Modern people are living in a media environment where they can actively participate in content production and reproduce content easily. Meanwhile, a new type of content producer called “cyber wrecker” has emerged, taking advantage of this situation. A cyber wrecker is a person who creates media content that delivers information on various issues quickly. They have a feature that quickly uploads stimulating videos whenever an issue occurs, like a wrecker which arrives at a traffic accident quickly, increasing the number of views. Exposure to this kind of provocative content leads to a phenomenon in which the authenticity of information cannot be assured, which is emerging as a serious problem in modern society. Therefore, media censorship capabilities are required.

 When you check social media, there are times when provocative issues regarding certain celebrities take over the algorithm. The reason for this phenomenon is that 

when an issue occurs, countless cyber wreckers constantly extract provocative content with the same content to earn money through the number of views. When they post a video, it generally gets a good response from people because of countless comments for and against the controversy, which in turn makes it a recommended video in the algorithm and more people watch it. On many issues, the information is only as logical and reasonable as it is, leading viewers to have similar reactions. This is the scariest thing about cyber wreckers. Cyber wreckers rely on anonymity to selectively organize content using people’s cruel reactions. They pretend to convey information and pretend to criticize celebrities, but in reality, they handle celebrity issues and create stimulating content, inducing negative reactions from the public. This phenomenon eventually creates and spreads stereotypes and prejudices toward specific people.

 In addition, due to the enormous diffusion force, which is a big feature of Social media, Cyber wreckers cause problems by producing malicious comments. This phenomenon can not only lead to the distortion of public opinion, but also deepen social conflict and division with malicious and aggressive comments that trigger hatred. People justify malicious comments under the guise of criticism of an issue as if it were natural. The sad reality is that the media environment is overly negative, in which there are countless malicious comments about certain people based on anonymity whenever there is a big or small controversy, which spreads throughout society. In this environment, it is very important not to be swayed by content, but to consume it healthily according to one's view, and what is needed at this time is media literacy. 

 As the media environment rapidly changes and communication through the media becomes active, there is a need for media literacy education that can help people properly understand and utilize media, and also develop critical thinking. How can we develop media literacy? First of all, when we encounter media, we should judge who made it and for what purpose. At this time, it is also important to examine where the content came from, especially if the content includes something suggestive and provocative. In addition, it is necessary to check our preconceptions and think about the validity of quickly provided information. Meanwhile, Finland, which ranks first in the digital media literacy survey for Europe, developed digital media literacy education. The media literacy education of Finland starts with explaining one’s own opinion and expressing one’s thoughts in writing, and producing news by oneself. By producing news directly, the students develop their abilities to criticize and promote critical thinking through education which compares and analyzes news from various perspectives about the same incident. In addition, this education is actively conducted not only by the government but also in libraries and schools. In order to become a society that values media literacy, it is necessary to agonize and think about educational institutions as well as all members of society.

 These days, people who freely use digital devices encounter various news through social media in addition to traditional media such as newspapers, radio, TV, and books. Furthermore, the use of media has increased among all age groups during COVID-19. However, there is no media literacy education in Korea yet, so personal effort is needed strictly for the proper acquisition of information. Therefore, it is essential to consider whether you are committing secondary victimization to the person who was selected as a victim of cyber wreckers or whether you are under control by such baseless information and to think about whether you are healthily accepting the media in a rapidly changing media environment.

78th Reporter • LEE HYEON SEO • zzhs00@naver.com 

79th Reporter • YUN SI O • ysbcindy1026@naver.com