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

Nowadays, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are the most commonly used tools for communication, interaction, and connection among individuals, especially Gen Z. It is inevitable to use social media since we’re now living in an advanced technology that’s why these kinds of platforms are existing. So we don’t have a choice but to embrace and accept these changes. But with the existence of these social media, it has greatly affected and influenced us, both in good and bad ways. As one of the Gen Z individuals, I personally experienced the goodness and badness of these social media platforms. In this time of pandemic, everything we do is now online, even the classes are now being held online, and with the help of social media, we were able to communicate with our friends, classmates, and teachers efficiently. Social media has made communication easier than before for everyone.

Social media also has its downsides despite all the benefits that we get from it. Most of us rely on information in these social media platforms where we easily get fooled and believe everything we see is true, people are now getting confused about what’s true and not. We didn't even notice that we were being manipulated and the truth is, not everything we see online is not what it seems to be. Social media has made a real change in this generation and is being used as an instrument of false information that poisons the mind of the user’s without them knowing. It’s sad that many people, especially Gen Z, are getting more anxious, depressed, and are less comfortable taking risks. They keep comparing themselves to what they see, and they even start to question their self-worth which slowly destroys their well-being. It also optimizes connections between people, which is potential for addiction. But all of these still depend on us, on how we control the use of these social media platforms only when we are knowledgeable enough to know what’s the truth, and be more vigilant to prevent ourselves from any kind of harm that we can get from social media.

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“Digital Divide in the New Normal”

We can't deny that when the COVID-19 Virus was originally discovered in the year 2020, most of us expected it would be over in a week or a month. Previously, the internet and technology were not always used, and they were only required for amusement, research, and communication. However, everyone has been touched by this crisis as a result of the sudden interruptions, disturbances, and upheavals in our life and because we are living in an unprecedented era, the activities we used to perform daily have altered. We have been forced to adopt the "New Normal" and rely heavily on the internet to reduce the risk of Coronavirus transmissions, such as work-from-home settings, new blended learning settings, lockdown and quarantine, and even online selling or the demand increase of buying from an online food or grocery delivery. Thus, there will be a boundary between those who have internet access and a large number of people, particularly students, who do not have sufficient access to technology due to the concept of the digital divide.

The term "digital divide" refers to the disparity between one group's demographics and geographic location. Students are the most affected by this problem, and in other nations such as Indonesia and the Philippines, access to contemporary information and communications technology is not yet available to everyone, especially those who reside in rural areas or on distant islands. According to Statista data from last year, just over 80 million Filipinos have internet access, which is quite unfortunate because it means that many people have been left behind owing to inequalities in access to and use of knowledge, information skills, and experience. As of now, we don't know when this crisis will end, so the only thing we can do to solve it is to assist individuals who are having difficulty using the internet and to share our digital media skills on how to use it safely. As a result, the Digital Divide should be addressed because technology alters people's lives and opens up new possibilities and prospects for a better future.

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

Individuals are being ignorant in utilizing and implementing news literacy in these times of uncertainty, and it does not shield modern society from the spread of false information, in such a digital or social era generates a variety of incorrect information in any sort of medium. Especially when the reach of the internet increases in comparison to reading or conventional media, which is becoming increasingly limited. People in the current world are easily duped by someone or a group whose main goal is to mislead and affect public opinion. And this is where a lot of false charges occur, when a person reacts by posting and expressing their feelings, such as triggered, afraid, and more, as well as their thoughts. As a result, those who read the post but did not know where the information came from would be concerned because they have forgotten how to evaluate and judge the trustworthiness and credibility of the news story.

Furthermore, information has been more visible in recent years. Journalists, for example, are seen as the public's voice, particularly for those who are uninformed of what is going on around the globe. However, as the distortion of accurate tales or news increases, more individuals need to practice and understand the application and use of critical thinking abilities. For example, encouraging everyone to learn how to validate and recognize material that is not worthless, being cautious while sharing the piece, and not being readily swayed by it. Spreading incorrect information has a large influence on the public, therefore as citizens of our respective nations and journalists, we all have a responsibility to secure and assure relevant news and articles that come from reputable and legitimate sources.

By: Group 2 ABM-4

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“Media and Government: A Love-Hate Relationship”

The Philippines is a democratic country in which residents have the freedom to express their thoughts, opinions, messages, and so on. As of January 2021, the country has 89.00 million social media users, while others spent 4.9 hours watching television and 2.5 hours listening to the radio. We cannot dispute that these three are the major source of public information and the most trusted among government, business, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which may directly impact and alter the viewpoint of every Filipino person. And this explains how the Philippine media operates and plays its duties in the country. Furthermore, Filipino journalists use the media to share and publish unbiased and objective views regarding the government.

This is why, in the digital age, governments and the media have a love-hate relationship. Because the government utilizes media to promote and manipulate, while media does not only offer a good perspective on what is going on in our nation, it also delivers useful information to every individual. Where journalists may express their opinions, whether favorable or unfavorable to the administration. And it is in this context that the exchange of opinions between Filipino journalists and Philippine politicians via the media successfully affects public opinion. As a result, the Philippine media may be both a friend and an adversary of the government.

By: Group 2 ABM-4

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