From rat trap to social media trap, we've come a long way!

Remember the rat trap story? The story was so simple of a device with tempting cheese that the baiter baits, and SNAP goes the trap. When we compare today’s time with this legendary story, we can evidently feel how that rat trap became a metaphor for work life, and now it has evolved enough to be something worse. The bait has changed…the trap hasn’t. 

For millions of students and Gen Z dreamers across the globe, the bait is no longer cheese but content. The trap? Social media feeds, breaking news alerts, and viral video clips. Are you being merely informed or just influenced enough to be manipulated? This is a big question or perhaps a wake-up call for aspiring journalists, content creators and media consumers. 

The Power of Human Voice in News

Notice how the news anchor’s voice can influence how you feel? That’s one thing sound can’t offer, only a real person talking can. It may offer information, lift our spirits, or, if handled badly, influence our judgement in the wrong way.

In India, the way a person delivers their message is often as important as the points they share. Drama can sometimes make a small piece of news important, and heated debates can get in the way of actual news. Here, news becomes overpowering and filled with emotion, helping to form our views and arouse different emotions, even when we are not aware of it.

For example, two people could share the same story, but because of their styles, you might feel uneasy or more at peace. This kind of influence can shape how you view the world.

This should make all journalists, content creators, and media consumers sit up and take notice. Put your energy into educating, not always into influencing. A journalist should practice clarity and fairness. Remember, your approach to delivering messages can impact your audience. Always remember to raise these questions when concluding something. Ask yourself, “Is what I am consuming news, or just an influence?”

Because, see, at the end of the day how you communicate is as important as what you communicate. Remember, when you write/speak, you also shape the attitudes and values of the community.

News or Narrative? The Blurred Line

There is the tricky part in the world where headlines and alerts pop-up more frequently by the minute: from the perception of information being absorbed to perception of being swayed. By way of bite-sized, visually stimulating, and emotionally engaging content, the social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube welcomed mass sharing of this content by Indian Gen Z. A headline in present times suggests conveying messages in two-minute bite-sized chunks, turning news into a narrative and facts colored with a delivery style.

Ask yourself, when you scroll back and forth on your feed or review a trending news clip, are you just absorbing the information, or are you being subtly nudged toward a reaction?

The Main Difference Between Informing and Influencing in Journalism

Journalists rely on two main approaches called informing and influencing, each for a different reason and effect.

Informing

• The aim is to give accurate, honest information that allows the audience to decide for themselves.
• Informative journalism explains who, what, when, where, why, and how by making sure the facts are correct and clear.
• It involves providing information, meeting people’s need for answers, and keeping things open and honest.
• Example: A news report that shares reliable facts about a government policy, without forming an opinion on whether it is right or wrong.

Influencing

• The purpose is to influence how people feel or act by using persuasion, emotional words, or by highlighting only some parts of the information.
• Many media outlets use journalism to draw attention to some facts, use images and videos, and present stories in a way that promotes a particular belief or action.
• To motivate others, persuasion depends on trust, conviction, and occasionally on very subtle changes in the way ideas are delivered.
• Example: A TV show that aims to convince viewers to back a certain political party or community group.

Why Does This Matter for Aspiring Journalists and Social Media Experts? 

If you’re dreaming of a career in journalism or social media, this is your wake-up call. In this regard, distinguishing delivery from content is an art and key to keep the very spirit of journalism alive. Being the digital generation, Gen Z students are, indeed, in the forefront to reshape Indian media. However, with great power arises an even greater responsibility:

• Journalists: It is not only your job to report, but you must also make sure that the audience gets truly informed, not subtly influenced by your tone or style.
• Social Media Experts: You are the modern-day storytellers, and your content has the power to become viral. But are you adding value or just adding noise?
• Students: For you, in these two faces of consumer and creator, awareness of the difference is your armory. See how to discriminate between information and influence.

Remaining Reasonable in a World of Confusing Situations

• Question the Delivery: Pay attention to the tone and language used by the anchor. Do the authors use an unbiased approach, or is the writing meant to cause a reaction?
• Check Multiple Sources: Try not to pin all your hopes on one site or blogger. Cross-check news from different outlets.
• Understand the Platform: Every social media platform is different in its feel. Instagram is all about visuals, Twitter focuses on opinions, and YouTube highlights the individual behind the channel.

It’s important to be mindful of SEO and the algorithms used by search engines. Platfoms often show you what they want you to see, rather than everything. While trending stories and viral posts get a lot of attention, that doesn’t always mean they are the most important.

Being doubtful is a strong quality for Gen Z to have. You want to see realness, fast updates, and material that appeals to you and others. Talk to help you understand, to understand others, and to produce new ideas. If you’re sharing news or a meme, always keep these things in mind. you have the ability to shape or change opinions. Choose wisely.

Remember, Awareness Is Your Superpower

Nowadays, instead of falling in a rat trap, we may fall into something more modern like a social media trap. However, the real part is about being conscious of your actions. Because the difference between news and stories is so easy to mix up these days… Being able to tell, ask questions about, and stay connected to the facts will make you different, whether you plan to work in journalism, use the internet a lot, or simply study well and pay attention.

Next time you encounter a viral story or video, take a second to think. Is the news just providing facts, or is it trying to sway your opinion? Your answer may decide your future path.