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Online Harassment

Harassment in online places is a growing source of public debate and concern. Pervasive issues such as cyberbullying, hate speech, and the promotion of self-harm have exposed the extent and intensity of harassment occurring online (Pater et al., 2016). 

According to a survey conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Centre, 73% of students who have been cyberbullied did so via social media. Facebook is the most commonly used site for cyberbullying, followed by Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. However, cyberbullying may occur on any social media platform, including texting and messaging applications, online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, and online gaming environments (Bergman, 2023). 

What has to be done to avoid internet harassment? 

Governments and society as a whole must closely monitor this abuse, and social media businesses must utilise their technological and financial resources to prioritise freedom online for girls and young women. Also create effective and accessible reporting procedures to address gender-based violence (Plan International, 2020).

Facebook has released its new policy in order to avoid harassment, which includes the following (Davis, 2021):

In order to update policies, engagement with a wide variety of global stakeholders and communities is required.

strengthened measures on a worldwide scale to protect members of the community who are at risk of being abused online.

There are specific actions that can be taken to combat combined mass harassment.

continued engagement with subject matter specialists to guarantee the safety of the base.

Extremely stringent content removal for those who repeatedly break the rules and violate the policies.

Review of the policy on a regular basis, with feedback from safety professionals.

References

Bergman, M. (2023, September 18). Effects of Cyberbullying. Social Media Victims Law Center. https://socialmediavictims.org/cyberbullying/effects/#:~:text=this%20age%20group.-

Davis, A. (2021, October 13). Advancing Our Policies on Online Bullying and Harassment. About Facebook. https://about.fb.com/news/2021/10/advancing-online-bullying-harassment-policies/

Jones, J. (2021, April 30). How to Stop Online Harassment: What Are Your Best Options? Bosco Legal Services. https://www.boscolegal.org/blog/how-to-stop-online-harassment/

Pater, J. A., Kim, M. K., Mynatt, E. D., & Fiesler, C. (2016). Characterizations of Online Harassment. Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Supporting Group Work - GROUP ’16. https://doi.org/10.1145/2957276.2957297

Plan International. (2020). Free to Be Online? Plan International. https://plan-international.org/publications/free-to-be-online/

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Gaming communities and the things we don’t know (yet) 

We've all heard of the gaming community and its stereotypes, but have we given it much thought? Maybe here are some terms that you should know about the gaming community (or not). 

 A gaming community is a collection of people who gather together to share their passion for playing video games. It could contain players from all over the world or just those in your immediate vicinity. A gaming community's objective is to provide gamers with support and fellowship, as well as tips on how to progress in specific games (MetaEngine, n.d.). External sites assist gaming communities by providing a space for players to connect with one another and share advice and inspiration.

The Impact of Gaming Community

One of the major functions of communities is to bring individuals from various countries, cultures, and ages together. The virtual worlds of games remove borders and provide unique opportunities for connection. Players from all over the world can form teams and play in tournaments for prizes. This process of connection and cooperation in gaming communities helps to break down prejudices and broaden horizons (Games, 2023).

Gaming communities are important sources of feedback for developers. Players can provide direct input to developers via forums and social networks. game communities can provide significant ideas and suggestions to enhance the game experience. This contact improves problem identification and response time (Anderton, 2018).

According to the American Gaming Association, the gaming sector has a significant impact on the United States economy, providing steady jobs for roughly two million Americans and producing billions of dollars in tax revenue. This study is the first thorough look of the gaming industry's national economic impact since 2014 (American Gaming Association, 2018).

References

American Gaming Association. (2018, June 1). National Economic Impact of the U.S. Gaming Industry - AGA. AGA. https://www.americangaming.org/resources/economic-impact-of-the-u-s-gaming-industry-2/

Anderton, K. (2018). The Impact Of Gaming: A Benefit To Society [Infographic]. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton/2018/06/25/the-impact-of-gaming-a-benefit-to-society-infographic/?sh=376ef572269d

Games, B. G. (2023, August 16). Gaming Communities: The Rise and Impact of Gaming Communities on the World of Video Games. Medium. https://bggames.medium.com/gaming-communities-the-rise-and-impact-of-gaming-communities-on-the-world-of-video-games-1fec152f649f

