Mass media are quickly becoming a real power in the political, social and spiritual spheres of people’s life. Lule (2016) states that “throughout U.S. history, evolving media technologies have changed the way we relate socially, economically, and politically” (6). Zengotita (2008) adds that human culture has always filtered reality through the representation of many kinds. The information revolution turned the mass media into a virtual “fourth” branch of power, the influence of which on society and the individual often turns out to be incomparably greater than of other social institutions. According to Cengage (2021), television has almost as much impact on forming young people’s values as family, friends, school or church.
The expansion of this influence and the growth of opportunities for the media exacerbate the process of forming the socio-cultural identity. Moreover, by virtue of their universality and inclusiveness, media and entertainment are also able to shape the image of each new generation. Monreal (2018) claims that nowadays, children struggle with socialization skills due to constant online communication. Sternheimer (2003) also adds that American society has been showing clear signs of anxiety regarding the mass media’s influence on children for a long time. Thus, this paper seeks to examine exactly the impact the mass media and entertainment have on modern American culture and society.
Works Cited
Cengage. “Television’s impact on American society and culture.” Encyclopedia.com, Encyclopedia.com, Web.
Lule, Jack. Understanding media and culture: An introduction to mass communication. University of Minnesota Libraries, 2016.
Monreal, Jane. “Social media’s effect on society.” FOX4 Southwest Florida, WFTX, 2018, Web.
Sternheimer, Karen. It’s Not the Media: The Truth about Pop Culture’s Influence on Children. Westview Press, 2003.
Zengotita, Thomas De. Mediated: How the media shapes your world and the way you live in it. Bloomsbury, 2008.