“The Good and the Bad: How Social Media Affected Me as a Gen Z Individual”

In recent years the growing success of social media has led to being the source of information on major events. It has improved from the very original purpose of it. The emergence of social media way back in the early 2000s was mainly to connect and for communications during this period that Gen Z was born. They may not be the first one to use social media, but it grew with the availability of social media, so the bond of social media to Gen Z was strong and will get stronger in the future. Social media has helped Gen Z in a lot of ways. One thing why teens generally had a more positive view of social media is that they see it as a way to connect with their family and friends and a more diverse group of people. Social Media has been part of every millennial's life, especially when in terms of education. It has a great contribution to us as living individuals nowadays. As time passes by the existence of Social Media has made considerable changes in society. However, it has a major effect on people in the modern era. Somehow social media consumes a lot of time when we are using it, and in result instead of doing tasks, homework, assignments we forget that we have a lot of work to do.

The rise of Social Media is a beneficiary event to us mankind, our current and future generations will be more inclined to technology so as to social media, because of how it caught our attention and interests. These certain inventions entertained us as to the extent that we got addicted to it.  Social Media made our lives easier, the communication and sharing of information is more faster and accessible than the traditional ways, and that's why social media became popular because of the advantages of its functions. Social Media became more prominent with our lives as this helps us communicate easier,  specially during this pandemic, we are prohibited to communicate personally with our friends and loved ones, social media has its uses to make those tasks possible. Through social media, we are able to communicate and interact with people we know and people we love. But despite its uses, there are certain bad effects to the usage of social media. 

The rise of social media means that there are various people joining the community. People that are insensitive, negative and manipulative. With the various people out there, it is uncertain whether they are a good person or not. Chances of being manipulated by their information is high. It is more preferable to have enough knowledge about the contents and the users of social media to execute our chance of being a victim by those. Using social media has cognitive effects on us mankind, the anxiety caused by the information we get or the stress feeling from a specific post or message of a person can cause us harm. There are many cases of mental health issues caused by consuming social media, certain traumas being experienced by several users are happening. Using too much social media is not a good idea, too much exposure of information and communication could lead us to addiction and information overload which is a very risky psychological issue for us.

In using social media it got to the point where it manipulated the users where every decision they make is predicted by an algorithm. Social media has also caused chaos towards individuals where they are divided for the reason of different opinions and beliefs brainwashed by false information creating conflict and making a gap to citizens when  it comes to politics. Some even took it too far by believing that the corona virus is not real and the government is just making it as a diversion to take our attention away from the real problem. It caused depression and anxiety to teens due to cyberbullying and also creating impossible standards towards beauty where they think that they need to meet the expectations of others to be cool. It caused mental problems and even physical problems due to high exposure of radiation for the reason that they have been staring at their phones for a long time. The good effect of social media to me as a Gen z individual is I am able to access the latest news and information that I want. I can make friends and talk to them easily. It enables me to connect and communicate to different sides of the world. It helps Me to communicate with loved ones wherever they are. I can gather news and information faster than before. Hence all things are good but with moderation.

Greater Path Towards Inclusivity and Embracing Diversity in Digital Era.

In the late 1990s, the term had become widely known by many interested parties, along with scholars, policymakers as well as advocacy organizations. The notion of a "digital divide" relates to the increasing disparity between economically disadvantaged people in society, specifically the impoverished, suburbs, empowerment of persons with disabilities, who may not provide exposure to networked computers. In the Modern era, there are gaps between people who use computers and the internet, and for those who do not because this is due to those years when people in the late centuries that modern technology was not invented and those years that nowadays people experience digital devices which make their lives easier. The existence of the “Digital Divide” affects society in which not all people have access to the internet, there is also a lack of skills in terms of computer literacy and lack of knowledge about the internet. Digital Divide, in this era where people must learn to adapt the internet in their lives whether they like it or not.

In this internet age, accessibility to the internet and technology is more possible, but certain ages or generations of consumers have only limited knowledge of these things. Some don't know that there are better versions than the gadget they had right now and instead they stick to their old devices. Thus this creates a digital divide as some are outdated with the current trend of technology. Another one is when a certain institution is mostly outdated to their devices, that they are finding it difficult to produce their product resulting in it to look cheap and classic. This scenario creates a digital divide with other fellow producers. We can also make the Philippines as an example, Philippines is rich in nature but is quite outdated with the current technology, our government officials are still having difficulty in manipulating the internet that they are too slow to track down some criminals through it, our film productions are also not good with animations, international animators are still better than our animators, and it was because the lack of knowledge and technologies for animating. There are still many factors that are evident for us to say that our country is digitally divided with other certain countries.

