Media and a Digitalized World

We live in a world where anything is a touch away. My name is Anisha and in this blog, I will be sharing my thoughts about media and digitalization.

[anishasoniauni]

Among Us During The Pandemic 

Games have evolved from board games to arcade and video games and now everything is digitalised in the industry. We can now play with people all around the world no matter where we are. Now apart from all the games in the current industry, a particular game blew up, especially during the times of the pandemic in Among Us. The game was created by Marcus Bromander the founder of Innersloth Studios in Washington according to www.innersloth.com (n.d.). The game involves a group of people who are known as crewmates to complete tasks on the map before the imposter among them kills them all. The game is available on almost all gaming sites and it can be played on any digital device. 

Among Us became a game that anyone can play from any age or interest because it was easy to understand, manual and it was available on any digital device. The game became a trend due to the level of communication and socialization that happens during the game and it wasn't as complex as shooting and killing it involved the drama element of trying to figure out who is the imposter. People started playing in serves from Europe or Asia giving a worldwide reach based on Ottesen (2021). Among Us also had the option to add friends giving players the opportunity to make friends through a game even during a pandemic. The Among Us VR version provides an even more immersive experience to feel the game and connect with the crewmates based on Erhard (2022). 

Apart from that, Among Us became a go-to game for streamers. Many gaming YouTubers collaborated to play Among Us with one another and this grabbed the attention of their followers enlarging the game’s market even further. It was an interesting game to get your avatar cute accessories, a pet and many more. Continuous development ensured people had new things to explore in the games such as new maps or additional tasks.  

During the pandemic, when we were all stuck at home Among Us was a great way to enjoy time with our friends. It was a pure source of entertainment to experience and a sort of entertainment in the social media world as people often posted memes and quotes related to the game. A fun and interesting concept during tough times was all we needed. 

Reference list

Erhard, V. (2022). 12 Fun Online Games To Make Friends. [online] Game Rant. Available at: https://gamerant.com/best-online-games-to-make-friends/#among-us [Accessed 7 Jun. 2023].

Ottesen, K. (2021). ‘Among Us’ proved to be the game we needed during the pandemic. Washington Post. [online] 9 Mar. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-game-among-us-proved-to-be-the-game-we-needed-during-the-pandemic/2021/03/04/0addd71a-64cf-11eb-8c64-9595888caa15_story.html.

www.innersloth.com. (n.d.). Among Us | Innersloth - Creators of Among Us and The Henry Stickmin Collection! [online] Available at: https://www.innersloth.com/games/among-us/.

[anishasoniauni]

What Causes Body Dysmorphia and How to Overcome Them

Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition where an individual worries a lot about their appearance and its flaws. These flaws are often not noticeable by others and people with the disorder tend to overthink the scenario. Body dysmorphia is common among young adults both male and female because of the influence of society according to NHS (2021). Before going into the causes of Body Dysmorphia, this particular disorder has been common among famous artists who are known worldwide. For example, Billie Eilish and the iconic Michael Jackson. Billie Eilish opened up that she often wore baggy clothes because she was always worried about her appearance to the point she couldn't even look in the mirror. Michael Jackson on the other hand, went through many cosmetic surgeries that completely changed his looks. He developed body dysmorphia as his dad used to call him ugly until he could not accept himself no matter how successful he grows based on Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation (n.d.). 

Body dysmorphia could be due to the trauma a person faces throughout their life that gives them the thought of never feeling comfortable and confident in their own body. However, in the current generation, the increase in body dysmorphia among teens and young adults is due to the influence of social media, cyberbullying, and bullying in general. Social media these days follows a concept of aesthetic templates, where male or female looks the best with a model-like body on social media. This culture is particularly famous among brands when they advertise their products, and the culture grew to a point where everyone wants to look like a model in the media. What teens do not understand is that aesthetic templates are more than just what they seem, there is a lot of editing and filters applied to look a certain way which gives a misinterpretation of reality according to Laughter et al. (2023). Body dysmorphia could lead to extreme body changes such as plastic surgeries and an untreated disorder could further lead to depression and eating disorders. 

Extreme body dysmorphia can still be treated with psychotherapy and medications such as antidepressants according to Cleveland Clinic (n.d.). However, we can avoid them before it gets to that extreme, by educating the teens on the reality of what they see on social media. It is also important to promote healthy self-love among teens to avoid them from having thoughts of imperfections.

Reference list

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. (n.d.). Famous people with BDD – BDDF. [online] Available at: https://bddfoundation.org/information/more-about-bdd/famous-people-with-bdd/.

