Modern society
Modern society is heavily influenced by communication and media. Today, the first thing that many people do when they wake up in the morning is to pick up their phones. Something which I’m sure you have fallen victim to more than once. Every day we have numerous interactions on our phones while walking to our cars, shopping, and relaxing at the end of our days. When we want to learn something new, get answers, form original opinions, and learn about what is happening globally, digital media is what we run to. However, these numerous interactions with the media around us have resulted in some wanted and unwanted consequences.
Currently, there are several forms of media in the United States that we are exposed to daily. Today’s most common forms of media are electromagnetic media and sounds and images, which have almost entirely dominated the media scene today. The high rate of interaction between people and these media forms have had some unforeseen effects, many of which can be classified as negative or positive. Electromagnetic media can be defined as media sources that use electronic devices to share information. Some examples of electromagnetic media include digital media, such as video and audio recordings and online content. Today, online content is the most common information source, as it is most easily accessible and readily available.
Online content has almost entirely revolutionized the way we receive and share information and the way we interact online with each other. Social media has mostly played a vital role in the effects of communication and media. One of the positive impacts of social media is that it has fostered creativity worldwide. The freedom with which people can share their opinions and work online has enabled them to go above and beyond and break the creative limits that existed before in society. Many creatives such as musicians, content creators, actors, and even screenplay writers have gotten their big breaks through social media.
Secondly, another positive effect of digital media is increased connections and social awareness. The internet and social networking sites have made the world one big global village. Today, all you need to speak to someone who maybe halfway across the world is a mobile device and an internet connection. Through such communications, we have introduced ourselves to foreign cultures, which have influenced the ways we live. Besides, we have learned more about how different people live and the numerous issues people face in their day to day lives. This has, in turn, allowed us to keep updated with current topics worldwide and make changes to our lives. For example, numerous exposure to hunger worldwide has pushed people to help by making donations and being less wasteful.
Finally, social media has had a significant impact on businesses and how we buy and sell online. The first and most vital positive impact on businesses is in regards to marketing. Because we spend so much time online, there are endless opportunities for companies and firms to advertise their products and services to people online. Furthermore, there are many people online, which presents a broader market for these firms to reach. The more people they can reach, the more sales they can potentially get. Social media has also revolutionized marketing in that companies have now understood that it is vital to interact with people online, which can be used to build customer relations, which is crucial for the long-term survival of any enterprise.
Other than digital media and online communication, sounds, and images have also been very influential and have had numerous effects on our culture and lifestyles. For example, the sounds and pictures we have been exposed to can propel some people’s lifestyle changes. For one, we watch several videos online and on TV. In many cases, these videos have pushed people to make lifestyle changes such as losing and gaining weight, increasing physical activity, and going vegan. However, these sounds and images can also bring negative changes as they can influence people’s thoughts. For example, there have been several conversations on body image and how the photos we share online can affect people’s perception of what “a good body” looks like. Many of the photos shared online are of models who are paid professionals whose job is to make things look good. If people begin to compare their bodies to those they often see online, they can develop the idea that they don’t have good bodies, leading to disorders such as body dysmorphia.
In conclusion, mass media plays a vital role in our lives today, one whose full extent we may not even know. Although these effects could be both positive and negative, we ought to be careful to ensure we can realize most of the positive results without realizing the more negative effects. Some positive effects of digital media include fostering creativity, increasing connections and social awareness, and changing the field of marketing and online commerce. On the other hand, sounds and images can affect us by influencing our behaviors, thoughts and propelling us to change our lives. However, these effects can as well be positive and negative, making it vital for us to have an online presence consciously.