the media & the masses: a toxic relationship
TRANSCRIPT
The Media & The Masses:A Toxic RelationshipPrepared by Gabrielle LazaridisFilm 240
Jan Vašek, Jeshoots
Relationshipnoun • re·∙la·∙tion·∙ship • \-‐shən-‐ˌship\
The way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected. 1
Sebastian Voortman, Pexels
The media has successfully been integrated into every aspect of our everyday lives. From being the first thing we look to in the morning to the last thing we check before going to sleep.
Karolina, Kaboompics
As of 2016: Worldwide users 4.6Boperate a personal
mobile phone 2
3.2Bhave immediate access to the internet 3
2.3Buse at least one form of social media 4
Nao Traponez, Pexels
Our dependence on the media is met by media industries’ need for audiences.
Jens Kreuter, Unsplash
Individuals need media for news, information, & entertainment
This relationship is depicted as Media Symbiosis:
Media industries need audiences they can sell products to, and/or deliver to advertisers Josh Sorensen, Pexels
What do we gain from this
relationshipas a society?
Viktor Hanacek, picjumbo
EXPANDED REACH
Social networks have removed all the
communication and interaction
barriers, allowing for individuals to
communicate their original thoughts
and opinions over a variety platforms
and topics. Thus developing digital
relationships with like-‐minded people.5
Adrianna Calvo, Pexels
EMPOWERMENT
Social networking sites allow for a large
number of like-‐minded individuals to
unite on a single platform for the
purpose of achieving a specific
objective. Thus, the media allows the
masses to rally behind a common
cause and reach an impact greater
than any single voice could accomplish.5
freestocks
What does this relationshiptake awayfrom us?
negativespace
Prolonged exposure has resulted in various
NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Volkan Olmez, Unsplash
These implications of media usage
include
ISOLATION
“Social networks are more like mutual
isolation networks that detach people
from meaningful interactions with one
another and make them less human.”6
Sherry Turkle, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Gilles Lambert, Unsplash
DEPRESSION
“Regarding teens who are on social
media for more than two hours a day, a
full one-‐quarter of students in the
study, report poor self-‐rated mental
health, psychological distress, suicidal
ideation or unmet need for mental
health support.”7
Ottawa Public Health, Frequent Use of Social Networking Sites Is Associated with Poor Psychological Functioning Among Children
negativespace
RESTRICTED SOCIAL
INTERACTION“Technology has evolved into the ‘hub
and hearth of family life’… our family’s
way of being a family felt like it was
slipping away as our home computer
began to dominate our children’s time
and attention.”8
Catherine Steiner-‐Adair, Psychologist at Harvard Medical School
Josh Felise, Unsplash
The detrimental effects of media usage have grown so severe,
it reflects that of a TOXIC RELATIONSHIP noun • tox·∙ic re·∙la·∙tion·∙ship • \ˈtäk-‐sik\ \-‐shən-‐ˌship\
A relationship characterized by behaviors on the part of the toxic partner that are emotionally and, not infrequently, physically
damaging to their partner.9
…Yet we refuse to give it up
picjumbo
In fact, the time spent online by the
average internet user has doubled
within the past decade.10
2005: 9h 54m 11
2013: 16h 54m 11
2014: 27h 36m 11
negativespace
As media usage rates continue to grow, one must become mindful of the negative
implications that can arise and threaten to turn the benefits of engaging in online
communications into an emotionally abusive relationship.
Brandon Morgan, Unsplash
Walking away from a toxic relationship
Kev Seto, Unsplash
Holding on to a toxic relationship prevents personal growth whereas letting go creates room for a healthier one, where growth and dialogue is encouraged on both sides. 12
Greg Raines, Unsplash
We don’t have to abandon the media completely, but rather moderate usage to ensure we utilize our online presence as a tool to createsolutions, as opposed to issues.
startupstockphotos
Citations1 Relationship | Definition of Relationship by Merriam-‐Webster. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.merriam-‐webster.com/dictionary/relationship
2 Number of mobile phone users worldwide 2013-‐2019 | Statista. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/274774/forecast-‐of-‐mobile-‐phone-‐users-‐worldwide/
3 Number of internet users 2005-‐2016 | Statistic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/273018/number-‐of-‐internet-‐users-‐worldwide/
4 Social Media Statistics & Facts | Statista. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from https://www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-‐networks/
5 Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media on Society ... (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/positive-‐negative-‐effects-‐social-‐media-‐society-‐ali-‐kingston
6 Social networking leads to isolation, not more connections ... (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.naturalnews.com/031128_social_networking_mental_health.html
Citations continued…7 Film 240 -‐ flip book assignment -‐ slideshare.net. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.slideshare.net/14bh27/film-‐240-‐flip-‐book-‐assignment
8 Portrait of an e-‐family: How they're ... -‐ The Globe and Mail. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/how-‐families-‐are-‐making-‐their-‐hyper-‐digital-‐lives-‐work/article13924931/
9 Toxic Relationships -‐ HealthScopeHealthScope. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.healthscopemag.com/health-‐scope/toxic-‐relationships/
10 Teenagers spend 27 hours a week online: How internet use ... (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/digital-‐media/11597743/Teenagers-‐spend-‐27-‐hours-‐a-‐week-‐online-‐how-‐internet-‐use-‐has-‐ballooned-‐in-‐the-‐last-‐decade.html
11 Time spent online doubles in a decade. (2015, May 11). Retrieved September/October, 2016, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-‐ofcom/latest/media/media-‐releases/2015/time-‐spent-‐online-‐doubles-‐in-‐a-‐decade
12 7 Reasons Why You Need To Let Go of A Toxic Relationship. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/7-‐reasons-‐why-‐you-‐need-‐let-‐toxic-‐relationship.html