Mass Media and Its Negative Influence on American Society Essay

Throughout the years the use of technology has increased, and expanded. Mass media plays a vital role in society. Mass media can be defined as any means of communication, to an extremely large group of people. Technological advancements have been extremely beneficial for prior generations, the generation we now live in, and will be for the future generations to come. Such as, providing news for the world to hear, entertainment, and much more. Some examples of media would be television, films, newspapers, and the Internet. Unfortunately along with benefits, there are disadvantages concerning gender discrimination, and sexism. Such as, women feelings forced and obligated to stay at home with their children instead of working, and the representation of beauty involving both men and women. Examples of how the media can accomplish this would be through the use of advertisements, movies, magazines, and the radio. The media has an enormous effect on people within society today.

Television is the mainstream of our culture. Violence on television has been a topic of conflict since before 1950. There have been repeated debates on how to protect children from the harmful effects of violence on television. Television is one form of modern media that influences the everyday lives of people. Televised violence has a major effect on how children perceive the world and how they behave. "American television has become the most violent in the world. It is for this reason why researchers have focused their attention toward television violence" (Cantor & Hoffner 424-4-25). Children enjoy watching television and now with the increased technology of cable and movie

Mass media is communication that reaches a large audience. This includes television, advertisement, the Internet, newspapers, and so on. Mass media is a significant effect in modern culture in America. It creates ideas and sustained within society not only send ideological messages out to the public but to advertise this ideas which are tend to manipulate our mantalities.

The new era of technology led to major developments in the evolution of mass media, worldwide. In our society, we originally communicated orally before the Internet and wireless devices existed. Individuals relied on traditional forms of mass media, such as the television, radio, newspapers, and magazines, to attain knowledge of the outside world. Thereafter, the development of new forms mass media evolved, and we were introduced to the Internet and other wireless communication devices such as IPads and tablets, smart phones and social media sites. Regardless of the rise and fall in popularity of certain forms of mass media, the evolution of mass media influenced the American culture greatly.

While it is hard to believe that anything that is so informative could be doing any harm, all of this media exposure is beginning to take a toll on the people of the United States. The attitudes of the American people are changing, and it might be for the worst. There is no arguing that the media started out as something that was innocent and informative. Nonetheless, in today’s world, almost all forms of media have shifted their focus to more cynical things. The media that reaches people is filled with horror stories of the world around them. Not only this, but the media is constantly changing the way that people feel about themselves. There is no question that the media is beginning to have a negative effect on the values and actions of the American people.

“In terms of exposure, the average U.S. child between the ages of 8 and 18 spends 6½ hours a day using media” (Strasburger, V., & Wilson, B. 2009). Children are the most vulnerable target, not only do they manipulate their parents as consumers, but they are also susceptible to being misled by what they see. Many children lack discernment between actual acts of violence and mock violence exhibited in pop culture. The authors of Children, Adolescents, and the Media assert, “… Youth today are confronted with a media environment that is rapidly changing. Technologies are proliferating, merging, and becoming more interactive. And the content featured in these technologies is increasingly graphic, realistic, and commercial in nature” (Strasburger, V., & Wilson, B. 2009). Television programs often mislead gullible children because of positive attitudes toward violence. Cartoons like Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner follow the laws of animation physics and often display exaggerated cycles of violence. Thus, certain levels of violent acts were accepted and became the norm. The good guy beats the bad guy and over time children may become desensitized. Jacoby (1995) asks the question, “What impact does it have on a generation growing up amid dysfunctional families, broken-down schools, and a culture of values-free secularism?” (p

Former SIS agent and novelist David Cornwell once said, “I suffer from the same frustration that every decent American suffers from. That is, that you begin to wonder whether decent liberal instincts, decent humanitarian instincts, can actually penetrate the right-wing voice, get through the steering of American opinion by the mass media.” In this weeks reading we read about the events happening after the cold war and beyond. These being subjects like the NATO expansion to internal reform. However in one section of the reading it talk about the events of the Somalia and Bosnian humanitarian effort and the shocking reality of America’s view on it. Being born in America, we have all have heard and influenced by the idea of America being a peace keeping and leading Humanitarian force in the world. Yet the history of America is anything but. With fights only

