Introduction
The mass media in the U.S. has a vital role in shaping the general population’s behaviors, opinions, and attitudes. It does this through various ways, including disseminating information, advertising businesses and products, and entertainment through various platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram. Mass media is vital in shaping people’s opinions and influencing societal norms. Media is looked into in its modalities, such as the convergence of mass media, the influence of music, media role models, and the reliability of newspapers in the United States. Social media, which is part of mass media, plays an essential role in influencing people’s behavior, consequently impacting society as a whole both positively and negatively. This paper explores ways mass media has shaped the general population in the United States.
The Effect of The Phenomenon of Media Convergence on Social Life and Psychological Well-Being in The United States.
Media convergence is merging different media forms, such as television, radio, print media, and the internet, into one seamless platform. This means that people can access a wide variety of media content, such as news, music, and videos, on a single device. This concept of convergence was developed in the 20th century, when new technologies like the internet and digital media made it possible for different forms of media to be combined, thus making the difference between forms of media blurry. As a result of media convergence, there is the blending of 3 Cs: content, computing, and communication. A good example of media convergence is the smartphone which combines a variety of media, including broadcast media, the internet, and print media, in one device.
This convergence of mass media affects the populations globally, but more so, the focus is on The United States. The effects of media convergence in The United States are complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, media convergence makes connecting and accessing information easier, which can improve social life and psychological well-being. One of the ways is that it allows people to be in touch with friends and family who are far away. This way, it creates a sense of connectedness to your loved ones, thus reducing the sense of loneliness. Convergence also helps generate multiple opportunities that the creative industry can utilize for advertisement and content circulation. When digital and traditional sources blend, information and stories can be released instantly.
On the other hand, it has negatively affected social life and psychological well-being. This occurs when people overconsume social media, leading to isolation and depression. Additionally, consistent exposure to a wide variety of news and information can lead to anxiety and stress, and this is because fake news has detrimental effects on the quality of public discourse and decision-making. Combatively, the general population of The United States then has complex effects from convergence and is a topic that requires more research to ascertain the percentage of positivity compared to negativity.
Despite the feared adverse effects of mass media convergence on social interaction and psychological well-being, it has been proven that it is a new communication, a more convenient way of sharing ideas and marinating relationships. This point is reinforced by the fact that in today’s world, loved ones and family members don’t have the advantage of staying together due to the nature of work. Thus, the only way to feel connected is through the use of media, thus promoting social well-being (Meier & Reinecke, 2021). Psychological well-being primarily depends on the amount of time spent on devices and the content one consumes.
Impact of Role Models on Interpersonal Relations
In today’s world, role models in Tv shows and streaming platforms are plenty. They are essential in shaping the population’s perception of interpersonal relationships. Having a variety of role models improves interpersonal relations between people. Positive and diverse representations of characters and their relationships can promote healthy and respectful interactions. In recent years, Tv shows such as Master of none’ and ‘pose’ have been praised for their representation of marginalized groups and the complexities of their interpersonal relationships (Meier & Reinecke, 2021. Therefore, mass media consumers get positive reflections on human interactions and how to go about that. However, it is imperative to appreciate that although representation on TV impacts our perception of our interpersonal relationships, real-life human interactions are the epitome of a better understanding of interpersonal relationships.
Impact of Newspapers on Informed Decision Making
In the United States, newspapers have been used to convey and circulate information since time immemorial. They are print-based publications that are distributed daily via various means. They convey multiple messages, including local news, sports, politics, and even health messages. In recent years, research shows that the use of newspapers has significantly increased (Meier & Reinecke, 2021). This is primarily due to the recent development of online newspapers.
This nature of newspapers has made access to newspapers more convenient. Thus, more people consume valuable information necessary to make informed choices in their personal lives and those in their community. However, a conceptual and empirical meta-review by Meier & Reinecke (2021) established that whether newspapers adequately prepare readers to sift through various information is still debatable. Newspapers traditionally provide accurate and reliable information to the general public, primarily due to a long-standing commitment to journalistic integrity (Meier & Reinecke, 2021). Additionally, newspapers employ the fact-checkers mechanism, which consists of editors verifying the information’s accuracy. They also help encourage social consciousness and critical thinking. These factors make newspapers a reliable source of decision-making, principally because the factors influencing the decision-making are verified and true.
Despite all that, newspapers have been seen to be having financial challenges in recent years. This factor has set huge setbacks in staff and resources, consequently leading to less efficient fact-checking, information verification, and difficulty in providing depth coverage of complex issues (Meier & Reinecke, 2021. Therefore, the information has begun to lose its credibility, thus making it a little harder for consumers to rely on the information provided for critical decision-making. The need for more information regarding complex issues such as politics and health matters also fuels this.
Popular Music Industry Impacting Personal Behaviour, Social Attitude and Political Discourse in The United States
The popular music industry greatly influences how people perceive things; hence it is vital to ensure that as a tool, it conveys the right message to produce the desired positive results. In the United States, personal behavior, social attitudes, and political discourse are great determinants of the country’s success, including economic success(Meier & Reinecke, 2021). Maintaining a positive influence on those factors is therefore of great importance.
Musicians can use their music and public appearances to encourage their fans to develop admirable social attributes such as tolerance, compassion, and engagement in their communities and politics. This way, the people will be able to interact peacefully with one another, and this is particularly helpful in times of elections and political heat (Meier & Reinecke, 2021. Therefore, musicians must carry themselves in a way that portrays positive characteristics. This can then be consumed by the people and effectively leads to positive change. Moreover, the industry can support organizations that promote social and political change and encourage other musicians to do the same(Meier & Reinecke, 2021. Due to their strong influence, supporting positive change will, in the long run, motivate their fans to change their behavior positively, leading to a more flourishing nation.
Lastly, the industry could encourage more songs that promote unity, peace, and understanding. The content of their song is vital as it also has a significant influence on people’s mindsets. Musicians who create political songs should ensure that the content triggers the feeling of togetherness and unity in the people Songs that carry a positive message encourage positive behavior change. In contrast, a negative message triggers a negative change.
Overall, mass media and its ability to evolve have affected all aspects of the general population in the United States. Although it has brought and can bring about excellent results in positive adjustments, the outcomes solely depend on how people use media, what information they consume, and, most importantly, what information is put up on social media platforms. Therefore, positive content and consumption of information from mass media are significant determinants of the influence mass media can have on a person, a community, and a nation at large.
Reference
Meier. A. & Reinecke. L. (2021). Computer-mediated communication, social media, and mental health: A conceptual and empirical meta-review. Communication Research. 48(8). 1182-1209.