Media Regulation Essay

"Media Regulation today is complex and becoming more and more difficult". To what extent do you agree with this question?

Media regulation takes into consideration issues or morality and decency, and we can see how in modern media there are several arguments in reference to the accuracy of content in media ownership. This topic has recently become a global issue frequently debated and it is largely due to the proliferation of the internet and access to technology that has made this issue increasing difficult.

There comes about the question of whether or not regulation can be done successfully without violating personal freedoms. Media regulation sets limits to freedom and is motivated by a desire to control media against negative consequences to the public and their general wellbeing. The regulation of web content is a complex area which touches on issues such as freedom of speech, censorship, and jurisdiction. There is also the question of defining what is subjectively offensive and what actually qualifies as harmful and illegal, which would take precedence over offensive content. Big tech conglomerates should be held accountable to regulate media on their platforms, because while sites such as Facebook and Twitter allows us to share information, they have also become places for illegal and harmful content to thrive. Responsibility is being shifted more and more to online platforms while legislations are adopting the approach to regulate illegal or potentially harmful content. "To help keep our community safe we haven't waited for regulation; we've created new technology, hired expert reviewers, worked with external specialists, and reviewed our policies to ensure they're fit for evolving challenges we face online". - YouTube UK. However, in some scenarios artificial intelligence is starting to be used to monitor and manage content, despite arguments debating that first it needs to be done by humans before being automated.

The speed of the internet is also a huge issue because of the copious amounts of content being uploaded and how quickly it spreads. This has only been made possible due to the change in audience behaviours over time. Clay Shirky brings this up in his 'end of audience' theory where the term 'prosumer' has been used to describe how audiences are now creating their own content and are no longer just consuming media, but creating it as well. Because of this, and the platforms that are held responsible, they might then take down more content that necessary since there is so much at stake for them as these large tech companies are being held accountable. Particularly, since the spread of Covid, many audiences switched to online and streaming platforms, making it even more difficult for regulatory bodies to process and control new media. For example, there are 4.63 million New Zealanders that have access to the internet (out of a population of just over 5 million), and there are more than 30,000 hours of video being uploaded to YouTube each day globally since people can now make their own media, and since this new media is no longer being rated and regulated in physical copies where media was brought in by ships (old media), it is not physically possible for people to be able to sort through all the content that technology has allowed us to mass create.

Censorship plays a significant role in media regulation, as audiences are exposed to more media, fueled by the rapid progression of the internet and Web 2.0. There are several issues that are brought up in terms of what should and shouldn't be censored as people have differing ideologies and opinions on what is harmful and just offensive. In New Zealand, the Offensive Publications Act 1892 was published as NZ's first censorship legislation, which banned any picture of printed or written matter which was of an indecent, immoral, or obscene nature. This was replaced by the Police Act in 1908, and new acts are being revised and published in regards to censoring publications to keep up with the fast paced and constantly changing society we live in. The difference between what countries deem appropriate to publish is seen through the different age ratings between countries, for example the Tv show 13 Reasons Why was rated 15+ in Australia but R18 in New Zealand, and this shows how different countries have different ideas over what is acceptable to show and release to the general public. As a result of tight regulations enforced, especially onto these large tech conglomerates, there has been over-removal of content as they can face severe backlash and to ensure that harmful content and things such as misinformation is not showed or published. This is seen across several global platforms, including content created by 'prosumers' specifically on YouTube, which has brought about arguments over removing free speech and expression. However, it is not necessarily issues about freedom of expression, but rather the fact that platforms such as YouTube and Google depend on user-generated content as this is how they make their money and profits, which is also done in relation to illegal content and copyrights; and this is possibly why there is also the under-removal of content. Though it may not be intentional in most cases, it is yet another easy way for these platforms to generate profit.

Media fragmentation has occurred more recently since modern audiences and society as a whole is centered around technology and are so dependent on the internet. Now, there is an increasing consumption and choice between a range of media. Due to technological convergence, families have been divided as individuals now have access to their own devices. As a result of this, parents are no longer the gatekeepers that prevent children from seeing certain topics or movies. Additionally, majority of sites and streaming platforms are global, and not limited to just the country's sites and information, allowing for more access to shows and publications. Streaming platforms such as Netflix has put passwords on certain age restricted content as a way to prevent younger audiences from viewing inappropriate material. However, this may not help as much as it was set out to do because children can easily figure out the 4 digit password, resulting in them gaining access to content that they may not realise isn't appropriate for them. 

Regulation on social media is becoming increasingly difficult as many people have come to use social media platforms as a space to share their perspectives and ideas, and voicing their opinions by their 'free speech' rights. However, it is as if these platforms only allow freedom of speech if it lines up with their own personal ideologies, or what they think is 'right'. A recent example of this is Donald Trump being banned from Facebook and Twitter for publicly expressing his opinions, although some of these and the facts he shared were considered misinformation - yet another concept that is considered in censorship and regulation. As a result of this, the former President of the USA was cancelled. Cancel culture has become a more prominent feature seen on social media platforms, which makes it hard to discern between voicing your opinions that might be offensive to some people or actually producing harmful content. Media censors have had to try keep up with the ever-growing media content being uploaded and take down or delete footage that may be harmful to the public. Even games released that contain a fair amount of violence is considered harmful and the New Zealand game 'Manhunt' was banned in 2003 - the first video game banned in NZ - for potentially resulting in attitudinal shifts that can teach people to take enjoyment in inciting violence, cruelty and suffering. Despite published content being needed to regulated, online footage that is livestreamed is perhaps one of the most important things that need to be monitored as it is something that can't be edited or predicted. For example, on March 15, 2019 in New Zealand, two mosque shootings in Christchurch were livestreamed onto Facebook for 17 minutes before it was taken down. Due to the large amounts of media to sort through, it was made difficult to be able to take the footage down before it was seen by thousands of people. Although only 200 people viewed it live, the video was viewed 4000 times before it was removed. 

Due to the complex nature of the internet and how rapidly it is changing as well as the sheer volume of people using it at once, regulating content is extremely difficult. There is simply not enough people to be able to keep up with how much content is being produced and published at one given time. The internet has become a place that is no longer being used for its original purpose, for example Facebook was originally created to connect Harvard students with one another, but has expanded to accommodate to people's wants and needs as well as giving them a voice to express their concerns, opinions, and moments from their everyday lives. Because of this change, more people are connected on a global scale and are therefore exposed to more than ever before, the good and the bad, and as a result of this, regulation laws and acts need to be established to control this and keep the general wellbeing of the public safe.