How the media succeeded to affect public opinion

How the media succeeded to affect public opinion

Media has emerged among the most powerful tools affecting most of the trends in the current world. Its impact is felt in all disciplines ranging from education to politics as well as the behavior of people across the globe. The main reason why media has been influential is that the number of platforms is increasing at a high rate, and the tools required for accessing these platforms are being produced at a high rate and made accessible to a large number of individuals. Such tools include devices such as computers, mobile phones, and other smart devices through which individuals can use to surf the internet as well as disseminate information to other regions.

Network generations have also advanced to improve the speed of access, considering the fact that some parts of the world are currently using 5G, which is fascinating in terms of speed as well as facilitating other processes (Michael & Agur, 2018). The existence of different media channels that act as information outlets made the world a small village within which people can communicate on a real-time basis and even with visual assistance hence making it easy to share opinions to different groups as well as collecting their views on such opinions.

Information is known to be a powerful tool, and the main reason why media is successfully affecting public opinion is that it provides people with the necessary and convenient channels for passing information, which has a great impact on the way people reason (McCombs, 2017). Information is availed in different ways whereby, in some cases, media only makes people aware of emerging trends while, in other cases, analysis is provided to incite people on the type of decisions they make.

There are also different polls organized on different media platforms, which are subject to change the way people think about particular events. One of the most affected issues is elections, whereby some of the predictions provided in media and other channels have always been replicated in the real elections. The public may be changed by different trends being presented in media as well as what they find other people to be more interested in, which could not have been possible in the absence of such channels.

Social media is one of the most powerful tools which has an influence on public opinions due to the many ways which are provided for interaction and content. Some of the social media platforms offer the opportunity for people who never knew each other and who may be from different cultures to interact exchange concepts on various issues. This may totally change what the public believes in once they perceive some trends being embraced elsewhere to be better than what they usually exercise.

The public opinions on some of the pressing matters such as gender equality and race have also been significantly influenced by media through different programs advocating for the need to avoid such issues. It does not matter wherever one is on the world, but currently, campaigns being conducted on media platforms have reached everyone and probably changed the way they think about others. Such issues are, therefore, decreasing because everyone is made to understand the consequences through different channels that communicate information to them. Useful education is also available on these platforms, which makes individuals aware of the need for unity and peace among different races, which has a great impact on economic development. On the issue of equality, most of the countries across the world are therefore focused on empowering women and other disadvantaged groups within the society, and this has majorly been facilitated by media channels. Simply, it would be necessary to say that social media has succeeded because it has been at the forefront in conveying information about the most demanding issues which easily capture the interests of the public.

Media has also realized success in affecting public opinion because it has the capability of equipping people with knowledge or experience they may not have access elsewhere. There is always a wealth of knowledge streaming through various media channels and being shared on social media platforms, which people can learn and change their beliefs on certain issues (Michael & Agur, 2018). This has always been a powerful property because people are made aware of unique trends as well as being given the right precaution regarding opinions, which may be dangerous to adopt. Such a kind of knowledge still enlightens individuals on some outdated aspects which may be affecting their development so that they can change and adhere to new trends which are much promising.

Some media programs are also focused on the future of humans, and this is another factor why public opinions have greatly been altered. Different media channels provide programs advocating for measures that could effectively control climatic changes. Nothing fascinates the public like finding something meant for their own goods, and therefore, such efforts have been greatly appreciated. Media platforms are basically concerned with suggesting alternative resources that the public can rely on to avoid increasing the possibility of climatic changes and because everyone is made to understand the consequences of their actions.  Most individuals, therefore, choose to change their opinion and choose practising activities that do not have negative impacts on their environment since it is made for their future.

Reliance on social media in the contemporary world has greatly increased, such that for most of the things done by the public, they are probably informed of what to think by media. This could simply mean that we get a collection of ideas from the media, which we may then filter to come up with the necessary solution (Michael & Agur, 2018). The interests and agendas of the public are also influenced by what is presented in the media hence the reason why it has attracted most people. Such attraction is what has enabled social media to transform the opinions of most people such that they begin thinking in line with what is provided. The occurrence of changes in public opinions has therefore been of great significance because it plays a significant role in ensuring that all individuals are equipped with the right knowledge, which could protect them against humiliation by their governments and other entities. Lacking information is the worst thing in the current era, and therefore media equips the public with the ability to confront any entities through the use of the knowledge gained. Media further acts as good protection because most channels are also determined to let known to the public any unethical practices which authorities may engage in, subjecting the public into suffering. The public can, therefore, mobilize for the right action to be taken. Being such informative is, therefore, the reason why media has massively realized great success in changing public opinions.

Media has a major influence on the way interest groups, religious groups, labor unions and nongovernmental organization spread different opinions to the constituents associated with them. It has, therefore, become easier in the way such groups present sensitive issues unlike earlier whereby opposing groups could set obstacles to block information from reaching the indented receiver. An example is whereby public service workers may be poorly treated and would like to inform each member about the action to be taken. Mass media is always out to broadcast even the little bit of information creating tension to employers so that they can take the necessary action or experience the worst. On the case of religion, it is clear that there is a large number of denominations existing in the contemporary world. Each of these denominations wants to attract more people and change their public opinions and media channels are always available and open for such groups to communicate their information. It is not uncommon that some denominations have booked broadcast sessions on televisions and are using a wide range of blogs to reach out the largest population possible. Each day a significant number of public opinions is changed or modified according to the insight received.

Regarding tastes and preferences, media has enhanced the process of advertisements based on public relations and with the intention of making people shift from specific products or services to new ones. The public may have for long depended on certain services and products, believing that they are the best, but the power of media has always had the capability to disrupt such believe. Through persistent campaigns and enticing advertisements through the media, people are made to believe that whatever is being introduced to them is the best and therefore change their tastes and preferences. This process has greatly benefitted businesses in capturing and dominating in new markets without having to spend too much. Considering the emergence of data whereby some social media platforms are able to monitor and identify what some people are interested in, businesses also get an opportunity to conduct easy market research so that they can quickly locate their target customers. All these issues are as a result of the power social media has and much is still expected considering the current rate of technological inventions.

References

Michael, G., & Agur, C. (2018). The bully pulpit, social media, and public opinion: A big data             approach. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 15(3), 262-277.

McCombs, M. (2017). Contemporary public opinion: Issues and the news. Routledge.

Ceron, A., & Negri, F. (2016). The “social side” of public policy: Monitoring online public            opinion and its mobilization during the policy cycle. Policy & Internet, 8(2), 131-147.

Dimaggio, A. R. (2017). The Politics of Persuasion: Economic Policy and Media Bias in the          Modern Era. SUNY Press.

Mello, A. S. (2017). Media and Public Opinion: Case Study Comparison of the Mensalao and                               Petrolao Corruption Scandals in Brazil (Doctoral dissertation, University of           Oregon).