Regardless of age, gender or occupation we are all influenced by media in a certain way. This widespread form of communication is responsible for being our main source of information and entertainment at the same time. Is media good or bad? There are many controversies regarding this subject and no one seems to have reached a conclusion.
When you say mass media, you think about things like the television, movie and music industry, plus the radio and the World Wide Web. Newspapers are also part of media, perhaps one of the most important.
The television is often blamed for many of the faults of modern society. They say that it is more about entertainment than education. Is that true? No one can say for certain, as there is an unbelievable selection of programs presented out there. Some are educational while others are more on the entertainment side. They present the fabulous life of movie stars and other TV celebs, having without doubt an impact on our lifestyle.
Studies regarding the impact of television in our lives have shown that there are both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to this form of mass media. TV programs have been analyzed in order to discover potential adverse effects, especially on small children and teenagers (they are easily influenced). Results of these studies showed that television can have a beneficial effect but at the same time it exposes younger generations to excessive amounts of violence. And this is not the only impact television has on young minds. They see too much nudity and hear foul language all the time, watching commercials that promote not only alcohol but also tobacco use.
We should be worried about how much we let media influence our lives. And we should be worried about how much television our children watch. It goes without saying that exposing them to increased amounts of TV only leads to problems; they do not go out to play and they certainly do not enjoy reading or doing any exercise. This is the negative impact media can have on youngsters. Is there a positive effect the television has?
If you have taken your time to discover the TV programs offered, you probably know that there are plenty out there suitable for young age groups. Some are intended to arouse their interest for culture and education; others are destined to teach important lessons about the world of animals and geography. Children movies are meant to offer them valuable insight about emotions and normal behavior. Such media can never be regarded as bad; on the contrary, it is the type of media that stimulates and entices.
Children are not the only ones subjected to the influences of mass media. Young adults and older generations find themselves easily influenced by music, movies and the opinions of different TV celebs. No one says that we should not listen to them and reject anything that has to go with media. It is important that we learn to filter what is good and close our eyes (and ears) when it comes to the bad things.
Music videos promote too much sexuality, violence and other offensive behavior. Their lyrics contain things that could easily influence anyone. Movies are even more convincing, especially as we see so many celebrities doing everything they ever wanted. Commercials on television increase our appetite for junk food, alcohol and cigarettes. But there are some that really show what happens when you smoke, drink or eat things that are bad for you. There are movies which have an educational value. And last, but not least, there are plenty of music videos that can teach you (even as an adult) about the good things in life. In the end, it all comes down to seeing the good and the bad side of media, trying to decide which issues matter the most to you as a person.
