Abstract: This case study examines the difficulties and approaches in moderating disinformation across multiple digital platforms during the Russia-Ukraine war, with particular attention given to Telegram, YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. We examine moderation methods specific to platforms, assessing both algorithmic and human-driven strategies and appraising their effectiveness in reducing misinformation and influencing public opinion. The research indicates that hybrid approaches integrating artificial intelligence with human supervision achieve the greatest efficacy, showing a 28% increase in moderation precision by 2025, yet automated systems continue to have contextual limitations. State-sponsored disinformation, characterized by organized campaigns, requires advanced detection techniques such as intelligence sharing, which increased detection rates by 25%, whereas user-generated misinformation demands broad-spectrum tools and media literacy initiatives. Regional adaptations have a marked impact on outcomes, as platforms that adopt localized strategies, including the appointment of regional moderators, attain an 18% greater effectiveness in curbing misinformation. Clear moderation approaches, including content labeling, increased user confidence by 40%, but the algorithmic promotion of provocative material distorted public debate, requiring modifications to recommendation mechanisms. The findings highlight the critical role of collaborative fact-checking and contextual sensitivity in refining global content moderation frameworks. Moreover, the blurring boundary between state-sponsored and organic disinformation complicates moderation efforts, as state actors increasingly exploit viral user content for strategic amplification. Algorithmic moderation achieves high scalability but falls short in nuanced judgment, whereas human moderation delivers discernment with reduced speed, leading to hybrid systems being the most effective though still flawed approach. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on disinformation mitigation by identifying best practices, regional disparities, and unresolved challenges in high-stakes geopolitical contexts. The research highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy that merges advances in technology, local knowledge, and cooperation across different platforms to tackle the changing dynamics of online falsehoods.

Abstract: Digital transformation has created opportunities for journalism, with the emergence of new vehicles, forms of content distribution and greater efficiency in production routines. This same transformation, however, is pointed out as one of the main reasons for the negative effects on the institutional role and sustainability of journalism. Much of the technical apparatus used by professionals is now predominantly controlled by big techs, companies that, at the other end, undermine journalism's sources of funding and its independence. This study investigates this technological paradox, examining three issues: a) journalists' latent perceptions of the effects of technologies; b) the weight attributed by the professionals to these dimensions; e) the internal cohesion of these perceptions. The survey was conducted with Brazilian journalists in 2023 (n=230) and used Factor Analysis to identify latent perceptions. The results indicate the existence of a two-factor model organized around an optimistic approach "Innovative and strategic journalism" and a critical stance "Digital skepticism". The optimistic factor had a significantly higher mean (M=3.53 vs. M=3.33, p<0.01) and also higher internal consistency (α=0.701 vs. α=0.501). Despite this, the difference between the factors of critical and optimistic views had a moderate effect (RBC=0.247), suggesting a degree of ambivalence among the journalists. The study offers evidence of the technological paradox in Brazilian journalism, contributing to an understanding of the digital transformation scenario, especially in the face of innovation, risks and ethical challenges that arise.

Abstract: This qualitative research paper examines the complex relationship between community awareness and virtual environments, focusing on the professional challenges and opportunities that emerge within digital spaces. Through thematic analysis of existing literature and theoretical frameworks, this study explores how digital platforms reshape community engagement, social responsibility, and collective action. The research identifies key themes including digital literacy imperatives, cultural identity preservation, information authenticity challenges, and the digital divide's impact on equitable participation. Findings reveal that while virtual worlds offer unprecedented opportunities for community mobilization and cross-cultural dialogue, they simultaneously present significant challenges requiring coordinated professional responses. The study concludes that achieving sustainable community awareness in virtual environments necessitates comprehensive digital literacy programs, ethical governance frameworks, and balanced approaches that preserve human connections while leveraging technological innovations. Recommendations for future research include longitudinal studies on digital community resilience, cross-cultural comparative analyses, and empirical investigations of intervention effectiveness.

