Introduction

Media influence is just about inevitable, and its effect on the human mind cannot be overemphasized as the proof of this evidently lies in the changes which we experience with each passing moment of time.

The mind is a very powerful intangible entity of the human component. In essence, it can be perceived as the element of an individual that enables them to be aware of the world, to think and to feel [1]. It is the faculty of consciousness and thought. In the 15^th century, physician Thomas Willis reported that the mind is found in the brain. Not in the heart, as opposed to Aristotle’s opinion. This entity can be divided into two basic states: the subconscious and the conscious. The subconscious represented by the limbic system majorly, of the human brain, is often associated with instinctive response to emotions and images received from the conscious mind. Psychologists believe that everything we do, see, or hear is stored up in the subconscious.  The conscious mind represented by the brain’s frontal lobe, on the other hand is associated with thought and reasoning. Information constantly grows with day by day experiences. And at different levels of the subconscious and the conscious, information in the forms of images and signals are internalized [2].

In fact, it is likely that the whole influence on the mind begins in our massive, intelligent brain. The raison d'être is that everything including the activities of our five senses and human behavior is recorded in our brain in the form of what has been described as physical strands or neurons or nerve cell. And with each behavior or activity, a strand is formed that typically multiplies with continual occurrence of an event. The repetitive act, in due course, develops into a sort of a cable proficient of forming a habit [3]. In consequence, a vicious cycle is established making it difficult to break the synergy between the person and the habit per se. The brain is in addition capable of processing over 30 billion bits of information per second and houses more than 86 billion neurons which communicate with each other over 100 thousand miles of nerve fibers. A collection of neurons forms a nerve fiber and each nerve acts like a self-contained computer [4].

Media influence may be referred to as the actual forces exercised by a media message, resulting in either a change or reinforcement in audience or individual beliefs and behavior. Media effects which can be positive or negative, immediate or steady, temporary or long-standing. It exerts a significant effect on us whether or not we are aware of it. Actually, we can attempt to evaluate media influence by comparing the relativity between how much of our choice that is guided by the media we consume and how much that is guided by our own normal free thinking.

Nonetheless, media study is central to our 21^st century world. It has revealed both the crisis and the benefits derived from the relationship between the media and the mind. The behavioral effects include disinhibition, imitation, and desensitization. Lately, people resort to the media as a means of dealing with their life’s challenges, good or bad. Every day, our mind is exposed and subjected to be programmed by newspapers, radio, music, television, internet, video games, and commercials. The media is becoming very much aggressive, and media users are becoming tougher as they tend to come up with new ways to catch the attention of their audience, completely.  Movies and TV programs, for instance, have a way of causing the spectator to feel as if he or she is the one in the movie or program. The resultant effect is that we see children or youths who are unable to differentiate fantasy from reality emulating movie characters such as seen in cartoons since these characters per se appealed to their minds in one way or the other [2,3].

Positively, medical advances like in the area of telemedicine have helped to perk up public health awareness and sensitization. For instance, it has allowed health providers to gain referrals as well as feedbacks. Increased intelligence quotient, advancing female character in the field of science, global communications have all been linked to media influence. Media psychology is now a growing area of expertise in the field of psychology owing to the growing influence of media technologies and how people are responding to them; hence it can serve to create job opportunities        
Negatively, modern studies validate the reality of Internet Addictive Disorder (IAD) that has been associated with symptoms like tremor, nausea, and anxiety particularly in addicts. Pathological conditions like eating disorders, depression and moodiness have also been traced to media influence. The practice of using media as a defense mechanism in dealing with emotional unrest has often led to negligence of social duties. The tales of violence, money looting, corruption, terrorism, and the likes which cumulate today’s news stimulate a state of fear, agitation, criticism and depression among citizens such as seen in countries like Nigeria. The media has been employed as a tool in indoctrinating various anti-social and inhuman ideologies. The evolution of virtual reality imagery and media-centric education is serving to encourage laxity in learning and communication among students. Reports on increased attention deficit disorder, media-stimulated crimes such as identity theft, racial discrimination and child pornography, decreased sleeping hours per night, desensitization to violence, have all skyrocketed over the years.

Writing of violence: on March 11, 2009, it was reported that a German teenage boy, Tim Kretschner, opened a gun fire on pupils and on teachers at his former school which left 15 people dead before he finally shot himself to death. Angela Marcel, the Chancellor of Germany later referred to the horrible incident as incomprehensible. Tim was said to have dressed in black combat jean on that mayday; he had spent hours each day on his computer watching horror movies and playing violent video games like counterstrike- a total onslaught of the brain. The teenager was vividly influenced by the kind of media he was exposed to. And the effect of such violent influences as that was murder and suicide, simultaneously. Therefore, one could unmistakably say that Tim’s conscious mind had been over-ridden by his subconscious mind leading to the acts. Again, there have been cases of suicide attempts, rape, child/female molestation, drug abuse and misuse, assault, owing to media display and the mind’s false impression of it. Moreover, the use of subliminal or hidden messages is one of the subtlest but powerful means utilized by the media industry. Sex industries use this form of communication to entice the subconscious mind of their audience. Celebrity endorsement of a specific product increases the chance of people who look up to them of buying the product hence controlling the minds of their fanatics. Also, the so-called beauty-enhancement products advertised on media has led to negative self-image in people. The consumerist society that promotes the idea of having the nicest things continues to control the mind and behavior of many individuals [3,4].

Furthermore, to flee from avoidable media influence, one will need to curtail or totally unplug his or her exposure to it; look out for its addictive power; observe quiet times and meditations. Engaging in outdoor activities and reading of wholesome books and parental guidance for kids, are key to curbing this menace. Work engagements and pursuing career opportunities can also help an individual to pay less attention to media. Carefully choose your role model as some entertainers are a very bad influence on children and youths. Involve yourself in more direct, face to face experience.

In conclusion, there is an urgent call for us to take a closer look at media influence on the human mind, whether young and old. It is also pertinent to look into the effect of unwholesome music, mind-altering drugs, caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar, sedentary lifestyle and so on, on the mind. Further study is crucial to better our understanding of this influence on our daily lives so as to enable us manage the future aptly. Noteworthy is the fact that our culture and religious sensitivities are at risk; they are continually threatened by media advancements. Besides, if we fail to shape our future accordingly it may in turn shape us. Man is not merely a figure in the landscape but a shaper of landscape. Ultimately, we can opt to limit our media consumption and consciously decide what information we are going to feed to our mind. The Holy Bible puts that one guards his heart with all diligence for out it springs up issues of life (Proverbs 4:23) [5]. It is, nevertheless, stunning what can be achieved through media since its influence seems limitless.