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[micah-ella-real]

The Good and the Bad: How Social Media Affected Me as a Gen Z Individual

Social media, as defined by the Meriam Webster is a form of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos). Nowadays, social media has become the center of the lives of so many people. Through social media, people are able to communicate easier and receive information faster than before. There are other features that people like, such as posting and receiving likes and hearts. But as much as social media has provided us with good features, it also has its downsides. Social media addiction has become common among people, especially in the youth. Too much usage will affect one’s physical and mental health. Social media can also help us with our studies — good and bad. The good side is that in just one post, some users (mostly your followers) can give ideas for your activities or probably sharing your ideas to them also. The bad side says that it is indeed addictive and very time consuming which can give you a non-productive day.

As a Gen Z individual who is considered as a Digital Native, I have to admit that I have become dependent on social media as I have found myself using it more than ever. In the present environment of web-based media, Gen Z and Millennials have contrarily been impacted to social media. According to Statista, the number of social network users in the Philippines is 78.5 million — quite a high number for the Philippines only. Social media has imposed different standards and trends. Many people have found themselves into it because they are afraid of being left out or getting bullied because they are “outdated”. I find myself getting pressured by these standards, thus, it has affected my mental health. Social media is made for a reason of “connection”, yet the developers have neglected the other side of the coin — they have taken considerations when issues about depression became alarming, still, it is hard for them to make their developed social networking site to be ‘non-addictive’ as for it always has that main factor for the SNS to be eye-catching to its users. Why wait for the developers to make such social networking sites to be non-addictive while you can practice discipline for yourself? Social media is actually an amazing gift given to humanity, yet its downside is the complete 180 degrees as for it resulted to number of deaths especially to teens. We can actually lessen that number by disciplining ourselves on using it.

[abdulwalie-masbud]

Digital Divide in New Normal

In this generation, technology became part of people’s daily lives, including in the media world. Technology such as gadgets, internet, and computers can help us gather information easily and efficiently. Most schools, facilities, and even at home use technologies for either research, work, and entertainment purposes. But not all people can fully understand the uses of technologies due to lack of knowledge and equipment provided. It’s called Digital Divide. Digital Divide means the gap between those who benefit from the Digital Age and those who do not, in other words, the idea of “being left behind”. Especially in this pandemic crisis, not all people can take advantage of the technologies. Families, workers, and students may sometimes cannot keep up with the latest trend in the Digital Age due to perhaps, lack of funds to purchase latest and up-to-date technologies because they might have low money income or, lack of knowledge because they don’t think it’s necessary to bought some.

             In this pandemic crisis, a new normal was established, which means, people should now rely on technologies. In the current state of the Philippines, some people are suffering from poverty due to the pandemic crisis. Parents were forced to buy gadgets and an access to the internet because of their children’s online class learning system. Some of them decided to let their son/daughter skip a grade year because they don’t have enough money to provide their children’s necessary things. Because of this, some Filipino citizens might not cope up with the latest technologies in the Digital Age. They cannot develop their knowledge about these technologies because they cannot provide themselves due to insufficient income. This is where can be found the evidence of experiencing Digital Divide. Digital Divide is inevitable, and will always remain visible to every country in the world. But perhaps in the future, something will improve hopefully.

[micah-ella-real]

“Understanding the Relevance of Information and News Literacy in the Midst of Social Era”

Information and News Literacy provides information and understanding the news for the people, while the social era is where people gather information that is based on credibility, authenticity, and purpose. It is important to have a better understanding of their relevance to each other in order to provide the effective outcome, putting the information that is needed for the individuals to understand, and is relatable and up to date on happenings in a society. The effectiveness of the relevance of information and news literate in the social era is that the information is accurate and valid, and it helps the readers, researchers, and students to use the information.

The social era, from the word "social" is indeed into communication. Being an information and news literate during the social era is necessary as Information and News are being sent or shared to the public by the means of communication. Thus, they have a common characteristic which is communication. They can never be irrelevant as of course they have something in common. During the social era, one must be an information and news literate in order to never be fooled easily by such information given from a source. In the midst of the social era, people can connect easily and it is way more convenient than the old days, but, information can be right and/or wrong.

[micah-ella-real]

Media and Government: A Love-Hate Relationship

A direct proportion to the loving hate oxymoron of the government to the media tells that the more the people listen to the media for news, the more the people’s views in politics get affected.

It has already marked in our minds that the government is in charge of enforcing rules in the society, booming the economy, security of a country and many more that could benefit the citizens. Now, let us connect the Government to the Media. They indeed have a love-hate relationship as for the media’s task is to give information to the public and of course they share information acquired from the government whether it could give the government a good or bad impression for the people. As watchdogs to our government, the media watches every single move that the government has done.

According to Diana Owen a news article writer in Georgetown University, “The media act as watchdogs checking government actions. They set the agenda for public discussion of issues, and provide a forum for political expression.” That statement itself explains how their relationship can change from love to hate and hate to love because a government's single wrong move can be exposed and lose the people’s favor. On the other hand, politicians can actually use the media to their advantage. In the report of Lata Nott, an attorney with expertise in the intersection of law, technology, and expression states that “In 2008, Barack Obama became one of the first candidates to use social media advertising in his campaign. That year, 2008, candidates spent a total of $22.25 million on online political ads. Since then, online political advertising has exploded—in 2016, candidates spent $1.4 billion on them.” Other than newspaper, television and other media forms, social media is also beneficial to them.

To sum up, the love-hate relationship of media and government originates from when the wrongdoings of the government or its ill motives are being exposed by the media that results in the receiver of the information or the citizens to turn their back from the government. But this does not mean that everything people see or hear in the news are true also because there are news outlets that receive bribes and extra payments to either harm someone’s reputation that could cause disinformation. Everything really ends up with the citizens becoming media and information literate so that they can distinguish proper and authentic news from a misleading one. Not only does it have a love-hate relationship, the government sometimes also show a loving hate relationship with the media to where the government can be deeply in love with hating the media.

[micah-ella-real]

The Value of Being a Media and Information Literate Individual

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure" -J.K. Rowling

Literate in the simplest term means educated. Being an educated individual gives you an upper hand with the world. You are not easy to be dealt with such hoax and are able to detect the wrong and right. Obviously speaking, being literate is essential to each individual in order to not be dragged down easily and be able to know exactly what to do in a given field. Yes, at a given field. Thus, every individual has its own literate areas in life. There are also fields in literacy to where each person should be knowledgeable about. Here, is a brief discussion of the VALUE of being a Media and Information Literate individual.

When one is Media Literate, he/she is able to know what to do when it comes to media, such as video editing, photography, music, accessing the internet and/or the media itself and uploading things on the internet. A media literate person also has good critical thinking skills, polishing the media he/she created to avoid flaws and making sure that it passes the ethical standards for each individual. Moving on to an Information Literate individual, he/she should also have good critical thinking skills, analyzes the information acquired to give a conclusion that one is credible and should be trusted. An Information Literate also has the ability to give information to the people with ethical standards. He/she also makes sure that the information given by him/her is legit for the public and not erroneous. What happens when you share non-eye-pleasing media and/or false information? That would obviously cause chaos.

With all the qualities that makes a Media and Information literate, there is no doubt that every individual should not have the absence of Media and Information Literacy as for it helps everyone with being knowledgeable on how to deal with media and information without destroying ethics - thus, peace and unity are present. Everyone is literate, but as an individual to this modern generation, you should be literate enough with the media and information especially when you are present with technology as for they are one. Never ever forget the ethical standards to maintain peace.

[abdulwalie-masbud]

We all should do this before the upcoming activity.