Delivering Information in a Connected Society Requires Verifiable Resources, How do you Build a PLN to Rely On?
You can build a PLN that is reliable and delivers information from verifiable resources in a few main ways. One of the main ways is to stay informed yourself, and to take time to do your own research before quickly posting your view on something when you might not be fully aware of the nuances in the situation. Especially with politics, I have noticed that often times influencers are very quick in posting their opinion on something extremely complicated, and it is very easy to tell when they are not actually aware of the circumstances and are just wanting to show their fans that they are taking a stance, even if it isnt educated or productive. It is important to take time to read up on the history and conditions of things such as political events, and remember that the important thing is not just to speak on it immediately so that you can show you care, but to actually use your platform in a responsible way by being as informed as possible. Giving out partial or misinformation if you are undereducated can be dangerous especially if you have a big following, as your viewers are likely to take what your are posting as fact, causing them to be undereducated and unaware as well.
How do Those, Who are Veteran Storytellers, Minimize the Risk of Sharing Misinformation?
Veteran storytellers can minimize the risk of sharing misinformation in many ways. This is especially important with the rise of fake news that is easily spread through social media platforms, and can be extremely damaging. One of the best ways veteran storytellers can remain truthful and factual is by consistently checking their informational sources. It is also important for veteran storytellers to remain objective when discussing things such as political events or world crisis. In the reading this week, “The Political Economy of Fake News”, the author spoke about the importance of remaining bipartisan. It was stated that, “acknowledging one’s own biases as a reporter and media consumer is crucial for promoting media literacy” (Hirst, 2018) because biases can affect the way one views and reports on information as their beliefs get in the way of thinking critically.
Identify the Risks and Benefits of Engaging with a Public Audience in a Media Space – what are the Risks for a Public Figure or Person in a Position of Trust?
There are many benefits of engaging with a public audience through media spaces, but with these benefits come some risks as well. One of the main benefits is the opportunity to use your platform as a public figure to advocate for important issues that you believe in, whether that be social, political or environmental movements. If you are in the position where hundreds of thousands or millions of people are watching what you say and do and taking it to heart, you have the potential to make positive change by spurring your followers to take action along with you. You can draw attention towards current issues that are being faced and provide information about how to take action such as places to donate money or when protests are occurring. One of the biggest risks I think of when I think of public figures with large audiences on media spaces is the extreme lack of privacy they have. I have seen countless videos of invasive and exploitative paparazzi or fans, trying to take footage of public figures in comparable positions, and constantly following them around making it impossibly stressful to even run errands. This invasion of privacy can be extremely difficult, especially if they experience a tumultuous life event like a break up or a death of a loved one that will immediately be relayed to the public through gossip sites and left up to the opinions of people who do not even know them.
How to Best Address Negative Replies and Reviews Which Reflect Your Personal Values?
I think that the best way to address negative replies is to clear boundaries with viewers of your public social media. I have seen many influencers do this in their own way, on a multitude of different negative or hateful comments. One of the most prevalent examples that occurs, especially with female influencers, are comments on their bodies, whether that be through sexualization or criticism. When this happens continuously from individuals claiming to be your fans or supporters, it is understandable that this would make anyone uncomfortable. Many influencers set boundaries by replying to a comment with a video explaining that makes them uncomfortable, to remain respectful and to refrain from doing that in the future. This reply to a comment feature is a facet of TikTok, and allows for comprehensive explanations to be made on negative replies or reviews that are much more genuine than a paragraph of text, and allows for influencers to vocalize their concerns directly. If the negative reply or review is warranted however, and is coming from a place of constructive criticism or concern from viewers about a public figures thoughts, speech or behaviour, it is best to address this criticism in a way that shows you are willing to learn from your mistakes and do better in the future. This acknowledgement allows for growth of the creator and a fortification of the community of viewers and collaborators within the PLN of said individual, as they are able to see their words of constructive criticism be taken to heart and implemented, leading to stronger relationships.
References:
Hirst, M. (2018). Navigating Social Journalism: A Handbook for Media Literacy and Citizen Journalism (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.4324/9781315401263