Today, we can access information, get a hold of family or friends, and instantly capture favorite moments with a click of a button. Technology, the media, and social media are society's way to express and spread information (Griffiths and Keirns, 2015). The media has brought the aftermath of many tragedies (e.g., police shootings, acts of terrorism, sex trafficking, domestic violence, pandemics, etc.) to public awareness. These issues directly affect how society perceives issues, behaves, and reacts to problematic situations.Consider recent issues or concerns in our society.

• Briefly discuss how the media/social media (news channels, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) has highlighted or influenced popular culture issues.
• • As you formulate your response, you might consider subsequent public reactions/responses to things such as the COVID virus, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, and/or the #Me Too movement.
    • Describe at least two ways the media or a social media site could increase public awareness and speed up the efforts to reduce current health disparities and/or issues related to inequity of care or services in the United States.

You can also use the APA Fact Sheet at the following weblink for additional ideas about disparities in diverse, vulnerable, or underprivileged populations: Fact Sheet: Health Disparities

References

American Psychological Association (APA). (n.d.).Fact sheet: Health disparities. https://www.apa.org/topics/racism-bias-discrimination/health-disparities-defined

Griffiths,H., & Keirns,N. (2015).Introduction to sociology 2e. OpenStax.https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-2e/pages/3-3-pop-culture-subculture-and-cultural-change

Kilbourne, A. M., Switzer, G., Hyman, K., Crowley-Matoka, M., & Fine, M. J. (2006). Advancing health disparities research within the health care system: a conceptual framework. American journal of public health,96(12), 2113-2121. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1698151/