Statement on Media Philosophy

By: Ayana Coleman-Dixon

The media is deeply ingrained in American society and daily life today. Growing up at the birth of social media and its impact has not only changed my outlook on life but society as a whole as well. We normally would think that having more access to people and news from different corners of the world would help with creating more room for unity and understanding. However, there are many possibilities when it comes to using media as a tool to further not only yourself but to help others as well. 

I try not to get too attached when it comes to media consumption because of how I’ve seen Instagram shift from being a platform to share memories and joyous moments to a shopping app where you post sponsored, and most often, materialistic content. It’s hard to feel as if the images that we see in the media today as authentic when you see the number of gimmicky promotions for material items and fictional stories many influencers pull on a constant basis just to get as much engagement as they can on their profiles. Because advertisement and media go hand in hand and operate on the same wavelength, it makes it nearly impossible sometimes to know what might be real and what is contrived media to make you think or act a certain way depending on the narrative. Amy Odell has spoken on Fashion Media in Addicted to Data saying, “The danger with running a publication that reacts too tightly to data is that you stop employing instinct, skill, and taste, making it less likely that you are telling interesting and differentiating stories.” The quote reminds me how there are unwritten rules in media that can potentially deplete the chances for creative and niche insights one can bring to audiences on these platforms. 

From my personal experience, as long as you try not to attach yourself too much to media consumption and take breaks when you need, you can maintain a healthy relationship with its changing of states. We should also be cautious when it comes to authenticity and truth when we see or read what comes from different media outlets. This issue can have an impact on people’s negative judgments towards others in the world and can cause a lot of damage if you do not carefully research your media sources. Also, using media to escape reality is very common as well. Many people live their lives through the lives they see portrayed on their screens, which can cause a lot of identity issues and confusion. But something I think is a major concern is how we go about our everyday lives when we’re not plugged into media. 

It’s not all negative, but the ways that we’ve interacted and communicated have also shifted with the help of media. With the use of hashtags that raise awareness on important current issues and causes, there have been great benefits to media as well. Not only do we have access to information and people from all over the world, but we can also use media as a tool to help further ourselves, communities, and raise awareness of issues that matter to us. Just as Edward R. Murrow said in Good Night and Good Luck, “This instrument can teach, it can illuminate and yes it can even inspire, it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it towards those ends. Otherwise, it is merely wires and lights in a box.” I felt this quote perfectly captures how it all depends on the user and how they use or interpret the media. Media itself isn’t bad, it’s what we use it for that determines its value to us and society as a whole.