What Effect Has the Mass Media Had on Modern Society?

by Annabel Heaton

The modern mass media and its influential effect on the masses have increased exponentially in the past five decades. Initially, the news and media channels were limited to the telegraph. The technological inventions then found many channels to spread the news to the masses such as the radio, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, and now mobile applications as well.  The mass media have become an inseparable part of society and the lives of the public and that’s why it is necessary to understand the mass media influence on people. From economy to entertainment and from politics to lifestyle choices, everything is now influenced by mass media.

Many may ask, what is mass media influence? As stated within media psychology, the effect of mass media on the actions, manner, and contemplations of individuals and audiences is called mass media influence. This influence can be negative or positive.

Over the past few years, audiences have seen positive and negative effects the media can have on the public, from

Dr Alex George

social media campaigns to fake news. Recent positive campaigns from the likes of Doctor Alex George, physician and television personality who serves as the UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador within the Department for Education, has started a huge ‘Post your pill’ campaign. The hashtag #PostYourPill went viral on social media as people posted photos of the mental health medication they take to destigmatise the use of antidepressants and other prescription drugs that were previously stigmatised by society. 

However, the negative effects of mass media on society can lead people towards crime, violence, bad mental and physical health disorders and others as such severe outcomes. For example, mob hitting innocents by getting carried away from the rumours spread on the internet has been common. These unauthorised news headlines are the biggest example of the negative impact of mass media on society. Furthermore, the cases of children killing innocents by acquiring weapons are considered as one of the major negative effects of mass media on the children as they usually get carried away by provoking news stories, action movies, and games.

However, does it mean the Mass Media only Influence Audiences Negatively?

There is no simple answer to this question, as there are many different factors that could affect an individual audience. Overall, studies have shown that there are more situations where positivity is the result of mass media influence.  For example, the people helping each other in the situations of natural disasters encourage humanity and empathy in children and adults, so more volunteers come forward to help the needy ones. Also, the quiz-based games, educational news broadcast and similar programs emphasise the positive effects of mass media which increase literacy in the audiences. Also, one of the positive impacts of mass media on society is their right to information. Today’s generation is much more educated and aware of their rights and that helps them gain various personal and professional benefits.

People usually come across different pieces of information via direct or indirect sources, but in any case, the mass media influence is clearly visible in society. From education to illiterate people are part of this wave and that’s why the responsibilities of the media people and controlling authorities increase. They have to be more careful about the timing and approach of conveying news. The positive or negative effects of mass media can be really crucial in some cases.  This is why it is crucial for everyone to have the opportunity to be exposed to what is going on in the world, and how they wish to absorb this information is up to the individual, any form of societal control on how to do this, can be the negative people may suffer with.