Studies Linking Media and Personal Safety

Studies Linking Media and Personal SafetyStudies have shown that certain people tend to be more likely to give them self-reports of risk when a research paper discusses political, religious, and media discussions in the current society. For instance, students in an introductory psychology class would be more likely to report a personal risk when the discussion is on political issues than if it were about race relations, urban versus rural areas, or poverty rates. Researchers have also noted that subjects were more likely to report having personally experienced a hazard when it was in relation to a controversial topic. Some subjects also reported a personal risk if it involved someone they knew personally.Furthermore, some people tend to worry about their safety and well-being based on past or present events when some specific groups are mentioned. A study in the journal Sociological Inquiry found that subjects who are in a network of other members were significantly more likely to re spond to a survey if the topic was 'political, social, and cultural.'The connection between certain media topics and personal risks of personal safety has been researched for years and more recently has gained media attention. The media has published articles on this relationship on several occasions. For instance, in 2020, a New York Times piece noted, 'The Current Political Environment is Associated With Increased Danger For Women and Teenagers.'Bioterrorism has also been linked to the current political climate. A study published in the Journal of Communication in February of this year found that the current political environment was associated with increasing support for bioterrorism activities such as aerial surveillance and genetically modified organisms. The authors of the study, led by Jennifer C. Loucks, associate professor of communication at Emory University, claimed that the increase in bioterrorism concerns was related to increased federal interest in surveillance.In the same vein, the media often report on any instances of threats of bioterrorism. 'There is a view that the study of bioterrorism is very new and therefore there is very little in the way of research,' said Beth Stevens, assistant professor of communication at the University of California, Berkeley. 'That doesn't reflect what really happened in the past; bioterrorism has been around since the 1950s, so this is an incredibly old form of threat.'The studies that have focused on the link between media and personal safety have not established one definite cause for the relationship. One theory puts it in terms of exposure to a number of different media genres, including films, television shows, and interactive media such as video games. Another theory suggests that it is the effects of today's current society on political and religious discussions that impact the personal safety of the general public.With media and other forms of interactive media being created and produced on a global sc ale, the research may become even more relevant in the coming years. The media we consume is constantly evolving, so it makes sense that we will continue to have an influence on other people around the world.Additionally, public awareness of bioterrorism or the knowledge of how we can prevent future occurrences may also help lead to changes in media topics and scenarios. As more media organizations to discuss how to incorporate a more positive and balanced approach to the current political and media landscape, it becomes easier to be proactive in our ability to protect ourselves and the general public.