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  • Essay / The Harmful Effects of Media Distortion and Lies on Muslims

    Many have questioned the effects of television and other media on the perception of the viewing public. Certainly, it is known that heavy use can lead to many problems, both mental and physical. Islamophobia is the extreme fear of Islam and Muslims, which began immediately after the devastating events of September 11. Although this event is important and undoubtedly happened, scapegoating takes a vicious form in America and other countries as well. Misinterpretations of Muslims are portrayed and have many negative effects. The theoretical framework to help guide this study would include cultivation theory, which posits that avid viewers develop complete trust and loyalty towards what they watch through the screen. This article will present the effects of the media, and the distortions and lies it creates, which undoubtedly harm Muslims and other groups. The media has always been more concerned with negative issues and stories. Viewers watch news and other media programs in order to better understand and understand the current situation of world events. Since everything has been in order, the media has abused its powers in various ways. One of them would include the misconceptions of Muslims. The fear associated with this distinct group is called Islamophobia. Although this occurs on a national level, Americans are most affiliated with this phobia. Such distortions exaggerate real events in such a way that people are manipulated into a certain way of thinking. The events caused by September 11 and the attacks by ISIS fuel the media and allow such exploitation to continue (Saeed, 2007). Typically, cause-and-effect relationships have effects that also follow from the projected effects. Media interpretations are the root cause of Islamophobia and cultivation theory can help prove this. Many people debate when Islamophobia first emerged. There was certainly some level of fear before 9/11, although it was very minimal. However, after such events, hatred and discrimination exploded quickly and irrationally. These events significantly changed the American way of life and will be remembered throughout history. Even under the Trump administration, in-depth discussions of borders and Islam maintained popularized topics of hierarchy, and this remains the case today (Poudret, 2016). Although the events of September 11 justified these fears, scapegoating Muslims is extremely unfair. Under no circumstances should the actions of a few determine the characteristics and motivations of an entire population. Since there are very few Muslim-imposed terrorist narratives, the media uses 9/11 and ISIS as their main points of interest. The way Islamophobic propaganda is used in the media has political dimensions. This has been used extensively in this current presidential campaign as well as many other previous campaigns. The Middle East was a very popular topic in both Hilary's and Donald's campaigns. These campaigns and debates were also broadcast on news channels, radio stations and YouTube channels. Each candidate took turns discussing moves to combat ISIS and implement strict border control. Although most people are unaware of the negative effects of these perceptionsevidence in presidential campaigns, many conclude (Furjimura, 2016). Fujimura (2016) stated, “Many of my interviewees claimed that media plays a huge role in negatively affecting people's lives. perception of Muslims. When asked how recent terrorism and the emergence of ISIS have influenced the way people perceive Islam and Muslim students, one interview participant responded: "They have influenced people from negatively, due to the massive media attention focused on Muslim terrorists. people began to unconsciously associate Muslims with terrorists” (Fujimura, p. 2, 2016). So not only does the media cause Islamophobia, but the effects are felt by Muslims around the world. It is questionable whether the media can brainwash the minds and perceptions of millions of viewers, and this question can, to some extent, be explained by cultivation theory. Cultivation theory was conceived by George Gerbner in the mid-1960s. Writing this theory posits that the more television a person watches, the more likely they are to believe everything they see on said channels. These ideas surfaced when media effects were first studied. Research on the effects of perception considered very important after the development of television. High-frequency viewers have extreme difficulty deciphering which parts of television are real and which are fake, so they simply believe whatever is presented. Which seems easier to them. In doing so, however, these viewers have a very different view of the world, one that is more corrupt and violent in nature (Mass Communication Theory, 2013). High frequency observers do not understand why such programs would mislead them about the state of the world, in this way we follow every story and address nothing by any stretch of the imagination. Being surrounded by like-minded people can only make this problem worse. Because, let's be honest, many people participate in this kind of behavior, millions of people tune into news channels every day and rely on these legislative elements to decide reality for them. These observers are said to “develop” their behavior with the belief that a world characterized by the media is a true representation of the real world. Many dangerous circumstances can emerge from a conviction without factual confirmation, as the results have appeared in many areas. Instead of directly adapting to a case or mingling with people, these viewers will construct all their elucidations and convictions in light of exposed data accessible on television, radio or modernized media. Not only are such media frames unjustifiable, they are also inherently misleading. (Mass Communication Theory, 2013). These beliefs and representations consider abuse towards people who fall into negative representations as normal. As we can see, cultivation theory clearly helps explain the context of Islamophobia, which mimics a cause and effect relationship. As noted above, 9/11 and ISIS are factual events and circumstances, but those extremists, such as Osama bin Laden, and ISIS members associated with mass killings and terrorist acts are not the least reflection of Islam. These people are called radicals, they translate the Quran in impossible ways, so far beyond the truth, and they are manipulative and will remain determined until the end. Religious intentions are what