Blog Post #11

Mainstream vs. Alternative Media — Why It Matters

Understanding the difference between mainstream and alternative media is essential today. During this presentation, I learned how different these two forms of media are and how they both play vital roles in shaping public understanding.

Mainstream media refers to large, well-known organizations such as FOX, CNN, ABC, The New York Times, and NPR, all of which have much influence over the general public. These platforms discuss many things, from politics to health to international affairs, reflecting what is happening in the world from multiple viewpoints. Mainstream media often shape national conversations and public opinion because they reach many people and spark conversations worldwide.

Alternative media offers independent and nontraditional viewpoints that can sometimes clash with the narratives of mainstream sources. While these sources can have a smaller audience, they tend to focus on niche topics that are not as talked about in mainstream media. They can range from all over the political spectrum, whether very far left, in the middle, or far right. Alternative media helps bring some new light and perspective to parts of the world that are dark and overlooked by the mainstream media. While also giving a voice to groups that feel like they do not have one.

The key takeaway is that there is a significant difference between these two media types, from the audiences they target to the topics they discuss. While mainstream media tends to focus more on the public agenda and major stories, alternative media provides a valuable counterbalance with perspectives that need to be heard but won't be covered by the mainstream media. 

Media literacy is critical in this world, and we need a well-rounded viewpoint on the news, whether from mainstream or alternative media. We must stay informed and ask questions, as even if you do not fully agree with someone else's viewpoint, hearing a different perspective may be very helpful.  

Blog Post #10

 Reflections on In the Age of AI

Watching the second hour of Frontline's In the Age of AI felt like seeing into the future. The documentary combines interviews, expert insights, and real-world case studies that showcase AI's good and evil. While the film acknowledges how much potential AI has, for example, advances in healthcare, logistics, and even climate modeling, it does not mean AI can not be harmful, especially when misused in the sense of being weaponized, monetized, or left unchecked.

One of the most influential parts of this video was when it talked about the global race for AI dominance. The complications with the US and China about who will be the one to lead in the innovation of AI and the massive threats to security that come with it are fascinating, as this is not just about who can be bigger and better when it comes to algorithms it is about the data and the fact that both us and china want to own and control that data as they can use it to shape economies, politics, and even culture. Knowing this alone made me realize how big AI has become and how much power it holds.

Privacy was another area that shocked me, as we give away so much data daily, sometimes without even knowing. AI thrives on our data, from online purchases to voice recordings and location pins. All of this is data-driven, and companies will use it to their advantage by targeting ads to give you a form of influence. While it can be very convenient to have these ads almost personalized to you and your taste, they can also be very unsettling, as they raise significant ethical concerns, including who is viewing or collecting our data. Is anyone protecting it, and if so, who?  Why do we not get a say in people viewing or collecting our data?

This documentary also discussed the risks of online security and identity theft. AI can be used to help detect fraud and commit it.  AI produces things like Deepfakes, automated scams, and voice cloning, which is scary as it is becoming hard to tell the difference between the real and the fake, making it hard to trust companies or brands today. If you cannot trust digital content, how can we function as a society that depends on the internet?

However, the entire documentary was not based on an opposing viewpoint. In this world with all the modern technological advancements that we have that are growing at a rapid pace every day, there are always ways to use and misuse them, so we as a society have to do our part and use technology wisely, especially AI, as it can be so beneficial in so many different ways and for so many people as long as you use it the correct way. However, this is not all for us, the people, as we need more transparency, regulation, and public education. So we need the government to do its job and communicate these things to the public, as AI is still new and evolving, and is scary for many people when it does not need to be, as long as you are transparent about its usage.

Overall, this documentary opened my eyes to my knowledge about AI, how it affects us now, and how it will affect us in the future. It's not about being pro or anti-technology; it's just about being informed, as our generation and future generations will have to suffer the consequences if we can't learn how to handle and control these technologies now.

Blog Post #9

The Third-Person Effect — When "They" Are the Problem, Not "Me

Imagine when scrolling through social media, you stumble across harmful content that seems to be spreading misinformation, propaganda, or violent content. Well, you're probably thinking, "That doesn't affect me, why should I care if it affects others?" That's a prime example of the third-person effect, a psychological phenomenon where individuals believe others are more affected by media messages than themselves. This was first introduced by W. Phillips Davison in 1983, a communication theorist, and while this may seem harmless or very minuscule, there is so much more to this mindset.

The third-person effect creates a distorted view of social media and how it influences.  People who believe they are not affected by the third-person effect may let their guard down and try to push for more restrictions on social media based on the assumption that others are more vulnerable.  One example is that a parent may want to support the ban of violent video games, but they are not the ones being harmed because they think this will hurt their children and or other people, as they are less intelligent. This belief shapes public opinion and influences policy decisions, often without evidence to back up the fears.   

This can also significantly impact society, creating a sense of division and reinforcing beliefs of intellectual superiority. This is very dangerous as we live in an age of misinformation, especially as older generations tend to think the younger generations are being brainwashed by technology and social media as a whole, while younger generations believe they are being targeted for political campaigns, ad scams, or TV commercials. These mutual assumptions can breed mistrust and prevent open conversations.

This effect can also appear differently in people with different cultures or backgrounds. Someone who grew up wealthy may be entitled to believe that uneducated or poor people may be more affected by the media, which reinforces a classist ideology. The majority of people may feel that minorities are more at risk of being manipulated, which is a form of stereotyping. Many people associate gender and sexuality with certain types of content, saying women will be more influenced by beauty standards. In contrast, men will be more influenced by more aggressive or violent content. While there are many different opinions on which specific groups are affected by the media, some true and some false, the third-person effect often relies on overgeneralized assumptions without factual evidence.

I can see where this is an issue in my life. I can spot it when I think about misinformation online, especially on social media. Still, at the same time, there are times when I've thought things like "I hope people don't actually believe this," making the assumption that other people are more likely to fall for this type of misinformation than I am. Which is precisely what the third-person effect is. It’s not just about how the media influences them but also how our belief in that influence affects us.

Our generation, raised in the digital age, must be more cautious of this bias. Being media savvy doesn't mean you aren't affected. It means recognizing how everyone, including ourselves, is shaped by the content we view and consume. Understanding the Third-Person Effect challenges us to take more personal responsibility and stop underestimating others.