Mass Media Affects on Society

Being such a dominant part of US culture, it would be nearly impossible for it not to effect us. Scientists and culture observors have broken these affects down into a number of different affects.

Socialization would be one that I personally agree with. According to our text book, most 18 year olds will have spent more time watching tv than doing any other waking activity. This has been proven to become more of a social skills builder than we ever thought. IN fact it is even teaching behaviors just the same way parents do, by exposure and therefor immitation of what the children see. I personally also believe this continues in all areas of our life past 18, helping to shape how our culture defines our values and interests.

Technology and mass media have also affected living patterns. Because of television and computers, people spend far more time inside than they ever have. It also creates lingering affects on US life. For instance, comfortable living rooms and couches are no far more important because of the amount of time spent in them. It contributes to advertising times, and will influence which products are bought by whom, depending on the demographic they hope to reach (due to viewing time and habits within the household)

Beyond these, media is often influencing sterotypes, public opinon, and product consumption.