 192b by 2030. Its popularity amplified through social platforms, eg, short clips of ppl dancing to kpop.
Mental: social psychology defines this comparison as “upward social compariaion” comparing ourselves w others who are better off as the benchmark. Social media offers infinite info. Info can be u realising and u truthful. Social media is often described as a highlight reel, cherry picked for its highs, establishing a lopsided reflection of one’s life that others compare themselves against for our mental health, this comparison is a battle we always lose.. Repeated conditioning can deplete our self system. Long term effects on impressionable youth. Filtering info online may not be effective cuz social media companies aim to maximise user retention. Long term strategy is to incorporate mindfulness in a young age
