The Instructor's Name
Context
Research . 5
Findings .. 7
Conclusion .. 9
Introduction
Emerging technologies reform work-process, expose new opportunities and change lifestyles.
Digital media can teach a lot, provide interesting and useful information, and present it in an engaging way
Research
Digital media influences not only individuals but the world and society in general
Wrongful use of social and other digital media can lead to retrieving wrong, improper, even unacceptable information, in particular, by kids.
Youth and the digital media is one of the most relevant ethical issue related to the consumption of digital media in our days.
Digital media can only be a source of positive information if ethical and moral standards are followed by the publishers.
Findings
The possibility of “the potential negative impact that inappropriate digital content can have on vulnerable children” is very high (Gutnick, 2011).
Doctors report that, in many cases, consuming inappropriate information leads to psychological disorders and anxiety.
Parents must explain the safety rules for using digital media to their children.
Scientists of the Harvard Family Research proved that correct use of digital media can benefit children.
Studies conducted by the Ethic Resource Center describe a connection between ethical standards and digital media.
Conclusion
There are a lot of issues with digital media
Digital media can benefit people, in particular, youth and children in many ways if it is consumed in a proper way
Use of digital media both within institutions and at home must be under control.
The progress of the society is impressive. It changes our perception of common and traditional things. Each year, scientists, technologists, and large corporations introduce new emerging technologies which reform work-process, expose new opportunities and change lifestyles. Step by step we move to the technologically dependent life and use high tech in different aspects of our lives. Can you imagine your regular day without a smart-phone, tablet or laptop? Very few people, if any, can. What is more, we use technologies for work and other business more and more. Phone, for example, is intended just for calls no more. It performs a number of functions. People watch TV, read books, search information, communicate, work, etc. using digital media.
Digital media proved to be more convenient for the most public. Actually, it has some significant advantages over the traditional correspondence. First of all, it is less time consuming, saves time and resources for publishing and spreading the information. Secondly, it is much more convenient since there is no need to carry a couple of magazines, books and so on. They are all in one place, easy to retrieve and enjoy. Not only the media itself but other institutions such as schools, governmental institutions, public organizations, and others share information via digital media. People find it more comfortable to communicate using digital media within and outside the organizations. Web pages, social media, e-books, video games, databases and anything else that can be encoded in a technical device is considered a digital media, as opposed to print sources which gradually lose their relevance.
After calculating the production costs, many businesses decided to abandon traditional media. Most agencies, small companies, and large corporations use digital marketing and
communication channels on daily basis. Such methods do not require hard copies, have no restrictions on the number of readers, and let “getting the products and ideas to the public”
faster. (Huttinger, 2013). On the other hand, digital media has a negative effect on copyright, the accuracy of information, learning process, etc. Digital media might reduce its quality due to distracting factors and other unnecessary information which can be found on the Internet. Digital media can teach a lot, provide interesting and useful information, present it in an engaging way. At the same time, it can contribute misleading facts, plagiarized content, or even spread inappropriate messages.
There are a lot of global, social, ethical, or legal issues with digital media. Certainly, digital media influences not only individuals but the world and society in general. It touches many global issues such as international communication; ethical issues such inappropriate information; legal issues such as “unauthorized use of the trademark, a disclosure of confidential information, privacy, publicity” (Neal & McDevitt, LLC, 2010). Not only the means of communication and publishing information change, their ethics do as well. Stephen J. A. Ward argues that “the new mixed news media requires a new mixed media ethics – guidelines that apply to amateur and professional whether they blog, Tweet, broadcast or write for newspapers” (2010). Wrongful use of social and other digital media can lead to retrieving wrong, improper, even unacceptable information, in particular, by kids.
Nowadays, children spend a large portion of their time reading, playing games, searching information, listening to music, communicating online. They use smart-phones, tablets and other devices not just for entertainment but for school, homework, social activities, etc. However, parents and teachers not always control what children and students do on the Internet. Unfortunately, many sites which are not intended for children are still available to them. Rarely, there are any restrictions on accessing such sites and everyone, regardless the age can visit them. Moreover, limitless use of digital media can distract students from the learning process and other important activities. I believe this is a very serious issue which deserves extra attention from developers, creators and distributor information via digital media.
Youth and the digital media is one of the most relevant ethical issue related to the consumption of digital media in our days. Carrie James, together with other specialists developed a great project called “Young People, Ethics, and the New Digital Media” which examines youth engagement in digital media in details. According to the authors, “the new digital media are a frontier that is rich with opportunities and risks” (2009). Indeed, digital media can only be a source of positive information if ethical and moral standards are followed by the publishers. Therefore, in the pursuit of new, it is highly important to remember about educating children how to interact with it.
After studying the digital habits of children and youth, specialists concluded that those habits should be formed and educated by parents. According to the research, possibility of “the potential negative impact that inappropriate digital content can have on vulnerable children” is very high (Gutnick, 2011). Some articles found on the Internet, for example, tell about terrible events, crime, and tragedy which can shock the imagination of children. Scary and frightening pictures or videos often accompany such material. Doctors report that, in many cases, consuming similar information leads to psychological disorders and anxiety. Not only fantasy and fiction can harm kids' imagination but watching reality shows might be full of negative emotions. Digital media allows everyone to download and review any kind of movie or series. Horror episodes, in particular, can result in a disturbed sleep, groundless fear, worry, etc. Same with digital media books, music, and other preferences.
