Seeing the Seams: Staying Vigilant in the Digital Age
I think it is very difficult for the general population (myself included) to notice when they are being influenced or manipulated by the media they consume. Every day we encounter disinformation, which has a particular insidious purpose. With disinformation, political actors deliberately manipulate information to achieve political goals (e.g., Bennett & Livingston, 2018; Freelon & Wells, 2020; Wardle, 2017 as cited in Boukes & Hamleers, 2023 p. 71). And dissemination of disinformation is mostly associated with right-wing issue positions, usually of a radical nature. Disinformation is intentionally deceptive, andis meant to convince, the intended recipients by misleading them – for example, by targeting their identities, emotions, and beliefs. (Hancock & Bailenson, 2021, as cited in Boukes & Hamleers, 2023 p. 72)
Given the current disadvantage we are regarding media literacy, you would think this would raise alarm bells for public institutions to ensure that future generations have the tools they need to navigate the digital space with a critical eye. This has not been the case, and there may be an argument to be made that this is what is actually preferred by the hegemonic parties at play. How can the masses rebel against their masters if they are kept in the dark, the knowledge that would be their salvation out of reach? Knowledge is power is indeed the adage that still holds true to this day, never more than in the current information age we find ourselves in.
So how do we tackle this issue along with the many others we face in the digital age? Caragee indicates that it is in fact through focusing on framing research that we will develop tools that can perhaps be used for the good of all. Digital disinformation campaigns sponsored by state or non-state actors (Benkler, Faris & Roberts, 2018 as cited in Caragee 2019 p. 368)) is of importance to look at, as they can influence the most change towards particular agendas, these tactics tend to be used quite advantageously by Right-Wing parties. This was how Boris Johnson’s administration convinced the public that Brexit would be what the country needed at the time, though the facts and figures were awash in disinformation that was portrayed as true. Caragee also mentioned that research should explore framing as a social process within the digital realm, while simultaneously considering digitally enabled frame construction within the context of the strategic and tactical decision-making of movement activists ( Caragee 2019 p. 368) Activist organizations would benefit from this greatly, their messaging capabilities would increase and they would be privy to the same tools that are often weaponized against them by the opposition.
Credit: Neal Cole. These buses certainly were eye-catching.
While this is definitely is a path we as academics and researchers should travel down, it may take some time before we see it implemented in public life. To aid myself when I encounter framing and disinformation in the wild that could impact me greatly, I have devised an exercise in order to help me think critically about the media I am consuming, especially when my it affects me emotionally:
Question the source – What is the source of the information, and if located, where do their allegiances lie?
Is there an agenda – For what purpose is this being shown to me? I usually like to investigate the source, look at other’s comments, and the wider social climate.
Is it verified/truthful – fact checking is key. I find experts or go to fact-checking sites to ensure if the content is actually truthful.
What do they not want me to see – If it is some sort of character assassination or a heroic portrait of an individual, group, or even of an event, it may be good to be sceptical as to why they are being portrayed a certain way.
Look at other sources and perspectives – what is says on the tin. It is helpful to look at all angles before arriving at your own conclusion.
Questioning the world around you is a developed skill; it is very easy to get caught up in what you see and take it at face value, and this can be dangerous. There is not much we can do about the type of framing we are exposed to, but we do still have power over how we choose to engage with it.
Bibliography
Boukes , M. and Hameleers, M. (2023) Fighting lies with facts or humor: Comparing the effectiveness of ..., Available at: https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03637751.2022.2097284 (Accessed: 09 October 2023).
Keven M. Carragee (2019). 'Communication, activism and the news media: an agenda for future research'. Communication and Society 32(4). https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/37265 2097284 (Accessed: 09 October 2023).