Essay from Estonia

Media`s Effects on Young People Minds

Media is the general name of information carriers. Media is the environment where we communicate. Today’s society is like a global village, where satellite television and internet are spreading news instantly all over the world. By forwarding news about any event, media changes attitude towards them. Nowadays, the media plays an important role in our society and on young people.

Many companies are now incorporating their products into the programmes that the audience watch (TV, movies) or play (games). Instead of featuring a company’s product or brand in a separate, distinct ad, companies pay to have their products and logos appear during the programme or movie itself. We conducted a survey in Facebook and several young people think that product placement has a big impact on people. For example, when a famous athlete advertises some food, it raises trust towards the product. Actually advertising agencies know this and use it strongly. One of the respondents stated: "James Bond drove the Aston Martin, and therefore half of the men in the world want themselves Aston Martin. Product placement affects everyone."

Our survey shows that young people think media has more negative than positive effects. Respondents believe that Facebook, Twitter and Instagram inhibit communication skills of young people. Teens use their cell phones to text (an average of 60 times a day, according to the Pew study), check Facebook, play games and listen to music. They are no longer able to communicate face-to-face so well, and the young people’s literary language has become increasingly sloppier because of using too much slang, searching the Internet and watching television. Games also rob a lot of time and important things are left in the background. Nowadays it is possible to order even food and clothes form e-stores to the front door. Therefore people move less and have health problems.

From the positive side, it is found that thanks to the Internet it is able to interact actively and get to know what other people's world view, vision and opinion about various things is. The survey also reveals that the media informs young people what is happening in the world. However, it is said that, in general, people make their own conclusions about the news, and they are not always the same as in media. Several young people also note that the media has saved them from inefficient purchases. They saw a better product with a cheaper price on the advertisement and they decided to favour it.

In conclusion, we can say that the media has strong impact on young people and influences them negatively. Young people do not get to the information on the Internet which would extend their view of the world (e.g. news, scientific articles). Instead, they play computer games all day and waste their time in Facebook and Instagram. It is believed that in recent years the media has become even more negative. People say that the media raises panic, confusion and fear. You should not take everything in the media as truth. This phenomenon is getting increasingly worse.