What is Gatekeeping?
Essentially, gatekeeping or The Gatekeeper decides what information should move to a group or individual and what information should not. The gatekeeper(s) is then responsible for the flow of information. So much to the point where The gatekeeper has a large influence in social or ethical ways. The gatekeeper then processes unwanted, sensible, and controversial information and removes certain information. By doing so, the gatekeeper aids in “controlling” the flow of information and guides society in a certain direction.
How is it different from censorship?
Now that we know what gatekeeping is, it can sometimes be confused with censorship. Censorship, in short, has more to do with concern for society. For example, is something “productive” or “unproductive” or even “helpful” or “harmful.” With censorship, it prohibits dialogue on topics. A gatekeeper only ensures that the information is kept within a certain range.
Examples of Gatekeeping
Women who play video games
Women who play video games received heavy criticism since it is male-dominated. Because of this, when men see women playing certain games, they may feel the need to ask questions to test the woman on her knowledge. If said women were to miss a piece of information, her credibility diminished, making her weak and unfit to be in the world of gaming.
When someone’s favorite underground artist “blows up.”
This is something that has gone on for years and has continued into 2021. Take Tyler the Creator, for example; Tyler the Creator was unique and different within the music industry. Before becoming more popular, he was known for being goofy with his friends and creating music with raunchy and comical lyrics. As years went on, his popularity grew to where his songs made it on the radio. His older fans excited to see him grown didn’t like the fact that newer artists only like
Clothing
Another popular form of gatekeeping happens within the fashion industry. Some people like to believe that the things they buy and where they get them are exclusive. Sneakers are a great example. Sneakers that are priced higher are seen as more exclusive, yet the people selling the shoe charged them for triple the price to maintain status. When they achieve this status, it becomes more difficult to obtain items due to incredibly high pricing. It happens throughout apps like GOAT or even Depop.
Many factors can come into play when it comes to gatekeeping—for instance, certain ideologies. What is already considered being the norm is automatically respected because that is the way it’s always been? It goes hand in hand with Routine. The media always seems to show us patterns along with maintaining a specific schedule. And lastly, media organizations. Many organizations follow their own rules and agendas. These are just a few factors that influence gatekeeping.
Final thoughts
I think gatekeeping is lame. So what if someone recently started listening to an artist you’ve been listening to for years? People should be more excited that their favorite artist is gaining more attraction. If someone likes your jacket, it doesn’t have to be a secret if they ask you where you got it! To not gatekeep, try eliminating bias. Trust me, your favorite artist or clothing brand wouldn’t want their fans to prevent people from success.
Source(s): Leetaru, K. (2019, August 23). Gatekeeping is not the same as censorship. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/08/22/gatekeeping-is-not-the-same-as-censorship/
Gatekeeping Theory. (2018, November 2). Mass Communication Theory. https://masscommtheory.com/theory-overviews/gatekeeping-theory/
A. (2014, July 10). GateKeeping Theory. Communication Theory. https://www.communicationtheory.org/gatekeeping-theory/
