Critical Media Literacy as a Path to Enlightenment
Critical media literacy can serve as a bridge to epistemic enlightenment by:
- Reinforcing the Value of Truth: Encouraging active verification of information rather than passive consumption.
- Empowering Critical Thinkers: Equipping individuals to challenge misinformation and resist manipulative tactics.
- Fostering Collaborative Knowledge Creation: Promoting a participatory approach to journalism that values diverse contributions.
- Addressing Ethical Dimensions: Exploring the moral implications of content creation and consumption in the digital age.
The below concomitants of the post-truth era are indisputably attributable to man’s inability to defy the manipulation of their untrained minds:
- Compulsive Use of Social Media: This happens when an individual feels he/she has the ‘fear of missing out.’ FOMO is understood to relate to a situation where one perceives one has lesser experiences than others. The feelings of not being able to live up to their peers’ or net users’ expectations and or certain social situations result in social anxiety symptoms, which are the second most common anxiety disorder. “Social media can definitely cause social anxiety,” according to Charna Cassell.
- Narcissism: This condition is the result of social anxiety syndrome. The fear of being judged by others may increase in a setting where it’s easy to compare yourself with others or feel evaluated by a like or lack thereof. Narcissism was declared ‘narcissistic personality disorder’ (NPD) in 2017. The Internet is a narcissist’s paradise. (Laporta, Lauren, 2009). “Narcissism levels among millennials are higher than previous generations.” (Shawn Bergman,) being judged by others may increase in a setting where it’s easy to compare yourself with others or feel evaluated by a like — or lack thereof.
- Hedonism: the doctrine that states pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life. In comprehending the psychological factors contributing to the popularity of social media platforms Foucault (1993) describes “technologies of the self” as methods people use to modify their bodies, minds, and conduct in pursuit of an ideal state of psychological perfection. Although he mainly focused on ancient practices such as meditation and diary-keeping, the prevalence of such techniques in modern times is evident. Nowadays, these online platforms have become the preferred means for many individuals to shape and regulate their self-identities.
Michel Foucault’s work on power and knowledge has also had a significant impact on the way journalists and media scholars think about truth-telling in contemporary journalism. Truth is not an absolute or objective concept, but rather a product of the discursive practices of those in power. The significance of Carpentier and Foucault’s contributions to journalism and truth-telling rely on their ability to illuminate the ways in which contemporary media practices are shaped by larger social and political forces, including neoliberalism and power relations. (Carpentier; Foucault. M.1972-1977)
- Cyber-hedonism: This obsession has prompted The Economist to shoot a question; will they try to change the world, or simply settle for enjoying themselves? The pursuit of pleasure from online resources has mesmerised the youth to such an extent that many families, relationships and studies have been adversely affected. For many net users from China and the US virtual life is more than real which is intriguing. In China, two-thirds of the respondents to one opinion poll agreed with the proposition that “It’s possible to have real relationships purely online,” compared with one-fifth of Americans who felt the same way. (iBid)
The following excerpt from The Economist (Feb. 2009) is evidently concerning for the future generation: “There is so much evidence of the latter choice that pundits have invented a new word—cyber-hedonism—to describe it. To the dismay of idealists, young people in many countries seem to be giving up the political struggles of previous generations and opting instead for a sort of digital nirvana, revelling in a vast supply of movies, music, instant communication and of course, sexual opportunity. One appealing thing about cyber-hedonism is that, compared with politics, it’s less likely to attract the authorities’ attention.” The Economist – International ( 7.2.2009).
- Emotional Appeals: Emotions and personal beliefs often play a greater role in shaping public opinion than facts and evidence. Emotional appeals in political campaigning and public discourse are used to manipulate public opinion and shape public policy. Journalism has become increasingly focused on creating and perpetuating narratives that appeal to the emotions and beliefs of their audiences, rather than on objective reporting (Carpentier, 2017). The use of emotional intelligence has resurfaced as a new political device to address constituents.
- Polarisation of the Internet: Polarisation and division refers to where individuals are more likely to seek out and consume information that aligns with their preexisting beliefs and values, resulting in the emergence of echo chambers and the entrenchment of opposing viewpoints. One of the downsides of the Internet is the recognition and monitoring of polarisation in the media landscape. The unprecedented speed of data transfer and scale has also led to an increase in the spread of false, misleading, and biased information, which has contributed to the polarisation of society.
- The Social Media: SM platforms have played a significant role in the emergence of the post-truth age, as they have provided a platform for the rapid and easier sharing of content and connecting like-minded individuals. SM have been criticised for their role in spreading misinformation leading to the erosion of trust in traditional sources of information. The resulting impact on digital journalism is the rise of user participation, which can incite hate speech and trolls and become hotbeds for toxic comments, with users posting hateful and derogatory messages that can harm individuals and groups. This has led to calls for media organisations to take a more proactive role in moderating user-generated content and ensuring that their platforms are safe and welcoming for all users. [NEXT – Social Media Platforms]