Creating/ Breaking Stereotypes in Media Advertisements

There are lots of products that tends to stereotype. With the age of technology, the usual form of ads is via motion advertisement, these are played in televisions, internet, outdoor LED billboards which creates an impact to the people. These ads are products of the capitalist system in which it tries to compete with other brands and to increase its profits.

Despite that many products tends to create a stereotype, we decided to choose “chocolate” as the topic and uncover the notions that it tries to establish.

Many people really like or love chocolates, as a commodity, its market is increasing as it is used also for different foods. In the present time, a lot of chocolate brands are competing the market. These brands, in order to be recognized, uses ads to sell its market. In relation with this, a lot of techniques and tactics were used to increase its sales.

Out of the many chocolate brands in the market, we looked at and scrutinized three chocolate brands and how it created a stereotype. We have chosen Chubby, Snickers, and Ferrero Rocher. Three different brands of chocolate with different price points and different target markets.

Chubby is a chewable chocolate snack and is the cheapest out of the three. Its target market is mainly children, so with their advertisements, they often use children in promoting their product. They use broadcast and online advertising. In their ads, the children are seen as energetic and bubbly, which explains their approach in using a child in their ads. Using a child with a chubby physique also reinforces the name of the brand.

Snickers is a chocolate energy bar with a mid-range price point. Their target market are often adults with less time to eat a full meal because they are busy and that’s where the product comes in. Their ads have almost the same plot, one person being cranky and different because of hunger and then offered a Snickers to return to normal. While their ads focus on humor and wit, they also have their fair share of problematic ads, for example, one of their ads displayed a stereotype among women, which is very cranky, angry, and irate. It is a subtle way of degrading and objectifying women, which is used by the company to maximize their profits.

Ferrero Rocher, the most expensive out of the three, is seen as a classy delicacy. Its target market are often couples. This product also radiates luxury, like its something very expensive so it is a very great thing to gift someone. Since luxury equates to staggering prices, their ads display the intricate art of how their product is made. Most of their ads revolve on guys giving girls Ferrero and having a classy theme to attract people to buy it.

Overall, the concept of using stereotypes in media advertisements is a normal thing in the business industry. Most of the time, it leads to attracting people to buy and maximize the profits of companies. But sometimes, it may actually backfire if the stereotype shown is offensive and degrading. Companies need to be responsible when releasing ads as their company will either be praised or negatively criticized.

A Reflection on the Works of Joshua Cabrera by: Adam Lester E. Patajo

It’s said that "a picture speaks thousands of words" and therefore, without a doubt, artistic drawings through the use of symbols and signs convey meaningful messages to audiences. A message may affect the individual's course of actions depending on how the individual appreciates and understands the message of the art.

The artistic satire drawings (comics) made by Josua Cabreros portrays and serves as a reflection about the social issues that the Philippines is experiencing. The Philippines status quo is chaotic as it was in the status quo before— it was a history of a colonialism vis-à-vis imperialism, wars, a bad government in the form of a dictatorship, revolutions, and coup d’état, inter alia. Despite the fact that all these things are already part of the past, remnants of these events sprouted which led to new issues and problems. Currently, new issues and problems have emerge that affected many of the Filipino people. For instance, extra-judicial killings are everywhere alongside with heavy road traffic, fake news, the culture of impunity, inefficient bureaucracy, rising crime rates, corruption, inter alia. Depicting these social issues in the form of arts i.e. satire drawings or comics with the use of symbols and signs (i.e. semiotics), ipso facto, creates an impact on the citizens insofar as it tries to criticize the problem or issue in a colorful and funny manner, leaving the audience contemplating. Filipinos needs to wake up now and should become less apathetic, if they will not, the demise of this country is certain. The Philippines, based on Josua’s artworks, is portrayed as a country with many unsolved social issues and problems— and I don’t question it for it is a fact. This country was supposed to be a country of colors and rich culture — but unfortunately was tampered by many power-hungry people i.e. traditional politicians, oligarchs, and many other individuals.

The use of symbols and signs was an effective way to catch and touch the hearts of the people. Filipinos are very artistic and probably because of the cultural diversity— a fusion of pre-colonial and western culture. In my view, comics and caricature (artistic satire drawings) is an effective way of criticizing the social issues, as pictures and images speaks (explains) in itself— contrary to heavy discussion and robust argumentations with highfalutin words—that were probably used to show their intelligence— or, to deceive the public. Moreover, criticisms should really be in a form that is easy to understand so that it will serve as an eye-opener to many individuals including the marginalized sector in our society. Lastly, I commend and thank Josua for his magnificent satire artworks and for the opportunity to observe it.

A reflection on how social media shapes identity in the Philippine context by: Adam Lester E. Patajo

The social media trend fueled by technological advancements is dominating the world today. Together with this advancement lead by social media, is a trend of globalization— where the world is becoming a global village making the nation-states borderless.

In the Philippine context, social media is nonetheless becoming a part of the everyday life of every people, in all status, and in all ages. It is becoming a medium which many people are using to voice out their opinions about many issues that affects the country— either domestic or international. This trend also helps in shaping the identity of the Filipinos, either individually or collectively. Social media is used as a tool for collaborative action. For instance, during the Miss Universe 2019, the Filipino people used the (hashtag) #MissUniversePhilippines to show support for the country’s representative in the pageant, during Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s boxing fight, many Filipinos used the (hashtag) #Pacman to extend their support; and even during the Marawi siege, many citizens posted in their social media accounts especially in Twitter where many  twitted in their respective accounts how they condemned terrorism and wished for its end by or through their prayers using the (hashtag) #PrayforMarawi.  These very acts in itself show how Filipinos develop a collective identity in which one way or another manifests patriotism.

Despite the fact that the Philippines is using social media in shaping national identity, it is not yet fully utilized, and oftentimes, is abused in many ways. Filipinos used social media because of many reasons— most of the time, for fun and leisure. But many citizens create and use fake or dummy accounts to make hate-speeches and incur damages to other people or institution. These fake accounts (dummy accounts) were used as a scapegoat to veer away from incrimination and liabilities which in a way is creating a fake identity. This concern is very troublesome as it tends to mislead the public. This issue of fake identity is something that should be addressed properly before it becomes a major problem. Social media, without a doubt, is now used as face and voice of many people around the world. In the Philippines, many citizens partake of the trend by creating a new identity— many people say that this is good, some assert otherwise. Lastly, many people are using social media to create an identity and a voice to create and channel change— therefore, we, netizens should all the time be very cautious about which to support.

