Media Law & Literacy Course

I grew up surrounded by technology, so it is no surprise that I have a large online footprint and social media presence. I check social media daily, and post fairly frequently. The social medias I use the most are Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and VSCO. These are not the only ones I use, but they are the ones I use the most.  From visiting my social media, a stranger could see my friends and family, the places I vacation, my college, and where I'm from. I have my Instagram set to private so that I can filter who sees my pictures and who does not. However, anyone can view my profile, see my profile picture, and my biography, which states my college and sorority. When creating my social medias, I have given my name, number, email, and birthday. I never considered how dangerous giving out this information could be if it got in the hands of the wrong people. I also run the risk of getting hacked, but luckily I have avoided that.  One thing to consider is that jobs...

The term that I decided to focus on for this blog post is disinformation. The simple definition of disinformation is false information that is deliberately spread in order to sway people's opinions or obscure the truth. It is commonly used by governments to cover up the truth or to portray them in a different light to the general public. Disinformation is dangerous because it has the power to scare people and to cover up the truth.  Joseph Stalin was the one who coined the term, and named it after a KGB black propoganda department. Throughout history, the disinformation tactic was frequently used throughout wars. For example, disinformation can be, and is commonly used politically. A political group can use it to spread their agenda and influence minds. Disinformation can easily make one party or one type of people look bad. The people most susceptible to disinformation are people who have not been educated on how to properly research real v. fake news, and people who d...

After reading and considering all 8 of the Speech Theories, the one I wanted to connect the most was #4. Individual Self- Fufillment (aka Self-Actualization) has a direct connection with social media, a prominent communication technology. Individual Self-Fufillment, according to the definition on the class page, is " Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identify — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy."  The part of this that resonates with me and connects the most to social media is the aspect of allowing individuals to express themselves and find their own identity. On social media, you are allowed to post whatever you like as long as it does not violate guidlines of the website. People can post their interests, no matter what they are, and find someone with similar interests. They can then connect and bond over their shared inter...

Social media is taking over more and more as society and technology advances. Looking at social media through the Diffusion Theory lens allows us to have a different perspective on WHY it caught on and how. Some people were early adopters and were open to joining social media sites when they began. Some people, however, were not on board and avoid social media and all it has to offer. There are many reasons why someone might enjoy and catch on to social media. If they like being able to communicate with others when they are not together, share ideas and likes, and see what other people are doing in their day-to-day life, someone would enjoy social media. The early adopters are ones who are morer well-versed in the 'do's' and 'dont's' of different socials. For example, an early adopter of Instagram would have a better understanding of the platform and what posts are most popular than someone who was a late adopter. It also is an easier option for those with soc...