What Are the Negative Effects of Mass Media Communication on Society?
Mass media communication negatively affects society by controlling and constructing the images that are seen. According to Business Insider, six corporations control over 90 percent of the media. Consequently, these corporations have the ability to decide which information is released to the general public.
The fact that media has developed into one of the primary agents of socialization for children has been well researched. Media teaches children social norms and even influences how children perceive gender roles. Mass media communication has also negatively affected teenagers. Many experts agree that the media is dominated by sexualized images that place value on slim bodies and youthful appearances. One common argument among researchers is that showing this image more often than others indicates to young adults that this is the ideal. It is also argued that these images negatively impact the way teenagers and children view their own bodies.
Many experts also argue that mass media has led to a rise in violence. The main theory is that exposure to violent images desensitizes the mind, making a person more susceptible to being violent. Additionally, it is often debated whether or not violent images in movies and video games affect the way children view media violence.