The Benefits and Risks of Consuming Content Online by Adam Lester E. Patajo

As people’s demands and lifestyle change, the demand for advancing the type of technology we use is high. Rapid change in technology has hugely impacted our lives. Almost everything we use has been innovated to better standards. The advancement of technology has simplified yet improved the way we do things, thus saves our time. It paved the way for us to gravitate to less laborious activities because things are becoming more and more instant. Our personal lives are highly dependent on the technology that others have developed. Technology, indeed, has advanced and it has changed the way we live, the way we learn and most especially the way we communicate. With technology, information across international borders was made accessible hence, barriers were removed.

Absorbing content online can be advantageous as far as critical thinking is at play. In a smartphone-dependent era, people tend to move towards anything instant. As a result, big news companies use it as an advantage to market their news to online readers. Marketers make web contents “skimmable” and easy to digest content enough for a reader to draw his or her attention to it. Easily digestible pieces of information or content made by these marketers to attract readers online is in a way a benefit. Beneficial in that contents that can be found in newspapers or television are already simplified online. Another thing with absorbing content through online is being up to date. To be updated with everything that is happening around the world, data available on the internet is necessary. Speed is evidently more advantageous in this modern world. With speed, information from across borders will be made available in just blink of an eye. However, speed comes with repetition thus, leading to distortion of information. Distorted information, then poses a risk.

Risks of consuming content online include assimilation of distorted information that is fake news. Fake news is rampant and is proliferating on social media platforms. A good amount of critical thinking then is needed. Furthermore, absorbing content online, in a way, lets you develop a one-sided kind of argumentation. We have biases of our own and if we tend to only hear out things we want to hear and believe things we only want to believe in, we become trapped in an echo-chamber. We are then manifesting closed-mindedness susceptible to fake news. To be able to develop critical thinking, one must get out of that chamber in order to find a diverse array of opinions and argue comprehensively.

How media convergence affects the concept of media literacy? by: Adam Lester E. Patajo

Media convergence, as defined in The Canadian Dictionary ^[1], “is a term that can refer to either the merging of previously distinct media technologies and media forms due to digitization and computer networking; or, an economic strategy in which the media properties owned by communications companies employ digitization and computer networking to work together”.

The concept of media convergence created some opportunities and challenges to creative industries and society. Information and entertainment, for instance, are accessed like never been before. Formerly, these are accessed depending on the type of information and entertainment, for example, if we need news, we buy newspaper or if we need to connect or contact someone, we used payphones. Now, information and entertainment are revolutionized as it can now be accessed on one the same device- either computers or smartphones. The reason behind is best explained by the fact that we are innovating technology for advancement to make human life easier and comfortable. Thus, shifting from multi-media platforms to one device that can access all media is nothing shocking. As pointed out by Stephen Fry ^[2] in the video Media Convergence, “connection is what humans crave” and giving access to this information on one device, single handedly is what they crave more. With the introduction of computers and smartphones, comes the “social media revolution” (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) where people around the world are connected like living in a small village and borderless due to globalization, which in fact, impacts our offline behavior as well. Using these social media sites, makes everything possible since almost everything is found in these sites like music, news, movies, and many other sorts of entertainment or information. This fact is the reason why media companies, in order to compete, should diversify to reach more people; companies now have websites and pages throughout social media.

Media convergence, depending on its usage, can do good or bring harm to its users. It can impact humans socially, economically, and politically which means that it is all around us, whether we like it or not. As mentioned above, globalization makes the world borderless and information and entertainment is not excepted. Media is global today unlike it was never before. With this being established, media literacy is affected by media convergence in almost all aspects, as people can now browse the internet and search for anything. There are lots of reason why media convergence is good for the people but unfortunately it also brings demise to humans. As stated by the journalist David Blance ^[3] in the video (Media Convergence) and quoted “great majority of news broadcasting sides with [the] powerful against the powerless”. This means that not all information gathered or seen in the internet that are converge are reliable as there might be some bias towards one cause. Sorting data that are true and accurate is now the challenge, we can’t just swallow hook, line, and sinker the data or information found in many media.

Therefore, media literacy is really affected by media convergence in many ways or aspects. With the kind of media that we have today, information and entertainment travels like a speed of light in the fiber optics. I’m afraid that it is already late, we cannot counter it anymore, everything is already out there. It is really a changing world. To survive we must adapt, think, and maybe re-think.

References:

¹“Media Convergence.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/media-convergence.

² Media Convergence, YouTube, 2 Dec. 2011, youtu.be/7lcUKjGKiEw.

³ Media Convergence, YouTube, 2 Dec. 2011, youtu.be/7lcUKjGKiEw.

21st Century Learning and its Impact on Individuals by: Aldrich Pesirla

We live in an age where convenience comes in the form of a click. Knowledge can be accessed right through our fingertips. In line with this, opportunities present themselves for discovery. With current technology, brings current media. Information can be spread in an instant. And along with its remarkably vast-covering scope, is how rapidly it is delivered.

          As a 21^st century learner, being exposed to these advances have granted me ease in exploring the Internet and various forms of media. Aside from knowing how to operate the devices that grant this exchange, it also equips me with the knowledge of the urgency of always double-checking the stories and so called facts being fed through these sites. Knowing how people who are accustomed to their fast-paced lifestyles have a tendency to cling to convenience, reassessing the information we are fed is simply a step overlooked.

          This class has reminded me of the power of media and how vital information can be. It is the driving force behind change, the catalyst behind a revolution. If not delivered properly, misleading information can wrong some rights and pave way for a greater injustice- one that favors who controls which truth they want to uphold.

          In times of overwhelming floods of information, there is no excuse to remain ignorant. This gift of convenience has unfortunately been corrupted with its curse. It can easily be manipulated and has for long been a platform that amplifies our best and worst parts. While it can update citizens on the current events and urge them to partake in the social and political activities in their country, it also has been a medium where small-scale and large-scale attacks are dealt with. Small-scale as in cases of personal attacks such as cyber-bullying and harassment, while there are large-scale attacks such as misinformation or what we commonly identify with as “fake news.”

          In sum, times are changing, and this demands that we perform the measures necessary to adapt to them. Double checking the things we come across is a must. Now that we have the tools to uncover the truth, it is our moral responsibility to uphold it. With this knowledge, we’d have a better sense of self and society. 