MetaEngine. (n.d.). What is a Gaming Community and How to Build One. Www.metaengine.gg. https://www.metaengine.gg/blog/what-is-a-gaming-community-and-how-to-build-one

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Beauty Filter 

Beauty filters on Instagram are digital tools or software that enable users to improve or change their appearance in photographs and videos. These filters can alter facial characteristics, skin tone, eye colour, and even add visual effects to produce an idealised or unrealistic image of one's look. The first Snapchat beauty filter debuted in 2015, and the technique has subsequently expanded to Instagram, TikTok, and numerous other camera apps (Ryan-Mosley, 2021). 

Pros and Cons of Beauty Filters

Filters as a form of personal expression is a notion that numerous members of Generation Z share. For them, freedom is more significant than perfection when it comes to attractiveness. Therefore, individuals perceive the use of a filter to enhance the appearance of their complexion not as a benchmark for beauty to attain, but as a method of presenting their most favourable self (The Free Press Journal, 2022).

Despite all the advantages of cosmetic filters available on the internet, their excessive use still has repercussions. Body dysmorphia, low self-esteem, and mental health problems may result from the excessive use of beauty filters, as users attempt to attain the filtered appearance in person. Inauthentic Representation: Users who use beauty filters may present an unrealistically idealised version of themselves on social media, resulting in an absence of authenticity according to Rivas (2021),

References

Hunter, T. (2023, September 20). Should women use beauty filters online? We all have opinions. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/09/20/beauty-filter-criticism-benefits-tiktok/

Rivas, G. (2021, October 29). The Mental Health Impacts of Beauty Filters on Social Media Shouldn’t Be Ignored — Here’s Why. InStyle. https://www.instyle.com/beauty/social-media-filters-mental-health

Ryan-Mosley, T. (2021, April 2). Beauty Filters Are Changing the Way Young Girls See Themselves. MIT Technology Review. https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/04/02/1021635/beauty-filters-young-girls-augmented-reality-social-media/

The Free Press Journal. (2022). The good and the bad sides of beauty filters. Free Press Journal. https://www.freepressjournal.in/weekend/the-good-and-the-bad-sides-of-beauty-filters#:~:text=For%20many%20others%2C%20filters%20are

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The link between social media and body dissatisfaction 

In 2021, there were about 4.5 billion active social media users worldwide. This figure represents a 13% rise in utilisation since 2020, and the increasing trend appears to continue. (Kemp, 2021) As a result, social media provides a great platform for people to express themselves online. However, body dissatisfaction is a common phenomena that refers to an individual's negative thoughts and sentiments about their own body and look. Body dissatisfaction involves both subjective evaluations of appearance and perceived discrepancies between actual and desired states connected to physical appearance (Grogan, 2016). 

According to Psych Central, social media has created unrealistic beauty standards by frequently featuring photographs of people with supposedly ideal looks and physique, typically enhanced with filters and photo manipulation tools (Pedersen, 2023). This can result in exaggerated beauty standards, causing physical dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in both men and women. Many people share only their finest images, which may not reflect their everyday appearance. This can lead to negative body image for both men and women, as well as mental health disorders like sadness and anxiety (Sharp & Gerrard, 2022).

However, if utilised correctly, social media can be used to promote body positivity by allowing people to share photographs of their bodies as they are, fostering self-love and acceptance. Body-positive content frequently features unenhanced, non-sexualized photographs of people with various bodies. These photos depict a variety of bodily forms and sizes, races, physical abilities, and gender identities (Psych Central, 2023).

References

Grogan, S. (2016). Body image : understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women and children. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Guizzo, F., Canale, N., & Fasoli, F. (2021). Instagram Sexualization: When posts make you feel dissatisfied and wanting to change your body. Body Image, 39, 62–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.06.005

Kemp, S. (2021, January 27). Digital 2021: Global Overview Report. DataReportal. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-global-overview-report

Pedersen, T. (2023, February 27). Social Media and Body Image: What’s the Link? Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/health/how-the-media-affects-body-image#postive-effects

Sharp, G., & Gerrard, Y. (2022). The body image “problem” on social media: Novel directions for the field. Body Image, 41, 267–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.03.004

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"Slow" fashion movement 

Slow fashion? What?