Abstract: We present a qualitative re-examination of Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) within the current and evolving digital media landscape through the timeframe of (2015-2025). UGT has long guided scholars and researchers in understanding what audience motivations entail while we find that the initial assumptions face an onslaught of challenges in the current age of curated algorithmic media, swirling interactivity, and converged platforms. Accessibility to growing and ever-changing social and mobile media requires an emergent deeper understanding into the ways that users are seeking and obtaining gratification in ways that will traverse past the previous understanding of the theory and considerations. This study aims to address a gap in contemporary UGT literature by shifting from a quantitative analysis of survey data on audience gratifications to a qualitative exploration of individuals lived experiences with media consumption.Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design, we define lived experience through in-depth semi-structured interviews and media diaries that capture rich, contextualized narratives from digital media users. Ultimately, the qualitative approach provides us the ability to dig deep into the agency of the user and media environmental structures, whereby both began to feel paradoxical (Ullah, 2025). Findings of the study reveal expectations of also emergent gratifications related to curated-self-expression, algorithmically defined connections and relate through various seamless transports between information consumption and meaningful escapism.The analysis points to the knowledge that gratifications are still definitive for the users and specific to the platform consumed. The relationship between active audiences and the shaping, powerful space of the digital ecosystem warrants an inclusive perspective of a robust and current UGT. Through a new way of knowing, in including a media ecology perspective, we present a new/internal UGT lens with salient components of meaning-making and sustainability in a dialectical relationship with digital media. The implications of this study present a greater opportunity for scholars to develop thoughtful and robust UGT framework and suggests that the study be of critical interest to platform designers. The study also holds importance for media literacy and how digital media literacy is developed, implemented in practice, and researched.

Abstract: The purpose of this review is to identify how the potential of Augmented Reality (AR) technology has been explored through mobile applications (apps) in the archaeological context in loco. For this, a search was carried out in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, using a combination of terms that encompasses the concepts of AR, apps and archeology, between the time period of 2017 and 2022, which resulted in a set of 16 documents, which, after a selection process based on pre-defined eligibility criteria, resulted in a total of five studies to be analyzed. The quantitative analysis and narrative synthesis of this sample revealed that AR apps in the archaeological context have not yet reached a stable level, although studies indicate that they have a positive impact on the user experience.

Abstract: The rise of digital media has radically changed the landscape of information consumption, creating new media with ambiguous content, which complicates the public discourse and sociopolitical understanding. This qualitative study explored the impact of ambiguous content on media consumers in the era of digital communication. Through qualitative content analysis of selected media artifacts and semi-structured interviews with media consumers and media professionals, the study examined how ambiguous messages are constructed, perceived, and interpreted. The study discussed the key thematic characteristics of ambiguous content, explored the impact of ambiguity on audience trust and engagement, and investigated the interpretive repertoires of ambiguous content that informed and constructed the sociopolitical dispositions of audiences.Data analysis demonstrated how intentionally ambiguous content promotes a fragmented public understanding of the world, increased affective polarization, and decreases trust in the media. Additionally, audiences' interpretation of ambiguous content is further mediated by prior belief systems, social identity, and digital media literacy experiences. By incorporating the perspectives and theories of framing, critical media studies, and decentering of dominant narratives, the study illuminated the power relations within the design and enjoyment of ambiguous media. This research sheds light on the urgent need for media literacy education and responsible editorial practices that address the consequences of ambiguous yet influential content on the sociopolitical landscape. The study adds value to the field of media studies by providing a qualitative study of an underexamined but prevalent aspect of the contemporary information landscape.