There is no unambiguous verdict on the digital media use. It can be helpful and harmful at the same time. Both students and teachers agree that it complements the learning
process. A lot of information found on the Internet is too long or difficult to find on hard copies. Corporation such as Apple, Google, and others present interesting applications that involve children into learning. They are more interesting and engaging since students are more likely to remember things that impress them the most, even visually. Curiosity cannot prevent children from following links, commercials that pop up on Web pages. Marketers and stakeholders track the statistics and are aware who considers their proposals, makes purchases and visits Websites. Moreover, some of them try to make a profit instead of improving the security system in order to make sure that children do not use the parents' cards to make unapproved purchases.
Parents, who want their children to stay safe while they surf on the Internet and use other digital media, must explain them the safety rules. Communication resolves many issues. Ethical issues with digital are not an exception. If parents and teachers do not guide the youth through the principles of digital media, they might not realize the importance of using them wisely. Parents must tell their children about positive and negative sides of using digital media, in particular, various websites and social media in everyday life. Teens often take an example of each other, they want to be cool and keep up with their peers. Digital fashion is a sign of modernity and progressiveness. Young people rarely think about real benefit and harm that such behavior.
Scientists of the Harvard Family Research conducted a deep study on the topic of digital media in young children learning. The mission of the Harvard Family Research Project is to influence and shape better education system, which effectively combines various methods to develop the best learning. The research proved that correct uses of digital media “are active, hands-on, engaging, and empowering for children” (2014). Nevertheless, it accents attention on the fact that “excessive screen time harms healthy growth and development, regardless the content” (HFRP, 2014). The interesting fact is that parents
prefer to concentrate and consider the pros of digital media in education but not the cons.
The research has also shown that children dependence on digital media largely depends on their parents’ addiction to it. Children imitate and adopt habits of the parents. That’s why it is crucial for families to spend time together, to communicate, to have outdoor activities, trips, and other plans together. Live communication and active lifestyle at home encourages kind to involve in different activities when they go to school. They are most likely to join sports, performances, and other clubs. Such students are more communicable, open, and friendly, have fewer complexes, and are more likely to succeed in teamwork. Children whose parents spend too much time with their laptops, tablets, smart-phones and other hi-tech devices risk facing problems with their kids in the future. First of all, a sedentary lifestyle is harmful to the health. Secondly, it prevents from a full and adequate formation of the personality.
It is not only the parents and teachers who must control how children use the digital media. Publishers, editors and creators of the content, application and other information available on the Internet must make sure that it corresponds to ethical and moral standards. Web sites that distribute specific content must follow these standards precisely in order to make sure that young people who are under age do not retrieve information which is not recommended for their use. The Ethic Resource Center questioned whether there is any logical connection between ethics and social media at all. Statistics shows that “active social networkers” group was defined as those who “spend 30% or more of the work time participating on various social network sites” (Lauby, 2012). At the same time, Jay Shepherd, “Firing at will: a manager’s guide” author, argues that social networkers are not necessarily unethical but, in the opposite, more advanced in many senses. Nevertheless, it is clear that excessive use of digital media, in particular, social networks at work, school, home, can lead to reduced productivity and poor results.
Digital media provides many opportunities that other sources cannot. Students, youth, workers and anyone else can benefit from them. That is why digital media has been so popular and widely used throughout all the institutions, organizations, outside the offices and schools, ad at people homes. Studies prove their relevance and necessity in modern life. However, the benefits are combined with challenges and potential threats. Social, ethical, global, legal issues form another side of the aspect. Ethical norm or their absence in digital media consumption process has a diverse effect on the population, especially children. There are numerous analysis and research which all proved the necessity of control and limitation of the digital media use. Unfortunately, sellers of the information do not always protect their consumers from ethically inappropriate concepts it can hide. Scientists, doctors, and other specialists recommend parents to be involved in their children learning and relaxing processes in order to make sure they are safe and protected when they use technology and modern media. The problem of ethical standards in digital media concerns not only youth but the society in general. It must cultivate cultural and moral standards of the emerging media consumption and make sure that ethics determine content ad purpose of digital media, not the other way around.
Reference page
Harvard Family Research Project. (2014). Research Spotlight: Families and Digital Media in Young Children’s Learning. Harvard Family Research Project: Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
Hutinger, N. (2013, May 23). Advantages of Digital Media. Loyola Digital Advertising. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
Lauby, S. (2012, May 17). Ethics and Social Media: Where Should You Draw the Line? Mashable. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
Neal & McDevitt, LLC. (2010). Top 10 Legal Issues with Social Media. Neal & McDevitt LLC, Intellectual Property & Marketing Attorneys. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
Takeuchi, L. & Stevens. R. (2011). The New Coviewing: Designing to learning through joint media engagement. The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and LIFE Center. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
Ward, S. J.A. “Ethics for the New Mainstream”. In the New Journalist: Roles, Skills, and Critical Thinking, eds. Paul Benedetti, Tim Currie and Kim Kierans, pp. 313-326. Toronto: Emond Montgomery Publications, 2010.
