1) Social learning theory has been criticised for simplifying the causes of violence in society. Do you think the media is responsible for anti-social behaviour and violence?
I think that social learning theory applied to the media contributes to the responsibility of anti social behaviour and violence because we often see behaviour portrayed in the media being repeated by those who have consumed it. This reflects social learning theory as it shows how people learn from one another, suggesting that everything consumed from the media can have an effect on our actions and behaviour.
2) How is social learning theory relevant in the digital age? Are young people now learning behaviour from social media and the internet? Give examples.
Social learning theory is relevant in the digital age, especially applying to the younger generation as social media and the internet is so commonly used by young people that behaviour being portrayed through social media is often copied. A relevant example of the social learning theory is the bobo doll experiment, applying it to the new ages it is likely that if a young child was to see a video of a violent act being carried out there is a higher chance of them also carrying out that act.
3) Examples of moral panic:
- Bath salts: A moral panic was created over bath salts when the drug began to be known to cause
cannibalism amongst its users after the incident in Miami and other crazy incidents. Later it was revealed
that Bath Salts was not found in Rudy Eugenes at all during the cannibalism incident which was lead by
the idea that he was high on this drug. It seems that incidents as such were used by officials and the
media to create moral panic which would lead to the ban of the drug - this happened and the drug was
banned in 2012.
- Terrorism: Over the years terrorism has created a moral panic and has shaped the way some people
view those from different races. For example, terrorism carried out by those who are members of the
Islamic State terror group caused moral panic and affected some people's societal views - an example is
Islamophobia which is the idea that some people are scared of a group of people due to negative links.
- Youth and social media: The development of social media has caused moral panic as the belief that it is
taking over young people has largely increased as years have gone by.
- Technology: The introduction and development of new technology over the years has caused moral panic
as people have developed the belief that technology is taking over through negative media portrayal of it
rather than seeing it as a beneficial opportunity for a more advanced society and way of life.
- Violent video games: An on going moral panic has been created from the idea that violent video games
cause people to act out in a violent way through learnt behaviour.
4) Read this introduction to an academic paper on technopanics. What examples are given of technopanics that create fear in society?
- Online child safety
- Digital privacy
- Cyber security
5) Do you think the internet should be regulated? Should the government try and control what we can access online?
I think the government already has an incredible amount of control over specific aspects of the media such as what audiences are told about certain aspects of politics and many things are often kept hidden from us. However, I do think that the government should try to control certain aspects of the online world such as the dark web - the government should try harder to gain control over the dark web and secret sites as these are more dangerous aspects of the internet.
6) Apply Gerbner's cultivation theory to new and digital media. Is the internet creating a fearful population? Are we becoming desensitised to online threats, trolling and abuse?
The more people have adapted to the internet and online world the less fearful the population has become - those who are not familiar with the internet may be a part of this 'fearful population'. As society has become more familiarised with technology and the online world we are becoming more desensitised to online threats, trolling and abuse online however it still does effect a large proportion of people and their life outside of the virtual world.
7) Is heavy internet use something we should be worried about in society? How would you define 'heavy internet use'?
I think that heavy internet use isn't something that we should worry too much about in society as the internet can be very beneficial to the everyday lives of everyone. The internet allows us to access any needed information at any given time being inside or outside - for example the internet allows someone to access information such as bus times while out which makes people more organised and punctual benefitting their day to day lives. The internet is more of a pro to society than a con and should be embraced more by society as it is a modern feature which improves the lives of people on a day to day basis. Heavy internet use can be defined by someone who lives their life online, neglecting their life in reality - heavy internet use is when somebody lives virtually. A con of heavy internet usage is that it may be the only way somebody gets information which may cause skewed, narrow views as the internet is popularised around interests and views of the person who is retrieving information - with the issue of fake news people should look at other forms of media such as TV news to gain information.
I think that social learning theory applied to the media contributes to the responsibility of anti social behaviour and violence because we often see behaviour portrayed in the media being repeated by those who have consumed it. This reflects social learning theory as it shows how people learn from one another, suggesting that everything consumed from the media can have an effect on our actions and behaviour.
2) How is social learning theory relevant in the digital age? Are young people now learning behaviour from social media and the internet? Give examples.
Social learning theory is relevant in the digital age, especially applying to the younger generation as social media and the internet is so commonly used by young people that behaviour being portrayed through social media is often copied. A relevant example of the social learning theory is the bobo doll experiment, applying it to the new ages it is likely that if a young child was to see a video of a violent act being carried out there is a higher chance of them also carrying out that act.
3) Examples of moral panic:
- Bath salts: A moral panic was created over bath salts when the drug began to be known to cause
cannibalism amongst its users after the incident in Miami and other crazy incidents. Later it was revealed
that Bath Salts was not found in Rudy Eugenes at all during the cannibalism incident which was lead by
the idea that he was high on this drug. It seems that incidents as such were used by officials and the
media to create moral panic which would lead to the ban of the drug - this happened and the drug was
banned in 2012.
- Terrorism: Over the years terrorism has created a moral panic and has shaped the way some people
view those from different races. For example, terrorism carried out by those who are members of the
Islamic State terror group caused moral panic and affected some people's societal views - an example is
Islamophobia which is the idea that some people are scared of a group of people due to negative links.
- Youth and social media: The development of social media has caused moral panic as the belief that it is
taking over young people has largely increased as years have gone by.
- Technology: The introduction and development of new technology over the years has caused moral panic
as people have developed the belief that technology is taking over through negative media portrayal of it
rather than seeing it as a beneficial opportunity for a more advanced society and way of life.
- Violent video games: An on going moral panic has been created from the idea that violent video games
cause people to act out in a violent way through learnt behaviour.
4) Read this introduction to an academic paper on technopanics. What examples are given of technopanics that create fear in society?
- Online child safety
- Digital privacy
- Cyber security
5) Do you think the internet should be regulated? Should the government try and control what we can access online?
I think the government already has an incredible amount of control over specific aspects of the media such as what audiences are told about certain aspects of politics and many things are often kept hidden from us. However, I do think that the government should try to control certain aspects of the online world such as the dark web - the government should try harder to gain control over the dark web and secret sites as these are more dangerous aspects of the internet.
6) Apply Gerbner's cultivation theory to new and digital media. Is the internet creating a fearful population? Are we becoming desensitised to online threats, trolling and abuse?
The more people have adapted to the internet and online world the less fearful the population has become - those who are not familiar with the internet may be a part of this 'fearful population'. As society has become more familiarised with technology and the online world we are becoming more desensitised to online threats, trolling and abuse online however it still does effect a large proportion of people and their life outside of the virtual world.
7) Is heavy internet use something we should be worried about in society? How would you define 'heavy internet use'?
I think that heavy internet use isn't something that we should worry too much about in society as the internet can be very beneficial to the everyday lives of everyone. The internet allows us to access any needed information at any given time being inside or outside - for example the internet allows someone to access information such as bus times while out which makes people more organised and punctual benefitting their day to day lives. The internet is more of a pro to society than a con and should be embraced more by society as it is a modern feature which improves the lives of people on a day to day basis. Heavy internet use can be defined by someone who lives their life online, neglecting their life in reality - heavy internet use is when somebody lives virtually. A con of heavy internet usage is that it may be the only way somebody gets information which may cause skewed, narrow views as the internet is popularised around interests and views of the person who is retrieving information - with the issue of fake news people should look at other forms of media such as TV news to gain information.
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