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Symptoms & Treatment. [online] Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9888-body-dysmorphic-disorder#:~:text=Two%20of%20the%20most%20common.

Laughter, M.R., Anderson, J.B., Maymone, M.B.C. and Kroumpouzos, G. (2023). Psychology of Aesthetics: Beauty, Social Media, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Clinics in Dermatology. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2023.03.002.

NHS (2021). Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). [online] nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/body-dysmorphia/#:~:text=Body%20dysmorphic%20disorder%20(BDD)%2C.

[anishasoniauni]

Online Harassment in the Current World and How to Overcome Them. 

Online harassment and cyberbullying have been an issue for the longest time. However, with the current rise and digitalisation of the world as much as there is the good of it, people find more ways to harass others. Online harassment can be defined as the victim being called offensive names, embarrassment, stalking, physical threats, and sexual even if it is verbally, (Vogels, 2021). 

Social governance could start with oneself by keeping yourself. As the public, we can avoid online harassment to a certain extent by ensuring the safety of our social media pages and do not engage with strangers. As a social media user, it is also important to avoid specifying your personal details to anyone, these measures don't just avoid online harassment but it also reduces the risk of being hacked.  Apart from that increasing your personal cybersecurity is also a way to avoid online harassment such as account privacy setting, blocking unwanted accounts, and ensuring strong account passcode according to Bosco Legal Services (2021). 

Apart from that, government and police departments work on overcoming the issue. With proper evidence of online assault the department has full authority to arrest the criminal. Governments are also enacting laws to curb online harassment though the victims should be brave and provide appropriate evidence for action to be taken according to Online Harassment Field Manual (2021).  

Online harassment often occurs among the younger generations specifically young females, who technically do not have any idea of what is the risk of talking to these men. There are many awareness campaigns that currently speak on these issues and educate children on how can harassment start and how to avoid them. To show the reality there are many social experiments conducted on this matter and to even raise awareness there are many short films that address the issue. It is also important to understand that online harassment could possibly start online but eventually, it has an offline impact towards the victim. For instance, online harassment could lead to an extension of the victim committing suicide as they are afraid of the effects the predator could cause, according to Ganesh (2022).

As terrifying as it is online harassment can be curbed as long as people stay vigilant and brave to expose those who harm them.

Reference list

Bosco Legal Services. (2021). How To Stop Online Harassment: What Are Your Best Options? [online] Available at: https://www.boscolegal.org/blog/how-to-stop-online-harassment/.

Ganesh, S. (2022). PBM calls on government to enact laws to curb cyber-bullying. [online] NST . Available at: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/08/821611/pbm-calls-government-enact-laws-curb-cyber-bullying.

Online Harassment Field Manual. (2021). Online Harassment Case Studies. [online] Available at: https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/online-harassment-case-studies/.

Vogels, E.A. (2021). The state of online harassment. Pew Research Center. [online] 13 Jan. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/01/13/the-state-of-online-harassment/.

[anishasoniauni]

#ShotoniPhone

As an Android user, this campaign made me want to switch to iPhone. A hashtag is defined as a word or phrase with the hashtag symbol in front that is widely used on social media to connect many posts to a single hashtag, (Grauschopdf, 2022). The shot on the iPhone campaign has been the longest-running hashtag we could still see running. The campaign is intended to share photography that is taken and inspired by iPhone according to Geyser (2023). 

Currently, the #shotoniPhone has approximately 28.2 million posts tagged to the particular hashtag. A campaign that started on a hashtag grew to a level of billboards and celebrities using them all around the world according to Sunam (2020).  This campaign had an impact on its audience at the same time it had a huge impact on shaping the quality of an iPhone camera. Starting with photography the trend and hashtag went towards creating cinematic videos on iPhone. 

This campaign blew up to the extent of making it into competitions worldwide where people submitted their short videos. Apple has launched a number of programmes and competitions to encourage iPhone users to submit their finest photos in response to the #ShotoniPhone campaign's popularity. These programmes include the yearly "Shot on iPhone" photography competition, where winning images are widely displayed on Apple's website and at Apple retail locations based on The Shot On iPhone Challenge Official Rules (n.d.). 

Despite all the above, this campaign served its purpose of increasing the sales of the iPhone, people started buying the phone as it has amazing camera features that serve the current generations. The campaign became a marketing campaign of the people that never die as the hashtag continues till today.

Reference list

Geyser, W. (2023). 8 Best Hashtag Campaigns on Social Media and Why You Need One. [online] Influencer Marketing Hub. Available at: https://influencermarketinghub.com/hashtag-campaigns/.

