Media and Contemporary Society: Current Trends

Media plays a significant role in transforming human lives. In contemporary society, it exercises considerable influence in all walks of life. The extensive spurt of print media, the proliferation of electronic, online, and digital media, and lately social media point to this. The primary function of media is information dissemination. It connects people with the surrounding world of events and happenings. In modern society where power, politics, and religion have become instruments of control media assumes significance. Media serves as an extended arm of politics. Political parties require their services to gain and stay in power or topple elected governments. Unlike other businesses, media is a dispenser of ideology. Large media houses are akin to big business ventures. Social media have been largely influenced by political activism, a quest for identity besides the propagation of ideology. One of the striking developments in contemporary society is the expanding base of religion invading other social structures. We see the world over religion has been diabolic surpassing its inherent function of worship, spiritual satisfaction, and reflection of values that make life meaningful and coexisting. In encroachment into politics, the nexus between politics and religion has thinned down. This danger results in the culmination of a religion-driven society where the dictates of religion translate into guidelines for running the government and thereby a social order based on religion. Eventually, social life and political structures are subordinated. Such a situation is dangerous where social life boils down to an entity devoid of its plurality and diversity. This paper aims to discuss the current trends in the role of media influencing contemporary society.