Abstract: The proliferation of smartphones and social media has reshaped journalistic practices across South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, where “selfie stick journalism” has emerged as a symbolic and practical marker of the new media age. This paper investigates how the democratization of media tools—mobile phones, selfie sticks, livestream platforms, and algorithmic news feeds—has redefined the boundaries of journalism, eroding traditional professional hierarchies and raising critical questions: Who qualifies as a journalist in a networked society? What constitutes journalistic authority, authenticity, and accountability when anyone can broadcast to millions? Drawing upon case studies from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, this study explores the identity crisis confronting professional journalists amidst the rise of “content creators,” “citizen reporters,” and “social influencers.” The research combines theoretical frameworks from Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory, Manuel Castells’s network society, and media convergence literature to examine shifts in professional legitimacy and epistemic authority. Empirical data are drawn from interviews with professional journalists, digital content creators, and social media analysts, as well as content analysis of viral “selfie journalism” incidents during major political and humanitarian events in 2024–2025. The findings suggest a profound transformation of journalistic identity: a movement from institutional to performative, from gatekeeping to self-branding, and from public service to algorithmic visibility. In South Asia’s hybrid media ecology, the selfie stick becomes not just a tool but a metaphor for the spectacle, precariousness, and personalization of journalism itself.

Abstract: This literature review examines the evolution of gatekeeper theory in the digital media age, synthesizing approximately 60 studies from 2005 to 2025 to analyze shifts from traditional human-centric models to hybrid systems involving algorithms, users, and platforms. Key themes include algorithmic gatekeeping, user-generated content, disinformation challenges, ethical considerations, and global perspectives. Through a systematic review of databases and thematic analysis, the paper addresses the research problem of power dynamics in digital information flows, highlighting tensions between democratization and biases. A focused review of 20 recent studies (2015–2025) provides critical insights into methodologies, findings, and implications. The analysis reveals that while digital gatekeeping empowers participation, it amplifies polarization and inequalities, necessitating updated theoretical frameworks and regulations. Implications for policy, ethics, and future research are discussed, emphasizing the need for transparent AI integration and cross-cultural studies.

Abstract: Alcohol consumption in Bangladesh occupies a complex position, shaped by religious, cultural, legal, and public‑health dimensions. Although overall recorded prevalence is low, illicit consumption and harmful drinking remain concerns. With the expansion of social media and digital platforms, the discourse around alcohol—its availability, legitimacy, stigma, and regulation—is increasingly mediated online. This article examines how alcohol consumption is presented and debated on social media in Bangladesh, exploring dominant framings, underlying ideologies, and implications for policy and public health. Drawing on literature on alcohol regulation in Bangladesh, social media discourse studies, and content analysis of social media posts/pages related to alcohol, the article argues that online discourse reflects a tension: between prohibitionist cultural‑religious norms and emergent consumer/modernity practices, and that this tension has implications for governance, public health communication, and social stigma. The article ends with recommendations for regulatory policy, social media monitoring, risk communication, and further research.

Abstract: This study investigated gender-say gap in top TV organisations in Ghana and Nigeria to understand if there is a systematic silencing of the voices of any gender group through differentials in number of news anchors, boardroom staff and speaking times of guests, eye witnesses and vox pops. Six leading TV channels in Ghana and Nigeria were studied. The researcher content-analysed (a) websites of the channels, and (b) their news programmes. A 298-hour corpus of news programmes from the channels was coded using manual counting. It was found that there were more women presenters than men in the select TV stations; there was a significant male dominance in the management and leadership of the TV companies; there was a significant difference between the speaking time of men and women (t(10) = 12.96957, p = 0.001069); and while women occupy important editorial positions, final editorial power, governance and agenda-setting authority are often monopolized by men. While there is a significant number of woman TV presenters in the TV stations, their underrepresentation in boardrooms and in speaking time is underlining. Also, there are still institutional and discursive mechanisms that maintain mutedness and constrain women’s substantive influence even where they occupy visible positions.

