How Controlling is the Media?

Oftentimes people like to point to the media and other external factors as the main reasoning behind why their lives are the way that they are.

Obviously I cannot ignore the obvious. The media has a great influence on people, especially when you live in a world where people don’t care to do their research.

The media is especially influential on the youth.

There is definitely a very controlling component to the media.

With that being said, as an adult you have free will. You can do and be anything that you put your mind to, especially in America.

People have a tendency to blame the media for how society is today because they believe that the media has a motive to shape society in a way that is beneficial to them and big corporations.

This is a narrative that I don’t completely disagree with. What we decide to consume affects our thoughts, actions and mood, which would make the media a very powerful machine.

The key word here is decide.

Meaning we still get to decide what we want to consume as free will adults. If we decide to fill our minds with positivity and knowledge, then we will reap the benefits of those actions.

If the news is big enough it will find a way to find you, no matter what.

In these scenarios the media can’t really do much because it was going to find its way to you regardless, therefore they shouldn’t be the ones to blame in these situations.

I understand why some people think the media is controlling us and shaping society. Whatever information they share the most, typically becomes popular and society will have a tendency to gravitate towards it.

The most important thing that people have a tendency to ignore when thinking like this is that the media isn’t going to push something that we don’t already take a liking to.

Companies aren’t going to sell a product that people don’t want. The media isn’t going to push a narrative that isn’t already there.

For example once the media found out that men liked sports, they doubled and tripled down on that kind of content for men. Once they figured out that women like romance they doubled and tripled down with that kind of content for women.

Once they figure out who their audience is, they find out what they want, and what they like and simply give the people what they want in an abundance.

They figure out what sells, and they sell the hell out of it.

Corporations don’t just wake up and decide how they want people to act. People show their hand first and corporations take advantage of that.

We first have to tell society how we want things to be in order for them to create any narrative or shape anything.

I grew tired of people blaming external factors as to why life is the way that it is for themselves and others.

If you’re starting your day every day at 3 PM and expect to be successful and rich, I promise you that the media has absolutely nothing to do with that.

Some people say, “the government wants to keep us poor and uneducated.” As far as education is concerned community college is affordable to just about everyone.

If you work hard and apply yourself and keep your grades up to par you will be eligible for scholarships to pay for your Bachelor’s degree.

As far as the keeping us poor, in today’s day and age in America we have the most opportunities than ever before to be immensely successful regardless of where you came from.

I’m not saying that those opportunities are fair or easy, but they are there more than ever before.

I understand that there are people in unique situations that may have drastic obstacles in their way, but the vast majority of people can take at least one step towards living the life that they want everyday.

The government, media, and big corporations have influence but not the kind of influence some people will lead you to believe.

There is no one to blame for the position that you’re in as an adult but yourself.

The media didn’t make you gain 50 pounds, nor did they make you apply for that minimum wage job, nor did they make you enter that toxic relationship.

You made all those decisions on your own accord. Don’t point the finger now that things didn’t go your way.

The harsh reality is that there are some people with a legitimate gripe against the media.

I am not blind I know that I am significantly disadvantaged being an African American in the United States, but then what?

Am I simply supposed to be content with being below average or mediocre because of the bad hand I was dealt?

The world does not owe anyone an explanation.

Reality has not done me any favors with my skin color, I acknowledge that, but ultimately it is still up to me to change my reality.

Now that you know how reality is, it is up to you to reach your maximum potential.

The reality for a lot of people is that life isn’t fair, and the media had a great influence on that. But just because you were dealt a bad hand means that you should quit the game?

Food for thought.