Socialization, as a sociological term, describes how people learn societal norms, beliefs, and values (Kearns and Associates, 2015). Our societal norms, along with our beliefs and values, have changed over the decades as we are constantly bombarded with different types of mass media and technology on a daily basis. The influence of today’s media and technology has had a profound effect on how humans socialize. At a very young age, most children are exposed to some form of mass media, particularly the television. According to Janet Gonzalez-Mena (2009), television is the medium with the greatest socialization effect […] one of the disadvantages of television as a socializer—it satisfies social needs to some extent, but doesn’t give children the social skills (or the real-life practice in those skills) that allow them to function effectively with people. Mass media is not alone when influencing our social lives, there is also technology, as well. Technology is everywhere and, unless live in the woods or on a deserted island, it is unavoidable. Unfortunately, we, as a society, have become addicted to it and it many instances it has replaced our interactions with other humans.