Abstract: In Chile, human activity is a key factor in the occurrence and impact of wildfires in the wildland–urban interface, as more than 95% of such events are anthropogenic in origin. The 2024 Valparaíso megafire represents the most severe incident in the past three decades, with significant consequences for both the affected population and local infrastructure. In disaster contexts, the media play a crucial role in shaping social representations by establishing analytical categories within society. Therefore, the primary objective of this chapter is to describe how Chilean media outlets addressed this megafire. The methodological approach is based on a multi-stage strategy for news classification, employing a mixed-method design that integrates manual and computational techniques. The study collects articles from 140 Chilean media sources. The main finding indicates that news coverage predominantly frames the fire as an event, rather than emphasizing other identified representations: nature and the managing State, the policing State, and the State–citizen relationship. Finally, the automated analysis of emerging topics across the articles further elaborates and reinforces the representations identified through manual coding.

Abstract: Technological determinism, the theory that technology is a primary driver of social, cultural, and political change, has long been a subject of rigorous academic debate. While often criticized for its reductionist tendencies, its core premise offers an "enduring lens" for conceptualizing the profound impacts of technological innovation This paper undertakes a contemporary re-evaluation of technological determinism within the context of the new media landscape, focusing on the period from 2020 to 2025. It examines how the architectures of social media, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI), and the pervasive nature of digital platforms continue to exert deterministic pressures on societal structures, public discourse, and individual behavior. The study problematizes the simplistic binary of technological determinism versus social shaping, arguing that the current media ecosystem, characterized by algorithmic curation and datafication, necessitates a more nuanced synthesis. Employing a transdisciplinary digital humanities approach, this research analyzes a curated selection of recent academic literature, policy documents, and media reports to investigate the pervasiveness of deterministic narratives and their empirical manifestations. Key findings reveal that while deterministic frameworks are increasingly criticized for being poorly human-centered, they remain implicitly embedded in public and policy discourse, shaping responses to issues like digital inequality and online safety. The research demonstrates that the affordances and constraints of new media technologies create powerful path dependencies that influence everything from cognitive patterns to global political dynamics. Ultimately, this paper posits that a recalibrated understanding of technological determinism—one that acknowledges the interplay between technological architecture and human agency—is essential for developing effective ethical frameworks, regulatory policies, and critical digital literacy in the 21st century.

Abstract: This research paper explores the evolution of new media from its theoretical foundations in the mid-20th century to its contemporary manifestations in the digital age. Drawing on qualitative analysis of key texts, case studies, and industry trends, the paper examines how new media has reshaped human communication, social structures, and cultural dynamics. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, including thematic analysis and case study examination, the study highlights transformations driven by technological advancements such as social media platforms, artificial intelligence, and short-form content. The discussion synthesizes these elements, addressing opportunities and challenges like misinformation and digital polarization. The conclusion underscores the paradigm shift in media ecosystems, with recommendations for future studies emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to ethical AI integration and digital literacy. This paper contributes to media studies by providing a comprehensive qualitative framework for understanding new media's societal impact.

Abstract: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) challenges existing frameworks in media and communication studies, revealing the limits of classical theories and Castells’ network society in explaining contemporary social transformations. While Castells (2010) conceptualized society as structured through networks, flows, and informationalism, the proliferation of AI systems introduces a new layer of mediation, where algorithms autonomously generate, filter, and govern information, culture, and economic activity. This paper proposes AI Society Theory as a conceptual framework to address this gap. Building on the foundations of network theory, we reconceptualize the space of flows as the space of AI and extend informationalism into algorithmic informationalism, highlighting how AI systems actively shape knowledge, visibility, and value creation. We examine the formation of layered AI communities- from users of specific platforms, to developer collectives, to platform-based subcultures- demonstrating that AI infrastructures are sites of social interaction, identity formation, and cultural production.Through a critical review of classical media theory, the network society, platform society, surveillance capitalism, and essential AI studies, we identify a gap: existing frameworks either neglect algorithmic autonomy or remain centered on human agency. AI Society Theory addresses this by positioning AI as both infrastructure and social actor, offering a lens to analyze how communication, power, and culture are reorganized in algorithmic societies. By articulating the theoretical contours of AI-mediated social life, this study lays the foundation for future empirical and conceptual research, providing a robust framework to understand how AI is transforming societies, platforms, and communication in the twenty-first century.

