Have you ever wondered how the media people consume affect how they see the world? Well you probably wouldn’t be alone. Let’s jump into that.
First off, what even is media? According to Dictionary.com, media is “the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, magazines, and the internet, that reach or influence people widely.” Mass media includes many different outlets that include print, social media, and TV (Doyle).
Mass media doesn’t always have the best track record, as it often allows misinformation to spread (Galea). This is expanded by the way a story is written; the way it is can affect how people perceive it. On top of that, publishers commonly frame events in a way that aligns with their own viewpoint, leading to a higher possibility of misunderstanding (Victor).
Algorithms with specific exposure limit how many diverse perspectives people see (Victor). Beyond that, the media often created places for people to interact and engage with others, though many only choose to do so with people who have the same viewpoints (Galea).
Choice in what is shown in the media can cause attention to go more towards one thing than another (Malicse). Through the media, we can get bombarded by curated content that causes an illusion of reality (Victor). This illusion can be different for people as people who get information purely from one place will be exposed to different information than those who get their information somewhere else (Galea).
Mass media, though it’s mostly talked about when it comes to social media, can cause people to compare themselves to others. The media sets standards such as beauty, happiness, and success, which can make people feel like they’re not enough. Adding to that, representations of race, gender, and cultures can help perspectives of people’s identities, both their own and others’ (Malicse).
There are, of course, upsides to mass media. For one, it allows people to see and know what other people think (Davidson). Mass media also allows for the spread of information and the fostering of social awareness (Malicse).
Hopefully you have a greater understanding of how mass media affects how we see things based on what we consume. Don’t let just the media you see form your opinions, do your own research and then figure out what you think.
Citations:
Davison, Phillips. “Public opinion – Mass Media, Social Media, Influence.” Britannica, 7 October 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/public-opinion/Mass-media-and-social-media. Accessed 30 October 2025.
Doyle, Leslie. “Media and Crime: How News Shapes Public Perception.” American Military University, 8 August 2025, https://www.amu.apus.edu/area-of-study/criminal-justice/resources/media-and-crime/. Accessed 30 October 2025.
Galea, Sandro. “How Media Influences Your Thinking.” Psychology Today, 9 April 2025, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-health/202504/how-media-influences-your-thinking#:~:text=Our%20niche%20perspectives%20are%20then,us%20more%20vulnerable%20to%20misinformation. Accessed 30 October 2025.
Malicse, Angelito. “The Impact of Mass Media on Human Perception and the Affects of a Media-Free Lifestyle.” PhilArchive, 2025, https://philarchive.org/rec/MALTIO-32. Accessed 30 October 2025.
Victor, Adam M. “Modern Cave: How Media Controls Our Perception | by Adam M. Victor | Author | A.I. Ethics | ..” Medium, 20 July 2024, https://medium.com/aimonks/modern-cave-how-media-controls-our-perception-e8b61b2be0b9. Accessed 30 October 2025.