Grauschopdf, S. (2022). Hashtags: What They Mean and How to Use Them Correctly. [online] LiveAbout. Available at: https://www.liveabout.com/what-does-hashtag-mean-and-how-do-you-use-one-892814.

Sunam, P. (2020). Shot On iPhone: A Campaign that turned into a phenomenon. [online] Social Samosa. Available at: https://www.socialsamosa.com/2020/08/shot-on-iphone-campaign-list/.

The Shot On iPhone Challenge Official Rules. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/me/pdfs/passions/photography/iPhoneChallengeRules_011819_1907.pdf.

[anishasoniauni]

REALITY TV

Reality tv shows are often word of mouth among people. Tv Shows are normally enjoyed by the target audience who can relate to the shows. There are some shows that are internationally known and there are some that are changed to cater to the market of the specific country. In the current generation, it is also known that reality tv will be much more than just news or documentary, however, tv shows these days are more connected and relatable to the audience, (Wahab n.d.). 

An internationally known Reality TV show that still has its audience is The Amazing Race which is a game show that involves strategy, and teamwork that tests the contestant's mental and physical abilities. This TV show has grown to have 23 seasons and is still an ongoing series, where they just revealed the winners for the latest season. The impact on the audience of  the show is that the contestants are often related to one another, there is always friendship and family involved in the show making it more memorable and fun to watch, (Wiki Targeted (Entertainment 2023). 

In addition to that, there are TV shows that were started in a different country but modified and redone in Malaysia. An example of that is  MasterChef  which is one of the most prestigious cooking competitions that started in the United Kingdom in 1990 and has been recreated in the United States, Australia and even Malaysia with their country’s professional chefs being the judges. In Malaysia, the show went on for 2 seasons but it wasn't the best reach to the audience. Due to certain cases, the show was stopped however, being in a country that lives for food gave the contestants a good future, (Sign the Petition n.d.).

Tv Show is a source of entertainment to the audience yet it creates a strong impact on people who can relate to the particular content. It also comes with a huge source of understanding and knowledge of the show. 

Reference list

Sign the Petition n.d., Change.org, viewed 28 April 2023, <https://www.change.org/p/zainal-alam-kadir-berhenti-menukar-format-masterchef>.

Wahab, J n.d., ‘MALAYSIAN REALITY TV: BETWEEN MYTH AND REALITY’, Malaysian Journal of Communication Jilid, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 17–32.

Wiki Targeted (Entertainment 2023, Matt & Ashley, The Amazing Race Wiki, viewed 28 April 2023, <https://amazingrace.fandom.com/wiki/Matt_%26_Ashley>.

[anishasoniauni]

BLOGGING

Blogging is something anyone can do at any time and anywhere. Now most people look at blogging as a way to write but it could also revolve around photography and other media content. The only difference in blogging is that it is self-published by an individual giving them the opportunity to write diary-style entries, (Duermyer 2022). 

Blogging can be beneficial in many ways, especially towards those who do business as it can generate traffic. Blogging has also been a form of communicating and interacting with the individual’s audience. In general, blogging has the ability also to form a public sphere when the  writer often focuses on a particular topic, (Why Blog? 14 Benefits of Blogging (in 2023) 2023). There are also various types of blogging according to the writer's and creator’s preferences. Some of the famous blogs revolve around controversial and resourceful content that the audience can relate to, (YEC 2022). 

 To relate this, Malaysia is known for their food and Malaysians can be the biggest foodie, it is practically that hard to go on a diet in Malaysia. Using this factor there are many food bloggers around that constantly post their reviews and content of new and good restaurants to get delicious food. For example, KL Foodie is one of the most famous blogging channels that started up with a website and Youtube Channel, (MEDIAPOD 2022). They ventured into social media such as Instagram and Tik Tok. Their social media channel has over a million followers combined. It also created blogging in the form of Video in Tik Tok whereby the message is delivered through a voice-over at the back. Despite that, this blogging Channel also made a few shops and stalls go viral around the Internet, (KL Foodie - Best KL Food Blog 2019 2019).

There are many other bloggers in Malaysia that talk about Malaysian-related topics however it is important to ensure the blogs are relatable to the audience. 

KL FOODIE SIGHTS 

Website: https://klfoodie.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kl.foodie/?hl=en

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kl.foodie?lang=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/klfoodie

Reference list

Duermyer, R 2022, What Is Blogging?, The Balance.

KL Foodie - Best KL Food Blog 2019 2019, KL Foodie, viewed 11 November 2019, <https://klfoodie.com/>.

