Parenting, social media and self-love
There are very few ways of saying, “I know what your child looks like, their DoB, their diagnosis (and therefore suitability as a witness), and where they go to school,” without sounding overtly threatening. I should probably contextualise that. I have an unhealthy interest in Mummy Facebook pages and mom bloggers. They fascinate me. They also make me feel better about some of my parenting choices. But I’ve read the tales of tantrums and thrown food and wondered where it ends. The story about little Hugo discovering his penis at the age of two is [...]
Owls, bureaucrats and the words we use
Media literacy is predicated on a foundation of certain criteria, without which it cannot exist. One of which is access. Not just in terms of devices, but a capacity to use it. As such, basic, traditional literacy and language skills are as important as an internet connection when it comes to being able to access the media. Many of the people reading this will have learned English as a second language. Therefore, they know how absurd it is. That there is no good reason why lead and lead should not sound the same. “Two” and [...]
Elections and social media: something to worry about?
Have you ever asked yourself about your political orientation? Do you know who to vote for in European, national or local elections? Where do you collect information to form your political opinion? No wonder all these questions are important during elections in the era of social media, because they determine, directly (as in the case of your political orientation, if clearly shown), or indirectly (as in the case of your sources of information), if you are likely to be the target of specific political messages on social platforms and online. Despite the awareness of political [...]
Media Literacy and Common Sense in the EU
Thomas Jefferson stated ‘’a democratic society depends on an informed and educated citizenry’’ and while he may have faced different specific issues in his time, the principal remains applicable today. The issue we are facing? Fake news, disinformation, distrust, hate speech and polarization within our societies. Not one European country can claim that this isn’t present and appearing to be increasing. Post-truth was voted word of the year in 2016 by the Oxford Dictionary and seems to describe very well the current situation in that now it seems that facts are less important or influential [...]
Is social media encouraging the rise of Euroscepticism?
This is a very ambiguous question. So, lets break it down. In an era where European democracy is contested, the media is a key area for political actors and individuals alike to express their opinion, more so their discontented ones. Where right-wing content is shared it attracts more attention and therefore more responses and shares, spreading it further. As highlighted in research by Rania Wazir and Alison Langley of DW (2018), ‘’posts on right-wing and populist politician’s feeds generate more offensive comments than those on the feeds of center or left politian’s.’’ So, it would [...]
The fairytale of Europe
Once upon a time we had a dream, that dream was called European Union. Everything started with a fellow called Euroconstructivism. He was an orphan, and he didn’t know where he came from. He spent his childhood wandering around different countries, at the same time charmed by the beauty of the landscape and horrified by the damage war had caused. He met a lot of people along the way and with them had a great idea: fund a team where they could be all together, and take decisions together to improve the places where they [...]
Beyond Parody – is satire a form of fake news?
I’ll level with you – I’m not entirely certain that flat earthers aren’t having fun at our expense. As conspiracy theories go, this one is, on the face of it, relatively harmless. It is entirely possible that the Global Society of Flat Earthers are just having a laugh. After all, it’s the sort of thing I say to my brother at Christmas just to watch his head explode. I think there’s a glitch in my brain that simply cannot conceive that anyone could believe something so ludicrous. Like the Dunning-Kruger effect in reverse. However, judging [...]
Fight disinformation with Media Literacy
Media Literacy alone will never be enough, and the path towards its inclusion in European legislation is still ongoing. Is Media Literacy just a blurred concept or can we try to break it down into it in different aspects? Education should address all of these facets: from the communicative power of the images, to propaganda, passing through storytelling and fact-checking. EAVI staff attended the “Fight Disinformation with Media Literacy” event held on the 13th of November 2018, which focused on precisely these topics. The meeting was an initiative of the Evens Foundation, organized with Media [...]
Does the claim about the lack of democracy in Europe count as Euroscepticism?
When was Euroscepticism born? Difficult and tricky question! Some would claim that Euroscepticism is as old as European Union, some others would say the iron lady Margaret Thatcher was the first to inspire it. [ref] Margaret Thatcher’s position can’t be summarised in one word: basically she was in favour of European Union, as long as it regarded trade and defense, and instead opposing it as the symbol of the centralisation of power in a federalist conception. [/ref] It can be affirmed both the statements are true! But why? Euroscepticism has a lot of facets, including rejectionist [...]
Anti-Vaxxers and the Decline of Trust in Intellect and Expertise
A short history of anti-vaccination movements, anti-intellectualism and fake news. In 1998, the now discredited Andrew Wakefield, then a British Doctor, published a study in the British medical journal The Lancet, claiming that there was a link between the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine and autism. This link has been thoroughly discredited, Wakefield’s study has been proven completely unreliable and unethical, and he himself has been struck off. It is a lie that has persistently stuck around, however, to the point that measles outbreaks are beginning to pose a public health risk in Europe. [...]
