Media and Communication Review

Understanding How Instagram Usage Influences Self-Image: A Case of Pakistan

Saadia Anwar Pasha, Shazia Hashmat — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:55:32 +0000

Instagram has emerged as a leading social networking platform, particularly favored by young audience due to its free entertainment, ease of use, and opportunities for social interaction. Therefore, this study explores users' attitudes toward beauty trends, social media influencers, and the impact of Instagram on university students' self-perception, especially in terms of comparing themselves to others. The research is conducted with a sample of 50 university students from Lahore, Pakistan, using Structural Equation Modeling. Based on the Self-Perception theory, findings showed that Instagram users usually compared themselves with others, leading to negative feelings about their own lives and self-worth. Moreover, the content related to beauty standards on Instagram tends to make users feel dissatisfied with their appearances. Some users even idolize Instagram celebrities, viewing them as models to emulate, while others regard them as ordinary people. This admiration drives interest in beauty and weight loss products aimed at achieving a celebrity-like appearance. However, the weight loss photos are not particularly motivating, but the images related to workouts tend to inspire users more. The results affirmed that the ideals influence users promoted on Instagram and experience pressure from these ideals, leading to the conclusions drawn in our research.

Cyberbullying and its Impact on Mental Health among Female University Students in Sindh, Pakistan: A Case Study

Mukhtar Ahmmad, Nasir Iqbal, Wafa Naz — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:00:38 +0000

This case study aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of cyberbullying on the mental health of female university students in Sindh, Pakistan. The study used Social Dominance Theory (SDT) and Routine Activities Theory (RAT) to interpret the psychological consequences of cyberbullying, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. The assessment of cyberbullying was conducted through a self-administered survey questionnaire comprising 20 items. The internal consistency of all items within the scale exhibited robust reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.859). A total of one hundred and eighty-two (182) female students actively participated in the research, engaging with the survey deployed on the Google Forms platform from April 12^th, 2023, to September 27^th, 2023. Of the participating individuals, 40.6% (74 respondents) indicated they had not encountered cyberbullying in recent months. In contrast, 59.34% (108 participants) reported experiencing cyberbullying incidents. The responses of the latter group were meticulously employed for the conclusive statistical analyses of this study. The outcomes significantly underscore an alarming escalation in the prevalence of cyberbullying within the female student population of Pakistan. Moreover, a noteworthy revelation emerged, wherein 47.2% of the respondents disclosed that they had opted for no action in response to the cyberbullying episodes they had encountered. In contrast, 17.6% acknowledged resorting to confiding in their parents after being subjected to online harassment. These outcomes emphasize the critical necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate the far-reaching implications of cyberbullying and its detrimental psychological repercussions on female students. The findings point to the pressing requirement for educational institutions and policymakers to address the rising tide of cyber victimization in Pakistan.

In contrast, 59.34% (108 participants) reported experiencing cyberbullying incidents. The responses of the latter group were meticulously employed for the conclusive statistical analyses of this study. The outcomes significantly underscore an alarming escalation in the prevalence of cyberbullying within the female student population of Pakistan. Moreover, a noteworthy revelation emerged, wherein 47.2% of the respondents disclosed that they had opted for no action in response to the cyberbullying episodes they had encountered. In contrast, 17.6% acknowledged resorting to confiding in their parents after being subjected to online harassment. These outcomes starkly emphasize the critical necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate the far-reaching implications of cyberbullying and its detrimental psychological repercussions on female students.

Promoting Peace in Pakistan through Religious Tourism: Strategies, Impact, and Challenges

Sajid Hussain, Asim Manzoor, Hassan Javaid — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:04:21 +0000

Religious tourism has grown in popularity in recent years due to its immense potential to promote peace and interfaith understanding. This study examines religious tourism in Pakistan and its role in fostering peace by examining its tactics, effects, and difficulties. Our research investigates the changing environment of religious tourism and its broader implications for diplomacy and cross-cultural interaction through surveys and in-depth interviews with religious tourists, local populations, and stakeholders.

Our research reveals a range of tactics that have been successfully used to advance peace through religious tourism. Interfaith dialogues and events, cultural exchange efforts, heritage preservation, inter-religious cooperation, and educational programs are significant in fostering tolerance and respect among communities. These strategies emphasize their ability to cross religious barriers and are consistent with earlier findings.