For sure that everyone has heard about the “Slow fashion” term everywhere, at the mall, on social media,... but do we really understand what “Slow fashion” really is? Slow fashion is a relatively new concept in the fashion industry that emerged about 2008 with the goal of promoting sustainability. Clothing manufacturing is slow because there is no intention of overproduction; rather, the goal is to reduce the exploitation of natural resources. Similarly, the consumer must own and use the clothes for a longer period of time, and early replacement is not encouraged. According to Good on you, the slow fashion movement has garnered growing attention in recent years due to consumer demand for increased ethical and sustainable practices. 19% of the most-searched terms associated with rapid fashion are related to ethics, sustainability, and the environment.

Slow fashion = “Greenwashing” ?

Greenwashing is committed when fashion companies fail to provide substantiating evidence for the environmental claims they make on their labels. This occurs when businesses present themselves as environmentally conscious to the general public while, in reality, continuing to cause environmental damage. Twenty-23 (Abelvik-Lawson)

Major fashion houses guarantee the use of recycled materials, return policies, and recycling initiatives. However, corporations are unable to fulfil these commitments due to the perpetual growth of fashion production. A practice known as "greenwashing" allows businesses to misrepresent their environmental impacts or benefits, which can be deceptive. (Commission of Europe, 2023). 39% of sustainability claims in the textile, apparel, and footwear industries may be false or deceptive, according to a recent screening.  

What should be done then?

 Greenwashing may cause public outrage and legal action, both of which can harm brand reputation and customer loyalty. There are some steps that should be taken to prevent green washing: Support marketing statements with verifiable evidence, such as stop overusing the terms 100% recyclable and 80% biodegradable. Implement sustainability certifications and norms.Sustainability certifications from LEED, B Corp, and Fair Trade USA provide an independent examination of an organization's operations Tech Target (2023).

References

Abelvik-Lawson, H. (2023, April 24). Fashion greenwash: how companies are hiding the true environmental costs of fast fashion. Greenpeace UK. https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/fashion-greenwash-report-companies-hiding-true-environmental-costs-fast-fashion/

European Commission. (2023). Learn what the EU does on sustainable fashion and RESet the Trend. Environment.ec.europa.eu. https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/circular-economy/reset-trend/how-eu-making-fashion-sustainable_en

Hill, M. (2021, May 28). What Is Slow Fashion? Good on You. https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-slow-fashion/

Oliveira, L. G. de , Miranda, F. G., & Dias, M. A. de P. (2022). Sustainable practices in slow and fast fashion stores: What does the customer perceive? Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 6(100413), 100413. Sciencedirect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2022.100413

Tech Target . (2023, May). How to avoid greenwashing as a marketer | TechTarget. Customer Experience. https://www.techtarget.com/searchCustomerExperience/tip/How-to-avoid-greenwashing-as-a-marketer

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Online Citizenship

An individual who acquires the competence to make responsible and efficient use of digital resources is known as a digital citizen (Future Learn 2021). Good digital citizenship entails being able to use technology responsibly and safely, as well as to participate in online communities in a positive and considerate manner. 

The responsibility of the digital citizen in order to improve community health and welfare is based on four pillars(media smarts. 2022). 

Empathy and Community: One of the primary aspects is to respect the emotions of others, build a caring online community, and understand and honour different points of view (Riccio 2022).

Positive Technology Use: An online citizen uses technology appropriately, not becoming overly absorbed or spending too much time in front of displays. This not only promotes overall health but also helps to combat issues such as internet addiction. Fostering a pleasant digital environment entails encouraging the use of technology for learning, creativity, and social connection, among other beneficial purposes (LinkedIn2023).

Sharing Information: Everyone who uses the internet should be cautious about what personal information they make public. This includes ensuring that information is accurate before sharing it, refraining from distributing misleading information and protecting people's privacy (Media Smarts. 2022).

Ethics and Privacy: Ethical decision-making in the digital domain necessitates familiarity and commitment to digital ethics. Digital ethics entails making ethical decisions in the online world. This includes respecting people, maintaining integrity, and contemplating the ethical consequences of online conduct (Oxley 2010).

