Week 1 Blog

Week One Topics

 About Me

    Hello everyone, my name is Cole Amine and I was born and raised on the island of Oahu in Hawai'i. I'm currently a 4th year student dual-enrolling at both LBCC and OSU. I'm slated to graduate at the end of this term with degrees in accounting and finance. Following graduation, I have a job lined up in financial audit. However, looking long-term, I eventually want to pivot to more financial advisory or deals consulting. Going into media, I'm curious to learn how media influences public perception on certain topics. Outside of school and career aspirations, I enjoy golfing, traveling, and listening to music! 

  Information I Consume

    I would say my three main sources of information is TikTok, Instagram, and X (Twitter). I also scroll through Wall Street Journal and Reuters from time to time for market news. I would consider these my "go-to" sources of information because of its accessibility. I'm normally on these different social media platforms daily, so when news pop up on my feed it's right there for me to see. In terms of reliability, TikTok and X is full of bias with many sources expressing their individual opinion. However, I typically use these sources to grab my attention on certain topics and then later conduct my own research if necessary. Whereas, with WSJ and Reuters, there is much more credibility when it comes to their sources of information. 

    When it comes to "fake news", I'm heavily concerned about spreading this onto social media platforms which can amplify misinformation. When I try to determine what's accurate and what's not, I like to clarify or cross-check by asking questions or referring to other reliable sources. Then, if everything check out it gives me the okay for me to pass along the information. 

    The question, "What obligation do social media platforms have to the greater good?" is a complex and compelling topic. I think first and foremost, social media platforms have an obligation to protect user privacy and security data. This includes being transparent about how user data is collected, used, and shared and giving users the ability to control their information. Breaches in privacy or exploitation of data for financial gain (such as through manipulation or targeted ads) can erode trust and harm users. However, I believe social media platforms don't have an obligation to promote truthful and accurate information. In my personal opinion, it's tough to deny an individual's freedom of speech. Of course, I would love all social media platforms to promote what's right and wrong in the world, but in reality, are full of bias and "stans" which forces people to choose sides. As a result, this distorts an objective stance.