INFLUENCE OF MEDIA OVER PEOPLES OPINION-

INTRODUCTION :-

Media has the capability of shaping the ideas and beliefs of the receptive brains of adolescents.

Media has the power to influence individual beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Thus, social norms that influence and encourage gender violence have been targeted by policy interventions using mass media communication. Prior research suggests that media influences through two effects: the individual or direct effect (private) or the social or indirect effect (public). In the individual effect, media information about new norms may persuade individuals to accept them. In the social effect, the information creates common knowledge of a norm and enhances social coordination as individuals more readily accept the information if they believe others have also accepted it. This study examined whether media’s social mechanism has a stronger impact than its individual mechanism on changing violent attitudes against women.

POSITIVE EFFECTS :- 

1. Makes them aware of the importance of health:

 Media disseminates information on health and well-being. A teen, who pays attention to such information, is more likely to be aware of various health issues like teen depression, childhood obesity, etc., and their possible solutions. This might help them make informed and healthy lifestyle choices.

2. Develops social and political sense: 

  

 Teens and tweens who take an interest in current affairs and news are highly likely to be interested in social, political, and human development issues, like poverty, global warming, etc. It is an important positive effect that could help determine your child’s

3. Helps develop social skills: 

 

Some teens and tweens are introverted. For them, social media is a free environment where they can interact without much hesitation. Social networking helps them develop social skills that are necessary for effective communication. Effective communication is necessary to develop and maintain relationships.

4. Aids in developing an identity:

 

 TV shows, series, and movies with good-quality content can help your tween and teen develop an identity. For example, a movie that reflects gender equality may motivate a teen to follow that in their life. You can strike up a discussion on such issues to educate your child.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS: - 

1. Could develop unrealistic body image: 

   

Media has a sharp effect on how teens interpret beauty and positive body image. For instance, the media usually creates an impression that “thin and fair” are beautiful features to have. Such misleading messages can have a negative effect on the child’s self-esteem.

  

2.  Might develop erroneous beliefs: 

     

Social platforms sometimes are used to spread biased information and fake news. Teens may start believing the provided information, thus causing a shift in their attitude and behavior. Several real-life cases demonstrate how online platforms are used to promote hateful or biased attitudes towards a section of people, eventually causing dreadful results.

   3.  May develop mental health concerns: 

Tweens and teens often get exposed to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people’s lives, and peer pressure through the media. All these factors can cause a negative ripple effect on the teen’s mental health. They may become depressed, anxious, isolated, and possibly suicidal.

 

 4.Unhealthy Lifestyle:- 

Media is held responsible for the change in eating habits of teenagers and the unhealthy lifestyle they are adopting. You ask me why? Well, because there are these junk food advertisements everywhere. There’s no one advertising the benefits of eating fresh fruit everyday, no one’s promoting drinking 8 glasses of water daily. The benefits of following a balanced diet are not being hyped anywhere. Media is exposing the masses to fast food products, canned food, fad diets, and energy drinks. This is leading teenagers to adopt unhealthy eating habits. No one’s propagating the importance of exercising to keep fit. But there are advertisements of expensive exercise equipment, and weight and fat loss programs. Watching TV or browsing the web late night is spoiling the sleeping habits of many.

5.Right-or-Wrong Dilemma

The media is so overwhelming that the masses end up believing everything it says/shows. Media sources are so many in number and all of them so convincingly make their point, that it is hard to distinguish between right and wrong. The media is constantly bombarding us with information. How far do we go to check its authenticity? How deep do we dig to get to the root of something that’s making news? How critically do we judge the reality of reality shows and the truth behind true stories? We don’t think, we believe. We don’t judge, we get influenced. And that’s how impactive media is.

While a certain amount of exposure to media is essential for introducing ourselves to the world outside, excessive exposure, uncontrolled access and belief without thought won’t lead us anywhere. They will only make the negative influence of media more obvious.

SOCIAL EVILS:-

The impact of media on public opinion cannot be disputed (Lewis, 2001). However, the media has gone a step further to publish violent information to attract readers to cope with the competition in the industry. Today, the television, the internet, and the print media are making fast money by airing and publishing wrong content. They do not consider ethical standards of the people they serve. The ability of the press to influence masses especially the youth affects public opinion. People have to think about the future of social media since it no longer publishes useful and friendly information that suits the interest of the majority of people as before. As such, various people view the media as an agent that promotes immorality and other social evils in the society.

CONCLUSION:-

A free and independent press has always influenced the public opinion in several ways (Martin, 2002). This depends on the effectiveness of journalists in selecting the right methods and tools to use. Journalism has developed over the years especially in the democratic countries. It is more concerned with the welfare of the people it serves. Journalists are committed to ensuring that the basic social and ethical standards are maintained. As such, it is considered as the backbone of public opinion in any democratic country. The media has helped to solve various controversial issues in the society. It ensures that such information is transparent and well refined. Therefore, it influences how the readers view the topic or the story.