Big Tech and Media Influence: An Exploration
Big Tech and Media Influence: An Exploration
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Big Tech and Media Influence: An Exploration
What do you already know about big tech in media?
Our Aim for This Lesson
At the end of the lesson you will be able to explain the role of big tech companies in media spaces and critically evaluate their impacts on media distribution, consumption, and society.
Who Are the Big Techs?
Big tech refers to leading technology companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, which have substantial influence on digital media.
Media Spaces and Digital Platforms
Media spaces are digital environments where content is created, shared, and consumed. Big techs provide and control platforms where much of today’s media activity occurs.
How Do Big Techs Shape Media?
Content Distribution
Algorithmic Controls
Algorithms decide which news and content people see, influencing public perception and discourse.
Big techs distribute vast amounts of media, setting rules for what can be posted or shared.
Social Media and News
Social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have become primary news sources. This shift changes how people receive and trust news information.
The Power of Personalisation
Personalisation can create ‘filter bubbles’, where users are only exposed to content matching their preferences, potentially limiting diverse opinions.
Opportunities and Challenges
Risks include monopolisation, misinformation, privacy invasion, and limited media plurality.
Big techs enhance connectivity, offer convenient access, and support diverse content creation.
Concerns
Benefits
Case Study: Social Media and Elections
Examine how big tech platforms have influenced recent elections with targeted ads, misinformation, and algorithmic prioritisation of content.
Big Tech Regulation Efforts
Governments and organisations are seeking to regulate big tech influence on media to promote transparency, ensure accountability, and protect users’ rights.
Reflecting on Media Consumption
Consider how your own news consumption might be shaped by big tech. What steps can you take to ensure media literacy and avoid bias?
Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.
Write down 2 things you want to know more about.
Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.
