Can Social Media Create Community?

A lot has been made of the negative and positive impacts of social media platforms such as Facebook, but the extended reach that the platform gives to its users is typically chief amongst the list of potential positive impacts, but is this actually a tangible positive impact? In the Afterward section of his novel Bowling Alone: …

New Media’s Effects on Social Capital

In the past couple of decades, we have seen a drop in social capital in our society, as it seemingly becomes harder and harder to find things to unite and connect large groups of people in a way that creates an understandable common purpose. When one thinks of the technological advancements of the past couple …

Me vs. my Conservative Family

Introduction While not being able to see family for the holidays due to COVID-19 regulations was certainly sad, one good thing did come from it, and that was being able to avoid toxic political debates. As the only member of my immediate family who isn’t conservative, there’s always a stretch of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter …

If we were Media Literate, Would the Earth be Flat?

Have you ever wondered why the most unbelievable conspiracy theories tend to have the largest followings? Conventional wisdom would have you think that the more outlandish the conspiracy theory is the less traction and follower commitment it would receive, but when one thinks of the size of the flat earth movement, this notion seems to …

Bell v. Taplin: the Battle for Journalistic Integrity

Journalism 2.0 is a rather loaded term, but to make a simplification of a complex and fascinating new age of journalism, I’ll define journalism 2.0 as the intersection of modern-day technology with the industry of journalism. Naturally, Journalism has had to develop and evolve in accordance with the evolution and rapid advancement of technology over …