The Media Effects American Culture

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. The media creates an image of celebrities, commercial products, and influences such as politicians that the American culture can become “wrapped” up in. Americans can look at celebrities and think that they have to look or act a certain way, just like the celebrity. An example of a negative aspect would be Paris Hilton. Many teenage girls look up to Paris Hilton as an idol, however, in 2003 an adult video was leaked to the public. If Americans see this, especially teenage girls, they will think that it is okay to act this way. A different example would be Britney Spears’ out lash in 2008, which showed America what the paparazzi and the “glamorous” lifestyle of being famous can do to a person. When asked if the media has mostly a positive or negative aspect on the American culture,