Media is one of the most powerful forces in modern society. With the development of the Internet and the new ways of sharing information, it has become omnipresent. Nowadays, communication by image is more important than communication by the word because of the ability to share these images immediately and their contents. It contributed to the increased role of social media and the Internet. Sometimes they are viewed as one of the main tools of democracy as they help individuals to remain informed about current events and make informed decisions. Unfortunately, in many cases, media is used to form specific attitudes among the audience, meaning it can provide false information. Moreover, the ideas of technocracy, or separating intellectual from moral aspects as the way to speak about specific events, becomes dangerous (Postman, 1993). It angles facts and presents them from a particular perspective. It means that there is a critical need to analyze the information.
One of the possible methods to determine the real data is to reduce reliance on technology. The adverse effects of technological change can be seen in the excessive dependence on devices and the knowledge offered by them (Volti, 2009). Thus, it is vital to acquire information from alternative sources and compare it to create a complete image. Moreover, the independent press sponsored by communities and public funds should be supported. It will help to make digital news free and accessible for all individuals, regarding of their ability to pay. Individuals will still be impacted by the mass media, the images presented by it, and the dominant opinion. However, they will acquire a chance to look for other news and compare the information provided there. Today, it can be the only chance to separate fakes from actual facts and make informed decisions.
References
Postman, N. (1993). Technopoly: The surrender of culture to technology. First Vintage Books.
Volti, R. (2009). Society and technological change (6th ed.). Worth Publishers.