Sample Reaction Piece

How Media Socializes

SOCIAL COMPARISON

We hold others’ attributes up to our own in order to learn what our culture values as well as to gauge how well we fit into that landscape. We do it all the time, usually without even realizing, and we do it with a goal in mind (e.g. to bridge any perceived gap). In this wildly subjective means of comparing, motivations range; some compare themselves with those perceived as inferior to them, in order to feel better about themselves. Others fare less rosily, when they chose to compare to those they perceive as superior. Consequences of this behavior—mainly in regard to self-esteem—differ from comparison to comparison, based on the motivations and perceptions involved.

SOCIAL IDENTITY

            We are molded by the social groups we are—or aren’t—a part of. We usually sort ourselves into groups, and these groups usually sort themselves into a perceived hierarchy (with “intergroup comparisons”). Both the media and shared interests aid in the alignment of social groupings.

SOCIAL COGNITION

            Vicariously, we can learn from others’ experiences. This contrasts the behavioralist’s theory which is restricts learning to direct experience. We chose to gain wisdom from others based on the perceived reward for doing so, if it will steer us toward social acceptance, and how relevant it is to our own lives. Media personalities as well as those we know personally serve as examples from which can learn.

CULTIVATION

            Our beliefs and perceptions about reality are cultivated by the consistent themes we see on television. White males! Middle to upper class! Sports! Violence! We see those frequently represented on our screens and therefore assume their appearances convey a truth about the world outside.

           

While reading this I could not help but think about an article I just read yesterday—and other similar articles I’ve read in the past few months—blasting Taylor Swift for acquiring and so publicly displaying her particular group of friends. The article I read last night on Mic.com specifically critiques Swift’s use of the term “squad goals” as having a negative effect on the millions of fans, specifically of the female variety, who perceive her squad. Her squad is, of course, a cohort of shiny, skinny, sexy young things. Their attractiveness is unattainable for the average TSwift fan, yet they see their idol so effortlessly parade around, mostly on Instagram, with such company. “Engaging in social comparison was related to feeling dissatisfied with one’s body for nearly every physical attribute for both boys and girls,” the article states. Each time an “average” person sees the physicality of Swift and her friends on Instagram, she is prompted to compare herself to them. This is dangerous.

Swift may be trying to eclipse her reputation as “serial dater” with that of “serial befriender,” but it comes across to many—including me—as unfair. She is using a social group to benefit her perceived social identity, while her fans aren’t quite of the age to properly judge reality. They assume it’s normal. When I recall all the Myspace photos of the “cool girls” from my grade growing up, I can only remember how insecure they made me feel. The girls were smiling in all the photos, and that’s what frustrated me so. They were framing themselves as lovely, happy people—just as Taylor Swift is—but they were just using the public platform of the Internet, I suspect, as a means to establish their social identities as pretty-people-parading-around-together. They didn’t need to post photos online, but they did. The social comparison that such public photos invite is what is potentially harmful. It harmed me, albeit lightly (and I’ve since recovered), then, and it will continue to harm young people for as long as those we see in the media perpetuate it.