Media and its Social Impact

The media controls society. Television is the main transmitter of social influence. The use of propaganda and the programs, preferred by the audience, give power to stations, networks, and corporation, making people incapable to think critically. The use television to mind wash society has to end. The socialization impact more children and adolescents. The effects are change in behavior and physical appearance, and mental process performance. If you are waiting for the government to reform television broadcasting, then you will die waiting. The corporations control the government as well. Do not expect anything to change, we have to change our lifestyle.

“It is observed that multiple media are accessed by the children and television is the most preferred medium and that 12.26% of the children and adolescents had television in their rooms” (Birch Web). According to the Committee on Public Education “Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the messages conveyed through television, which influence their perceptions and behaviors. Children cannot discriminate between what they see and what is real” (web). Television programs stimulate the use of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and drugs (CPE web).

The Association for Psychological Science (Vol.25 No.3 March, 2012) article, Bandura and Bobo, give an example of how television role models encourage behavior:

In 1961, children in APS Fellow Albert Bandura’s laboratory witnessed an adult beating up an inflatable clown. The doll, called Bobo, was the opposite of menacing with its wide, ecstatic grin and goofy clown outfit. But when it was their own turn to play with Bobo, children who witnessed an adult pummeling the doll were likely to show aggression too. Similar to their...

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..., television is not good nor bad. Television discretion is advice. You block shows that are inappropriate for their children, must use the ratings system, and ensure the best possible.

Birch, L., & Fisher, J. (1998). “Development of eating behaviors among children and adolescents”. Pediatrics, 101(3 Pt 2), 539-549. Web. 9 February 2014.

Association for Psychological Science. (2012). “Bandura and Bobo”. APS Vol.25, No.3 March, Web. 11 February 2014.

Education, C. (2001). “Children, adolescents, and television”. Pediatrics, 107(2), 423-426. Web. 9 February 2014.

Hepburn, M. A. (1998). “The Power of the Electronic Media in the Socialization of Young Americans: Implications for Social Studies Education”. The Social Studies, 89(2), 71-76. Web. 11 February 2014.

Schramm, Wilbur. (1961). “Television in the life of our children”. Stanford University. Press. Google eBook.