Means_of_Mass_Media_Are_the_Most_Powerful_Forces_for_Good_or_Evil_in_Modern_Life

A classic question, asked of many technologies – “good or evil”' I think not less eternal than “to be or not to be”. Modern society has been conceptualized as information society where mass media plays a critical role in social processes, mobilization for change and development. The process is central to the creation of community and building associations. The role of mass media in social awareness and political mobilization can never be overlooked. The present society is called the “information society”. Mass media is what is called the power resource of a society. They are means of control, management and innovation in a society. The media makes billions of dollars with the advertising they sell and that we are exposed to. We buy what we are told to be good, after seeing thousands of advertisings we make our buying decisions based on what we saw on TV, newspapers or magazines to be a product we can trust and also based on what everyone else that we know is buying and their decision are also based on the media. These are the effects of mass media in society, they buy what they see on TV, what their favorite celebrity advertise and what is acceptable by everybody based on the fashion that the media has imposed. Of course there always exist some “the good and the bad”. For example, if there is a sport that is getting a lot of attention by the media and gains popularity among your company, you will more likely want to practice the sport and be cool with all your friends. The result is that you will have fun with your friends and be healthier because of the exercise you are doing. At the same time we are influenced by overwhelmed images of cigars by celebrity movie stars, the constant exposure of sex images, the excessive images of violence and exposure to thousands of junk food ads. Who suffer the most are teenagers. Young people are in a stage of life where they want to be accepted by their peers, they want to be loved and be successful. The media creates the ideal image of a beautiful men and women and tells you what the characteristics of a successful person are; you can see it in movies and TV. It is a subliminal way to tell you that if you are not like them you are not quoted yet so it is time to buy the stuff they buy and look like they look. It is a pity to acknowledge but only people are to blame that we have become a society that does not necessarily think for itself or use internal value system to shape our decisions. This has become cultural norm to seek outside advice thus eliminating the need, and ultimately the ability, to think critically, based on unbiased information. Media is well and good enough as long as its valuable and influential information is concerned on the society.