Positive Effects of Media
Although much is made of the negative influence of media, it also has overwhelmingly positive effects in several areas:Learning | Discovering information |
Drawing inspiration from others | Using others as role models |
Educational programs and content | Creative activities in video games such as worldbuilding |
Health awareness | Safety and security awareness |
Environmental awareness | Social awareness |
History awareness | Cultural awareness |
Media as a shared experience | Media as a common reference that can be used to communicate |
Entertainment, relaxation and stress relief | Media storytelling that sparks creativity |
Media storytelling that shapes the future | Media as a source of creative inspiration |
Media as an epic or meaningful experience | Media that increases your sense of wellness |
Global awareness | Media as a venue for political discourse and debate |
Emergency alerts | Consumer awareness |
Economic awareness | Media as an industry that provides jobs and income |
Media as a source of cultural capital | Legal awareness |
Ethical and moral awareness | Scientific awareness |
Transmission of culture such as national culture and pop culture | Media as a source of tradition and cross generational experience |
Media as a research tool | Learning from the mistakes of others as depicted in media |
Negative Effects of Media
Media can be used to pursue negative behaviors, waste time, disconnect from reality, to push misinformation or create conflict.Narrow agenda setting | Misinformation |
Disinformation | Sensationalism |
Bias | Political polarization |
Media addiction and overuse | Desensitization |
Wasting time | Creating a fear of missing out |
Driving negative consumer behavior such as overspending | Obsession with social status |
Using media to pursue negative behaviors such as narcissism | Loss of authenticity |
Loss of privacy | Cognitive effects such as low attention span |
Escapism and avoidance of reality | Sleep disturbances |
Seeking out media that confirms an incorrect conclusion | Negative role models |
Using media as a substitute for critical thinking | Loss of productivity |
Online safety and security issues | Social isolation |
Developing unrealistic views of the real world | Normalization of negative behaviors |
Echo chambers whereby media is used to reinforce existing opinions | Comparing yourself to people in media and feelings of inadequacy, superiority or envy |
Decreased face-to-face communication | Propagation and enforcement of groupthink |
Being emotionally manipulated by media | Imitating negative behaviors from media |
Things Affected By Media
Media can have broad reaching effects on every element of modern life including:Attention span | Attitudes |
Awareness of social issues | Biases and discrimination |
Body image | Childhood development |
Consumer behavior | Consumer perceptions |
Consumer spending | Culture |
Decision-making | Digital literacy |
Economic behavior | Education |
Environmental awareness | Fear perceptions |
Food choices | International relations |
Lifestyle | Literacy |
Norms | Opinions |
Peace and conflict | Political agendas |
Political engagement | Political polarization |
Public health | Relationships |
Risk avoiding behaviors | Risk perceptions |
Risk taking behaviors | Stereotypes |
Social behavior | Social cohesion |
Social identity | Sense of self |
Socialization | Social movements |
Social roles | Technology adoption |
Values | Voting |
Well-being | Work culture |
