Media plays a very significant role in the contemporary world. As the technology is getting more, advance and sophisticated, the influence of media increases too. Access to information has been made readily available through the invention of television, the radio, internet, and newspapers. In the current world, a world without media is impossible (Anderson, 2008). The modern generation has changed the socialization approaches due to categorical influenced caused by media. Press has impacted the society both negatively and positively. All ages ranging from children to adults have been affected in one way or another. This research paper will examine the influence of media on socialization and the affected groups of people; the essay will discuss how the media has played a role as a socialization agent in the society.
The society, socialization, and media are three inseparable aspects of life. In the modern world, the values and norms of the community have changed significantly due to advancements in media socialization. Media socialization has brought significant changes in the way people access information and converse to one another (Anderson, 2008). The media has exposed the old and young generation to different concepts which were absent in the past. The youths have utilized the media to access educative information, which makes them more aware and knowledgeable about what is happening in the contemporary world. According to Hargittai (2010), through media socialization, message deliver across the world is executed in a matter of seconds; the world has been connected to a "small village." Through media socialization, there has been an advancement regarding entertainment industry. The entertainment industry has been revolutionized through the introduction of available internet services (Bandura, 2014).
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Socialization is a type of social learning that is attained when an individual converses with one another. When media is incorporated as an urgent of socialization, it plays a significant role in this learning process. Socialization helps an individual to develop a sense of self-being and self-value in the society. Through socialization, values and norms of people are prepared either negatively or positively (Hargittai, 2010). In the contemporary socialization, mediated sources have played a crucial role. People socialize more via social media platforms like Facebook, Mobile phones and other media sources like TV and radio. Research shows that more than 50% of American high school learners spend more time in watching TV that they spend in classroom learning (Hargittai, 2010). In my case, entertainment media and internet has influenced my socialization a lot. I use much of time socializing on the internet in the chat rooms. For instance, I can spend more than 5 hours a day chatting through Facebook and WhatsApp messengers. I socialize more through the internet than I do in the physical locations. Since I have a passion for movies and music videos, I also spend much time on YouTube watching new films and new music videos. This one influence draws me to media consumption. In the watching of music videos and movies, I can spend even a whole day sitting in front of my computer, as long as I have access to a reliable internet connection. Media consumption can be very influential in the life of an individual, for instance, my media consumption has influenced me a lot (Hargittai, 2010). I can spend more time socializing in the media than I spend with my parents and peers. The internet takes much of my time in a day; I prefer chatting over the internet than I talk with my physical friends.
Media consumption pattern develops over time. The amount of time spent on the internet and other social media arenas depends on the habit and people influences. For instance, I used to spend very little time in the media mainstreams, but when the peers developed a similar habit, then I also had to overshadow then in terms media consumption. The need for information and entertainment access can change the media consumption. Parents can also influence the pattern of media consumption, in the past; I did not have access to the smartphone device. The moment my parents bought me a smartphone, then the time spent on the internet increased. I started using my smartphone instead of a computer to access the internet. Technological advancements and research can influence media consumption (Kirsh, 2010). The need to research by students affects the time they take to surf the internet. Technological advancements like the introduction of mobile devices have influenced the media consumption patterns of many individuals (Bandura, 2014). Peopled nowadays spend much of their time making phone calls and messaging others over the phones (Kirsh, 2010). The pattern can change in case of the absence of the mobile phone devices.
Media consumption can influence the money an individual spends, the behavior, time spent and clothes an individual wears. The expression of an individual, especially children changes and develop their character form what they see in the media. Children are what they know while they are young (Kirsh, 2010). For instance, if a kid watches several movies associated with violence, they can develop a violent behavior over time. The clothes people wear can be influenced by the media. The songs an own watches can dictate the mode of dressing of individual. Some people are impressed by what they see in the media, that is the reason many youths dress according to what they see happening in the media platforms (Kirsh, 2010). Many people spend much time in the media than in learning or working. Many people have found that entertainment media is exciting; they can spend much of their time watching favorite movies as compared to executing essential duties of life (Lemish, 2015). Similarly, media consumption has influenced the way I behave. I usually watch romantic movies, and this has affected the way I socialize with my peers and girlfriends in general. The songs I watch have made me more focused in life; I listen to inspirational songs, which motivates and boosts my morale in life. Through media consumption, I have been capable of learning a lot over the internet. The internet has advanced my profession since the time I was in college up to this moment. I used to spend much of my time on the internet to research Information Technology and Computers. The research has enabled me to excel career wise and socially.
Media influence can serve a positive a s well a s negative function. Through media socialization, an individual can be more enlightened through learning over the internet. The media can help one to learn new concepts within the shortest time possible. Media brings the best entertainment source at the most comfortable and most affordable means possible. Through social media platforms, communication with people who are far away is made possible. Children are made active through the watching of kid's games and cartoons (Lemish, 2015). Media has influenced the way I relate to my parents, I can communicate with them anytime I am not at home. Also, I can easily interact with my peers over the video calls. Through media, education is made efficient; a student can register for online studies and learn from home without necessarily attending physical classes (Bandura, 2014). Unfortunately, media socialization can serve an adverse effect on young youths. Young children can ape unacceptable characters from media platforms, which will ruin their character in normal lives (Lemish, 2015). The media has been consistently advertising alcohol and other drugs on televisions. If children misinterpret these advertisements, they can easily venture into drug abuse and other violent actions (Bandura, 2014).
Media socialization is a broad aspect of the modern world. Media plays a very significant role in the way people relate and socialize with others. The influence of media hover is depicted to be affecting children more than any other group of the population. Children imitate a lot of content they see social media as compared to other sources of information. Children who watch TV a lot tend to adopt characters of what they see from the actors. Patents should regulate the content children consume media. Media can also be time wasting and addictive to adults if not controlled.
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