I, a 21st Century Learner by: Carl David Reyes

               I haven’t really been the kind of person who likes to dive into books for studying nor for entertainment. Sure, I read some Harry Potter books and Percy Jackson books but that’s about it. I’m not really interested in reading a thick book or even a long article. Perhaps the reason would be my very short attention span. I can only pay attention to reading material not more than 5 minutes before I start to get bored and probably do something else. It is why I find it hard to do a study out with friends because while they seem to be really focused on studying, I on the other hand, am just on my phone watching videos on YouTube.

              Taking this course, has been kind of an eye-opener for me, that learning isn’t limited in books and online articles. I have been dependent on other people’s notes because it’s much more convenient and easier for me. I have also been afraid of speaking in front of a group of people. This course has helped in many ways than I was aware of. It made me better understand other people and the things they say, it made me less afraid of speaking in front of people, and I have been more involved in writing with more emotion than I ever had.

              As a Computer Science student, it helped me a lot in trying to more critical of IT related articles I read online. Instead of just imitating source codes that I find online, I read it and make sure that I understand the implementation very well before I move on to making my own program.

              Communication isn’t just limited to an oral manner; it is more than just speaking. It is knowing subtle body languages, facial expressions, emotions, and many more. The thing that I like the most about this course, it is that I was given the freedom to write what I want without silly limitations. I might not be fit for formal essays and letters but I find it really cool to be able to vent out what I have in mind without any restraint.

How Social Media Shapes Identity in the Philippine Context by: Carl David Reyes

During the introduction of the speaker, Siyanda Mohutsiwa, from the TED talk entitled: “How Young Africans Found A Voice on Twitter” assigned for us to watch, I immediately though of the many, many Filipino posts that have gone viral on social media. The speaker used a hashtag in her tweet about Africa which became viral and the hashtag being used in various ways. Filipinos use the same hashtag as well to make their messages go viral or go along with what is trending not only in twitter but in other social media platforms as well. The speaker then talks about her parental roots, with her father being from Botswana and her mother from Swaziland. She brought to twitter her obsession about a shared African identity and goes on about the way she utilized twitter given its limitations in characters and follower count.

In the Philippines, a divide among the people has been established since long before because the country is an archipelago. I have read twitter wars between Tagalogs and Bisayas, which only increases the level of discrimination within the country. I, being a gamer, have my share of using online games as a way to rant about the differences of our skills and blaming their being Tagalog for that. The Tagalogs as well mock the Bisaya community in the online gaming world so it is kind of like a back and forth of mockery on cultural identities.

The speaker continues about how she and other young African travelers met and discussed about politics and society but always end up on twitter. In twitter, she explains, they found a voice there where they can share their brilliant ideas with different great purposes without having to mind the borders of different African nations and the limitations that their government has set. In the Philippine scene, especially now that it is time for the midterm elections, the voices of the different people from different places across the country has achieved a great reach. Senatorial candidates are often criticized, particularly on twitter and social media in general. The candidates as well use social media to share their ideas and platforms but, on the flipside, social media has been used to rip off opponents, share false information which poisons the minds of common Filipinos. The divide among Filipinos has become so prominent in this time as the mockery from people in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao greatly became so evident in social media. There is no common identity that has been highlighted but, instead, the identity of who is better and who is bad, who is from this place and who is from that place, whose idea is great and whose is garbage.

The Filipinos use social media every day. Their use of it may bring great benefit among the Filipinos as it can be a medium to share ideas, share memes for a laugh, create a community with a purpose, and find common ground, but it can also be used to share false information, spread toxicity in the society, highlight the differences rather that finding a common ground and resolve common problems. There are a lot of benefits to using social media, but with what I can see, there are a actually more people who use it in a manner that is not goof and shapes that identity that the Filipinos are a divided people with a mentality of dragging down whoever tries to climb on top.

The Benefits and Risks of Consuming Content Online by: Carl David Reyes

In today's day and technology, information can be easily accessed and transmitted. It can be readily available for everyone, which could also mean that it can be manipulated in many different ways. These ways could be beneficial to the reader but more than that, they can also be risky.

Everyday more and more contents are being published online. These content can be beneficial in ways such as; 1) Readily available content can be used as references for different activities like DIY videos on Youtube. 2) There is a wide variety of journal sources which is useful for people writing dissertations. 3) Looking for information online is much more convenient than going to libraries.

While there are many benefits of consuming content online, there are risks as well that one should look out for. The risks might include; 1) Source of content can be unreliable. A lot of troll websites and pages can easily share false information. 2) Due to its convenience in accessing information, one might be tempted to copy word for word the references they find online, which is grounds for plagiarism, which is considered a crime. 3) With the recent reports of the Momo challenge, the contents of such online apps may be used to manipulate people, especially children, in taking their lives. There are more risks in consuming content online and these pose a great threat in our society.

There are a lot of benefits in consuming content online, but this doesn't mean that there are no risks with it. These risks cannot be eradicated completely but can be minimized. One just has to be responsible in consuming content online so that they may not affect others in a negative way.

How Media Convergence Affects the Concepts of Literacy by: Carl David Reyes

Media Convergence is defined by Encyclopædia Brittanica as a phenomenon that involves the interconnection of information and communication technologies, computer network and content. Everything in this modern world is already connected through the internet. It is something that enables people from different places and cultures interact. Socially speaking, media convergence becomes a medium for people to set standards from different cultures. But how does it affect the concepts of literacy?

Literacy is traditionally defined as the ability to read and write. As time progressed, the definition of literacy has also adapted to modern culture. With social media being apparent in today’s daily activities, what used to be just being able to read and write, has now become being able to use the internet well, being able to understand modern social media lingo, and being  knowledgeable in current affairs that involves the general society. I have seen posts on Facebook in which the original poster posted the video of a person being interviewed as she would vote for Bong Revilla for being handsome, and the a friend of mine on Facebook shared said video with the caption: “You illiterate and uncultured swine.”. Seeing that post, it seems apparent to me that in social media, being uneducated on political matters is equal to being illiterate.

With media being easily accessible to anyone who is connected to the internet, it can affect their lives and the way they behave, depending on the person, positively or negatively. The potential of media convergence is uncertain as it has many good effects and bad effects. It may help the society by uniting people with different cultures or it may divide people due to differences in ideals and beliefs.

