The set of sketches explain that technology gives people the opportunity to present themselves in the most positive way possible, hiding away their insecurities and troubles by simply editing them away or deciding not to share certain content publicly. The cameraman framing his shot to just include the happy panda while a cage full of others sit on the outside represents how information is taken out of context. The happy couple’s Instagram selfie shown on a phone screen while they fight in the background shows how people only show the highlights of their life ‘show reel‘ to be perceived as happy and above their peers.

Madison Ganda (2014) observes that with the rise of social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr people are striving to become more social and popular with how they present themselves online, creating a digital persona only showing the best of their lives. Ganda takes an example from Goffman’s study (1959) that explains people take the roles of actors and viewers in their social lives; these two roles simultaneously flip as everyone tries to create a certain image of themselves until finally going ‘backstage’ where they can strip off those layers and be their raw self.

With digital media progressing at such a fast pace, it is no surprise that major companies are using technology to their advantage as well. The popular cosmetic brand Cover Girl was approached by the National Security Agency after a mascara advertisement using Taylor Swift as a model gained public attention when excessive amounts of Photoshop manipulation were noticed around her eyes to enhance the mascara being put on show. The ad was banned in the U.S sparking a crack down on image deception to consumers (David S Waler. 2015). This example shows both the negative and positive sides to modern technology, due to social media people were able to speak up and bring attention to the false branding a large company tried to get away with.

This can also be looked at from a more political point of view with media outlets presenting themselves as a trustworthy source of information for the people, but are in fact working with the interest of their sponsors or a higher party. Often the manipulation in an article or news segment is the information they have chosen to leave out (Michael Parenti, 1997). Parenti goes on to argue that this media bias affects social constructs such as ‘privatisation over public reforms’, ‘high income Caucasian majorities over low income ethnic minorities’ as well as ‘right winged over left wing political parties’.

News can be widespread with in minutes through technology, the issue here is that false information can be spread to the public rapidly but due to the internet opening up opportunities for not just large business but the average person to share knowledge, this information can be opposed and discussed further.

Bibliography

Ganda, Madison 2014. Social Media and Self: Influences on the Formation of Identity and Understanding of Self through Social Networking Sites, University Honours Theses, Portland, U.S.

Parenti, M 1997. Methods of Media Manipulation, The Humanist, Washington D.C. U.S.

Waller, D 2015. Photoshop and Deceptive Advertising: An Analysis of Blog Comments, Red Fame Publishing, U.S.