jb177314@ohio.edu
Social Media - Our Friend
For our generation, we consider social media to be of the utmost importance. We grew up alongside the conception and growth of social media as it has become more and more of a driving force in our society. It was our generation who adopted these social media platforms early on and are a big part of what helped them become so important today. No matter how much or how little you engage in social media, it is impossible to deny its profound significance in our world.
It is quite apparent that social media has dramatically changed the game for journalism and mainstream news media. What was once a job withheld by only certain institutions is now becoming more of an all-encompassing space for anyone wishing to report news.
It is not to say that just anyone on social media is a reliable unbiased news source, of course social media can bring about many false news claims and inaccurate reporting. However, it is the whole idea embodied by social media, that it is one’s duty to question and analyze whatever news may come their way, and to synthesize and make judgements based on more than one viewpoint or account and publicly voice their opinions.
This poses quite a threat on traditional news media outlets. Before the internet and social media came around, these news entities were the only driving force in delivering news to the public. Now, these entities must reflect on viewpoints from all different levels of media power so that they too can synthesize and make judgements based on multiple accounts when reporting news. If a news organization fails to do this, it can have a drastic effect on its public opinion and trustworthiness. 'Trust' in the News Media Has Come to Mean Affirmation
Older generations must also be accountable for thinking critically about the news they intake, and creating judgements based around multiple sources when constructing their personal viewpoints. Even though they may not have adopted the concept of social media as a news source as early as us, its fundamental role in society is indisputable. To simply disregard smaller, and oftentimes marginalized news outlets goes against all of the advantages that social media has brought about.
Seeing that different groups of people can have the power to voice their opinions and make an impact should be an eye-opener when considering the state of mainstream media in the pre-social media era. Now that we have the power to publicly interact and communicate with both journalists and audiences online, it has created a much-needed transparency in the news media which in-turn helps to create less of a bias for all parties (ideally).
It is important to question mainstream news media, and social media has given us the power to do so. Certain inaccuracies in news stories can have drastic impacts on groups who are being reported on and can further marginalize groups simply because of the biases held by that particular journalist or news organization.
Young Black People See the News Media's Double Standard This is a good example of why it is important for mainstream media outlets to be both transparent and impartial in an effort to be an all-inclusive news source, which is vital to the success of their organization as the general public becomes more and more aware of the types of widespread effects prejudiced news can have. It is imperative that mainstream media organizations abide by these methods to be deemed as credible institutions, and if they do not, the prowess of social media will surely come back to haunt them.
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