"I, a 21st Century Communicator" by: Ryan A. Azcarraga

                  Throughout this course I have learned many things from literacy to rhetoric and the general concept that I have learned and have ingrained in myself is to be critical and analytic of the things that we see in our society. Through the different concepts I have learned throughout this course, I have learned to understand the different situations that happen in society. These concepts gave me a new perspective on how I view messages in social media, it has made me look at ads and videos differently. Usually I would just watch these things and sometimes fall for the agendas behind these messages, but now I have learned how to critically analyze and understand the true nature of these videos or ads, through the concepts of rhetoric and representation, aside from these it has also given me an insight on the concepts of culture in the context of social media. It has also helped me understand stereotypes and generalizations that have been created in our society, which we can still see reinforced in ads these days.

              I have also become more critical of things I view in social media, specifically things regarding news and information. Throughout the course discussion there have been many instances/examples that shows instances of fake news and misinformation that is rampant throughout social media, but through these examples it has helped me become more sceptical of things I see online. Nowadays I do more fact checking and I now rely on more credible sources when it comes to news.

              In conclusion, the general concept that I have learned is to think both critically and analytically using the different topics that I have learned in this course. With this new mind set at hand I will try my best to effectively communicate and understand the different messages and information that I see online, and I will also be more critical and use my knowledge to help and to inform others about the different situations that occur within social media. Through this I hope to become a better communicator and a better person for the growing online community.

A Paper on Mr. Cabrera's Works by: Ryan A Azcarraga

       The comic that I chose from Josua Cabrera’s exhibit were the ones that depicted scenes of traffic (see picture in next page). I believe that this comics depicted a problem that we have here in the Philippines, especially in highly urbanized places, which is traffic. A very good example is in Manila, from what I have heard the traffic there is insane and it really took you time to go to places especially during rush hours.

The comic strip above titled Mambaling, showed two red and blue characters sitting on a truck saying “Mambaling na ta!” and in the next scene they were still in the same place, but it was already night time. I think that this explicitly tells us that there really is a problem with traffic here in Cebu, especially in Mambaling. In the following comics below it, the scenes also explicitly depict traffic and the different scenarios that it has become a problem for the people. It depicted narrow roads, from the drawing of the bottleneck for cars which made it very difficult for cars to move. It also showed the difficulty of people to cross streets because of the many cars that try to pass by, as shown from the hulk pushing the cars to the side.

            I think that these comics were purposely placed together to show a problem that we have here in the Philippines. Traffic is really a big problem for a lot of people, and it can really be tiring for a lot of people to have to commute long distances, especially for students and professionals that have to go to school or work on time. I think that these comic strips really reflect on the issue on traffic that we have here in the Philippines especially in urbanized places. I think that the comic strips really did a good job on explicitly portraying the issue on traffic through the representation of comics.

Social Media Shaping Identities (In the Philippine context) by: Ryan A. Azcarraga

Social media is a powerful tool in shaping identities, it is evident in the TED talk video with Siyanda Mohutsiwa, where she was able to bring together people from Africa together through Twitter. She was able to create a community in Twitter that brought together the many countries within Africa and through that they were able to shape an identity that they shared as people of Africa, It is seen when she says that “what was once a Burundian problem, is now an African problem” In other words she implies here that the African people share a single identity and that it is being African, She says this, because it is a common plight that when Africans leave their country, they  usually migrate to neighbouring countries in Africa.

Social media is indeed a very powerful tool, As of January 2019 according to statista.com the Philippines has about 75 million Facebook users, and we have about 104.9 million people here in the Philippines, according to the worldometers.info, Based on these we can say that social media has a very large influence on the Philippine population. It has garnered a lot of influence and it has helped shape our identity as a nation. One defining thing that I can say about our identity as a nation is that we really like to make light of a lot of serious situations, we turn those situations into parody videos, memes and the like. For example, situations like the Joaquin Montes “bugbog o dignidad” situation, or the criminals that we make fun of like “finish na guy” and the “advance mag-isip” These situations are serious situations, because they deal with bullying and drugs, but somehow Filipinos in social media, try to create memes to generate a funny reaction from these situations. I think that an identity that we created in social media is that we like to turn serious situations into funny and sort of light hearted things. We turn these into memes and we get a lot of laugh out of these things, which I think is one defining character of us as Filipinos. Another identity we have created though social media, is our identity for creating a lot of similarly funny, but more on things about love and “hugot”. We like sharing things about crushes, love ships, and hugot lines. We can see this a lot in Filipino social media, Just scroll through Facebook or some Filipino twitter account and you will easily find these things there. An example is that “jonel” meme floating around Facebook. Although it is similar to the first case of our identity, it also shows our fondness for jokes and making ships about love or something related to that. So for me I think that we have been able to shape an identity online through these kinds of things, which I can say is very Filipino, in that we like to make light of serious things and we like to share cheesy things about love which I believe is indicative of us as Filipinos.  

Source for the statistics on Philippine population and Philippine Facebook users: https://www.statista.com/statistics/268136/top-15-countries-based-on-number-of-facebook-users/

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/philippines-population/

The Benefits and Risks of Consuming Content Online by: Ryan A. Azcarraga

         Society has progressed in many fields in the recent years, one of the many things that our society has progressed in is the internet. A lot of things are now readily accessible through the internet. From information to forms of entertainment, the internet has been able to cater to different types of content and now we are to ask the question: what are the boons and the banes of consuming content online?

          Nowadays it’s common for most people to consume content online, we watch videos, read articles, shop online, etc… Whether we like it or not, we can’t avoid the fact that online content is very convenient. We can practically consume content online anywhere, all we need is a device and internet connection. Online content is also fast and readily accessible, we can communicate and get information easily thanks to the internet, and it’s not hard to access these types of information especially with the help of Google. Online content has a wide range of content that can cater to specific needs of individuals. Another advantage of consuming online content is that it can influence users and can become a catalyst for change. A long time ago, a lot of people had been very conservative and racist, in terms of gender and race. A lot of discrimination against the LGBT community, women, and people of other races, but the internet, became a medium in which a lot of social change occurred. It gave users a platform to voice a lot of their concerns and many individuals who consumed these contents were able to change their views towards these minority groups.