References

Future Learn. “What Is Digital Citizenship? | the Basics for Teachers.” FutureLearn, 3 Sept. 2021, www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/what-is-digital-citizenship-teacher-guide#:~:text=A%20digital%20citizen%20is%20a.

LinkedIn. “Importance of Digital Citizenship.” Www.linkedin.com, 2023, www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-digital-citizenship-ritika-maurya.

media smarts. “What Is Digital Citizenship?” MediaSmarts, 8 Aug. 2022, mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/what-digital-citizenship.

Oxley, Cathy. Diversity Challenge Resilience: School Libraries in Action Proceedings of the 12 Th Biennial School Library Association of Queensland, the 39 Th International Association of School Librarianship Annual Conference Incorporating the 14 Th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship. 2010.

Riccio, Karen. Becoming a Responsible Digital Citizen: Essential Skills and Becoming a Responsible Digital Citizen: Essential Skills and Knowledge from the Perspectives and Lived Experiences of K-5 Knowledge from the Perspectives and Lived Experiences of K-5 Administrators, Students, and Teachers Administrators, Students, and Teachers. 2022.

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Reality TV and the sinister side of it

Reality TV, one of the most recognised genres of TV shows and has been appreciated by generations, is a form of television programming that exposes unscripted and frequently spontaneous circumstances, captures genuine occurrences, and includes everyday people involved in unscripted action and interaction.

Reality TV shows frequently use social media as a tool for promotion, audience participation, and interactivity (Mcbride 2015). Many reality TV shows have official social media profiles where they post behind-the-scenes videos, and live updates, and interact with their viewers in real-time. This contact makes fans feel more connected to the show and its players, which frequently leads to increased watching and engagement. 

Reality TV shows frequently use social media as a tool for promotion, audience participation, and interactivity (Mcbride 2015). Many reality TV shows have official social media profiles where they post behind-the-scenes videos, and live updates, and interact with their viewers in real-time. This contact makes fans feel more connected to the show and its players, which frequently leads to increased watching and engagement. On the other side, reality TV viewers utilise social media platforms to discuss and share their ideas on the shows, as well as to follow and interact with the participants. This creates excitement and awareness for the shows outside of their scheduled broadcast times (Mcbride 2015).

Although social media is the primary medium for fans to engage with TV show participants and express their feelings about them. However, incidents of celebrities being subjected to cyber-assault by fans are not uncommon (Lin. 2023). It is regrettably not uncommon for public individuals, especially reality TV show contestants, to receive rude and abusive remarks on social media. The combination of a huge audience, strong emotions, and relative anonymity on social media can occasionally lead to cyberbullying. This can have serious consequences for the mental health and well-being of everyone affected. For example, cyberbullying Kimura, a cast member on the popular television show Terrace House, was discovered dead at her home on May 23 following an apparent suicide after bombarding a barrage of harsh comments on her social media channels (Knowseeker 2023). 

Not only cyberbullying, editing causes misinterpretation are also a downside of reality TV shows. In reality programmes, the editing process can be used to depict a competitor's behaviour as adversarial to a future popular contestant, creating a more interesting story for the audience at home (Mast). The reason there are ethical concerns is that how a candidate is depicted might have major life-changing consequences. According to Cultivation theory, prolonged exposure to important themes in the symbolic worlds of mass media encourages people to overestimate the likelihood and potency of those themes in the psychosocial worlds of themselves and significant others. (ScienceDirect 2012)

References

Jelle Mast. “The Dark Side of “Reality TV”: Professional Ethics and the Treatment of “Reality”-Show Participants.” International Journal of Communication, vol. 10, no. 0, 2016, p. 22, ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/2444/1646.

Knowseeker. “Cyberbulling in Reality Shows: A New Culture or an Innocent Fun? - Knowseeker.” Knowseeker - a Blog about Lifestyle, Relationships, Health, Business and Others; All Thoroughly Spelt out in the Most Relatable and Exciting Way., 17 June 2022, www.knowseeker.com/lifestyle/cyberbulling-in-reality-shows-a-new-culture-or-an-innocent-fun/#google_vignette. Accessed 4 Feb. 2024.

