Blog Post #3 - Dawson Smith

    Social media has become the norm in society as we increasingly rely on these platforms for news, information, and public interaction. It is a very convenient way of communicating because a variety of platforms are accessible and have the ability to reach people globally. Furthermore, Matrix's theories also call into question the sources of the information, the level of control it may exert, and even its capacity to influence viewers. The issue highlighted in The Guardian article is Facebook's knowledge of the negative implications of social comparisons on Instagram. Unfortunately, coercion has been heavily used in the growth of social media, not by threatening people, but rather by using social media as a potent tool to divert people from reality and change their views. This exposes people to unrealistic expectations and viewpoints about how they should look (in this situation). 

    In theory, suppression is being used on various platforms since Facebook tried to hide the information. The same corporation (Meta), who owns and controls both applications, presents individuals (like girls) with these unrealistic expectations while simultaneously being aware of their negative consequences. Despite acknowledging how serious these findings are, there is no plan in place to change Instagram's adverse effects.

    I believe that the introduction of filters within Instagram only perpetuates the issue. ​​These extra features encourage body-distorting aspects to create a false reality, rather than attempting to lessen the amount of social comparison that takes place within the app. Young, impressionable females see these filters in action and mistakenly think they are normal when in actuality, they are not.

    In conclusion, these platforms are profiting off people's sadness, consequently just another marketing tool they hold over the users. This marketing tool Facebook and Instagram have used is an example of hegemony, as it: “Ability to shape the values that people use to determine their goals” (PowerPoint, Unit I and II, Slide 24).

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