Modern life is heavily influenced by technology. This technology is central to making life more convenient, straightforward, and enjoyable. It is the core or pivotal element that supports and enhances various aspects of our daily lives and interactions. Such technology is the traditional media (radio, television, newspaper, magazine, etc) and the internet (social networking sites).
Although technology offers much enjoyable and beneficial advancement, it also comes with risks and potential for misuse. While people benefit from technology’s conveniences and improvements, there are also dangers and negative consequences that need to be considered and managed. The negative aspects or potential misuses of media technology are evident in diverse ways, including the ethical, social, and moral issues that can arise from the use of it, such as privacy violations, dependency, misinformation, and security risks.
The radio and television are broadcast technologies that preceded the digital information technology era dominated by the internet and computing. These broadcast media, particularly the television, with its audio-visual quality, revolutionised and shrunk the world to a global community.
The television, with its ability to deliver both sound and images, has significantly transformed global communication. Its audio-visual quality allows for a more immersive and engaging way to share information and entertainment. As a result, television has helped make the world feel smaller by providing people with access to global events, cultures, and perspectives, effectively creating a more unified global community.
Traditional media channels (television, radio, newspaper, magazines, etc) are regimented and typically operate under established rules and ethical guidelines, which help ensure responsible and regulated content delivery. In contrast, social media often lack such stringent oversight, leading to a more unregulated environment where content can spread more freely but without the same level of ethical control.
The social media platforms, with their greater freedom compared to traditional media, allow users to share and publish content that traditional media might censor or restrict. As a result, the spread of information has become more democratised, meaning that a wider range of voices and perspectives can be shared and accessed rather than being limited by the constraints of traditional media gatekeepers.
But there are inherent risks associated with immersing oneself too deeply in media content. This can include issues like distorted perceptions of realit or exposure to harmful or misleading information. Succinctly, being overly absorbed in media can have negative impacts on one’s mental health and understanding of the world. For instance, the Punch newspaper (1st January, 2022) reported that a kidnapper who was apprehended in Ogun State admitted that watching Nollywood’s Zubby Michael in movies inspired him to commit the crime. The actor sometimes plays the character of a criminal. Additionally, the media’s frequent hype of the humongous ransoms paid by victims’ families might be exacerbating the kidnapping menace in Nigeria.
This situation can be better deciphered through Cultivation and Framing Theories in mass communication. Cultivation Theory suggests that repeated exposure to media content can influence viewers to imitate what they see, while Framing Theory explains how the media’s emphasis on certain words or images can shape perceptions and drive behaviours, often prioritising sensationalism over informative storytelling. In essence, the media have the potential to sway people’s psyche.
The former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, validated the aforementioned when she remarked that the mass media provide ‘oxygen of publicity’ for terrorists and criminals. The media coverage provides essential attention and visibility to these individuals or groups. Just as oxygen is vital for sustaining life, media attention sustains and amplifies the activities and impact of terrorists and criminals by giving them publicity and a platform, which can encourage their actions and increase their influence.
Similarly, a Professor of Journalism, Ralph Akinfeleye of the University of Lagos, also argued that while the mass media are traditionally known as the ‘Fourth Estate of the Realm’ (a crucial pillar of democratic society), they can become the ‘Fourth Estate of the Wreck’ when they engage in sensationalist reporting. In other words, instead of serving as a constructive force that supports and strengthens society, sensationalist media practices can undermine and damage it.
Sensationalism is an ethical issue as it evokes emotions and impact over accuracy and responsible reporting. It sacrifices truthfulness and responsibility for the sake of attracting attention. The approach often involves exaggerating or distorting information to generate interest, boost viewership, listenership or readership, and sales. This compromises the integrity of media and can have far-reaching negative consequences for both individuals and society.
In curbing the menace of kidnapping-for-ransom and other related crimes, all the state censors’ boards should take a cue from the Kano State Censors Board, which recently decided to ban films and prosecute filmmakers and television channels that depict kidnapping-related crimes.
No doubt, the mass media globally thrive on violent crimes like kidnapping. But while the Nigerian media (to a considerable extent) savour a measure of freedom in performing their obligations, it behoves on them as purveyors of news and information to be imbued with a social responsibility in mitigating criminal activities by refraining from sensationalising the ransoms paid for the release of kidnapping victims.
Headlines and stories could be crafted without emphasising ransom amounts to prevent influencing vulnerable and unemployed individuals from engaging in criminal behaviour.
Odaro, a columnist, lectures in the Department of Mass Communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
