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Fairness in a Viral Video World
One media trend needing repair is the trend of instantaneous public shaming. The YouTube viral video media machine is constantly hungry, demanding more and more servings of content. Labels: Content, enough, Meltdown, public shaming, Viral Video, YouTube
When is enough enough?
Celebrities melt down, insult innocent people in a stereotypical way and show off their private indiscretions in viral video that spreads around the world: the public eats it up. Or elected politicians make boneheaded and hypocritical decisions, spurring bloggers and other amateur "journalists" to mock them endlessly while attracting a mob mentality that happily add their own comments. Jackass thrill seekers record on digital video their idiot stunts so we can laugh at them.
These are all legit candidates for public shaming.
Some people get dragged in through no fault of their own. And mainstream media often joins in the flogging practice favored by viral video sites and blogs. Sometimes someone has to step in to say "enough is enough", as this football coach did this past weekend. We need more of this action from the public and less misplaced shaming.
posted by Unknown @ Tuesday, September 25, 2007,
