ERRALYN PEÑAFLORIDA JAVIER QUINTO JR.

ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA IN SOCIALIZATION

Media has a strong impact in our day to day life. As the technology is getting more
advanced, media’s influence too is growing exponentially. From the past several decades,
television, radio, internet and newspapers have become a strong tool in our modern day
life. With the information reaching masses in a blink of eye, a life without media is near
impossible. There is no denial in the fact that it influences our society in both positive and
negative ways.

Socialization and society is one of the main features in partnership with mass media. As
seen in the contemporary society, norms; values; and way of life have changed to a great extent
in comparison to the generations gone past. A crucial aspect that a large media society has
embraced is that it brings to the surface great awareness of the world around us. The media has
exposed individuals of all ages to different aspects of the world that previous generation had no
exposure to. This vast revelation has educated the youth, thus making them more aware and
resourceful about the world today. Media delivers messages 'across the globe' in a matter of
minutes, providing us with information about the most current events around the world. Media is
actively transmitted on a day-to-day basis via millions of people and their access to resources.

The advantages of media are infinite. From creating awareness among masses to serving
as a source of inspiration, media act as a platform to present our ideas to the world. It connects
people from around the globe and owing to its reach, a better world of communication opens up
for the mankind. Other than increasing awareness among masses, it also enhances our knowledge
about any topic with information from all over the world.

Its influence in not limited to any particular section of our society but has its great effect
over younger section. According to their interest, everyone make best use of media channels but
knowingly or unknowingly they are exposed to violence related programs and negatives news
too.

Media provide society news and information. Because of its reach all over the world,
media targets a global audience. Any person, anywhere in the world, can obtain information
about anything through these mass media methods. Media is also easily accessible. For example,
a person who wants to know about a business venture can click a few keys on his keyboard and
obtain information regarding the venture easily via the internet. A teenager who wants to obtain
information about a rock star can walk to the nearest news stand and purchase a magazine
printed especially for this purpose. Media educates people on right and wrong. This is an extreme
requirement in today’s society. Many people in today’s world are unaware of their basic rights.
They are educated about their rights through mass media methods. Mass media are also

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ERRALYN PEÑAFLORIDA JAVIER QUINTO JR.

beneficial in marketing products that were originally produced for regional consumption which
can now be marketed in a larger scale very easily.

While it has many positive effect on our society but it can lead to blind following which
in turn have negative effect to our life. The advertisements these days target teenagers, in turn
they are becoming more brand conscious. Asking for I-phone or play station at very young age is
not new thing in today’s modern day world.

Also over exposure to sexual content in advertising, magazines, television shows and
music videos make the children furious and vulnerable to unwanted hormonal changes in their
body. Often seeing models and actors with ‘sexy’ appearances in the advertisements and movies
gives unrealistic goals to youngsters.

Media, without proper authority, provides the masses incorrect information. This can lead
people going astray. Incorrect information can lead to great uprisings that can cause unrest and
even war between countries. Media can also manipulate and influence the masses. For example,
a political party can use media to influence society and use this in their favor. In addition,
sometimes, media can be extremely biased. A journalist who favors one person can write his/her
articles in such a way that the masses also favor the person mentioned. Similarly, the journalist
can also write negatively about another person and have the masses turn against him. The media
have been known to sensationalize various occurrences to grab the attention of the masses.
Information may be exaggerated or untrue. This can also mislead the public. The media can also
influence adolescents in the wrong way leading them in the wrong path.

It is very important for media to ensure that they provide the right information to society.
Media can work in many ways to provide positive effects to society. For example, information
should be researched thoroughly before being printed and sent out to society. The facts should be
gathered, evidence should be double-checked and only true information should be shown to the
public so that they are not lead astray with incorrect information. Media should not be biased.
Journalists should write information with a clear, unbiased mind and not favor one party or
person. Media should be used to educate people on life and their rights.

Media have the power to influence society in the positive way possible. The media serve
a vital purpose in our lives. It is the bridge that connects the governing bodies and the general
public. Its job is to educate, entertain and inform society. If the media does a proper job, society
will be better informed with the right information, understand the problems of others and may be
able to provide possible solutions to these problems.

Social media has impacted our society for better and for worse. It is up to us to decide
how we view social media and how we allow social networking to either benefit or harm our

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ERRALYN PEÑAFLORIDA JAVIER QUINTO JR.

lives. It is imperative to remember that the genuine human experience of being able to
communicate in person, network in person and form relationships with others outweighs social
media. It is also important to remember that the amount of likes or shares you receive do not
define who you are or your self-worth. The more educated I become and the less time I spend on
social media, the more I realize that there is a lot more to life than sitting behind a screen all day
long.

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