I have already established the fact that mass media is a significant aspect of the American culture and has an immense effect in many areas that define the ‘American’ way of life. I have also established the fact that the mass media has a tremendous impact on the lifestyles of the American people. Those who are a part of the mass media industry understand that ethics are a monumental part of their job(s) and that everything that is published may please someone just as well as it may offend someone. This leads me to the last claim that I would like to make: mass media has positive and negative outcomes. I believe this claim is justified because mass media has definitely enriched and enhanced the American culture; however, mass media has contributed to some negative occurrences throughout the history of the United States.
The article entitled “Power of mass media” (n.d.) states:
“The Internet has sparked a cultural revolution among the youth generation. Teenagers and young adults use the Internet as a mode of expression, where their messages can be displayed to the world. The ability to upload or project any message creates opportunity for both positive and negative exploitation. In the case of Little Brother, Marcus uses Xnet to reach fellow young adults in order to rebel against the government. He is able to, with his innovative creation of Xnet, outsmart the Department of Homeland Security and draw the public’s attention to their cause. Marcus's use of the Internet portrays a positive outcome of mass media among the younger generations. It became a place where young people could join together to voice their opinions, set goals, and make a difference.”
The author gives clear examples of a positive and a negative effect of mass media; in this case, the example being used is the Internet, which is an excellent model used to demonstrate the satisfying and dissatisfying effects of mass media. The Internet is one of the most widely used forms of mass media among the American people, and the information publicized has a powerful effect on the viewers. On the Internet, we may find material that supports a particular viewpoint or belief, which is used to encourage someone. In opposition, we may find offensive material geared towards a certain person, group, or subject.
Mass media unquestionably has an effect on nearly every member of the United States, and is commonly used today to carry out daily activities. Three major ways that we can see that mass media impacts American society is through American culture, lifestyles, and the positive and negative outcomes of the media.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Author Peter Gibbon goes into detail on how the media has been linked with constant negative effects in society. He shows this by explaining that our society has become a “Wired World”(Gibbon 249). He informs the reader that the media has the ability to misinform people on current issues which results in turning people into a, cynical, suspicious, and fearful person. “It can lead us to lose faith in our nation, repudiate our past, question our leaders, and cease to believe in progress”(Gibbon 249) The media as well posses an empire of information.…
- 683 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In the last several decades Mass Media has impacted the American society tremendously. One of the first instruments of media being the radio which was first used in the early 1900’s which was mainly used for national news about the war overseas. Since then mass media has expanded from the radio to smart phones which at the palm of your hand you can access the internet from just about anywhere. Mass media has a great influence on today’s America both good and bad.…
- 917 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
As individuals say that the mass media is a valuable tool to society and can create great changes, it is seen to debauch within society and the minds of the new generation. Over all we see that the media has a colossal negative impact in comparison to a positive affect on society.…
- 4909 Words
- 20 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Over the last century mass media has evolved and transformed into many different forms; from books and magazines to television and the Internet. Through the ages mass communication has been broken down into eras, such as; oral, written, print, electronic, and digital. The past one hundred years the main forms of mass communication have been through the print, electronic, and digital eras.…
- 856 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Many things contribute to how a woman feels about her body. Peer pressure, family history, and age all play important roles in how people feel about how they look. The media can also play a dominant role on body image, as it almost always ties success, health, and happiness with being thin. To clarify body image, it is how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or picture yourself in your mind. With the constant exposure to media images of the “ideal” female body it is presenting an unrealistic “ideal” difficult to achieve and maintain it can lead to depression, lower self-esteem, and increases unhealthy eating habits.…
- 1223 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The media is the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines that reach or influence people widely. The growth of the media has spread vastly over the years. The media is also known as a “channel of mass communication.” “Mass Media incorporates all those mediums through which information is distributed to the masses. These include advertisements, magazines, newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet” (Sebastian). The media introduces many new things to the public, both positive and negative. The media harms the American culture by creating these celebrity idols, the glorification of violence, sex, and drug and alcohol abuse. The media positively affects the American culture by the quick and easy flow of useful information and education, its major role in developments like fight against racism, fight against gender bias, world poverty and spreading awareness about world peace. The media affects the American culture in several ways, beneficial and harmful. The media affects the way people view the world, others, and the way they live their life. The media also, however, influences the way people learn, interact, and engage with the rest of the world.…
- 1259 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
Mass media has played a key role in society for many years, it provides information from around the world that people would not usually have access too. Messages in the media keep people informed on things like health service provision, economics, policy changes, crime and do so in a variety of ways such as: leaflets, newspaper publications, television adverts, billboards and so forth.…