          On the other hand not everything we consume online is beneficial. There are things that can be detrimental to us. The spread of fake news is very rampant nowadays. It has been used in politics to slander or bolster candidates and it has been used to confuse and spread a lot of false information in society. Not a lot of people tend to fact check what they see online, and because of the spread of fake news there have been a lot of misunderstandings and confusion in society. Another disadvantage of consuming content online is the risk of leaking our data and information. When we access information or do some sort of transaction online, we run the risk of having our data and information leaked to others. Therefore we must take precautions on what we should share and whether our information is secured. Lastly, in contrast to the final advantage in consuming content online. Users can also be influenced by online content in a negative way. For example, things like viral challenges that are generally negative, drug and alcohol consumption and other forms of influences that can have negative impacts on the user and people around him/her.

      In conclusion, the consumption of online content has its advantages and disadvantages. It is  very convenient, fast, readily accessible, it can cater to a lot of needs and through it can bring positive change, but contrary to that it can also spread fake news and it runs the risks of our information getting leaked and it can also negatively influence its users.

How Does Media Convergence Affect Concepts of Literacy? by: Ryan A. Azcarraga

Media convergence as defined by the Canadian encyclopaedia (source below) is a term that can refer to either: 1) the merging of previously distinct media technologies and media forms due to digitization and computer networking; or 2) an economic strategy in which the media properties owned by communications companies employ digitization and computer networking to work together. Basically, media convergence is the merging of different forms of media like newspapers, radio, cinema and etc… in to a single platform known as the internet. This phenomenon has been possible due to the creation and development of internet, which became the platform for many forms of media, like news media, social media and etc…, because of this phenomenon media convergence has had an impact on concepts of literacy.

Information, news, and many other things is now readily accessible, through the internet and, because of this literacy has been affected. Because of the accessibility of the internet, a lot of people across the world can now learn to read and write through the internet, because of this I believe that due to the emergence of media convergence, it has helped a lot of people combat illiteracy, so as the internet continues to progress and reach more people in the world, it is expected that a lot more people will be able to become literate, because of the accessibility of the internet, and I believe that another form of literacy would be needed in this age of the internet, which is digital literacy, where people should be more adept in the use of online media platforms and they would become, tech and internet savvy. 

INSIGHTS ON JOSHUA CABRERA’S “LATAGAW SA UTOK” by: Aldrich Pesirla

               Art is the most resilient and flexible platform of self-expression. But, aside from this, it serves as a dominant tool to convey messages and urge movement through its various forms of representation. Upon walking through the Jose Joya gallery featuring Josua Cabrera’s work, I was able to take a glimpse into how he laced together his artistry and his socio-political commentary.

              It is without question that majority of his pieces have a strong underlying theme. Most of them being editorial cartoons, it is easy to assume that they hold strong social relevance depicting the common conflicts in the modern Philippines. They all have varying degrees of intensity.  One piece showed the consistent traffic issue here in Cebu, particularly in Mambaling, for which the piece was named. His comedic approach to this local problem makes it easier for his audience to relate with this situation and also sends a deeper message of how we need to take measures to address it. Furthermore, several of his pieces featured more widely-known controversies such as corrupt politicians, poverty, and his critical take on President Rodrigo Duterte.

              In addition to this, he also has pieces that resonated on cyber-bullying and how we live in a time where people are consumed by social media. These imply how we, as Filipinos, acknowledge the issues we are dealing with and yet ignore them by not taking action to resolve them. It shows the behavior that Filipinos  associate with our own identity. There are good ones like having a sense of optimism in dark times and standing firm with determination. However, more than most of his pieces show traits we wish we didn’t have but unfortunately do. The most common is our lack of discipline, our sense of “ningas cogon”, being easily swayed by prejudice, still having a patriarchal society, and so on. Evidently, most of his works depict how problematic we are as people, however, he managed to depict his socio-political messages and urges his audience to take action through his comedic approach. This is very effective considering that it becomes more relatable, which eventually makes it personal. And when things get personal, people get involved.

              It truly shows how art can change a person’s perspective. People change people, and art is a medium that serves as the trigger for change. I am glad to have walked through the gallery and have seen Mr. Cabrera’s magnum opus. It made me reassess the kind of society we have and the state of social and political issues we are currently dealing with. Not only did it inform and educate me, it gave me a different perspective and a sense of lightheartedness in dealing with the daily pressures brought about by the conflict in our country. It was not merely an act of observing and interpreting artworks, walking through the gallery and seeing the stories in the editorials which made me realize that it was a different experience of realizing the need to partake in the affairs of our nation.

How social media shapes identity in Philippine context? by: Aldrich Pesirla

              Social media is a very powerful platform that can change and shape the way people think and behave. Social media made it so that almost everyone, if not everyone, has at least one of many social media account, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It’s almost as if having one is a necessity for this generation. Social media connects the people in the society, enabling them to engage with the society. It has been easier to organize movements for the advancement of the society. However, there are also disadvantages with social media as it changes the society. It is now very easy for anyone to take advantage of how easy it is to connect to the society and spread information that may be destructive, malicious, or fake that can easily affect also those in the platform.

              In the Philippine context, social media has changed the way people think and act. Most Filipinos appreciate western culture more than their own. They dress, speak, and act like them, even eat the food that they eat. That is because the western culture has dominated social media. But on the upside, Filipinos are connected. I can say this because there have been movements that connects the people from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. An example of this is the Fight for the rights of Lumads. The Lumads used social media to call out for help from the people of Luzon and Visayas. They posted pictures and wrote about their difficulties in their own homeland, ironically because of their own government. Although the fight is still ongoing, the people from Luzon and Visayas have already reached out to give help and support for the Lumads who are also fellow Filipinos. In a way, the Filipinos have been united because of social media.

              Another example is the recent river clean-up, organized by the Cebu City government. Although it is not a movement or an act that reached out to the whole country, it still called out help from the people of the island of Cebu. It was a simple post in a social media platform that showed a picture of the river that seemed as though it was a sea of trash that then caught the attention of the Cebu City government. From there, the government then posted to several social media platforms announcing the river clean-up and that everyone is encouraged to join.

              Social media is a powerful tool that can be used positively and negatively. It has its downsides and upsides. In the Philippine context, it has shaped the Filipino identity to unite the people of the country to a degree within diversity. But it is also often abused by people whose objective is to cause chaos in the country and the society.