Abstract: Environmental journalism has evolved from a niche beat into a central civic function that translates complex science into public understanding, shapes policy agendas, and mobilizes collective action as climate risk, biodiversity loss, and pollution intensify. This qualitative research paper synthesizes scholarship and practice on environmental journalism through 2025, examining its historical development, theoretical foundations, digital transformation, and exposure to platform-driven misinformation. Through systematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature, international organization reports, and documented case studies, this research explores emblematic cases across investigative, visual, and data journalism while interrogating coverage imbalances that marginalize the Global South. The study employs thematic analysis to evaluate region-specific dynamics, including the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, and foregrounds ethical standards, safety protocols, and capacity building for journalists. The research examines how innovations in data analytics, earth observation, and artificial intelligence augment reporting capabilities while proposing comprehensive frameworks to measure media impact on attitudes, behavior, markets, and policy. The findings reveal that environmental journalism functions as critical democratic infrastructure, yet faces significant challenges including resource constraints, escalating safety threats, and sophisticated information disorder. The paper concludes with a policy and practice agenda to fortify environmental journalism's credibility, equity, and effectiveness, emphasizing the need for sustainable business models, enhanced professional standards, and stronger institutional support. Evidence is drawn from peer-reviewed literature, international organizations (IPCC, WMO, UNEP, UNESCO), news industry research (Reuters Institute), and documented case studies spanning 2020-2025.

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming media and communication, not merely as a technological tool but as an active, generative medium that shapes authorship, content, and perception. This literature review examines AI through the lens of Marshall McLuhan’s media theories, including the medium is the message, media as extensions of man, and the global village, to assess their relevance in contemporary AI-mediated communication. While McLuhan’s framework provides foundational insights, it underestimates media that exhibit agency-like qualities, such as AI systems that generate, filter, and dynamically modify content. Building on this critique, we propose a conceptualization of AI as an active medium, functioning as a co-creator, a cognitive environment, and an autonomous participant in meaning-making. The review explores the implications of generative AI tools, algorithmic curation, and real-time personalization, highlighting both opportunities for extended human cognition and creativity and challenges related to bias, misinformation, and ethical accountability. In addition, this medium reflects AI within the debate on contemporary scholars on morality and data colonialism, and emphasizes the requirement for the updated theoretical structure responsible for the unique abilities of AI. This study contributes to media and communication research by integrating the basic ideas of McLuhan with the developed role of AI, and offers an important perspective that informs future empirical research, moral ideas and the development of AI as a socially responsible medium.

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly emerged as a transformative force in the field of journalism, reshaping news production, dissemination, and audience engagement worldwide. In South Asia, particularly Bangladesh, the adoption of AI technologies presents both opportunities and challenges for the media landscape. This study examines the attitudes towards AI among journalists, media professionals, and audiences in Bangladesh and broader South Asia, while exploring the implications of these attitudes for the future of journalism. Drawing on a mixed-method approach that incorporates surveys, interviews, and content analysis, the research highlights the tension between optimism about AI’s potential to enhance efficiency, fact-checking, and personalized content, and concerns regarding job displacement, ethical risks, algorithmic bias, and threats to press freedom. Findings reveal that while younger, tech-savvy journalists and audiences view AI as a tool for innovation and digital transformation, many traditional practitioners remain skeptical, fearing a decline in journalistic integrity and human editorial judgment. In Bangladesh, where media is often entangled with political pressures and economic constraints, the integration of AI into journalism raises further debates on transparency, accountability, and the risk of reinforcing state or corporate control. Comparatively, other South Asian countries demonstrate varying levels of adaptation, shaped by socio-political contexts, digital infrastructures, and policy frameworks. The study argues that the future of journalism in the region will depend not only on technological adoption but also on critical ethical frameworks, inclusive policies, and media literacy among journalists and consumers alike. By situating Bangladesh within a broader South Asian perspective, this research contributes to the global dialogue on AI-driven journalism and underscores the urgent need for balanced approaches that harness AI’s benefits while safeguarding democratic communication.

