Media's Pitfalls

Media's Pitfalls

With each innovation within the technological field we are witnessing an increase in the effect of media on the masses. The diffusion of media has begun in the 1800s with the invention of the telegraph and has continued throughout the centuries with many other advances such as television and the Internet. The Internet also referred to as the Web and television has largely facilitated the dispersal of information and ideas through images to vast spectators; since these innovations are available for almost everyone, the imageries diffused can affect every race, gender, and culture; “there are no protective borders”(Bordo, 2006). When we speak about media that reaches the masses we are implying mass media. Almost every individual in the world has a growing urge to find out all the contemporary activities and events occurring all over the globe. Nevertheless, mass media has a negative effect on the mentality and appearance of the masses and can also influence the overall conduct of societies. What are then the damaging effects that are caused by the ongoing spread of media?

      First of all, media is influencing youth’s mentality. Excessive exposure to media is negatively affecting children’s academic performance. This is mainly caused by young people trying to imitate their stars on TV without the regard of the outcomes. Many teenagers are getting more and more influenced by the lifestyle and behavior of their favorite soap actors or actresses. We may take for example the TV programs or movies that present the life of students at high school; we may notice that there is always a group of pupils that are the popular bunch avoiding all kind of academic work. According to UCLA neuroscientist Marco Iacoboni children are prompted to imitate what they see, that is why teenagers viewing these shows will determine that this slack attitude aided the students in becoming more popular and “cool”; thus they become careless about their scholastic performance....