As a student, teaching them won't be enough as according to Alvseike and Brønnick (2012) that cognitive deficits and low self-efficacy associated with older age significantly reduced participants' ability to use technology. Teaching them is a difficult idea , so as the future workers of our generation, we are being encouraged to learn and adapt technology and internet, studying them will be a better idea in bridging the gap of the digital divide of our country. With the help of the government's better budget of finances and a group of technology inclined people, bridging the digital divide is possible. If we have the opportunity to help people that are affected by digital divide. We will create a Students group page created to spread information related to the areas or people who have been affected by the digital divide. We will gather information and search, find the certain areas. Once we have our research we will post it to the page and boost it to quickly spread and reach many people especially people working in the government.

As a result of these actions, digital divide will slowly contract, having people unite and bridge the gap between them. Digital native people and digital immigrant people will work together teaching each other creating unity and it will no longer be a problem to them. No one will feel left out or feel outdated.

“The Setbacks of Piracy”

An economist called Zhang Yimou, "Piracy has ruined the domestic economy." If someone installs and uses proprietary programs without paying for a program, the software is deemed "piracy. A lot of the world was seeking to gain control of trade networks, and targeting competition around the sea was a common practice. In the World of the Internet, the alternative cases of piracy increase year by year through the help of digital technology because this is due to all users having the privilege or power to steal someone’s work and technically own it. There is an effect of piracy in which most citizens of every country can lose their job in the cause of piracy and embezzled financial gain will have difficulty for the means to support their families. There’s a lot of examples of piracy , downloading a copyrighted song off the Internet is a good example of it. The disadvantages of privacy are the theft of personal information, spamming, and virus threats. When using the internet they can get information from many people. Even people may think that they are safe just because of privacy, don't be too dependent on it. Just be aware and be safe from any kind of threat.

Online piracy has a big impact on the Internet. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution or a copyrights is widespread in the internet and spreading stolen or filmed materials such as pirated movies, illegal software, only on cinema movies, music and entertainment. Because of it the companies, movie creators, music industry and other digital materials lose billions of income every year because of this piracy industry. Every rising industry has hindrance to its progress. So as the film industry's relationship with piracy, the rival of their dynasty. Piracy happens when a theft recorded one film being shown to cinemas and mass produced its copies to the public. This is a contrary to the wants of the film industries. Piracy is a great enemy to their productions as it is stealing their film without their consent, the thefts are earning money through this while the producers are having problems with the decrease of the sales they get from their film. Piracy is a great hindrance as its demand increases proportionally on how interesting and more awaiting a certain film is.

Having a pirated version of a film, is a threat to the rising progress of the film industry. Piracy however is a blessing to those who can't afford to buy themselves a ticket to watch the film, despite of the unclear visuals caused by the factors while recording the film many people are interested and is investing in piracy. Piracy is indeed illegal to any place in the world, this is related to stealing someone's property for their own benefits, but still it has more demands and is currently supplied every time a film is shown. There are certain penalties for those who committed piracy, but it is never enough to stop the piracy that is happening in our country. Despite those that are caught by the law,  there are still many out there, hungry for money, committing such risky crimes. Every light has darkness, it should maintain equilibrium. So as in the case of the film industry, there should always be piracy as long as it exists.

Piracy is stealing and stealing is against the law. Being against the law it has penalties if ever someone commits and gets caught. By pirating a movie or film you are committing copyright infringement for the reason that you have stolen something from the creator. One of the penalties is “Misdemeanor Conviction” having to serve a year imprisonment and a fine up to $100,000 or 4,833,600 PHP. Another penalty is “Felony Conviction” this is a more serious penalty than misdemeanor conviction having to serve 5 year imprisonment and $250,000 or 12,084,000 PHP. If the first time was not enough and you tend to commit it again because you have not learned your lesson having to stay in prison and paying a lot of money then you get “Repeat Offenders” where the fine could be the same but the imprisonment is doubled making yourself face 10 years imprisonment.

Value of filtration and sham of hindering information.

The 3 types of media which are the Print, Broadcast, and New media are having the same goal which is to provide various information to the public but they are having a difference in terms of the process of how they are going to deliver the message. Sending information to a mass of people is very challenging especially to broadcasters, news reporters, and writers. The existence of the Print, Broadcast, and New media has helped a lot of every individual over the centuries.  Giving out information will affect the sum of the population, may it be positively or negatively. The comprehension and point of view of the readers, viewers, and listeners are being targeted. Whether in a writing form like newspaper, digital magazines or broadcasting on Radio and TV Reports is the product of the Print, Broadcast, and New Media. As the new era of the media, it is very essential to be responsible for interpreting such a piece of information.

