Text: Alexandra Manea

Illustration: Delia Olaru

It is already a known fact that we are exposed daily to any type of media content (whether it is an advertisement on the street or an article in a publication). In this sense, the rapidity of the spread of false news, devoid of truthful content, is observable and at the same time worrying. 

 

There is probably at least one person in everyone's daily life who strongly believes in certain posts they read on Facebook and who strongly encourages conspiracies. It is precisely for this reason that self-education is necessary regarding the type of media we consume on a daily basis. This can be trained, obviously, by developing a critical and selective thinking regarding the information consumed (which sources we choose, which publications we follow, which television stations we watch). 

 

What happens though when our perception is unconsciously influenced by the media? In a negative direction, a first consequence is the propagation of gender stereotypes. For example, reading a random magazine, we will notice that the image of women is associated with perfect silhouettes, with the role of exemplary mothers, with deep fragility. This is more than problematic as it once again highlights the idea that women must live up to society's wrongly constructed standards of beauty. On the other hand, the image of men is also affected by the media. They are portrayed as people who must perform in a certain direction, achieve absurd professional perfection, and have skills in seduction. 

 

Thus follows a sad but persistent truth: the majority lacks awareness. This is precisely why it is necessary to make conscious choices about the accounts we follow, the magazines we read, and so on. The effect is the implementation of hasty prejudices in everyone's system of values that can influence our actions in the most spontaneous contexts.