Media Blogs Reflection

Before we started going into media messages, I was not aware of how much media I took in and the overall effects it had on my mind. To me, the media messages were so frequent that I began ignoring them and incorporated their presence into my life. I got my first phone towards the beginning of last year, when I started to make social media accounts and use the internet more through my phone, I was being bombarded with all different kinds of media messages. However even before this, I now realized that through the TV, billboards, print ads, and many other types of advertising, media had always been a big part of my life. All this impacted my subconsciously, I wanted to buy different products because they "looked cool" or because everyone else had them, but when I actually got the product I didn't feel the sense of completion that I thought I would get.

The bottom line of all the media I saw throughout my life was that the companies who put out these messages just want me to buy their products. Which I did, whether it be a food, game, toy, shoe, I felt the need to buy these material items to make me whole. Through this class I have been able to identify the techniques that advertisers use as well as be more aware of the media's presence. This skill is useful and needed, especially today. I may no longer feel the need to buy something because I know now what message is being directed, and to analyze my thoughts and ask myself if I really need it. Media literacy is important to everyone because we need to understand how we are being affected and what we may think as our own thoughts, aren't. Understanding our surroundings is crucial to smarter consumption.

From these logs, I have been able to express more deeply, my thoughts about different forms of media and the messages that each one gives. Instead of conforming to popular opinion, being able to express another view is priceless. The skill of being a little more media literate is mine to keep, there isn't anything that can take away the knowledge that I've earned from the class and these logs. I used to look at the logs as just another assignment, but now I realize that I can tie in the rest of the world into what I've been learning. Media can be a great thing for everyone, but only in moderation and understanding of it. Over consumption of media and not being media literate will not only change what you are, but it wont really be you. Your thoughts and actions will be determined by someone else, most people do not realize that someone else's ideals are being directed towards you.

http://medialiteracyproject.org/learn/media-literacy/

How Big a Problem is Anxiety? Response

How Big a Problem is Anxiety?

According to Robert L Leahy, in 2008, everyone has a 17% chance of getting extreme anxiety. Many of the problems that cause anxiety were mentioned in the article are still present today. Unrealistic expectations of appearance, material items, health, work and finance. Its a lot to deal with. These trends may have actually grown since 2008 on. 

I can think of plenty of things to be stressed about that I've gotten used to. The idea of constant terrorism since my generation is the generation after 9/11, unrealistic body and fashion standards which may be more heightened since I live in California, the increasing population of California and how its getting more crowded as house prices go up. Especially for young adults who don't understand the world well, all these things appear confusing and dangerously close. 

An interesting factor that I find less relevant today, is the effect that "bad news" has on us. TV's popularity is slowly declining and more and more people use the internet for endless entertainment. Bad news still gives people anxiety of course, but now people get more news from handheld devices rather than TV stations. However, the constant stream of messages we get from media and all the different distractions we have each time we check our phone makes the real world seem not so bad. We focus less on the bad news and all the other attributes of anxiety and devote ourselves to entertainment. Sad about something? You can go watch YouTube or Netflix, listen to music from different streaming services, go on Instagram and SnapChat, there's so many other things that are better than hearing something you don't want to hear. 

So does having our phones next to us at all times limit the amount of stress and anxiety we deal with? Probably not, there's new things to worry about. Your social media accounts and personality, the constant idea of strangers connecting with you, addictiveness to a game, anxiety didn't go away, it just took another form. With anxiety comes negative physical and mental barriers, even the midst of our technology and advancements, are we less able to chill than people who had black and white TV's in the 50's?