Cindy Luk — Digital Media Manipulation | 2020.ocadu.gd

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Cindy Luk

Digital Media Manipulation

My thesis is an exploration of how digital media platforms serve as a tool for partisans to spread biases, misinformation, advertisements and more. With the success of spreading biased ideas, partisans could impact and manipulate the online community as users are not aware of the concept of media manipulation and assume the truthfulness of information easily. The focus here is on the relationship between digital media and its users, and how manipulators use this relationship against users for manipulative purposes. To help the audience to understand better, a sweets company branding, Sweet Talk, is created, along with different types of products to represent different forms of media manipulation; which are medical, bullying, politics and insecurity. However, none of the sweets are edible, which is to represent the idea that none of the misinformation online is helpful to its audience.

Packaging

Identity

Illustration

Manipulators use the vulnerability of people with health issues to provide easy solutions without scientific proofs, and profit from products and services. Thus, in this packaging, a gummy roll is used to represent the massive amount of misinformation and the long list of lies users would need to go through.

Digital media makes it easy for people to start rumours and spread hate and gossip anonymously. The motivation for this may be due to a lack of real information, boredom, viciousness, desire for attention, etc. The chewed bubble gum is to represent the rudeness and the victims of false accusations.

Memes and other trending mediums are used by political partisans to spread biases and misinformation. This method manipulates people’s actions by providing entertaining content that is read and shared online. The gummy bears are to symbolize using a large number of light-hearted methods to manipulate one’s decision.

Online advertisers associate their products with people in thin or muscular body shapes, which leads consumers with insecurities to believe by owning the product, they will become the associated person. These advertisers manipulate consumers into purchasing products. The lollipop symbolizes consumers’ desire to become the figures created by the advertisers.

A website designed for Sweet Talk, which contains a homepage, product page and individual pages for each product. The purpose of the website is to explain the idea behind each product and to allow consumers to purchase products.