Impact of Mass Media on Society

Uncovering the Influence of Mass Media: Effects on Mental Health, Social Behavior, and the Propagation of Biased Information

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Mass Media and the Society

Mass media assumes several roles in contemporary society as it serves as a conduit for entertainment, information dissemination, and an expression of creativity amid the challenges of reality. During the Industrial Revolution, mass media proved its significance as entertainment for portraying whimsical realms inhabited by mythical beings, providing a brief breather for the people engaged in a brutal reality. Aside from this, mass media serves as a conduit for information dissemination, particularly in education. Mass media provides information via news-centric television, printed and online newspapers, and radio programs, offering access to all audiences regardless of geographical barriers. Simultaneously, it provides information through other formats, such as books, magazines, and digital platforms. Platforms that enable audiences and authors to exchange perspectives have also been created, such as letters to the editor and the editorial sections of newspapers. In the digital era, novel platforms such as blogging and vlogging, podcasting, and online discourse have also emerged as a means of self-expression. Despite the various platforms, it is still being determined whether the people's perspectives genuinely resonate with the broader discourse (University of Minnesota, 2016).

Another pivotal function of mass media lies in its capacity to scrutinize government, business entities, and other institutions, exemplified by historical instances such as Upton Sinclair's exposé of the meatpacking industry in "The Jungle" or the investigative journalism of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the Watergate scandal. Nonetheless, it is imperative to recognize that mass media may be subject to diverse agendas, encompassing political biases, commercial interests, or ideological predispositions, potentially