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Media Influence in Society

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Submitted By alex2001
Words 410
Pages 2
Bryan Frank Oakes
Grand Canyon University

February 12, 2012
Professor Lisa Denny

Media Influence in Society Media plays an important role in our every day lives. It is always there to confuse, manipulate, and to cloud our judgement. Nine out of ten of the population have checked weather, traffic, social sites and the news as their first act of the day. It is a powerful instrument that we have all become so dependent upon. To us it is as normal as breathing. It can be used for positive as well as negative. I feel the negative effects are stronger because of the "consistency" used to pound this negativity into society's mind. It isn't necessary to use a hot babe in skimpy attire to sell a hamburger, but I've seen it done and in commercials for "family" restaurants. Sex is used to sell anything and everything and in that respect, it sends a negative message all around. Gone are the days when it was a shock to see an undergarment in a commercial. Now it's nothing to see the undergarments attached to live models. How many people do you think are actually looking at the undergarments instead of the body parts ( Kathy D 2007)?
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On the flip side...there are good influences via the media. When a catastrophe strikes such as hurricane Katrina, people are seen reaching out to help others. The tv show "Extreme Home Makeover" is a great example of how strangers pull to together to help those less fortunate. Influences such as these can provoke the thought for people to help more in their community before catastrophe strikes, to be more giving all around (Kathy D 2007). We all know that the media is a strong influence in our society and that is why it is incumbent upon parents to set the tone and to be good examples for their children and to steer them in the right direction and let know that they need to think for themselves and not to be swayed

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