MEDIAPOD 2022, Top 30 food review blogs in Malaysia, MEDIAPOD, viewed 27 April 2023, <https://www.mediapod.co/blog/top-food-review-blogs-malaysia/>.

Why Blog? 14 Benefits of Blogging (in 2023) 2023, www.wpbeginner.com.

YEC 2022, Council Post: 5 Types Of Blog Posts That Tend To Go Viral, Forbes, viewed 27 April 2023, <https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2022/10/14/5-types-of-blog-posts-that-tend-to-go-viral/?sh=362c911a73eb>.

[anishasoniauni]

SOCIAL MEDIA

Living in a digitalized world we consume and produce all kinds of media-related content. Social media has become a channel for people to interact, create, and share in a virtual community and network, (Tufts University Relations 2022). Social Media is also a platform for advertising and marketing. Relating to users and gratification theory, which is addressing that we use social media for different purposes according to our needs and wants, (Gordon 2022). Many tend to use social media to address issues and a combination of a group of people talking and addressing a topic creates a public sphere. 

A common public sphere that occurs around Malaysia would be Malaysian politics. Especially during the recent election last year, politicians promoted themselves actively on social media to engage with the citizen and the youth. This created a public sphere of the issue the politicians discuss and its often followed by their supporters. Malaysia being a democratic country through the provision of the new public sphere enhances democracy as people are allowed to share and discuss, (Muhamad 2016). 

Apart from that another Public Sphere formed and was known to be contributed Internationally through social media is Black Live Matter. This issue wasn't just spoken about and discussed in the United States but also all around the world. It was the most successful social movement that was even contributed by famous artists and brought a change, (Crutchfield 2020). 

In a world evolving around digitalization, social media is powerful to create and change unexpected scenarios with the voice of the people. 

Reference 

Crutchfield, L 2020, Black Lives Matter: From Protests to Lasting Change, Business for Impact | Georgetown University.

Gordon, J 2022, Uses and Gratification Theory - Explained, The Business Professor, LLC.

Muhamad, R 2016, ‘Political Deliberation on the Internet: The Malaysian Political Parties Web Sphere’, p. 11, viewed 2023, <https://ores.su/media/filer_public/e1/22/e122e0cd-35bc-4c80-b922-ea588b4bb497/a8d72f3ae556d8ffa43ffd47623bf51acc2ff61e.pdf>.

Tufts University Relations 2022, Social Media Overview - Communications, Communications.

[anishasoniauni]

DIGITAL GROWTH

We currently live in a world that is digitalized where everything can be done with a touch of a finger. The world revolves around the Internet as globalization happens increasing the growth rate of the digital world. Taking Malaysia as an example over the years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Internet has thrived to be even stronger and an example of this is the MySejahtera app where all Malaysian infection rates, vaccination statuses, helplines and many more were available in that one app. In a country with a population of approximately 32 million, over 89% have a connection to the Internet and 90% of the population is active on social media. This shows the growth of digitalization in Malaysia, (Kemp 2022). 

We also use the Internet to carry out our daily life activities. Having applications such as Grab, Maybank2u, TnG, and many more allows us to get things done efficiently with a single app. For example, looking at Grab which started off as an e-hailing service has grown to provide much more to its customers.  The uniqueness of Grab is its efficiency and safety precautions such as customers can share their live location with someone they trust to be safe during the journey, (The Travel Ninjas 2016). Despite that, another convenient app in Malaysia includes Maybank2U which has now upgraded to MAE. This app offers easy and better financial management to its users. Expenses tracking and saving money made it easy for its users. It has enhanced to a point where you can withdraw money in Maybank official ATMs even without a card and this is known as contactless cash withdrawal,(Pui Yen 2020). 

Digitalization has evolved, as much as it makes lives easier and brings good there is also the negative position of the Internet that includes scams, fake news, cyberbullying and the list goes on. This could go to a point where there was a case where a man loses almost RM100,000 after seeing a job advertisement on Facebook that promises a high commission, (Singh 2021).

This proves that as much as digital growth has its pros it also has its cons, thus it is our responsibility to ensure we stay vigilant in the digitalized world. 

Reference list

Kemp, S 2022, Digital 2022: Malaysia, DataReportal.

Pui Yen, AC 2020, Maybank Launches New MAE By Maybank2u App, Offers New Features For Better Financial Management, RinggitPlus.

Singh , S 2021, Man loses almost RM100,000 to online scam, The Star.

The Travel Ninjas 2016, In Southeast Asia, Grab is better than Uber and taxis for one main reason. Grab has set price fares! You know, Thetravelninjas.com, The Travel Ninjas.