ABSTRACT
It may seem to the general public that we are in an “age of scandal.” With abundant allegations of sexual harassment among prominent figures, corruption abounding in politics in multiple countries, and massive security breaches and violations of privacy from multiple companies that are portrayed in the media, we are exposed to scandals almost every day. While the number of scandals we see may not be any different from decades ago, there are several reasons why it may seem more abundant. First, social and digital media has put news right at the public’s fingertips, which has contributed to the “24-hour news cycle” (Rosenberg & Feldman 2008). This has significantly contributed to the speed at which we receive information. Social and digital media has also contributed to the globalization of communication. It is much easier for people to communicate cross-culturally, which means more exposure to international scandals (Block 2004).
