Media Literacy TED Talks Reaction

 Media literacy and the First Amendment go hand in hand, and neither one would function correctly without the other. Firstly, media literacy is the access, consumption, evaluation, and creation of all forms of communication. It's essentially how we learn and process things under the communications umbrella. Often, analyzing the effects of certain decisions are made in the world of communications. Communications, being the large umbrella it is, has lots of moving pieces that go into the field, and it deals with expression. And anything dealing with expression, we know, means the First Amendment must be looked at.

The First Amendment protects our expression as American citizens. It's what makes America the place to be. But as we see all throughout history and in these TED talks, the government isn't always focused on our First Amendment rights, and if they can get away with violating those rights for their own benefit, they will take advantage of it. This is why, as citizens, we must familiarize ourselves with our rights. 

The first TED Talk video was with Juan Enriquez, and he spoke about our electronic tattoos. This was definitely my favorite of the videos we watched. I think the analogy of our social media platforms being like a permanent tattoo is a great way to describe the dangers of this chronic online society we live in. As the saying goes, "Once you post it, it's out there forever." It's important to remember this often because our reputation is now not just something we can ruin face-to-face, but from the comfort of our own home as well. 

About halfway through the video, Enriquez said something that sent a chill through my body when I really thought about it. He said calmly, "Perhaps with our electronic tattoos, maybe all of us are closer to immortality..." Wow. I never thought about it that way. Our digital image will outlast our lives and even our bodies far, far past our death. All the more reason to be responsible and smart with what you are posting. 

The next two TED talks were more focused on something harder to control. That is surveillance. By now, people understand the effects of what you post and how it can affect your future. But in this case, people are far less educated on how they are being surveilled and how that is affecting them. Many people, including myself, don't think or worry about being watched or surveilled; that is, of course, because we have nothing to hide. I haven't committed any crimes, and I don't think law enforcement has much of a bone to pick with me. But now, after watching these videos, I feel differently. The government should not be able to do this. I feel much less comfortable knowing that when I pass a police car, my car will be tracked and logged... It's weird! 

Many may argue this is in place for our overall safety, and yes, I see that side as well. Of course, I want the criminals in this country to be surveilled, but the notion that we are being watched while acting innocently so that in case we ever commit a guilty act, they already know all they need to know. 

8 Values of Free Expression

 The 8 values of free expression are a great tool for Americans to analyze and understand what makes the United States different from other nations. It's also beneficial for political figures, all the way to the average citizen, to grasp why these values are in place. They help us understand the nature of humans and how that coincides with running a successful government. While they aren't straight-up rules or laws, they are ideas that allow a unique perspective that other countries don't provide. The values also keep society healthy in general, which is more important than ever in today's day and age, with all the distractions and disagreements around us. 

That is a perfect segue into one of the values on this list. It is value number 8... Protect Dissent. This can be described as the tolerance to new and unpopular ideas; it urges respect for those who may have a contrarian viewpoint. In fact, it also urges us to try to think against the government sometimes. A lot of American citizens just believe the government has our best interests in mind, but that isn't always true. If we can't challenge ourselves to challenge the government, then we fall victim to whatever they say goes. 

For most of human history, successful change was often brought about by the courage to think outside the box. The men who may have been ostracized or overlooked due to their unique beliefs often were the ones sparking the real change. The courage to think eccentrically is what this country was built on. Progress and dissent often go hand in hand. For example, without the radical thinking and overall displeasure with the Articles of Confederation in the late 1780s, we would never have gotten the Constitution. The point being, sometimes it takes a Shay's Rebellion to get the protection you deserve as humans. 

We all know that one friend who disagrees with everything you say. While super annoying, these oftentimes are the friends that pull the most out of you. Pull a perspective or feeling out of you that you may not have ever considered. They may open your eyes to something you've never thought about. Or they may just flat out annoy you. But it's important to keep this friend around: 1. Because they're your friend and we try to be loyal... And 2. Because it's this kind of contrarian insight that we sometimes need. If everyone you rolled with just "yes'd" you to death, then nothing productive would come out of the time you spend with those people. 

In a future sense, we may come across people with ideas or opinions that seem so out of this world that you may actually question their intelligence. But to completely ignore the space in your mind for that idea to exist makes you more ignorant than they are in my eyes. Yes, sometimes these "visionaries" of the future will be wrong. But that does not mean they or their idea should be treated any less human than yours. And who knows, a decade may pass, and their idea was right, and you look like an idiot. 

Overall, Protect Dissent is very important to our 1st Amendment rights. Sometimes the majority isn't always correct. The minority view has emerged as the standard plenty of times throughout history. This is why it is important to leave the minority view alone and try to see things from their perspective at times. 

Top 5 News Sources

1. Instagram

As a Gen Z kid myself, this has been the main place I go ever since I downloaded it. Instagram's fast-moving, right at your fingertips nature has propelled it forward, especially in the younger generations. While it often will feed you big news very quickly, it isn't always necessarily the most factual all the time. The thing that I feel is important is taking things you see on Instagram with a grain of salt. It feels more to me like the place to initially find out about the news, then you should switch applications to something more reliable that may be covering the story. I'm sure I'm one of many who have Instagram on their list due to how popular it really has grown over time. 

2. Twitter

Twitter, or X, was an adjustment I made recently. I find it to be more accurate and "news-filled" than Instagram. I am a sports fan so I will go to Twitter for a lot of my NBA and NFL news. But even in scrolling, you will always see big news filtered in and out due to Twitter's way of operating. I also think the "trending" page is very helpful for news. Because to be trending, you have to be in the news to a degree, so sometimes I will find out about news just by seeing someone or something on the trending page. Overal,l I think Twitter, out of all the social media, is the most accurate, yet convenient, platform. 

3. Word of mouth

Word of mouth is another big way I will find my information. Whether it be my family or friends, conversation is always a way that I am finding out about things. As someone who isn't watching or reading into the general news very often, most times, I am made aware of a piece of news just by simply hearing someone mention or reference it. Even back to the days of sitting at the lunch table with my buddies and chatting about all kinds of different areas and topics of the world. That itself was my introduction to news consumption

4. Google

Google is always going to Google. When it comes to achieving any information at all, then google is the guy. Google is something I use more to fact check things. I will hear about something or see something on social media and then take my talents to Google to find more accurate or detailed information on the topic. I don't usually check Google news, but I have done it before and it is a great place to find out about things going on in the world. Perhaps a goal of mine could be to check Google News once a day. 

5. Collegiate Classes

Believe it or not, I have learned quite a lot of current events and news in the first 10 minutes of my classes. No matter what the class is, there is always some kind of tie back to current events and news relating to it. Whether a "gen-ed" or a core class of mine, many of my classes began with something interesting going on in the world of said class. The best example would be none other than Professor Dean Smith! I have him currently, and had him my freshman year. Most of his classes will start with some sort of real-world tie-back and current events. This is an awesome way to get the news because the class discussion is usally very productive.