Positive Effects of the Media - Term Paper Example

Richard Brown/8:00 AM Positive Effects of the Media Introduction The question of how the media affects the society negatively or positively and to what extent has been the subject of debate for many years. In his article ‘The Positive Effects of the Media’, Oak extensively and definitively discusses the positive effects of the media. But does the media really has only positive effects on the society? Devoid of media, humankind would remain incomplete. Since communication’s birth, the media has been used in conveying information to its willing audience. An immense development is evident in media fields, just like in other fields. The media has been accessible to the populace in every facet of their daily lives, starting with simple spoken words and publications, and soaring to the twentieth century new heights with radio, TV and the internet. With such a strong grip on the current society, mass media has managed to form popular culture and to influence public opinion. Nonetheless, when the media is abused, its power has the potential of harming the general population. This paper disagrees with Oak’s opinion that media has served as a boon to humanity in his extensive and definitive discussion of the positive effects of the media. While agreeing that a certain amount of exposure to media is necessary for the masses to introduce themselves to the outside world, the paper emphasizes the fact that media is harmful to people’s well-being. Summary Oak believes that media has greatly benefited humanity. He argues that it has exposed people to the world, allowing different people to exchange their views on various subjects and social issues, resulting into a global knowledge sharing; it provides a platform though which people voice their opinions on all kinds of social and political issues in addition to allowing information sharing. He adds that the media has eased communication and that technological development has provided a platform that has enabled people to present themselves to the rest of the world. He argues that although overexposure to media has somewhat negatively affected the society, it is evidently a pleasure. He supports this by discussing various positive effects of the media. To start with, Oak argues that news broadcasted through different media increase people’s overall awareness/knowledge by providing them with information from throughout the world. News, telefilms and documentaries on social issues raise in children a social awareness developing their concern towards society. Oak also argues that newspapers not only update people with new information and the latest news but also enhance their vocabulary – they are the best beginners in developing children’s reading habits. Another positive effect of media as he explains is that it allows for a fast spread of news on current important incidents or events needing immediate attention especially in times of crisis even in the remotest areas. Citing research, Oak asserts that the persuasive nature of the content that media presents influences a major part of people’s daily life leading to a transformation in their thoughts, behavior, cultural and social values. To him, media can change the common man’s attitudes and beliefs. It directly influences the society’s lifestyle. He adds that there has been the achievement of a social control and the strengthening of the media and the common man’s relationship through the recent advent of blogging in the media world, citizen journalism and public polls. He believes that these concepts have brought people closer to their society. Oak concludes by saying that media has majorly transformed masses’ ways of thinking and that it has enabled them to present themselves to the world and contribute to the changing world scenario in their own ways. To him, media has made the world a smaller place to live. Discussion The media is not always a bliss as Oak implies. It often hypes the scintillating things about the negatives in the society. In most cases, it does this with the aim of awakening the masses about the modern days’ society. However, this hype mostly affects the society negatively as people see only the negatives around them. The media is constantly bombarding controversies on people, thereby negatively influencing them. The advertisements made through the media have numerous negative effects on the society. Biased media have a tendency of making people struggle to be another person’s idea of perfect while ignoring their own ambitions subconsciously. Stereotypes that the media form, which include thin, tanned women; and wealthy, muscular men have resulted into a decline in self-acceptance. Today, the majority of media habitually present to the public the perfect body, with the hope that consumers would strive to attain fitness by using a particular idea or product, thus making several people undergo inner conflicts following their failure to realize the body of a fashion model. In addition to emotional conflicts, individuals encounter physical problems, including anorexia, bulimia, not to mention the use of harmful dietary plans (Larsen, para2). Although the media updates people with new information and latest news as Oak points out, some of its spurious news may raise blood pressure in some of the audience and generate negative feelings in their minds (Chitracs, para10). Worse still, the media negatively affects people psychologically in that it changes their viewpoint towards life. It has changed society’s moral and cultural values. In some instances, the media carelessly gives biased or even false news to the public thereby making the populace to live in deception and/or fear – this is especially so considering the fact that most audiences believe what the media depicts and many people think that everything is true. Children and young people are especially bound to receive the greatest influence. At other instances, the media, by airing sensational news/information and exaggerating the happenings, provokes emotions among the public. Excessive exposure to media usually leads to an assortment of health problems for children and adults alike. People who spend much time surfing the Internet or watching television suffer from eye problems and obesity, which looms large over other problems such as sexual behavior, drug and alcohol abuse as well as poor academic performance, contrary to Oak’s argument that the media develops reading habits (Jensen, para1). Long hours of exposure to media augment the sedentary nature of a person’s lifestyle. Furthermore, some individuals, the middle-aged persons especially, are stuck up with radio and television serials in addition to portraying much interest in hoisting their social status, thus wasting much money in their purchases (Chitracs, para15). Apparently, Oak’s exaltation of the idea that the media such as newspapers are the best beginners in the development of reading habits in children is also not acceptable. Children should invest their time studying as well as reading good books that have much insight. Although the media may develop their reading habits and improve their vocabulary, it contains other unfavorable stuff that may influence them negatively. Worse still, psychological studies and analyses indicate that often, non-educational entertainment video media hampers children’s cognitive development. Media viewing does not give children any positive effects and they may learn and understand from real-life experiences better than they do from video (McLanahan, et al., p39). Chitracs explains that watching movies and TV programs exposes children to violence. They emulate the super heroes they see, which may arouse physical reactions and emotional responses making them develop anti-social and violent attitudes. Exposing them to violence through media, for instance video games, brings about violent behavior more, both in the short and long term. This exposes their lives to danger. In addition, the over exposure of children to media causes them to behave more aggressively, thereby spoiling their future (para11). Additionally, instead of spending their time glued to the media such as newspapers and magazines, television and the internet as Oak advocates, I believe that children should be made to spend their time engaging in social activities, playing outdoors and doing physical exercises in order to divert their attention from the media. Media’s negative impacts on children manifest themselves in terms of declining the quality of their lifestyles as well as changing their mental setup. The fact that the media, for instance, the internet, has become easily accessible to small children exposes them to things they will not understand and to things that they need not to know. Another important negative effect of media that Oak overlooks is the fact that youths find themselves trying to imitate their role models in the media blindly without paying much thought to differentiate between right and wrong. This has made them to adopt unhealthy lifestyles. Often times, the media highlights negative things and the controversies in the lives of the celebrities and the youths blindly imitate what they see in the news. Music programs, fashion shows and dance particularly attract them, with actors and models influencing them to spend much money for make up, jewels and clothing. Furthermore, youths like participating in these programs, most of which are not suitable for many people (Chitracs, para13). Conclusion It is important to note that the media affects the ways in which people think and act both negatively and positively. While a particular amount of exposure to the ever-evolving media is necessary for the masses to introduce themselves to the outside world, an excessive exposure is detrimental to society’s general well-being. Therefore, although all and sundry surely celebrate its positive effects, there is a dire need to prevent it from negatively influencing the society. The public as well as the media itself should embrace the responsibility of helping to ward off media’s negative effects on the masses. Works cited McLanahan, Sara. “Children and Electronic Media”, The Future of Children Journal. 43.4 (2006): 647-662. Print 20.1 (2010): 39. Jensen, Danny. Report Reveals Negative Impact of Media on Children. 2008. 12 Oct. 2010 . Chitracs. The Positive and Negative Effects of Media. 2008. 12 Oct. 2010 . Oak, Manali. Positive Effects of the Media. 2010. 12 Oct. 2010 . Larsen, Joanne. Ask the Dietician: Bulimia. 1999. 12 Oct. 2010 . Read More