We talk a lot about the need to use critical thinking skills to protect ourselves from toxic or harmful media. But what makes some media toxic or harmful?
The short answer is, I can't tell you. Not because the definition doesnt' exist or it's some secret, but because the nuance and depth to any piece of media makes it difficult for me to create a list of specific qualities that always make a piece of media negative. It would go against the very purpose of critical thinking for me to put thoughts and ideas into boxes of right and wrong to tell you what to think. However, I can direct you to some symptoms of negative media, or, in other words, things that I think media should not make you feel.
Media shouldn't...
Make you feel like you need to change who you are. Media should never ever make you feel like you aren't "good enough" or worthy of respect. And it especially shouldn't make you think that you need to change any part of you - inside or out - in order to gain that respect. You are, by default, enough - just as you are right now.
Degrade anyone. A huge red flag for toxic media is that it looks down, belittles, and invalidates other identities and cultures. This can be dually harmful. For one, if you're viewing media that degrades identities that you use, that will probably make you feel pretty awful. On the other hand, if that media glorifies your identities while putting another set down, it becomes really easy to start subconciously believing that "other" groups aren't as deserving of respect as you.
Make you think there is a right or wrong way to live your life. This could come in the form of unrealistic standards of beauty or the idea that the only way to be a teenager is to love partying and dating. In many ways, it's common for media to try and define what is right and what is wrong, but you shouldn't let media define how you should or shouldn't live your life.
You probably noticed that all of these bullet points are really similar. That's because they are all built around the value of respect for yourself, others, and your right to independent thought.
As consumers of media though, we know that not all media is all toxic. In fact, some media can be really empowering and change the way we view ourselves and the world around us for the better. So what is a "green flag" in media?
Media should...
Make you happy! We consume media mostly as entertainment. It shouldn't only create negative feelings in us. Yes, sometimes we may feel a bit uncomfortable when having our beliefs or views challenged, but discomfort is different than harm and we want to make sure that media doesn't cross that line.
Be respectful of others. No matter what the content or form of the media is, it should depict others without insulting their culture or identity. Healthy media doesn't rely on stereotypes to build the personality of a character; it instead shows its' range of personalities through character arcs and quirks.
Introduce you to new ideas. The very definition of media is that it is a method of communication. Media you consume should be conveying something to you and ideally, helping you to connect to a new perspective.
Knowing how to recognize your response to different forms of media is one of the first steps in thinking critically about the media you consume. If you're able to identify how media makes you feel, it becomes easier to imagine how other people may feel about a piece of media and the impacts that media might have on our understanding of the world as a whole. Recognizing the specific parts of media that make you feel bad or good will allow you to take more charge of what kind of media you're consuming so that you aren't caught off guard by toxic media. This will keep both your mental health and the mental health of those you interact with in better condition.
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