b. 2010-2011 study - an average of 12.3 voice calls were made or received per day.
c. The number and length of voice calls continues
to increase.
<Table from Pew Research Center>
Cell Phones Emit
Radiofrequency Energy
II. Radiofrequency Energy
a. Emitted by holding a cell phone close to the ear.
b. Radiofrequency energy is non-ionizing
electromagnetic radiation at a low or power frequency,
similar to a microwave oven.
Cell Phones
Radiofrequency Energy Causes Brain Cancer
III. Causes cancer
a. The Interphone study - those who used
a cell phone for more than 10 years with voice calls averaging 30 minutes a
day or more had an increased risk of brain cancer.
b. There is a link between
prolonged cell phone use and ipsilateral brain tumors.
<answer
to interview question #2>
Cell Phones
Radiofrequency Energy Does Not Cause Brain Cancer
IV. Does not cause cancer
a. Although holding a cell phone close to the head
affects the brain, it is not enough to cause tumors. b. DNA is damaged for cancer
to develop, but radiofrequency energy does not cause this.
<answer
to interview question #3>
V. Conclusion
a. Evidence is not yet conclusive to say there is a link between cell phone use and brain cancer. b. Those who are concerned should limit their exposure
by using a headset.
c. There are several studies underway for more evidence (Cosmos Study)
Utilitarianism
is a philosophical approach interlaced in consequentialism. It is simply the belief
that a morally good action is one that helps the greatest number of people.
Every action has consequences, whether good or bad, and they must be taken into
account. Utilitarianism can help in the decision making process to determine the
right course of action or in the evaluation of a decision after the action was
completed to decide if the moral choice was made.
Utilitarianism
in the media
Utilitarianism
dominates media ethics. Marketing is everywhere in the media and every corporation
tries to create a product that consumers do not just want, but need. This is a
utilitarian tactic because if the majority of consumers need a product, then it
will benefit a large population. Through the Internet, television, and social
networking, companies have the power to advertise products or campaigns that
have the greatest good for a large number of people. If a company succeeds in
this marketing campaign, then they can look back and know they made the right
choice. As a result of affecting a large number of people for the better, the
company will become more popular and thrive. Advertisements for products that are
associated with harmful or negative consequences will be historically viewed as
detrimental and reflective of an immoral choice. Social marketing is one
example in the media that operates under this philosophical approach of
utilitarianism. Social marketing uses marketing techniques and advertising for
social causes. These advertisements are popularized through mass media in
commercials, movie previews, billboards, magazines, and websites. Social
marketing attempts to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of
people by changing their behavior. Some examples of this utilitarian approach
to change people’s negative behavior include the campaign to avoid binge
drinking, the campaign for safe sex, and possibly the most successful, the campaign
for antismoking.
Utilitarianism
in the first televised antismoking advertisement
The Center for
Disease Control (CDC) funded the first national televised ad to lower smoking
rates in 2012. A series of television ads featured real-life stories from
former smokers who, after smoking for many years, all now have debilitating
conditions. One woman needed help performing every daily task from bathing to
changing and going to the bathroom. Another woman had her fingers amputated due
to poor circulation from smoking. Dr. Timothy AcAfee collected data when the
series of ads aired in March 2012. During this study, there was an increase of
12% of smokers that tried to quit (1.64 million people). By the end of three
months when these ads aired, 200,000 people successfully quit smoking. This is
a utilitarian tactic because the CDC decided that the most ethical action was
to create an antismoking campaign that illustrates how smoking is harmful instead
of just telling people to create good habits among a large population. Using
utilitarianism and looking back on the actions of the CDC’s campaign, the moral
choice was made because their ad helped 200,000 people stay smoke-free.
Although the smokers shown in the ad were a small group of people who suffered
because of their debilitating health conditions, this antismoking campaign
ultimately helped a larger number of people quit.
Utilitarianism
in 1950’s smoking advertisements
Although smoking
advertisements have changed the way companies promote or reject smoking, these
advertisements have still demonstrated utilitarian tactics for what they endorse
from the beginning of times. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, tobacco companies advocated smoking through every form of media, mainly radio, newspapers, and motion
pictures. In that era, doctors and medical journals promoted smoking because
they believed it was good for everyone’s health. Even then utilitarianism was
used, but it promoted the opposite from what it does now. Tobacco companies
sponsored television shows and movies where actors were portrayed as regular
smokers. Since smoking was deemed good for people’s health, utilitarianism was
used in the 1950’s because companies thought they were doing good for the
greatest number of people by promoting smoking and showing it is socially
acceptable with beneficial health effects. But, as more research developed on
the consequences of smoking, advertisements switched their focus and now all
that is shown are antismoking campaigns.
Advertisements
are everywhere in media and utilitarianism is used in advertisements to show
that their product or campaign has the greatest good among a large population.
The impact that advertising has on the behavior of the public cannot be
underestimated and positive change can be made in a large number of people if
the right message is conveyed. Utilitarianism in the media can play a major
role in making the world a better place.
