Virtually Vocal

  Social semiotics is a methodology that examines how signs and symbols create and convey meanings within a society. Developed initially by linguist Michael Halliday, social semiotics was further expanded by Gunther Kress to include visual communication, thus highlighting how images, texts, and gestures operate within social contexts to deliver complex messages. The significance of this methodology lies in its ability to help us understand visual storytelling, transcend language barriers, and effectively engage diverse audiences (PwC, 2017).   Within social semiotics, specific rules guide the interpretation of visual elements. Vertical positioning in images indicates conceptual distinctions; elements at the top symbolize ideals, aspirations, and abstract concepts, whereas elements at the bottom represent reality, factual details, and tangible information. Horizontal positioning also conveys meaning, with the left side signifying familiar or known information and the righ...

 Social media has revolutionized the way public opinion is shaped, altering communication strategies. The rapid dissemination of information and the influence of algorithms have created both opportunities and challenges in the digital landscape. While individuals now have greater access to diverse perspectives, the way information is filtered and presented has significant implications for public discourse.Social media platforms have transformed public opinion formation by enabling real-time sharing of information, often before traditional media outlets can respond. As Melissa Agnes (2015) discusses in her TEDx talk, this shift has placed pressure on organizations to develop crisis management strategies that are proactive rather than reactive. She highlights a case where a passenger in a train derailment took to social media before calling 911, illustrating how public perception is now shaped in real-time. Photo Credit: Guo Qingshan, 2025 This speed can be beneficial in amplifying c...

  Misinformation and logical fallacies are common in online media, influencing public opinion and policy decisions. Fallacies undermine logical reasoning and mislead audiences by presenting arguments that lack sound evidence. We can identify three communication fallacies from recent online articles: hasty generalization, false cause, and ad hominem attacks. These examples highlight how fallacies function and why they are problematic. Cannabis Edibles Incident (CBS Chicago) An article by CBS Chicago reports on a 13-year-old girl who was hospitalized after consuming a cannabis edible (Sulek, 2025). The article implies that cannabis edibles pose a significant danger to children, citing multiple incidents at a single school. However, it does not provide broader statistical evidence about the prevalence of such cases or compare them to other risks children face. This is an example of a hasty generalization, a fallacy that occurs when a conclusion is drawn based on insufficient evi...