Abstract: Today, millions of children around the world have been left alone - like Kevin in a very famous film Home - but this time in front of a small phone screen. This form of digital isolation can be more dangerous than any physical disadvantage that endangers the child's good. Except for a child in such circumstances, it was ignored during a growth phase with a smartphone or tablet when it is necessary to create face-to-face communication communication skills, creating a healthy self-image and understanding the feelings of others, there is a greater risk than delayed language and spoiled communication. This can cause psychological disturbances, weak social interaction, and an early feeling of loneliness. This paper confirms the use of mobile phones on the development of children within the specific reference of the Arab world and examines the potential effects, where children are often made aware of media content that do not reflect their culture or meet their needs. Lack of purposeful local presentations, in association with commercial advertising directed on children, essentially fuel consumerism and shape their identity and self-value. It raises the question that is suppressed: what are our children seeing? Who is shaping childhood discourse in Arab world?Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach to media studies and child psychology, this contribution asks to create a new media environment-educational, human-focused and safe-who restores the right to real communication of the child, to hear and understand. The phrase phone alone, as we propose to describe this phenomenon, is not the only drama on words, but an accurate description of reality we live daily, where guidance is absent, and screen dialogues, relationships and human heat replaces that our children need so deeply.

Abstract: Media shape and reflect social imaginaries, influencing collective beliefs, norms, and aspirations. Video games and films frequently depict themes like urbanization, dystopian futures, and resource-driven expansion, often envisioning humanity colonizing new planets after depleting Earth's resources. Such narratives risk reinforcing exploitative attitudes toward the environment, extending them to new frontiers. Research has shown that media, especially video games, influence societal perceptions and shape future possibilities. While largely reflecting anthropocentric worldviews, these media also have the potential to promote ecocentric perspectives. In the context of biodiversity loss and planetary imbalance, media’s role in fostering non-anthropocentric values is crucial. This study introduces the Non-Anthropocentric Media Evaluation Questionnaire (NAMEQ), a tool designed to help media producers assess whether their work aligns with ecocentric principles, and to support academic researchers and students in the study and analysis of media from a biocentric perspective. Applying this framework to 138 widely distributed video games and films reveals a strong dominance of anthropocentric narratives. While some works incorporate ecocentric themes, they remain inconsistent. The findings underscore the need for a more deliberate and coherent representation of bio-centric values in media, advocating for a shift in cultural narratives toward perspectives that recognize and respect the intrinsic value of the non-human world.

Abstract: This study explores the role of mass media in raising awareness about salinity issues in coastal Bangladesh, a region increasingly affected by climate-induced environmental changes. Set within the broader context of public communication and environmental awareness, the research aimed to assess both the effectiveness of media channels in disseminating information on salinity and the current level of public awareness. A mixed-method approach was employed using face-to-face surveys with 210 purposively selected respondents across seven unions in Koyra Upazila. Moreover, content analysis was conducted over one month on the prime-time night news of Bangladesh Betar, Khulna, and Bangladesh Television using a structured coding sheet. The findings reveal a general lack of public awareness regarding salinity, largely attributed to the limited role played by mass media, NGOs, and government agencies. Media coverage was found to be minimal, with few relevant or targeted programs addressing salinity issues. The content lacked regularity, depth, and contextual relevance to the community’s actual needs. These results highlight the urgent need for coordinated efforts by media agencies, government institutions, and civil society to improve the scope, quality, and frequency of communication on salinity-related challenges. Enhanced media engagement can play a vital role in promoting informed decision-making and community resilience.