Media Moral Values

991 Words4 Pages

In today’s 21st century, media plays an increasingly vital role in our lives. ‘Media’ is defined as mass communication- social, traditional and new media. It can be debated that due to peer pressure in society, the use of social media alters behaviours and attitudes and can also affect a person’s moral values and beliefs. Hence, I agree to a full extent that the media partakes in shaping who we are.

Due to peer pressure in society, the prevalent use of social media alters adolescents’ behaviours and attitudes. Social media networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and even blogs worldwide are often recognized as a powerful tool in having influence over a person. It serves as a platform to voice our personal opinions and comments …show more content…

All these fall under the category of the socio-cultural environment in which we live in, which can be defined as the environment and society where the individual resides and the people they interact with. For example, to show how family values shapes who we are, we need to compare the differences between the Asian and Western culture from a more global perspective. The Asian culture is widely viewed by many to be a more conservative society than the West. The Asian people are said to value their community, treasure peace and harmony whilst the Western people place more emphasis on the individual and freedom of speech. In a recent article by The Straits Times, it addresses the importance of traditional family values in the Asian culture where ‘filial piety, humility and a focus on family should be promoted’. (Chun, Sunday Times) On the other hand, family values in a Western culture are more open-minded, where the bond between parent and child resemble a friendship. We embody the traditional family values of the culture we were born into, whether it is Asian or Western, which contributes to our behavior, character and personality. As a result, this indicates that although media is a key factor in shaping who we are, there are other significant influences that attribute to the construction of our individual …show more content…

It is evident through how social media affects behavior and attitudes and how media alters moral values and beliefs. Nevertheless, there are other external influences that shapes who we are. Media is an increasing trend and when used correctly can be beneficial in our daily lives. However, when media is abused, there are negative implications. A proposed solution to counteract these effects is through the parents of youths and education. Parents can be more actively involved and aware of their child’s media usage while schools can conduct cyber wellness and media awareness

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