The Conflict Concerning the Consumption of Convenient Content by: Aldrich Pesirla

It is without question that the Internet has made browsing content easier and more accessible. This is mainly the reason why people have become more dependent on it. We tend to cling to our online sources for taking in new information, whether it is about updates on our friends and family on social media sites, looking up and researching topics for academic purposes, or simply for entertainment.

The Internet also provides several other benefits to our learning. Not only is it easy and accessible, its diverse content shows us new things that spike our interest, further fueling our curiosity. And, curiosity paired with convenience urges people to learn more and become more. People now have a strong catalyst for self-improvement. Whether it be reading articles or watching tutorials on how to pursue their passion. And, this makes people more knowledgeable of the issues concerning not only their community, but the entire world. People have become more socially, environmentally, and politically aware. The exchange of ideas is astounding, and people are learning more and more.

In addition to this, not only is it convenient, it is also low-cost learning and easy entertainment. Looking up information and browsing content we wish to see has never been this quick. People have a greater chance to witness more things and be in control of what they want to see. Everything is very self-paced which leaves people more at ease.

However, no matter how great it is, this can be corrupted. The Internet is a database where everyone can contribute. There are sites that can be easily tampered with. And, aside from this, social media sites also serves as a platform for self-expression. This can lead to discourse and can make people have the power to spread misleading information or what we commonly call as, “fake news,” which tricks people into taking sides, making us more divided due to propaganda.

Furthermore, since we have become dependent on the Internet, we tend to forget double-checking our content. It is a must to always make sure our sources are legitimate and trustworthy. People must always ascertain that the events and information they have gathered align with other sources. Since the Internet provides many avenues for self-expression, matters can get too opinionated which can lead to people easily being convinced and swayed to prejudice.

There are benefits and risks to consuming content online. On one hand, it is convenient, accessible, quick, low-cost, offers diverse content which can spike interest and curiosity, and is a means for furthering self-improvement and self-expression. On the other hand, it can become easily tampered with, which can lead to opinionated and misleading information, which eventually fuels discourse and division due to prejudice and propaganda.  It is always important to ensure that the information and events we see online align with other sources. We must always double-check and assess whether or not the content we are browsing are valid and true.

The Internet is a tool that amplifies the human mind. It is a platform of self-expression and fuels our potential. Although, it can also be an avenue for corrupting and taking advantage of others. Nonetheless, it is an experience and an adventure. People must keep in mind that we must equip ourselves with the right mindset and principles in order to make sure we uphold the truth.

How Media Convergence Impacts Concepts of Literacy by: Aldrich Pesirla

Social media is a very powerful platform that can change and shape the way people think and behave. Social media made it so that almost everyone, if not everyone, has at least one of many social media account, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. It’s almost as if having one is a necessity for this generation. Social media connects the people in the society, enabling them to engage with the society. It has been easier to organize movements for the advancement of the society. However, there are also disadvantages with social media as it changes the society. It is now very easy for anyone to take advantage of how easy it is to connect to the society and spread information that may be destructive, malicious, or fake that can easily affect also those in the platform.

              In the Philippine context, social media has changed the way people think and act. Most Filipinos appreciate western culture more than their own. They dress, speak, and act like them, even eat the food that they eat. That is because the western culture has dominated social media. But on the upside, Filipinos are connected. I can say this because there have been movements that connects the people from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. An example of this is the Fight for the rights of Lumads. The Lumads used social media to call out for help from the people of Luzon and Visayas. They posted pictures and wrote about their difficulties in their own homeland, ironically because of their own government. Although the fight is still ongoing, the people from Luzon and Visayas have already reached out to give help and support for the Lumads who are also fellow Filipinos. In a way, the Filipinos have been united because of social media.

              Another example is the recent river clean-up, organized by the Cebu City government. Although it is not a movement or an act that reached out to the whole country, it still called out help from the people of the island of Cebu. It was a simple post in a social media platform that showed a picture of the river that seemed as though it was a sea of trash that then caught the attention of the Cebu City government. From there, the government then posted to several social media platforms announcing the river clean-up and that everyone is encouraged to join.

              Social media is a powerful tool that can be used positively and negatively. It has its downsides and upsides. In the Philippine context, it has shaped the Filipino identity to unite the people of the country to a degree within diversity. But it is also often abused by people whose objective is to cause chaos in the country and the society.

Reflection Paper: I, 21st Century Communicator by Christian B. Agtarap

Growing up as an introvert, I always get intimidated by the word “Communication.” Conventionally, when we say “communicate”, the very first thing that would come up in our minds is conveying our thoughts in a verbal manner, basically -- speaking. If this is the case, then it would be very hard for me to “communicate”.  But thankfully, due to technological advancement, many platforms have been developed giving us introverts and those who aren’t comfortable in verbal face to face interaction chance to express thoughts and ideas in our preferred way . From this we can say that there has been a change in the landscape of communication from pure orality to converged media offering people a wider range of approach to effectively participate in the society and communicate.

              Communication plays a vital role in shaping one’s identity and fostering relationships in our society. Communication is so important that absence of it can cause extinction of human race. That’s why I was very happy knowing that one of the GE’s we will be taking this semester is COMM 10 which is Critical Perspectives in Communication. I am glad that I am able to extend my knowledge about Communication because this is very useful in our daily lives as social beings. Throughout the course, I learned that to be a proficient communicator one must understand verbal and non-verbal cues and behavioral differences brought by cultural differences. Unlike the old times, we are not limited to verbal approach of communication. Due to media convergence, other forms of literacy skills like critical thinking, collaboration and visual literacy came to existence and one must enhanced it. Furthermore, since our technology is kept in advancing, our world has become a global community. Throughout our lives, we would be often meet people (not necessarily face to face) that have different culture from us. And in order for us to arrive at mutuality, we must communicate effectively to them by not just learning their language, but also, comprehending their culture. By doing this so, we will be able to build and maintain good relationship which is very essential in keeping peace and order.

              As a Computer Science student, I can use the things that I learned from this course by applying it to my everyday life and my future workplace. From the moment that I will apply for a job to job interviews to the actual employment, I can edged others by being an effective communicator. As a citizen of this country, I can also use my voice to help the marginalized people to raise their concerns by learning from their point of view as well as teaching them how to be effective communicators . And that for me is the real essence of communication, the act of constantly learning from each other to achieve common ground.

