Social Media: A Letdown to Society?
Though media can be perceived and interpreted in multiple ways, theories behind how media is used and the effect media has in our everyday lives are questions that are often asked. Answers to these questions allow us to create theories and determine their positive or negative effects. Articles in the Pew Research Center highlighted an array of media topics that explained the influence of social media in the realm of politics.
Articles such as, “Most Americans Think Social Media Sites Censor Political Viewpoints” and “64% of Americans say social media have a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the U.S. today,” both pose the question, “How does social media portray politics?” By finding answers to questions, we can explain how certain attributes of the world work and why they do. In this case, by finding the answer as to whether or not social media has a negative or positive effect in politics, we can determine why social media works the way it does in relationship to politics and the effect it plays in society.
Now, how do we begin to gain the knowledge of the effects of social media and politics in our every day world? There are various types of knowledge used to create answers to our questions. Theory and research are commonly associated with one another, but in correlation to this, so does each individual’s experiences. Both articles decided to gather data through quantitative research, such as surveys. The use of a survey “aims to find the current state of things, such as public opinion or consumer preferences” (University of Minnesota, 2010). In the first article, “Most Americans Think Social Media Sites Censor Political Viewpoints,” individuals were specifically asked whether or not they believe social media actually censors certain political perspectives. Individuals were able to provide an answer based on their very own personal experience.
Critical theory also plays an important role in this article. If multiple social sites provide the same information, yet some decide to censor certain information, the way that affects members of society is impactful. Based on ones politician affiliation, one is going to already have a biased viewpoint as to whether or not they agree with the censorship in the first place. Similarly, the second article, “64% of Americans say social media have a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the U.S. today,” also mentions the effect media plays in society. “Those who have a negative view of the impact of social media mention, in particular, misinformation and the hate and harassment they see on social media” (Auxier, 2020). This ties to the concept that this specific critical theory, in relationship to social media, has played a negative influential role in society.
Whether we agree with these theories or not, comparing them with the similar outlook they have through their quantitative research of surveys, aside from one’s personal opinion, it is safe to say that a similar approach and practice can substantially support such theory.
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