The essence or most important part of information that  must not be hindered by political or personal agenda is that the main means of mass communication. Any valuable information coming from the media must not be manipulated by any political or personal agenda. Any type of media and its Information must be Impartial and does not protect or hide any information, to help the community understand what is really happening. The Print, Broadcast and New media has a beneficiary role to a certain community or country. But despite the possibility of the recipients having the inability to distinguish real and false information. The influence caused by the government or a specific group is also a threat. Media must be free, for the public and must not be controlled or influenced by anyone. Media is the typical watchdog and must not be hindered by any political and personal agenda. The reports of a certain media could affect every viewpoints and perspectives of its recipients, the realness and being free of a certain information must be always tolerated. The variety of information provided by the media, made us doubt its legitimacy, we somehow, only trusted media platforms that have served us news for the last decades, unknowing of the legitimacy of information given, we always believe it. It is essential for a certain media to be always reliable and credible as Media and the licitness of media is an essential part to us, these mediums must be unbiased and not  manipulated for its recipients to remain real knowing to its surroundings. Hence, information holds a crucial role to the society for the reason that it is used everyday and aids us to different aspects of our life. It must not be hindered for it is a right for every citizen to provide, acquire and pass. It is essential to provide information to gain more knowledge  and to be able to assemble new ideas and suitable decisions for oneself.

Advancement by means in every juncture: "The development and change of media through time"

Media is known to be the most powerful way of method or process of communication from the beginning up until this present day because nowadays media contains several platforms to produce communication which is the television, the Internet, cinema, newspapers, radio, magazines, etc. The development of media through time affects the culture, the government, the society, and the people. Media plays an important role in our daily lives because we stay updated with the news and the things that happen in the world with the help of it. One can know what’s happening in our country is the media. A great Philosopher named Heraclitus once said, everything is changing and the only permanent in this world is change and the one who can't escape this change is our media, as time passes our media also changes and have different objectives and aims, it started with a simple servant announcements, to paper news being passed person to person until the industrial age start to produce of technology that develops to radio reporting, black and white Television stations, until this very day with a lot of newly developed technology which is number social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. The media way before was focused on giving news and enjoyment to sum, but with the latest media, it focuses on providing more entertainment to the next generation, and the main focus of media also changes. The development and change of media have been adapting to people from time to time. The media is a significant instrument to be used in continuous efforts to improve people's quality of life. Therefore, we must adapt to what has been developed or changed nowadays because it would be of benefit to us eventually.

The development and change of media through time or what we call evolution of media. In the past Years or decades the media is evolving, turning into different types, from the 17th century to the 21st century. From one way communication to two way communication, and right now it has entertainment we can enjoy. Even though media is evolving, the other media are also relevant because many people still like them because they are unique and they have their own styles in sending the message by media. Media itself is the medium of information to the mass of people. The need for information is increasing constantly from time to time, making media being more innovative to supply their demands. The development of media took place when the demands of information created the ideas of people to integrate media. Integrated Media is the current media form that comes from the integration of past media formats. With the Ideas of people, they managed to develop another media from the concept of the existing media. Through this, it is possible that the development of media is still on a process and is expected that media will become more advanced in the future. Hence, by using media it also evolved us humans from making and constructing information, not just the media itself improved but also us supreme beings. From the old media to the new media, it did its purpose whether it evolved or not. It is able to give various audiences understandings of past or present events during that time.

“Understanding the Relevance of Information and News Literacy in the Midst of Social Era”

In our generation, Information and News Literacy is influential for every individual to have the ability to help people develop critical thinking skills in order to judge the reliability and credibility of information, whether it comes from television or the Internet. Information and News Literacy is a particularly important literate in the Modern Technology Days, as everyone grapples to deal with the excess information that comes up every day in the internet or television, the difficulty in determining the originality of reports can cause big trouble to people. As the new technologies introduced to us that have to create and widely share information to the others, there is possible to spread misinformation that looks like it’s from a valid source. People nowadays want information as quickly as possible, but a hurry distribution of information in the Modern Technology Era has also increased the chances that the information will be incorrect. In conclusion it is really a big help when you acquire this two literacy which is information and new literacy in the midst of social era to avoid those fake information released on the internet and to avoid social disaster.

Information and News Literacy is a fundamental capability in this social era. Information Disorder has done an instantaneous widespread through media.Understanding the Relevance of Information and News Literacy in the Social Era utilizing us by being literate will lessen the chance of being misinformed, disinformed, and mal-informed.  Illiterate people are widely deceived and were convinced by most of the False Information.The relevance of information and news literacy will still be existing in the social era, and Understanding the Relevance of Information and News Literacy in the Social Era can lessen the chance of doing the same thing to others. It's because we need information and news for us to socialize or communicate with one another. Misinformation commonly attacks norms and cultures of one’s community, Disinformation somehow being delivered by those who want to influence the people, and Mal-information are however used by those who want damage to a specific person or community. Being an Information and News Literate Individual means that you have enough power to avoid being deceived and a victim of those, however you need to understand fundamental fragments of being a literate to do so. Information and News Literate requires understanding the parts of an information, understanding and knowing it’s whereabouts and verifying it’s license. But some false information is being passed by person to another person or a community to another community, and is hard to terminate personally. Through the use of media, verifying or clearing a certain false information is a big help, we can help every person or community that becomes a victim of it. An Information and News Literate Individual is a necessary role in the community, through being one, every manipulated and false information can be avoided. You are like the shield and protector from wrongful information.

