I guess you could say it was bound to happen. Since before the age of technology, media in its own sense has always affected us in some form. The only difference is that in today’s day-in-age we are strictly bound by what we see and hear around us. Numerous studies have proven that what we witness around us in the media affects us in some way. Payne fund studies, is a perfect example of this point with several case studies based on media affects. Simple broadcasts such as the “Invasion from Mars”, and infomercials like the unforgettable ‘Magic Bullet model’, all of which seem so minuet really affect us in huge ways.
The first question anyone can ask is simple, why is media even around? Well, the answer is as simple as the question it provides gratification for all of us in some way, shape or form. While media has large affects on most it does not however affect everyone; the bottom line is, some media have some effect on some people some of the time. Statistics have proven that media aims to gratify individual motivations. Furthermore, this fact proves that we as a society use the media around us to satisfy whatever need we feel needs to be fulfilled.
One of the most influential effects of media is ‘sex in media’. Pornography the most obvious of sex in media holds many prolonged effects. Many of these effects can affect an individual negatively such as the diminish of excitatory responses, and can even lead to false beliefs. Sex is everywhere today. Whether on the television, motion pictures or even on the radio it is hard to not find some influence of sex on a daily basis. According to the Media Awareness Network pressure is continually placed specifically on women throughout media today. Surveys show that one in four television ad commercials send some form of an “attractive” message, in other words, these commercials are expressing to their viewers what is and is not attractive. Media Awareness also states that most women are portrayed as sex symbols. In ads alone women are almost pictured in bits; meaning their full bodies are never really shown rather particular body parts are. This perfectly depicts the fact that women are understood to be sex objects rather than actual individuals.
Despite the overbearing presence of sex in media today there are also other goals of moguls such as the entertainment and persuasion factors. The ‘mood management theory’ states that people choose to watch happier media in order to elevate how he or she may be feeling at the time.
Persuasion is also now a large factor in media today. The dictionary defines persuasion as an intentional act meant to change or reinforce someone’s behavior. Persuasion in media can be as simple as a particular company wanting you to buy their products to even having a particular belief in something. There are many different ways media can persuade their viewers, one of such ways is called the central route to persuasion. This form of persuasion relies on arguments. The other way many companies persuade their viewers is through the peripheral route which relies on cues.