Mass media has always been a big part of my life whether it was purposeful or not. I would describe my relationship as neither good nor bad but as much as it enhances my life, it definitely comes with its own set of issues. Growing up my parents always made sure I wasn't putting any sensitive information online and made sure that my digital footprint was clean. To this day I still use some of their advice, especially for scam emails and texts that have been popularized in recent years.
The role of the internet continues to grow exponentially in modern society allowing for humanity to adapt in ways we have never been able to before. The ability to communicate has been transformed into something unimaginable by the world even 50 years ago. With one tap of a button, I can send a message thousands of miles aways instantaneously. There are some drawbacks to how big media and the internet has become including how much information is put out there. Whether it’s private text messages, sensitive videos, or even my home address, they can all be accessed by people who have the ability to.
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| Effects of Mass Media |
Throughout this semester we have heard of numerous ways the internet can harm us and how to ensure we are not exposing too much information. During our first EOTO presentations, there was a presentation that talked about cookies. He explained what they were and how they store your information as well as gave the advice to clear the cookies on your laptop every couple of days for privacy reasons. The cookies we have saved on our personal laptop allow for companies to track our every move and save the information we have. I have since taken his advice and I now clear the cookies on my personal laptop at the end of every week in order to have some control over my information that the big companies have.
The bad side of the internet is often discussed much more often than the good side is. The internet and mass media has opened so many doors for various Americans of all backgrounds. The one that stands out to me most is the ability for people to speak their opinion and share it to platforms that anybody can see. The ability that we are granted when living in this country is that our voice matters no matter how small. Social media has allowed for every citizen to have access to numerous platforms where they can voice their opinions about local politicians, policy from the current presidential administration or even their opinion on a viral food recipe. That’s the beauty of social media and the world consuming it.
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| Different Types of Media |
The internet has always brought communities closer and made it accessible to talk to your friends and family who you otherwise could not interact with on a daily basis. Video games are a controversial topic in the fact that lots of people think it has ruined the younger generation by giving them a reason to stop playing outside. The way I interpret it is that the ability it has to connect me to friends all over the country at any time is very impactful to lots of young Americans. Popular games like Fortnite helped the younger generation get through tough times like the Covid-19 shutdowns through connecting with their friends online to play.
Personally, I have a healthy relationship with the internet but I am not naive to the fact that it causes numerous problems. Whether it's spying on everyday civilians through their online history or simply cyberbullying, bad people will always exist and as a country we should focus on educating our loved ones on how to combat the bad that the internet can bring. As many drawbacks as there are with the ever growing landscape of media and the internet, it is certainly important that we recognize the good that it brings to our lives as well.
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