Roles of Mass Media in Society

Roles of Mass Media in Society
Term of mass media or press has been used since around ten decades ago. At early age, type of mass media that society knows was only printed mass media such as newspaper, flyer, or brochure, but as the century goes by, other type of mass media, such as television, radio and internet, began to appear. In a society, mass media has many functions, due to its capability; mass media could bring not only positive effects but also negative effects to society. Nevertheless, mass media still needs to follow the ethics which are set by each country.
Mass media is one thing that influenced the movement of the society as it is today. Mass media is also known as social institution which affects the paradigm of society. However, the society could also influence the mass media, because consumers' thirst of information, mass media has to give information based on society's need. Even so, mass media has to know its limit in influencing the society, if the limitation is exceeded, it can lead to disunity caused by differences in perspectives. In addition, other than influencing the society, the functions of mass media are divided into six other categories.
The first one is to educate people. In this world where everything quickly changed, people need to know what happen in their surroundings. As information provider, mass media needs to give useful information to the consumers. Every content which is provided, both direct and indirect, with its transparency can be used by the consumers to understand the value of things. Through the content also, society will be able to develop their knowledge. Furthermore, during this current era, many people start to realize the meaning of education for the world of tomorrow and it m...

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...ould provoke violence toward other.
Sixth, mass media should not provide information which contains element of vulgarity or obscenity.
Seventh, in the country where diversity of race, ethnic, religion, and culture exist, false issues that offend each other sections need to be avoided, because it can lead to riot and killings and many other problems.
To conclude, in the world where everything are quickly changed, mass media has an important role as a social agent, due to its great capability of influencing, mass media can bring change for the better if it functioned properly and cause various effects to the society. Even so, mass media still need to follow the rules which are set by its community in each country. However, even though mass media is capable of changing human's paradigm, in the end, it all comes back to each person, whether they agree to change or not.