- 1726 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Social Therapists teach that much of what we learn is the result of observation, in which we pay attention to what people do and say, and notice the consequences of their behavior. Also, Richard MacCann shares that “the best method to begin [sic] discovering the truth about something is to observe that thing and the circumstances surrounding it”. The latter, however, certainly appears to be lacking in popular media’s portrayals of people with disabilities. The manners in which they are depicted are oftentimes distorted, and thus encourage society’s members to exhibit acts of pity, fear, ridicule, and discrimination. From the eyes of filmmakers and writers, some of the images in which disabled people are created include: helplessness, violent and/or criminal, child-like, and crazed. Joseph P. Shapiro confirms that these images result from portrayals of characters in popular media. Examples of two movie characters that can cause society to respond with pity and fear are Tiny Tim in “A Christmas Carol”, and Lenny in “Of Mice and Men”. “Tiny Tim is depicted as a helpless crippled boy who is in need of cure or care from a nondisabled person”, and Lenny’s mental retardation and child-like behavior cause him to commit acts of murder because he has no sense of his body strength or the value of life. Tiny Tim’s and Lenny’s character are presented is not completely falsely presented, however, because some physically disabled people do need our assistance, and some mentally retarded people do cause harm on themselves and others. But it is our own individual responsibility to learn and realize that all things of which the media presents is not necessarily the total truth. Miller (1985) shared her opinion of literature’s regard for the depiction of disabilities when she stated:…
- 1678 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
CAS100A- Section 207 Hillary Jones Policy Speech The media has a negative influence on body image, specifically eating disorders Introduction (Attention Getter) 8 out 10 women who answered a People magazine survey said that images of women on television make them feel unattractive and insecure. After viewing images of female fashion models, 70 of women felt more depressed and angrier than they did before seeing the images. As the National Eating Disorders Association website clearly shows, the media has a tremendous influence in the average consumers life. (Audience Adaptation) Ladies, weve all seen the scantily clad Victorias Secret commercials and wondered why we dont have Giseles legs. And guys, Im sure some of you are jealous of Brady Quinns six pack as pictured on Mens Health this month. Like it or not, were all influenced by the media, especially in terms of the ideal body image and how we measure up to it. (Credibility statement) After discussing eating disorders with a registered dietitian who is a licensed dietitian nutritionist, I feel confident with the topic of the medias relationship with body image and its effects on society. (Thesis) The media has a negative influence on body image which can be changed in order to minimize the effects on eating disorders. (Preview of main points) Problem First, I will convince you that the media plays a detrimental role in the exacerbation of eating disorders. Policy Second, I will explain my policy of how the media could downplay its promotion of an unrealistic body image. Cure Third, I will show how my policy will solve the problem of media providing negative stereotypes which promote unrealistic body images. Cost and lastly, I will show how the benefits of my plan outweigh the costs (Transition) So what exactly is the problem the media has created Body Main point 1 The media plays a detrimental role in the exacerbation of eating disorders. Magazines, newspaper, television, and the internet all promote…
- 1809 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
A way that the mass media is positive has to be looked at from a technologic way of view. Technology helps reduce the distance for its users; the world would just seem to be smaller due to the increased communication and access information. Staying connected also helps people stay in tuned with that is going on in the world. Getting news feed sent directly to smartphones, laptops, and iPads is just an everyday occurrence. “Cinema, radio, television, magazines are a school of inattention: people look without seeing, listen in without hearing (Robert Bresson)”. Even Bresson would have to agree that people do not even realize that they are being flooded by the mass media.…
- 2269 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
An increasing emphasis on the mass media has been especially reflected in the wake of events with far-reaching impact such as the September 11 terrorist attacks and the Iraq war. This emphasis is hardly misplaced with the increasing benefits of the mass media becoming clearer day by day. Generally, most people assume that the mass media, which in today's context can be defined as a means of communication that reaches large numbers of people via mediums such as the television, radio, newspapers and internet, is confined within its role to disseminate information. However, the mass media is now well regarded as an instrument for behavior change communication. Furthermore, the mass media acts as a supplement to typical textbook education. Last but not least, the mass media plays a major part in providing entertainment to the masses.…
- 1618 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Regardless of the type of mass media used, I believe that the mass media has more of a positive then negative impact on society.…
- 710 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
To understand the effect of something, one first needs to understand the subject itself. Therefore to discuss the effect of mass media, one must fully understand the concept of mass communication and how it functions as an integral part of society. Only once this concept is understood, can it be discussed as a reactor to change in society. The paragraph following will explain the phenomenon of mass media.…
- 1919 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media during the 20th century?…
- 559 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Mass media is used to target majority of people (or masses) at national or international level. Television, radio, billboards, internet, newspapers, websites, blogs, movies etc. Are the main sources through which messages are prepared (by making advertisements or promotional campaigns) and are conveyed to the audience in different forms. The electronic media, internet media and print media enables the viewers to keep in touch with all kinds of current event. Differentorganizations and businesses use mass media to promote their products which serves as a source of income for both the businesses (in the form of increasedsales) and the customer (in the form of providing value added information). Media is a great source of entertainment and public messages for the betterment of society. The critical reviews on articles regarding various social, business and ethical issuespublished in web and newspaper create an environment which fosters exchange of knowledge. Media is also a representative of one's culture and traditions. It serves as a platform to provide freedom of speech to the people of society. One of the negative aspects of media is that sometimes source of media is not that much reliable the way it should be in some cases. It can be used for advocating negative aspect in the society to serve one's personal interests. People might perceive different meanings out of the messages received from the media. Media if used politically or used with bias can create adverse effects on the viewers.…
- 446 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays