FACES AND FACTS AND MANY FACETS BREAKING NEWS THE FEED KILLED THE HIERARCHY     BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS IS RARELY BREAKING, NOR IS IT NEWS  

A SELF-CENSORED,
PUBLIC-FACING, DIGITAL BROADSHEET
HERE TO RESENSITISE




THE VIOLENT MEDIA YOU VIEW HAS AN IMPACT ON YOU. YOU CAN LOOK AWAY!







BREAKING!
Censorship can only do so much!
You can turn this machine off.









Fear-mongering is on the up. There’s more sensationalism than ever. Promoting mental well-being, critical thinking and careful awarenes is just not enough. We are not all media literate; therefore, we are not empowered.  We consume too much and we know too little. It’s easy to forget that it’s easier to just STOP.  Violent imagery is now shared instantaneously and globally. We choose to view it. This democratisation of news dissemination also leads to a spread of violent sensationalism, misinformation and emotionally charged content. Switch Off.


We’ve seen too much already. Through overexposure to social media, news and TV culture, we’ve witnessed genocide, corruption and global chaos. All from the comfort and stability of our sturdy Ikea sofas. Something feels deeply wrong about this type of media consumption. When does displaying death become pornography? If this media is publicly spread (without the victim’s consent), when do the faceless, heartless media conglomerates begin being held accountable for the violations they are committing?
           The line between public interest and corporate perversion has been completely blurred. We find ourselves wanting to stay updated and informed by the news, so we can stay honest, so we can sleep at night. But all this violence has us losing sleep anyway. Social media algorithms, designed to maximise user engagement, often prioritise sensationalist narratives and provocative imagery, amplifying their already-impressive impact on impressionable audiences. 
            Too much exposure to violent imagery is a particularly concerning consequence of this phenomenon. With constant access to graphic images and videos through social media feeds, individuals are increasingly exposed to traumatic content, which can desensitise them to real-world violence and exacerbate feelings of fear and anxiety. We must resensitise ourselves. Amidst this deluge of sensationalist and fearmongering media, several strategies can be employed.
            Developing media literacy skills can enable individuals to critically evaluate the credibility and reliability of news sources, discerning between factual reporting and sensationalist narratives.  Limiting exposure to violent imagery by setting strict boundaries for media consumption and engaging in activities that promote emotional well-being can help mitigate the negative impact of this overexposure. 
 But this is not enough. We can turn off our phones. We must aim to foster an open- minded dialogue, seeking out diverse perspectives that can promote empathy and understanding, countering the violent, unrealistic narratives so often perpetuated by sensationalist media. We need to see the other side, understand how those we disagree with have established their own opinions, and avoid any content that fosters and encourages unjust hatred.
           Fighting fear-mongering, starts with you. It requires media literacy, critical thinking and emotional resilience. FACETS can introduce you to some of these ideas. It is our public service. 
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