Mass media has become a vital aspect of people living in this age. For most people, it is their source of entertainment, news, and academic or general information. The media thus plays an essential role for the modern man. This essay is a summary of the changes in mass media, its influences, and the effects of media convergence.
Since the start of the media, it has undergone many changes. The print was the first type of media used (Heisler, 2013). It was used for a long time before the invention of the radio and television (Heisler, 2013). The electronic age followed, with the invention of the internet that made mass media even better (Heisler, 2013). The internet enabled the formation of social groups and blogs that has allowed everyone, not only publishers, to spread information (Heisler, 2013).
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Mass media have influenced American culture. In the beginning, the validity of the information that was provided in the newspapers or on radio and television were not questioned since they were from known trusted sources (Heisler, 2013). However, with the advent of the internet, people receive different perspectives of the same story, leading to questions as to which source would be reliable (Heisler, 2013). This has made it easier for people to receive biased information intended to bend the reader’s perspectives, while on the other hand it gives an individual the chance to try and discover the truth, and allows people to form their own educated opinion (Heisler, 2013).
Mass convergence refers to how previously differently used technologies are put together to share resources and tasks- such as the smartphone or personal laptop (Lule, 2018). The convergence of media eased life substantially, since people can now carry out different tasks in one place, using one device- be it making a call, listening to the radio, sending an email, or setting the alarm. Mass media is, therefore, an essential factor in societal growth, and this is evident in the positive effects it has had on American society.
References
Heisler, M., (2013, May 20). Mass media and its influence on American culture. Retrieved from https://makaylaheisler.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/school-mass-media-and-its-influence-on-american-culture/
Lule, J., (2018, March 23). American Culture and the Media. Retrieved from https://brewminate.com/american-culture-and-media/
