With the rapid development of technology and the Internet use, media became the most powerful force that affects a person’s values and perceptions. It is especially evident with regard to online media as people tend to use it every day to receive information they need, communicate with others, and support decision-making. In my point of view, the media may be regarded as the most influential force since it is the key translator of knowledge, meanings, and values in today’s society.
The activity of the media is axiological due to its focus on spreading the system of views on the world structured according to a certain set of values. Therefore, its axiological role in the process of forming a worldview and perception of the environment of an individual and the society as a whole is evident. Linking the interests and spiritual values of different people, the media replicates them and makes accessible to all members of the society (Solík, Višňovský, & Laluhová, 2013). In other words, it is possible to state that it creates the so-called “thinking space” as a condition for mutual understanding of people and the existence of a diversity of values .
However, the role of the media is not always positive and ethical. For example, some media-tracking services are used by many companies to gather information about customers’ preferences, attitudes, and any other related information (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2017). On the one hand, these companies may offer relevant products and services to those who need them, thus contributing to the formation of people’s values. On the other hand, often, no consent is received from customers to collect their data. In this regard, one may note that even though a person does not want to be affected by the media, he or she is inevitably impacted at least to some extent.
The most of the media is about news in the lives of celebrities, negative political issues, high crime rates, reprimands, and other events that individuals tend to see on an everyday basis. While previously information was received primarily from the family members, teachers, colleagues, and experts, the trend is that modern people refer to the Internet to find answers, and not all sources may be considered reliable. As a result, a person may form wrongful values and reject such concepts as shame, dignity, generosity, et cetera. In other words, the role of the family values becomes less important compared to those translated by the media.
The impact of the media on Christians may be both positive and negative, depending on a certain situation. For example, some media sources promote the commitment to Christian values and guide people by enlightening religious events and encouraging people to follow morale. At the same time, the media may induce debates about the existence of God or importance of attending churches (Lowe & Berg, 2013). In this case, it is especially difficult to explain to children from Christian families what is good and what is bad.
Speaking of the media as the influential force, I would recommend filtering news, social networks, and other sources to avoid their negative impacts. Once a person receives information, he or she should also consult with other credible sources to ensure that everything is understood correctly. Most importantly, I would advice focusing more on the family values since it is composed of the closest people who want their relatives to be happy and, thus, they are more likely to be honest and open regarding the values.
References
Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2017). Business ethics: Ethical decision making and cases (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Lowe, G. F., & Berg, C. E. (2013). The funding of public service media: A matter of value and values. International Journal on Media Management, 15(2), 77-97.
Solík, M., Višňovský, J., & Laluhová, J. (2013). Media as a tool for fostering values in the contemporary society. European Journal of Science and Theology, 9(6), 71-77.