Media

Over the years, there have been big changes, both in the range of Media services available, and in the content they present.
At one time, the only medium available for broadcasting information to the general population was the newspaper. But today, there are many more that allow the general population not only to gain information from anywhere in the world, but to create and add content themselves.

These changes brought with them many advantages. Information became accessible much more quickly and easily, and with more detail, even allowing the receiver to witness the events as they occur, or view them later. Advice of dangerous situations like storms, criminal activity and disease outbreaks, upcoming entertainment events such as visiting celebrities, and changes in local and national government all became regular features. These all helped make life more secure and enjoyable for most people.

But on the down side, people were made aware of events that previously they may not have known, or may have learned about much later, and this can create a feeling that there are many more things "going wrong" than there used to be, creating anxiety and stress.

The content of material that was broadcast through media such as TV, radio and Internet was controlled, to a great extent, by authorities set up by the Government. Material not suitable for children was restricted to non-peak times, and items that could be offensive to the general public were not permitted.

For a time, items of a sensitive nature - undergarments, sexual aids, violence etc. - were blocked, but this control has slowly disappeared. Ads for underwear, libido-enhancers, and sexual partnerships are all seen and heard regularly. So-called "reality shows" display and encourage encounters between people with the obvious goal being sexual intimacy, even if there is little prospect of it resulting in a permanent relationship.

Not all censorship has been bad. Warnings about harmful effects of items like tobacco, drugs and alcohol are now mandatory for many products. Excessive gambling is discouraged with warning messages added to the advertising. And we are advised about the dangers to children of strangers.

The world we live in today has changed, in some ways for the worse, but also in many ways, for the better.