A PAPER ABOUT THE EDITORIAL WORKS OF MR. CABRERA by: Christian B. Agtarap

According to Stuart Hall, Language is one amongst the media by which thoughts, concepts, and dispositions are characterized in a culture. Language consists of signs and symbols like our voices, scribed words, photos, and objects in our surroundings that we use every day in order to represent our own ideas and thoughts to other people.

Based on Hall’s The Work of Representation, the concepts, ideas, and thoughts that are encapsulated in these symbolic forms can be translated and deciphered as “practices of representation”. Representation is where the production of meaning takes place in specific cultural context. And through semiotic approach, we will be able to know how language through representation produces meaning.  An example of representation is the use of imagery in editorial work. The images and cartoons in editorial are used in order to communicate photographic meaning about a particular subject. Through this exhibition and display, the editorial is producing certain meanings about the subject-matter of the display, thus making it like a language.

              Now let’s see and evaluate some editorial works of  Cabrera which were published in Sunstar newspaper and currently being displayed at the CCAD Building of UP Cebu, Cebu City. His works feature his Iconic characters, the Red and the Blue dog, and sometimes a rat named Ben that call for social commentary. In these works, we will look the contemporary social issues shown and how the Filipinos, the Philippines in general is represented.

              Upon looking all the editorial works, I can say that the Philippines has a lot of social issues that we need to be concerned about. It can be distinguished that the artist of the works is looking on the Philippine context because some of the works are using Philippine symbols. In the work entitled “BaBay,Carabao,” the Carabao, a domestic animal in the Philippines, is being sold by the Farmer for his son’s education. Here, it was also represented that the carabao is the Filipino farmers’ bestfriend for its hard work and it can be used as a tractor since most Filipino farmers do not have motorized tractors because the government has no budget or the one in authority corrupted it. Furthermore, the Filipinos are represented as people who value education and also the farmer’s ambition of having his son achieve more than him by having a good education. But sadly, his son just wasted it by spending it on alcohols which represents another issue common among Filipino youths. In the work entitled “Binignit”, binignit, a Filipino dessert soup, was showcased and it was shown that it was photographed first before eating. This work represents how internet and media affected Filipino’s behavior as things got modernized. Instead of praying before eating, which is a practice that we acquire from our ancestors and Spanish colonizers, picture-taking before eating is now more rampant. In the work entitled “Pakals”, there are the words: ‘LUZON’, ‘VISAYAS’, and ‘MINDANAO’ which represents the three major group of islands here in the Philippines. Here, it was shown that people in Luzon are being served with food while in the people in Visayas, and Mindanao were left with empty plates. The food represents the projects allocated by the government. This work shows the issue of discrimination and imbalance in terms of project development here in the Philippines. And lastly, in the work entitled “City Diving”, the Philippine Flag was shown. Here, there were two dogs about the color of the Flag. They fought until the flag was destroyed. This represents the Filipinos’ different perspectives and the torn flag represents that if we kept on arguing instead of learning from each other’s views, our country will  collapse. This Country needs unity! The four aforementioned works were those who included some Philippine symbols.

              The issue of politics was also manifested in some works like in the “Game of trolls”. This work was a sort of parody of Game of thrones and instead of Houses, the faction was the different politicians with their supporters competing for the throne. The work entitled “Kini akong Lawas” also shows the issues regarding our current administration. In this, Duterte is forcing people to eat poop. The poop represents his plans and actions that he implements here in the Philippines and people also force themselves to accept and like it due to fear. I also observed that the characters representing the politicians in the works are all fat. I don’t want to judge but for me, it is just appropriate. Their fatness can symbolize the money and resources they corrupted and consumed for themselves. There were also works that tackles fake news, cyberbullying, and internet addiction wherein the phones, internet, and fake news were personified. But what really captivated and really communicated well for me is the work entitled “Kubkob pa More”.

              The work “Kubkob pa more” talks about the poor justice system here in the Philippines. In the work, it is shown that red and blue are digging in the ground where Lady Justice and other skeletons are buried. Red and Blue represents Filipinos who are trying to seek for justice. They may be the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings or the tanim droga.  Lady Justice represents the personification of the justice that is unbiased and right. While, The skeletons beneath the ground the victims of the poor justice system who were just forgotten, burying with them the truth. 

              With all the representations shown in the editorial works, it is indeed true that the Philippines has still a lot of contemporary social issues that need to be resolved. With all the editorial works that I’ve seen, I was very impressed with how the representations of different subjects can actually communicate with the viewer and establish meaning. May these representations reach more Filipinos to call for an action. An action that will strive for the betterment of our country and society!

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA SHAPES INDENTITY IN THE PHILIPPINE CONTEXT by: Christian B. Agtarap

As technological advancement continues to reign in the 21st Century, more invention and tools are being developed. One of these is what we call social media. Social media is an electronic platform which lets the users create online content to share information. This technology has been a huge part of people’s lives especially among millennials and the Gen Zs. One reason why social media grew in popularity is the privilege that it offers wherein people can convey their notion and thoughts as their way of self-expression, which paves to the establishment of their own identity.  Identity pertains to the characteristic of an individual or concept which arises in communication with others. Usage of social media has been rampant among the youths especially here in the Philippines. In fact, according to report of We are social, a UK-based consultancy, Philippines topped the world in terms of social media usage. But how does social media shape identity specifically in the Philippine context?

              On Siyanda Mohutsiwa’s TED talk, she emphasized how Africans found a voice on twitter which helped them shape their identity not only for Africans but also for the whole world to know. Through Twitter, she was able to reach more people to gain knowledge and learn collaboratively about their identity. Fortunately, Filipinos were also able to utilize this feature of social media. An example of this is writing and posting photographs of our tourist attractions, fiestas, and cultures from different parts of our country. In doing this, you don’t need to be a very rich and powerful man. All you need is a camera, a social media account, and of course an internet connection. This is what makes social media play a huge role in shaping an identity. Anyone has a voice, even the ordinary people can contribute something in building an identity, which is a good thing! It is very important that everybody can take part so that all angles of the story will be showcased.

By just posting photos, people from all corners of the Philippines can learn from each other about diverse cultures and identities. Additionally, numerous Filipinos also use the social media to advertise their talent giving the world an idea of how talented we Filipinos are. Social media has also been used by the Filipinos to shape an identity of our government. They voice out their opinions and criticize the government through media such as through memes which allows them to communicate as much as they could about the reality of being a Filipino. An example of this is the meme “Juneell” which is a form of bashing and poking fun at the corrupt officials in the government to keep the people woke regarding national issues. With this, social media influences the individual’s point of view and preferences which will affects his / her identity.

