Timing and Context of Media control

The existence of mainstream media is a working example of mediated violence.

Mainstream media takes away our choice of building our own identity. They guide and sculpt our intake to the world based on their own personal preferences. These preferences are dependant on who has control of that media outlet. For example news channels are influenced to show favour to the political party in power. Still think i'm just creating an argument for the sake of arguing?

Let’s look at what is mediated violence.

Violence is always summarised as; forces intending to hurt or damage something or someone. ("Dictionary.com, 2019) Correlating with notions of cruelty, power and intensity. These are also terms that media is associated with.

Media, either newspapers, twitter feeds, blog posts and etc. Is a secondary source that we refer to when we are presented with new information or seeking clarification. It’s here on these mainstream media platforms where the negotiations are undergoing. Discussing either the positive or negative qualities and advising us how we, as people of generalised society are to respond or treat such information.

“Whoever controls the media, controls the mind” Jim Morrison (Goodreads.com, 2019)

Thus it can be determined that Mediated violence is not just the act of placating and calming physical violence, in the following Blog i'm exploring the depth in which main stream media use moral panic and folk devils in order to maintain their power and sustain their control over what society consumes as truths.

Diving into Karl Marx’s theory, social conflict has always existed. It’s a social order that is maintained by

“Domination and power, rather than consensus and conformity"

My first example is of Time magazine. ("6 Examples of Media Manipulation", 2019) The covers of their issues are catered to American consumers. I found this blog post that made a visual comparison to the cover that America is given vs the rest of the world. The messages that this one company is delivering is vastly different. Voicing mediocre warnings inside of America. However to those outside, there is a stronger message that appeals to more than just an individual. As revolution and war have ties in with everyone's ingrained moral and ethics.

Another individual who explained this theory in a manner that applies closer to my argument is Max Weber. He stated that:

there are multiple layers of conflict existing at any given moment and in every society. Whereas Marx framed his view of conflict as one between owners and workers, Weber also added an emotional component to his ideas about conflict. ("Conflict Theory Definition", 2019)

What these theories do is create an underlying denominator within the world of social media. The ones who have control of these platforms are often the bourgeoisie and using our emotional ties to our identity. Ways that “identity” can be broken down to the following agents. race, age, gender, culture and religion.

By continuing this pattern of tailoring news to each of its targeted consumers, the media are successful in maintaining power over its audience. it ways in which the media alter the truths and in turn assemble our own thoughts, beliefs and values. That strip us of our own identity And i would argue this as an action of violence.

It subconsciously reconstructs our choices and destroys the notion of free will. But how do we stop something that we cannot physically see? Or battle? It’s only a concept. Correct, how we avoid falling for this ploy is by gaining knowledge. As knowing the intent behind what mainstream media wants to do and is ultimately created for, then as individuals. We can choose what we allow into the construction of own identity.

Lastly, i want to explore the other side of the coin. Rather than subtly and well timely placed words. There is the instilled fear that comes with moral panic and folk devils. To start this off, i want to elaborate on what makes moral panic work. It is three elements.

- A suitable enemy who has little power and preferably one without access to the battlefields.

- A suitable victim which can be identified with.

- Third, is a social cohort that believes in the beliefs or actions that are being denounced.

Media plays a continuous game where they know that their audience are exposed to multiple meanings to respond differently to the ‘same’ message. They use this knowledge to support their own point of view, forgetting that it could cause backlash as they start their next round of simple minded blaming others. its why concepts of moral panic naturally cause hesitance. It makes us question everything we are told, "is what we consume now just nullified?" Or can we take this one sided perspective and begin to see other avenues and gain a better understanding of our social structures and the human condition.

Now for my example i used a blog post about Momo as a source because they put together what thoughts i had and stated them perfectly onto how its moral panic that’s not one of the many video games provided in lectures.

The Momo challenge has been linked to suicides, but there doesn't appear to be any conclusive evidence of what it’s actually about.(Lloyd, 2019) Various articles and posts claims that Momo is a game which involves a woman with an elongated smile, black rings around her wide and unblinking eyes. But the game is never specified anywhere. So how can any of these outlets which are acting towards our readers as a secondary source give any clarifying information? They use existing examples of games that had similar outcome. Blue whale was a challenge that went viral in Russia. As it was a game that participants were connected by a social media app and then challenged each other to doing certain things. Now what was being asked of each player could be simple as watching a horror movie alone to challenges that raise in difficulty. however, with this preexisting tie to blue whale. fear was easier to issue through the media with warnings of "will it become another blue whale incident"

Failure to complete these challenges results in the person being sent violent, graphic and gory images or threats that 'Momo' will come visit them in the middle of the night.

What's important to remember is that the 'Momo' Challenge is not only completely fake, but that it can only begin when somebody contacts the game's administrator. Ads for the 'Momo' Challenge have cropped up during mobile games, often with the above image and a mobile number - urging them to take part in the 'Momo' Challenge.

Who's actually behind the 'Momo' Challenge is unclear, as is what the actual point of it all. Some believe it's basically a way for criminals to gather up personal information or simply to extort money. However, much like the 'Blue Whale' Challenge in Russia, it's more a case of moral panic than anything else. (Lloyd, 2019)

This panic was just directed towards a game, with results having parents worldwide contacting authorities and voicing their concern. As ties to the blue whale challenge outcomes have been hinted at the final result of what Momo could become, thus magnified and spread like wildfire. Burning away what was initially a game of intense truth or dare to now a malicious game that goes against the social constructs of society where violence and threats have a higher impact than the willing participation of each player. This is in essence is what moral panic does, takes the core of an issue and continues to use emotional ties to amplify the negative qualities. This is why violent or sexual content is looked down upon. Because it does not reconcile with streamline social constructs that the bourgeoisie have created over the decades.

To conclude, mainstream media is a source of mediated violence. The violence that they are placating is the dilution of truths. Vouching that their side of the story has more merit than the original source. As practitioners we need to be aware that media holds and in turn, be considerate with future projects we may be apart of. Media has more power than we give it credit for.

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