How much influence does the media have on the public?

[Phillip S.]

People would say that media has no serious influence on the public; then why do companies and politicians spend so much money in advertisements. Please, it's not just because they have money to blow away. If a movie shows high school football players laying in the middle of the street while cars closely drive by them, would real people that stupid to do the same thing? Probably not. Does the media reinforce or even create stereotypes that positively or negatively influence people's perception of other people? How many movies have you seen from the 70's, to the present where an Asians knows Kung Fu? That was just an example, actually I don't know any Asians who go around practicing Karate; they're just normal people. Another question is how is social networking changing the media's influence, if it has any, on the public?

[Lindsayson]

i believe the media has great influence on people. by advertising they use tricks to suck you in and want the product. I think the entertainment industry probably does stereo type ethnic groups. social networking is being used in advertising commercials like tmoble tells people to like them on facebook, otherwise i'm not too sure how else if is changing the media's influence.

[Mac]

The media known as the Fourth Estate have tremendous amount of influence, a lot more than citizens give credit for. When it comes to promoting culture, advertised products, or politicians the media influence decisions and shape opinions.

[dana]

i hate hate hate the social networking sites. they are big wastes of time and some people spill their guts on there and give out way too much info about their lives. no one wants to know that you and youre boyfriend are fighting all the time. its stupid. and the media is making it worse by getting invoved with them to. myspace and facebook didnt used to have advertisements and companies profiles. nowadays its all there. like them on facebook and you'll get exculsive offers!! maybe a company does that to see how many people really do like them. like for statistic reasons. either way, facebook is addicting and can ruin peoples lives and relationships. there is absolutely no privacy and its virtually impossible to truely delete your account. if you go through the 900 steps to delete it and then try signing in, your profile will "come back to life" like you never even deleted it in the first place. i really hope america gets out of this viral slump with facebook and the reality tv slump with jersey shore. none of those are educational in any way, theyre just wastes of time. i want to move to a different country, prehaps canada or italy. atleast those countries have a better sense of what theyre doing, aye?