Quick Facts
- Media is all the ways information, ideas and entertainment are created and shared with large numbers of people, including through television, radio, newspapers, websites, social media, videos and games.
- Media can inform, entertain and connect us but it can also influence the way we think, feel and act.
- Media can influence us in many ways: through adverts, social media posts, news stories, influencers, films, memes and even the music we listen to.
What does it mean to be influenced?
To be influenced means that something affects your opinions, choices or behaviour. Media can influence us in many ways: through adverts, social media posts, news stories, influencers, films, memes and even the music we listen to. Sometimes this influence is helpful, like encouraging kindness or healthy habits. Other times, it can push unfair ideas, stereotypes or misinformation.
Repeated messages in the media can strengthen beliefs and attitudes over time. People who see the same ideas again and again may start to accept them as true, even if the information is biased or inaccurate.
How does media shape opinions?
Media shapes opinions using different techniques:
- Repetition: Seeing the same message many times makes it feel familiar and trustworthy.
- Emotional language and images: Strong pictures, dramatic music or powerful words can make us feel excited, scared, angry or inspired.
- Social proof: Likes, shares and comments can make something seem more popular or important than it really is.
- Influencers and celebrities: When someone we admire supports an idea or product, we may trust it more.
- One-sided stories: Sometimes only one point of view is shown, which can hide important facts.
Social media algorithms also play a role. They often show content similar to what you already like, which can create an echo chamber. This means you mostly see opinions that match your own, making it harder to hear different viewpoints.
Why does this matter?
Being influenced is not always bad, but it is important to notice when it is happening. Media can affect how we see ourselves, how we treat others and how we understand the world. It can shape views about body image, success, popularity, politics and relationships. Learning media literacy helps young people think independently and make informed choices.
How to spot influence and think critically
Here are some simple media literacy tips to help you stay aware:
- Ask: Who made this and why? Is it to inform, sell, entertain or persuade?
- Check the source: Is it from a reliable organisation, expert or news site?
- Look for missing information: Are different viewpoints shown or just one side?
- Watch for emotional tricks: Are strong images or shocking words being used to change how you feel?
- Fact-check! Can you find the same information on other trusted websites?
- Think before sharing: Is it true, kind and helpful?
Learn more about media literacy and why it’s important here.
You could consider habit stacking. It’s all about attaching a small new habit to something you already do automatically, so the next time you’re looking for information online or scrolling through your socials, simply stack one of the new steps above onto that moment and let the habit grow naturally.
Make your own informed choices
By building good media literacy habits – such as fact-checking, questioning sources and thinking carefully about what you see – you can take control of your own opinions. When you pause, reflect and look for reliable information, you become a smarter and more confident media user. This helps you make informed choices, avoid misinformation and shape your own views based on evidence, not just influence.