The Importance of Representation in Media

Media platforms have become massively influential as technology rises. Every day, we put a high amount of trust in media sources to give us the information we need to make wise and correct decisions. In addition to our immediate environment, media influences our self-image and societal standards. Everything we interact with on a daily basis affects our body image, self-confidence, and mental wellness. That being said, representation and diversity must be emphasized through media and marketing techniques.

When it comes to representation, especially on media platforms, it is important to have diversity. Diversity allows us to hear and see new perspectives. On media platforms, it is vital that brands make their content relatable and accessible to everyone. However, it is common to see large corporations and media platforms create insensitive advertising or content. In 2018, H&M South Africa was accused of racism because of how they portrayed their black models in an advertisement. One of the major issues was of a little black boy wearing a "coolest monkey in the jungle" sweatshirt. This clearly insensitive ad sparked much outrage in the media as people felt "it was a shocking admission that white companies still saw Black consumers as a degrading and ugly stereotype." After this issue, H&M removed the sweatshirt from all store locations and apologized through media statements. 

In conclusion, this one situation of many is why I feel it is important for representation and diversity to be considered through media and marketing techniques. Additional perspectives and ideas behind the scenes will improve the outcomes of media platforms' products and businesses.

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