Leaders of nations have always used mass communication, whether that be from a man proclaiming in the streets, letters, public hearings, or radio notifications. Connecting with one’s people is a crucial aspect to managing a country. governments, nations, communities are all propelled by the diffusion of information; without communication, the spreading of knowledge is impossible.
Recently, President Donald Trump has instituted a “Presidential Alert System.” It functions similarly to an amber alert one receives on their cellular devices. The message goes out to everyone that has a functioning phone; in other words, it’s mandatory. The whole population is subjected to listening to whatever it is Trump has to say. Though the exchange of information and ideas is crucial in a functioning democratic government, we are posed with the question of whether or not this is another tactic to have more dictating control over the country. Trump’s infamous Twitter account also instills this question into our minds: is this platform going to be efficiently used as a way to protect the people, or tell them what to think? By having access to such a widespread, instantaneous platform, Trump’s impact also becomes immediate. Influence is inevitable with a messaging system on such a massive scale, such as with President Trump’s “alert system.” The word alert, however, holds a much more alarming and negative connotation rather than message or notification. What is one to expect when receiving an alert? Is it to serve as a safety precaution, and if so, for what? What future worries does this entail for the American people? We are left with even less space to think for ourselves. |