              But there are also drawbacks to how  social media shapes identity. On social media, there are a lot of pretenders. People tend to be unauthentic just to get approval and fulfill their shallow need for stimulation. Many pretend to be kind, rich, and beautiful just to get likes and good feedback from their fellow social media users. Bandwagons are also common in social media platforms. Bandwagons tend to favor certain topics that are trending or being agreed to by the majority without even internalizing and consolidating their true preference. Thus, leading the social media to shape misleading identity.

              It is indeed true that social media promotes self-expression for an individual and communities which yields creative collaboration and formation of identities. Generally, social media shape identities by influencing the individual based on what online content he/she consumes. The person might get influenced by a vlogger, social media star, or even his fellow social media user. However, just like a double-edged sword, social media can help underestimated individuals gain power to voice out their concerns at its best. At its worst, social media could actuate people to share aggregate shock without reflection. That’s why we should always be skeptical of the content and identities being shaped by social media and think twice before it affects our own identity.

THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF CONSUMING CONTENT ONLINE by: Christian B. Agtarap

              "The internet is a toilet. It is"- Lady Gaga. When people are being asked about their opinions about the internet, it will always be a split standpoint. Some say that the internet is bad. While others regard it as the greatest thing that humans have invented. But for me, as an avid internet user, I would definitely say that the internet brought much more benefits than harm to us. The invention of the internet paved way for more advanced technological breakthroughs in the history of mankind. Through the internet, we've created a universal virtual library in which vast information from different fields are being converged so that people can easily access information and even share their own. There are billions of material available on the worldwide web. Different online content includes text, images, animations, music and videos. But what really are the benefits and risks of consuming online content ? Would our world be better off without the internet?

              One of the most obvious benefits of consuming online content is that you will be kept updated. From new scientific discoveries to latest social trends, expect that you will be one of the first of thousands of people to know about it. Choosing the internet as your search engine will also give you a broader scope of information in a short period of time. With google, bing, and other online search engines, you can obtain as much information and content you want by just sitting and manipulating the computer using mouse and keyboard. Furthermore, all online content are in the form of digital media in which interactivity is present. This implies that when you consume online content, you are not just simply consuming it, but you are also given the opportunity to contribute something and express your insights about it. Online content consumption promotes self-expression of an individual or group identities which leads to creative collaboration and establishment of communities of shared interest. Example of this is the social media platforms. In my opinion, the reason why a lot of teenagers are getting hooked on social media is because through these they can express themselves. In a hypertext environment, like the social media, readers are welcome to take an interest in making content, involving both readers and writers to learn from each other.

              But even though consuming online content has its numerous benefits, it also has some risks. Ironically, some risks arise from the benefits. Since everyone is entitled with self-expression and anonymity (which is supposed to be a benefit) in the internet, there are people who tend to abuse it. Some people create fake accounts to bribe and hoax fellow online consumers. Some also use digital media and upload it online to spread, fake news and propagandas to mobilize followers. Furthermore, in the online environment, people with bad intentions can easily manipulate information that reaches the consumer. This can alter human choices and raise risks to society. Online content may also contain violent and horrific content that may cause trauma to the consumers, especially children. An example of this is the Momo Challenge which lures the innocent kids to do dangerous things and eventually encourages them to take their own life.

It doesn’t matter how you perceive the internet, whether you see it as a piece of heaven or just a toilet, all of us can experience its benefits and risks at the same time. For me, it is not the internet that is the problem. It is us! To minimize the risks that we get from consuming online content, we must be cautious and be disciplined enough. We must always be critical to every content we see and validate it first before consuming. And if we see some any anomaly, we must not be afraid to report and correct it.

Works Cited:

              http://homepages.rpi.edu/~zappenj/Vita/DigitalRhetoric2005.pdf

              http://reports.weforum.org/human-implications-of-digital-media-2016/downsides-and-risks/?doing_wp_cron=1552223930.1736741065979003906250

How does Media Convergence Affect Concepts of Literacy by: Christian B. Agtarap

As what Heraclitus said, “Change is the only constant in life.” Looking back, we can observe that our world had significantly evolved from barbaric society into a highly-industrialized civilization. One of the phenomena brought by these changes is what we call “Media Convergence.” Media convergence refers to the combination of  different media forms and technologies in which consumable information is converged into one platform. Smartphones, PCs, and the Internet are just few examples of converged media devices. Before, you need paper and typewriter to write a report, radio to listen to news, cassette to play music, and television to watch shows. But now, all of these things can be done with just a few clicks and taps using a single device. Having all these converged media technologies lets people to have the power and do more at a time. It gives us the ability to explore a wider range of platforms and reach more data akin to a superhuman. Converged media makes life more convenient however, it also made concepts of literacy more complex than ever.

Literacy is the ability to understand information which enable people  to express their thoughts and participate in society. Traditionally, Literacy embodies reading and writing proficiency. In spite of the fact that these are the main components of literacy, today our comprehension of literacy includes significantly more. Unlike before, information dissemination nowadays is not only limited to print media. Today, we consume and interpret information from various forms of media. It could be in a form of visuals found in television, movies, videos, music, blogs, various kinds of software, or websites through which content is delivered. The concept of literacy is affected by the media convergence in a way that media convergence caused a shift of concept from the “traditional” literacy to what we call now as “digital literacy.” Since there is media convergence, the medium in which information are delivered is not only getting convenient but also it is getting highly-technical and complex as well. In this case, possessing writing and readings abilities is not enough. In order for a person to access and acquire information from converged media, technical skills are required. Digital literacy covers extensive skills, like turning on and operating the device, searching for what to read, and creating content. Another effect of media convergence on literacy is that feedback and response is easier. Before media convergence, people cannot express their reactions to what they’ve read. But now, we have emails, blogs, online forums, and even social media where people can express their thoughts and exchange ideas which is also a good practice of enhancing writing skills. Also, because of media convergence, literacy does not only put importance on interpreting the media accurately but it also gives importance on critically questioning and validating its content. Since media is converged and different people can create their own content in it, risks of fake news and fraud is higher.

It is indeed true that change is constant. Just like how the concepts of literacy evolved, we also need to cope of and adjust accordingly. The fact that media is way more extensive than before, has a crucial impact on the way the world works.