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.
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