The report also emphasizes religious tourism’s profoundly favorable social and economic effects on Pakistani local communities. Local businesses benefit as religious tourism rises, resulting in better infrastructure and encouraging more cross-cultural interaction. These findings are consistent with previous research, highlighting the critical function of tourism in promoting economic development and intercultural understanding.

However, difficulties and traps must be considered, such as excessive tourism, cultural insensitivity, and security issues. To preserve the authenticity and longevity of religious tourist experiences, it is crucial to take proactive measures to address these concerns.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which has not only improved relations with neighbouring countries but also boosted cross-border cooperation and received favourable worldwide media coverage, serves as an example of the significant diplomatic significance of religious tourism that this research reveals. This diplomatic aspect highlights the potential of religious tourism as a more substantial force for regional peace and world understanding than only in Pakistan.

In a world where religious tensions still exist, Pakistani religious tourism has become a powerful tool for fostering peace. This study will inspire decision-makers, stakeholders, and local communities to work together to realize religious tourism's potential fully. Pakistan may continue to serve as an example of how religious tourism can promote global peace by addressing issues, protecting cultural assets, and fostering interfaith encounters. As this study has demonstrated, pastoral visitors looking to interact, educate themselves, and promote understanding in the land of different faiths may pave the way to peace.

Media and Drug Abuse: A Critical Assessment of the Role of Newspapers in Curbing Drug Abuse among Youth in Nigeria

Monsurat Wonuola — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:06:42 +0000

The youth in Nigeria is bedeviled with series of crime-related activities, such as malpractice, bullying, and drug abuse among others. Drug abuse is the mother of all crimes since it is believed to have the power of making people temporary insane. Mass media as a change agent is saddled with the responsibility to influence societal values in order to uphold national integrity. However, there is an alleged accusation against the Nigerian mass media that it is yet to properly educate youth on the danger inherent in drug abuse. Hence, the current study aimed to explore the newspapers’ role in curbing drug addiction among the Nigerian youth. The study was underpinned by agenda setting and framing theories. Quantitative content analysis and discourse analysis were employed to examine The Punch and Daily Trust newspapers published between January 1^st and March 31^st, 2024. The findings revealed that the Nigerian newspapers condemned the drug menace among youth by focusing more on security implications of drug abuse with little attention paid to societal and health implications of the menace. The study concluded that the Nigerian newspapers play a critical role in enlightening people pertaining to the security threat that accompany the drug abuse among youth. Furthermore, the study recommended that the Nigerian newspapers should employ interpretative approach to drug abuse reporting since this may orient the youth on the danger inherent in the menace. This if done, may empower the youth thereby, enhancing orderliness, national development, and national security in Nigeria

Intentions for Mothers’ Involvement in Social Media Use with their Children

Patrick Udende, Aduragbemi Victoria Ifekoya — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:09:52 +0000

In spite of the remarkable importance of the Internet and social media to society at large and children in particular, the increasing concern about social media excesses remain issues of academic discourse. Premised on this, a study was undertaken with Nigerian mothers. The aim was to ascertain the rationale for mothers’ involvement in social media use with their children specifically on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Instrument of data collection was an online questionnaire adopted from Ryan, Chester and Xenos (2014) to obtain data from a purposively selected sample of 384 mothers, who served as respondents. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 application. Result indicates a significant relationship in social media use between mothers and children, and that mothers predominantly use WhatsApp platform for several purposes and intentions. Findings further indicate mothers’ preference of conversation pattern to conformity pattern of interaction with their children. The study concludes that social media serve as platform that sustains the bond between mothers and their children. It however, recommends moderate use of social media that is briskly supplanting physical mother-child interaction.

Spotlighting the Cankers of Democracy: Politicians’ Dissemination of Fake News and Propaganda in Nigeria

Desmond Onyemechi Okocha, Jemimah Shuna Dogo — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:12:55 +0000

There exists a symbiotic relationship between the media and politics. From military rule in Nigeria to present-day democracy, political actors and public have used media for the exchange of information. While both parties try to influence the news, political actors with wealth and power dominate the media and use it for their personal gains. Hence, the current study aimed to examine the role of politicians in spreading fake news while highlighting some cases. Employing the propaganda model and framing theory, the study used secondary data as well as primary data where quantitative research methodology was used. Three hundred and seventy-three (373) Plateau State residents were purposively selected and analysed for the study. Findings revealed that the heavy use of social media has enabled the politicians to sponsor the spread of fake news which harms democracy practised in Nigeria. The spread and use of propaganda lead towards poor decision-making at the polls. It is therefore, recommended that, media organizations fact-check every piece of information, realign their ideologies, and stop being willing tools of political actors to gain the trust of public.

Rise of Entertainment YouTubers in Pakistan: A Content Analysis of Selected Vloggers

Ghulam Safdar, Andleeb Basharat Abbasi — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:35:18 +0000

Within this vast digital landscape, entertainment vloggers have emerged as prominent figures, captivating audiences with their charismatic personalities, humour, and relatable content. The paper aims to delve into the YouTube realm and presents a comprehensive content analysis of three prominent Pakistani YouTube entertainment vloggers: Ducky Bhai, Maaz Safder World, and Sistrology. Utilising a qualitative approach, the study examines the content, performance, and aesthetics of the vloggers’ videos from December 2023, specifically focusing on the most-viewed ones. The aim is to understand the factors behind their success and popularity on YouTube, exploring their unique characteristics, appeal, and interaction with the audience. The analysis reveals that these vloggers primarily share personal experiences and aspects of their daily lives. Their content often includes humour, family interactions, and exciting travel adventures. They use a conversational style, predominantly in Urdu, with occasional English phrases and slang to connect with a broader audience. In terms of performance, all three vloggers display enthusiasm and curiosity, actively involving their audience and creating a sense of closeness. The authors underscore that central focus of these vloggers is entertainment rather than societal engagement, their substantial number of subscribers raises questions about the interests of the young audience and the potential impact of their content. Future research directions are proposed to explore the broader societal implications and the constructive utilisation of YouTube vloggers’ influence.

Media Coverage of Child Abuse Cases: Impediments and Limitations

Zerish Tasleem, Zermina Tasleem, Aiza Saif — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:39:44 +0000

This study explores the dearth of extensive coverage on child abuse in print media, highlighting its global impact and the intricate relationship between news reporting and instances of abuse. Employing a qualitative research design, it draws from primary and secondary sources, including a content analysis of English and Urdu dailies. The findings reveal a substantial underreporting of child abuse cases, diminishing public awareness of the issue's severity. The interviews with reporters and editors further underscore three key obstacles to comprehensive coverage: the prevalence of unreported cases, inadequate government support, and capacity limitations within media outlets. The study advocates for collaborative efforts to address unreported cases, enhance media-government partnerships, and overcome resource constraints, thereby promoting a more thorough coverage of child abuse in print media.

What Shapes Health Information Seeking Behavior Among Kenya’s Elderly Slum Dwellers

Geoffrey Gathii Njenga — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

There is a strong correlation between media use and quality of life because various channels aid positive social change, including healthy eating in contemporary communities. This research highlights the essential attributes that influence the choice of media for elderly people in Kenya’s slums and how it influences their health-related knowledge in terms of the major variables that shape their health information-seeking behavior. Interviews and focus group discussions provided valuable insights into the underlying elements that shape health information-seeking behavior. It was found that anxiety, attitudes, self-efficacy, and health literacy were the major contributing elements that determined how the elderly utilized various health channels. Media can play a great role in the dissemination of quality health knowledge. In this regard, boosting media channels for quality health knowledge dissemination may include adjusting radio content to address local needs for the elderly, strengthening social networks to enhance interpersonal communication, and involving all health stakeholders to improve the digital media navigation skills of the elderly.

Role of Social Media in Enabling Communication Mobilisation and Management during 2020 #EndSARS Protests in Nigeria

Kelvin Inobemhe, Sharifatu Ja'afaru, Tsegyu Santas; Aminat Ogbesoh — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The current study focuses on the use of social media for the purpose of communication in the process of mobilising and managing the 2020 #EndSARS protests across Nigeria. The study specifically sought to ascertain the effectiveness of the platforms and the challenges encountered in efforts at mobilisation and management of the protests. Primarily, the research is based on secondary data. Additionally, theoretical foundation of the study is laid on medium theory. It was established that social media platforms, especially Facebook and Twitter (now X) featured prominently in the mobilisation and management of the protests. The study also argues that there was a need for social media platforms on the basis of the scale of the protest. The user base of social media platforms in Nigeria is substantial, making them essential for amplifying the protests. Since communication strategy is crucial throughout the life of a social movement, such as the #EndSARS, there was a need to explore the use of social media platforms. However, platforms, such as Twitter (now X), Facebook, and others became effective in different ways. Hence, the study identified the challenge of the capacity to identify real communicators saddled with the responsibility of managing activities of the protests. The study concluded that social media played prominent roles in the success of the 2020 #EndSARS protest in Nigeria