-DIVYANSHU VYAS(2201068)

Media, an opensource informative and manipulative platform, which tends to play with the mindset of the masses, plays a major role in day to day decisions of an individual.  Due to such an influencing power in today's world; politicians, actors, and many more renowned personalities want to use media as an asset to gain power in terms of popularity, financial terms, elections, or to gain sympathy. And the path to gain power always starts with the conflicts.

Conflicts, sometimes are erupted, but most of the time are generated by creating a sense of insecurity and diffidence within the mindset of individuals, and the most easy and efficient way to do so is with the help of MEDIA.

International media sources today have a global reach and hence they run with an 'agenda-setting' effect. They manipulate the reality in such a way so as to alter and bias the public opinion on the conflict in their desired direction. Sometimes, news suppliers are left with no option but to support their country's rulers because any radical movements are strictly prohibited (Such as China, and many other non-democratic nations.).  ‌There have also been instances of sensitive news to be hidden from the society for the sole reason to protect themselves and the other people in power from facing public aggression and disappointment.  

The biggest problem caused by this manipulation is that the audience is unaware of the dangers that shadow their existence. For instance, if today we do not know how many citizens are affected with COVID -19, we will carry a careless approach which will put our lives in danger. 

The influence media has on the mindset of people today is major, and if used in the right way, we can solve most problems related to lack of awareness, topics of taboo, breaking stereotypes, or simply acknowledging a group of people that are neglected and require help, and connecting them to people who can provide them with the aid they need.

Cut throat competition to excel in all fields and the greed to be number one today forces new corporations to scramble for "exclusive content". This causes exaggeration of true information and triggering elements or groups are often put on target to prompt discomfort and provoke negative sentiments against those targeted groups.