Media Induction Task

Media Induction Task: Why study the Media?

In our modern society we are surrounded by different types of media, from newspapers to music videos, all of which affect our daily lives. Whether it is something we are personally affected by or something that affects a group as a whole, the Media that surrounds us is powerful. 

So why study it? We often find ourselves consumed by the wonders of the media, I personally can spend up to 30 hours a week on Social Networking apps alone, which I was shocked to discover. Perhaps by understanding the Media better and understanding why we are compelled to spend excessive amounts of time on apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, I could manage my time better as well as become both a more mentally and physically healthy person. For example, rather than spending an hour each night scrolling through my phone I could put time into researching a topic that interests me or exercising. Life is busy and hectic for everyone, so every second we waste on social media is precious time we could be spending with family and friends. Prince Harry warned that social media is more of a danger to young people than alcohol and drugs, with scientists linking increasing use of social media to depression, particularly with young people. If more people understood what they were being exposed to, perhaps they could control it better.

While some forms of Media, such as the news on radios and televisions, newspapers and websites can be useful for giving us information, each source is different and will present a different perspective on things. With Media playing such a huge part in society, it can become dangerous if false or misleading information is put out. For example, In November 2017 The Mail Online reported a ‘Lorry attack and Gunshots’ at Oxford Circus, following a simple altercation between two men, which caused panic to ensue as stores locked shoppers inside, fearing for their safety. It was discovered that the source was a tweet from over a week prior to the incident, showing how a simple misunderstanding can escalate into a disaster, especially when popular news sources such as The Sun or Daily mail give out false information, as most consumers believe what they are reading is true. This is particularly concerning for young people such as myself, who know no better than to trust in what they are told in the news, particularly when it comes to political opinions. Each news outlet will have their own bias, which could easily alter the opinions of young people who have little understanding of politics as they are still unable to vote.

The types of media I have already mentioned explicitly feed information to the public, however Television Programmes, films and music are forms of media which implicitly affect a persons views and opinions, whether this is drastically by altering their political views or more harmlessly suggesting they buy a certain product, hidden messages in media could be the most dangerous of them all. If someone doesn’t realise they are being manipulated, they will be more susceptible to it.

Over time media has developed, it is accessible to everyone to either consume or produce; freedom of speech means that anything goes. While information can be spread more easily, so can lies. Everyone will read, watch, listen or create a form of media in their lifetime, therefore the question isn’t ‘why study the media?’ but instead, why not?