Module 4

Media and Information Literacy

Leandro M. Sampayan Jr. Grade 12 – GAS – A April 25, 2021

Being a Responsible User of Media

Media is considered as one of the most powerful tools in providing information to people
or in society. Media is part of our daily lives. It informs, influences, and entertains us. Not
only they inform us, they have also the capability in shaping our lives.
Advertisements shown on television or even in the internet can affect the viewers. Some
contains violence, nudity or anything that is inappropriate to the viewers who are
children or under age. They might think the information on that certain advertisement is
correct without proper guidance from the parents. In the internet, there is no censorship
when it comes to information resulting to some users to take this as an advantage to
spread false information all over the web. That is the reason that there are some users
who were victimized by scammers, bullies and etc. Medias has biases also. They have the
power to manipulate thus making viewers to believe on the information they insinuate.
But all of those negativities written above can be abide. Parents must be vigilant on what
their children are watching. They must ensure that it is age appropriate. Users in the
internet must check the authenticity of the information. They must check the origin of it
to avoid fallacy. Never post something too personal like bank numbers, address or any
that might put you in jeopardy. Always consider one’s privacy. In detecting biases in
media, look for the sources if it involves political perspectives. Check if the headline and
actual article matches. Sometimes it contains double standards. Look who’s point of
view is the article is written and find alternate point of views. Biased information tries to
change your mind so as an individual we must not believe immediately.   
Our main source of to get information is the media. Without media, we will never be
updated on the day-today events that is happening in our surrounding. Media is used to
raise awareness but sometimes they use it for biases. In using the media, we must follow
some rules and etiquettes. Information is powerful but we must not abuse it. We must
turn ourselves as responsible users. Media has two sides, the positive and the negative. It
can help us but it has the capability to destroy us. But it all depends on us. If we let them
continue to do those negative things, we are only letting them play our lives. But if we
become vigilant, we can truly avoid or stop those things. Responsibility is a big word. But
it is one the things that are inevitable. Every individual plays a role in the society and a
responsibility to take. There is one saying that serves as a reminder, “With great power
comes great responsibility.”