I was reading the news and came across a term I rather enjoyed: info-ethics. It means the new set of values associated with media. The idea can be compared to another nascent term, bio-ethics. Bio-ethics makes me think of horrible scenarios of biological warfare, just as info-ethics should bring to light the danger of the new media age we live in. Practices like hyper-profiling have already become common in advertising, while media are taking there place as the number one provider of information to the public -more so than government institutions, family or peers. With so many media reaching such a large population, the practices and ethics of media become increasingly important. As does the fact that the big five media giants are growing, as independent media are still shrinking. Kids are receiving only prepackaged, profit-intensive, made-for-TV messages about important issues, like dating, drugs, rebellion and family values. Cultures are being lost in the endless static of mass media monotony. The best solution I see is to reconnect to the community. Encourage kids to think for themselves. Fight the big media corporations with guerrilla media literacy tactics. Stand up for what is right...
