Media Blog Reflection

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As most teenagers do, I consume hours and hours of media every day. Between social media, watching tv shows, listening to music, and stumbling upon numerous advertisements throughout the day, I am almost never in the absence of media. Throughout the process of writing media blogs, I have become more aware of the ways this exposure affects my life. 

Learning about common advertising methods and techniques has made me much more aware of the advertisement media around me. I find myself coming upon guerilla advertising everywhere I go, but I never noticed these hidden ads before beginning this assignment in class. Additionally, I notice that I automatically think about the techniques and appeals used in each ad I see. This view has made me see through the façade the different companies represented in media create. I think that, ideally, all consumers should approach media with this similar perspective and with skepticism. This is the basis of media literacy. All consumers should be able to see that the advertisers are trying to manipulate the way they feel to entice them to buy a certain product. If they are aware of this manipulation, they can think twice before buying things out of impulse. 

Keeping this journal has made me aware of my tendencies and habits when consuming media and has educated me and made me a more responsible and thoughtful consumer.