Unveiling Media's Influence: Reality vs Perception

The Impact of the Media, the Internet, and Social Media

Many people today may not realize how much the media, Internet, and Social Media impacts their lives because of how reliant we’ve become on them. In “Of Losers and Moles: You Think Reality TV Just Writes Itself” by Derrick Speight, “Mind Over Mass Media” by Steven Pinker, or “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., each story may talk or argue about some issue that society faces in relation to media. In the first article I read by Derrick Speight, the main goal was to explain to the audience that reality TV is real, but in the scheme of the production, the writers and producers must transform the reality of it into a story line. In the next reading by Steven Pinker, the purpose of

I can admit that when I watch a reality TV show, I tend to envy the main character and think that is how I should act, or I will think that is how I should live my life. In no way, shape, or form is that how we should view life. There is a connection here between “Of Losers and Moles: You Think Reality TV Just Writes Itself” and “Mind Over Mass Media.” “Mind Over Mass Media” argues that media usage should be controlled. Well, that can relate with the fact of watching too much reality TV for example. This is a perfect connection of these two articles. It is okay to watch reality TV or TV in general for that matter, but people need to be aware of the time they spend watching it or be aware of the time they spend on the internet. “Negative Effects of Electronic Media on Society and Culture,” an article written by Puja Mondal had a good point that said, “Because the electronic images seen on the television screen look real, the mind is fooled—unless viewers constantly remind themselves that they are not real, which spoils the viewing experience.” If people were to spend too much time on media, they will not perceive reality as it should be which leads us into the story “Harrison Bergeron.” In “Harrison Bergeron,” people can not show their true potential in life because of their handicaps. Everyone is different, but with handicaps, no one will be able to see the true side of people. So, in a sense, media can be viewed as a handicap. Media may not show the full potential or reality of people or