Blair 1

Advanced Media
Cox
Sawyer Blair
10/8/15
What is a Media Effect?
The average individual interacts with the world through technology on a daily basis.
Whether it be news stations, Facebook, or online articles, a glowing screen is now the primary
module for entertainment and media to be spread throughout the masses. However, this relatively
new form of communication comes with a cost; society operates in blissful ignorance to the
marionettists who subliminally control their actions through this media. The strings that span the
gap between media and its viewers can be known as media effects. These effects can be positive
at times, or incredibly negative in others. Media can spread creativity and art through nearly
limitless communication, but media simultaneously spreads stereotypical and racist behavior,
along with the sexualization of women and girls.
The media and its effects are not inherently evil; at times, media can assist in the spread
of creative ideas. Brilliant ideas and videos can be spread throughout the world in a matter of
hours through social media. Not only can the media spread art and cultural values, but it can
spread information and awareness as well. Online news stations offer instantaneous coverage. All
three interviewees that I talked to said that they get their news and keep up with current events
through electronic sources; whether that be twitter, online articles, TV shows or other forms of
entertainment. There are so many viewers and users of online entertainment and social media
that it is an easy way to spread the news of a social injustice. Recently, a woman named Sandra
Bland was taken to police custody and found dead in her jail cell. Her death originally deemed

Blair 2

suicide has been placed into question. Social media has created a firestorm of citizens
demanding the truth. The spotlight has been shined on the situation, which will help find the
answers the country is looking for. In this way, media has beneficial effects.
There is always a dark side to something good; a yin to a yang. Social media is an area of
entertainment that has incredible influence on the youth of todays society, and sometimes this
influence can be pointed in a negative direction. While social media can be used as a platform for
discussion, there are many stereotypical influences present in its feed. Accounts like Sh*t Girls
Say and Sh*t Guys Say tweet stereotypical comments that perpetuates gender prejudice.
Sh*t Girls Say tweets things like Does my hair look bad? and Does this dress look good?
to make all women appear superficial and self-obsessed. Their tweets categorize women as
people only concerned with appearance. Sh*t Guys Say tweets things like Did you see the
game last night? and Blinds down, pants down that make it appear as though men are dumb
buffoons, only interested in beer, sports and women. These accounts are not limited to only
gender. The account Sh*t White People Say similarly generalizes the entire Caucasian race
through tweets that many people find harmless and funny. Accounts such as Relationship
Goals stereotype what it is meant to have a healthy relationship. According to that account, a
relationship can only be successful when the couple is physically attractive and takes pictures in
exotic locations. This stereotype is impractical, yet you see many people drawn towards it. All
three interviewees have multiple social media accounts that they check daily. Interviewee 1 even
checks social media every 30 minutes. Repeatedly viewing stereotypical comments on social
media will eventually have an effect on someones character, even if they dont intend it. In this
way, the media can have an effect that regresses our society and changes behavior in a
malevolent way.

Blair 3

The media has the power to disrupt relationships. Over the century, women have been
more and more objectified. This trend is due, in part, to an increase in media and media fame.
When it comes to popularity on social media, many accounts reach fame by posting scandalizing
and revealing pictures. Girls flaunt their bodies just to receive likes. This objectifies women and
degrades their status as intellectuals, yet it continues because of the status social media provides.
Media, particularly movies, can have a detrimental effect on the behavior and attitudes of young
girls. This dangerously hidden stereotype is perpetuated by Hollywood, and lies within Disney
princess movies. If you were to ask the majority of Americans if there was any subliminal
messaging within these movies, they would say no. However, Stephanie Hanes would disagree,
and say that the movies create the Disney princess effect (par. 4). The Disney princess effect,
according to Hanes, is where little girls change their entire persona because of viewing these
movies (par. 2). Children become less imaginative and excited about the world around them.
Instead, these little girls become obsessed with their image. They want to dress up like
princesses, be as beautiful as the digitally created princesses, and even win a princes heart. Girls
are becoming women at younger and younger ages, leading to things from self-objectification
to cyberbullying to unhealthy body images (Hanes par. 4). 50% of 3 to 6 year old girls worry
that they are fat; at that age, many still have baby fat (Hanes par. 12). The stereotype that Disney
movies perpetuate is clearly not harmless, and can dramatically affect the course of a young
girls life.
The medias control has exponentially increased as technology has developed. Through
these new forms of media - such as social media - an increase of communication can occur.
However, media also has a negative influence on society, by spreading stereotypes and

Blair 4

influencing the treatment and behavior of women. Society needs to pay more attention to the
media they view, and how they allow it to influence them.

Blair 5

Hanes, Stephanie. Little Girls or Little Women? The Disney Princess Effect. Everything's an
Argument With Readings, Sixth Edition. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 482-488. Print.

Gataullina, Lily. "Stereotypes In Media." Serendip. N.p., 2003. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.

"Negative Influences of Media on the Society." Influence Guide. 14 June 2015. Web. 5 Oct.
2015.