Effects of Mass Media Essay

...

As people become more aware about what is truly going on, and talking about it through emerging media sources and exposing themselves to many different sources of traditional media, the individual is able to find the truth and form his or her own educated opinion, and American culture holds this as a very important factor in the people’s everyday lives.

Media convergence means that the lines are getting blurred between the traditional forms of media and they are almost becoming one. In regard to technology, you can find such things as newspapers, news, TV shows, and books, magazines online using the internet by using computers, iPads and smartphones. A 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that Americans aged 8 to 18 spend more than 7.5 hours with electronic devices each day (Lewin 2010). Before, you had to buy a newspaper in order to get the information desired. But now anyone can read the newspaper online. This goes along with reading magazines online. Know you are able to watch your favorite show on television via the internet versus at home. As far as the business side of it, consolidating services in to one group will result in cost effectiveness. For example, consolidation of phone service, cable connection and internet access under the same umbrella can help to monitor your bills and can be cheaper by using this group rate.

In today’s society, what we think depends on the vast information received through media. Our perception is greatly impacted by the messages delivered carefully through this channel of communication. Through educating ourselves with the various techniques of manipulation the media sets forth, we will be able to make better or rational decisions as customers and citizens.