Langguth, Jake. “After the Torch Is Snuffed: The Ethics of Reality TV Editing.” Medium, 28 Apr. 2021, jlangguth2.medium.com/after-the-torch-is-snuffed-the-ethics-of-reality-tv-editing-a5e0021d5450.

Lin, Jingning, et al. “Cyberbullying in Fandom.” Communications in Humanities Research, vol. 7, no. 1, 31 Oct. 2023, pp. 179–192, https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7064/7/20230875. Accessed 4 Feb. 2024.

Mast, Jelle. “The Dark Side of Reality TV: Professional Ethics and the Treatment of Reality Show Participants.” International Journal of Communication, vol. 10, 2016, pp. 2179–2200, ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/2444/1646.

Mcbride, Jean. IdeaExchange@UAkron Social Media & Audience Participation in Regard to Television. 2015.

Nabi, Robin L. “Determining Dimensions of Reality: A Concept Mapping of the Reality TV Landscape.” Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, vol. 51, no. 2, 12 July 2007, pp. 371–390, https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150701307111.

ScienceDirect. “Cultivation Theory - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.” Www.sciencedirect.com, 2012, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/cultivation-theory#:~:text=Cultivation%20theory%20explains%20how%20repeated.

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Tumblr as a digital community

Launched in New York City in February 2007, Tumblr was founded by David Karp. Tumblr has always stood out from the crowd as an easy-to-use, multimedia-rich social blogging platform. With 29 million US members and 519 million blogs, Tumblr has grown into one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide after 17 years. Given all the platforms out there, like Facebook, Instagram, etc., how did Tumblr manage to build a community and attract individual individuals to create a major community here?

Why Tumblr?

In contrast to other social networking sites like Facebook, Tumblr allows its users a high level of anonymity and privacy.  While Tumblr does allow users to communicate with one another, these relationships are often indirect, fleeting, and anonymous. People use Tumblr for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it is a great place to find and share opinions on controversial subjects (Byron et al 2019).

Furthermore, Tumblr allows users to personalise their site according to their tastes. The way blogs look is entirely up to the users. They have a great deal of control over the design since they can alter the colours, backgrounds, fonts, and layout. The look and feel of Tumblr's publicly visible blogs is heavily controlled by the company (Allison Maura Mccracken et al.)

Online Community

As defined by Preece (2000), "a group of people, who come together for a purpose online, shared values and a common interest that connects them together" is what makes up an online community.  By providing a platform to introduce a wide audience to political causes and topics, Tumblr aids in the facilitation of entry-level activism. Hashtags enable multi-media to reach a wide audience, which in turn encourages individuals to click and share them, thereby raising awareness (Forbes. 2014). Reblogs, likes, comments, and private messaging are some of the ways in which Tumblr users engage with one another, contributing to the platform's culture and helping to foster a feeling of community. According to The book "A Tumblr Book: Platform and Culture", Tumblr provides a welcoming environment for activist campaigns addressing issues including disability, LGBTQ+, and Black feminism. Campaigns like #MeToo and #Blackout use various hashtags and multimedia strategies. 

References

Allison Maura Mccracken, et al. A Tumblr Book : Platform and Cultures. Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Press, 2020.

Contributor, Citi’s. “Citi BrandVoice: Meet the Company Helping Homeowners Save on Energy Bills and Reduce Pollution.” Forbes, 2014, www.forbes.com/sites/citi/2014/03/31/meet-the-company-helping-homeowners-save-on-energy-bills-and-reduce-pollution/?sh=7a972b2b1a79. Accessed 4 Feb. 2024.

de Souza, Clarisse Sieckenius, and Jenny Preece. “A Framework for Analyzing and Understanding Online Communities.” Interacting with Computers, vol. 16, no. 3, June 2004, pp. 579–610, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intcom.2003.12.006. Accessed 29 Apr. 2020.

Financesonline. “Number of Tumblr Blogs in 2020: User Demographics, Growth, and Revenue - Financesonline.com.” Financesonline.com, 2021, financesonline.com/number-of-tumblr-blogs/.

McCracken, Allison, et al. A Tumblr Book. University of Michigan Press, 26 Oct. 2020.