Misinformation generally targeted norms and tradition within one's society. Mal-information was therefore used by someone who wishes harm to a particular person or group. By using the media, checking or cleaning up any incorrect facts is a huge aid. All distorted and fraudulent evidence can be stopped by checking and cleaning up false information

Media and Government: A Love-Hate Relationship”

by: Sheen Clark Cabañero

Media and government have a complicated relationship with each other because this is due to the some public servant that has a nonstop criticizing on social-media companies for failing to take action against fake news or tackle abuse. Through decades the media and the government always have a trouble when the media manifest information about the everyday circumstance in the government. Some politicians love talking control with reporters, and other governor’s crave for their spotlight of being show in commercial ads or biased ads. Mostly in the elections, governors want to control what voters read and hear about them which is not right because we Filipinos deserve true advocacy and service by the media and government. According to Daniel Magdangan (2016) The Media, and the government. These are the two most powerful institutions in the world. The media and the government has the power to manipulate people and to change how people think on certain topics going around our world today. The statement of Daniel is true which still in this day the media and the government operate peoples mind but in positive way without media, we wouldn’t be able to be notified or alerted about what’s happening today in our world media is the only one that give information to the people, and without our government who would be able to control and discipline people to the good path. Ever since this powerful institutions start, government have had a love-hate relationships with the media.

by:  Ralph Vincent Viña

This represents the media covering the real happenings in the government by creating false information to the citizens. The board represents the barrier of the truth in government, the media in front is recording  information from the board and presenting it to the viewers and the viewers believe that everything is alright. The text in the board is "We got you covered", people will believe that it is good but in reality it means "We are covered" and also the truth was covered by lies. The camera man in the middle is example of good media   because he is recording the real happenings in the government but sadly to say not everyone believes on them.

by: John Kyle Cuadra

From the Normative Theories of The Press, Social Responsibility is what Philippines have. The Relationship of the Philippine Media and Government is quite intimate , but somehow we doubt and questioned it's relationship. With the power of the government and every secrets the media holds, both of them hold each other's neck. The Philippine media has its own power in censoring every information they will release, it keeps confidential and unsafe information of the government in order to protect the people. The government then has enough power to keep a certain media down when caught misbehaving. The relationship of the Philippine Media and Government is like the image above, with the  power they have, they tend to have guns aimed to each other while pretending to  have intimate actions. Both are waiting who pulls the trigger first, but somehow realized that it won't happen because of the consequences it might do to the country. But if ever someone pulled, we knew what happened.

“The Value of Being a Media and Information Literate Individual”

The media itself plays an important role in today's era. It improves the life of the individuals. However, it also has negative impacts towards the society. Being a Media and Information Literate is a near crucial role in the community, despite of some untruthful sources, there are honest who remains in the field. Information are however not certain to be reliable and integrate, as this information can be change by those who have power to manipulate it. The gathered fragments of information is like an ingredients in the cook's kitchen, and the served food is the Decided information to be released, the cook has the power on what he should do with the food, either add or remove fragments to the decided information or maybe he will just cook it perfectly with integrity. The Informations are released to the media and a mass of people will be informed, the information has a great effect on the community. People easily believe such informations released through media because of ignorance, the cluelessness of the secrets of media is a big problem in the community. Many believed and were deceived by the information given by the media, and it is important for us to have knowledge about these issues. The Value of Being a Media and Information Literate Individual is Important, we Can Avoid Irrelevant advertisements and fake news through this. 

Being a Media and Information literate teaches us the value of being proper in every aspect within the media. One value that it teaches us is to become aware of certain information. like reacting to information. It is timely and relevant that fake news is spreading online  and it's easy to fool someone online with just one click you can make someone believe.It is a big advantage when it comes to communication skills because this kind of literate is having a critical knowledge of media and information literacy.  Aside from the advantage, it also helps the innocent citizens to give them an informed perception as they use the media and to avoid incorrect information, especially biased propaganda. Being a media information literate this would mean that you are able to analyze and evaluate such information you can't easily be fooled or tricked because you understand the basic way of reacting to an information. It's already a privilege that the media itself is a gift for everyone. but,  we must also use this in the right way.