Technological improvements of the 20th century relieved people’s lives resolved different issues, and brought social changes. One such device is the radio used by Americans to listen to the news and music. With its introduction, people got a chance to deliver messages regardless of distance. Radio waves transmitted the programs to the listeners around the country, uniting them, influencing their perspectives, and changing socio-economic lives.
Although Marconi invented the first radio in 1894, it took a decade to start broadcasting in 1906 (Gupta, 2022). Every house had a radio, which united the whole family after dinner. Surprisingly, in the 1930s, radio ownership doubled because it resolved the slow communication technologies available at that time (Evans, 2021). It resolved the people’s inability to transmit news over a long distance, raising a whole generation of radio listeners.
From a political point of view, the radio was a source of the news translated throughout the country, affecting the course of the War. On the one hand, politicians communicated messages such as Roosevelt’s unfiltered opinion about World War II (Evans, 2021). Moreover, portable radio receivers transmitted higher commands’ decisions for rapid execution during the War (Gupta, 2022). On the other hand, the lack of restrictions on radio broadcasts could result negatively because propaganda about the US’s ineffective political decisions delivered by radio caused conflicts. Politicians guarantee a country’s stability by disseminating politically neutral information.
Radio changed society by bringing people together and redefining music. The popularity of Elvis Presley and the Beatles received through radio shows is the most favorable outcome for people’s cultural lives (Tennant, 2020). However, The War of the Worlds, the news series, made people believe in aliens’ invasion, thus, forcing them to flee their houses. Such quickly spread chaos illustrates the radio’s adverse effects. The radio established music icons but created an undoubted public trust.
This technological advancement created a consumer culture by affecting economics. It was advantageous because it provided a new channel to promote the goods and created more customer demand (Evans, 2021). The frustrating point was that some businesses relied too heavily on radios. It became more challenging to attract customers through radio, thus affecting sales. Eventually, its economic benefits terminated when radio became less utilized in houses.
When evaluating the radio’s importance, weighing all its pros and cons is essential. Despite all possible risks, the radio provided more important advantages by quickly spreading essential information. Especially during the Great Depression, giving them hope through a radio that united them was the best decision. It became entertaining for families, and the whole country praised its importance for political discourse means. Therefore, the tradeoffs of the mentioned examples were worth it.
To conclude, the radio is an essential technology that revolutionized how news could be delivered. Although it potentially affected the political viewpoints of its audience, it proved to be of immense help during World War II. Sometimes people use it to spread chaos and fear to manipulate the audience. Nevertheless, technological advancement improved people’s lives, introduced jazz songs, and brought dynamic social and cultural changes.
References
Evans, F. (2021). 8 Moments When Radio Helped Bringing Americans Together. History. Web.
Gupta, M. S. (2022). Five Ways Radio Changed the World. Web.
Tennant, A. (2020). Radio and Music in the 1920s United States. Family Search. Web.