Popular culture impacts our everyday lives. It influences us into falling for advertisements that makes us want to buy a product or change our way of thinking. For instance, television, a vital key in popular culture, promotes topics that mold our minds for better or for worse especially in children. In the article, “APA Congressional Testimony on Media Violence and Children”, Jeff J. McIntyre claims that the substantial exposure of violence in the media is affecting the minds of younger children in a negative way. This essay will explore how popular culture creates complications towards a younger generation, as explained by Jeff J. McIntyre, in order to explore the different ways in which violent media is being promoted and affecting

Screen violence clearly appeals to popular concerns and is never far from the headlines. Serious news reports become entwined with more speculative accusations about the influence of screen media on children. Children are less developed in establishing right from wrong and their ability to control their emotion. The best way to

There are many different effects of mass media. Where would the world be today without mass media? The world has evolved so much. From the written era all the way to the digital era, communication has changed so much. For instance, when the radio was invented it changed the way the news was communicated and provided entertainment. The television came soon after that providing news to watch and sitcoms to laugh at. Mass media has provided so many great changes that impact our lives every day.

American society is presented information over a wide range of events that we encounter in life throughout the history of the United States on account of media. Media presents ongoing information within the boundaries of the United States in addition to foreign affairs believed to be significant to the American public. The media has a massive influence and impact on the American society covering certain events that are taking place all over the world. However, sometimes media only covers one side of the story to create interest in the American public while behind the scenes generating themselves as a significant role in day-to-day life within this country. Many events broadcasted beyond the boarders of the United States, unfortunately, has

The author sheds light on the idea that younger generations are affected in a positive way when they watch reality T.V. While viewers are engaged watching a show, they learn to think critically and analyze environments and situations. Johnson discusses that in watching these shows, even reality TV for example, “kids are forced to think like grown-ups: analyzing complex social networks, managing resources, tracking subtle narrative intertwining’s, recognizing long-term patterns”(Johnson 294). I believe this could be a positive impact, but could also have some negative outcomes. Johnson believes that even bad T.V. is good T.V. because it teaches real world situations. This is where I believe the negative impact of the exposure of T.V. comes into play, because shows with high levels of violence could lead to the viewer reenacting the seen behavior; this goes for not only violence but other things as well. He also refers to a show that he considers nourishing; the finished series of 24, that “you have to pay attention, make inferences, track shifting social relationships” (Johnson 279). The benefit of these shows does not come from learning and following the characters’ actions; it comes from thinking and questioning situations. Studies done by Matthew Gentzkow, an assistant professor of economics at the university 's graduate school of business, and Jesse M. Shapiro conducted a study collecting data from cities where preschoolers were exposed to

Most children and teens are left home alone and unattended after school between three and seven pm. The current generation today are “latchkey children”. When a child is left without adult supervision the child has the opportunity to get into trouble easier. Violent video games teach children to “kill or be killed”.(b14) Modern entertainment allows youth to play games with cutting edge graphics and digital technology to enhance the realism of the game. When no parents are around to supervise the television it is not being monitored properly. The NIA has found that the ratings system is weak and parents are still complaining. Children see violence occurring in television, and also in movies. Movies depict scenes of violence whether it be , violent scenes, or violent action heroes. Some children do not understand reality vs. video game and movie fantasy. Problems and issues at home are commonly found when families suffer from family violence, divorce, drug abuse, poor income, unemployment, and illness.

Between the 1940s and 2000s, commercial television had a profound and wide-ranging impact on American society and culture. It influenced the way that people think about such important social issues as race, gender, and class. It played an important role in the political process, particularly in shaping national election campaigns. TV programs and commercials have also been mentioned as major factors contributing to increased American materialism. Finally, television helped to spread American culture around the world ("Television's Impact on American Society and Culture - Dictionary definition of Television's Impact on American Society and Culture | Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary," n.d.).

Running head: MASS MEDIA AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIETY 1 Mass Media and Its Effects on Society Alexander Wilson Kansas State University MASS MEDIA AND ITS EFFECTS ON SOCIETY 2 Mass Media and Its Effects on Society Sudden introduction of mass media into society undoubtedly caused a shift in societal views and behaviors, evident from the vast amount of research that started as soon as television and other sources became available in households worldwide. Mass media constitutes anything that helps reach a mass audience such as television, newspaper, radio, social media, and even video games. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a mass medium as “a medium of communication that is designed to reach the mass of the people – usually used in plural,”. From building a dependency on mass media, to changing the way some children and young adults behave, mass media has played and continues to play a massive role in shaping today’s society.