With the rise of digital media in this current generation of technology, it’s enable some of the more convenient ways to provide news and other enticing information on a global basis. With social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter becoming the norm in regards of interact with other people, many have argued that because digital media has grown to humongous proportions, it evolved into a conglomerate of complications. In other words, the media has risen to the point where it’s out of anyone’s control. Examples of this includes the controversy surrounding the matter of privacy when using social media, as a vast number of people are concerned over potentially losing their personal information to the wrong party. Digital media itself has generated controversy considering allegations to enabling false reporting, specifically from radicals who belong far away in regards of the political spectrum. False news reporting has become a global issue, which goes back before President Donald Trump coined the term during his campaign. Because of these unfortunate situations, many feel that the media itself promotes social immorality, considering the comfort that a lot of users feel when they’re interacting with individuals on a digital basis. Some may argue that media has become a social institution considering that those who are involved with this platform exhibit a system of behavioral and relationship patterns which are considered a social norm.
In this day of age when the concept of internet access arguably required to have in order to be involved in societal matters, there’s a recurring notion that despite the media itself being considered a social institution of social norms and becoming an outlet of a vast number of the Earth’s current population, it’s created some disdain towards the social environment that surrounds the media. Some may even argue that personal interactions with one another in person is dwindling down as digital interaction is becoming more recommended by the day. Examples of this would include some jobs, specifically working remote jobs, recommend having a social media account in order to interact or get in contact with other people. A vast number of large businesses in general make sure to have their presence shown as they open multiple accounts for numerous social media outlets. These outlets don’t just include Facebook and Twitter, they often run accounts on websites such as Instagram, Google Plus, and more.
TV has also contributed to current social norms in regards of it’s convenience throughout the media. TV has grown to large proportions to the point where they’re available on countless digital devices, as some even argued that watching television on an ordinary TV set has in their words, “a thing in the past.” Because online TV services such as Netflix and Hulu has become popular in this current society, it eventually paved the way for other streaming services to become popular on a global basis, with platforms such as ESPN+ and the WWE network. Online streaming services also gave an opportunity for the average person to become content creators, as the rise of an ultra-popular website known as Youtube became one of most used sites in the world. While Youtube is known for its large variety of online videos, content creation has become the social norm in sense that creating videos on Youtube for the sake of receiving views have become a casual practice in the media. Popular Youtube personalities such as PewDiePie and Smosh generated huge success for their personal brands, as well as the Youtube website itself. However, much like some of the disdain towards other outlets of the media, Youtube has garnered controversy over the years for numerous alleged setbacks. Criticisms of Youtube include of a variety of situations, such as the promotion of click-baiting, false reporting, obscene content being available for younger audiences, and many more. Click-baiting has become of the biggest issues in regards of the media, not just Youtube itself. However, despite being controversial to a degree, click-baiting in a lot of ways have become part of a social institution as it’s become a normal practice for content creators to get attention. Even if the tactic of click-baiting is universally condemned by most people in the media, it’ll still maintain it’s relevance due to creators being motivated to get what they want. Youtube and other media sites have been criticized for creating some may say a “toxic” environment. Meaning that comment sections on such sites usually generate a good amount of hateful and derogatory language. Although some argue that those who wish speak ill are protected by the concept of freedom of speech.
To conclude this memo, the media in a lot of ways serves as a social institution. The media represents what a vast number of people’s personality really is. Overall, it enables more social tactics that are more convenient.