American society has prospered in many ways. In recent decades, more of the population has become more educated, gained more job opportunities, and of course, technological advancements have been popular. Unfortunately, some of these advances have come with burdens. With the growing popularity of technology, people are exposed to more advertisements than ever before, making the influence of media extremely powerful. This does not necessarily seem like a negative fact, until one takes note of the messages that are frequently disseminated in society. The American media regularly imposes its strict ideals on what constitutes beauty, leading to several harmful consequences throughout society. Everyday American citizens receive messages suggesting that their identity is not acceptable. The American media mainly focuses on celebrities. This is crucial to emphasize because young people, in particular, look to celebrities as role models. They read about them in magazines and follow them daily on the Internet. They want to know what they are doing and how they are doing it. How they dress, what they eat, and how they stay fit are common interests that people pursue. In their research on their favorite celebrities, they also find comments from critics, good and bad, who also follow them. On the cover of the most popular magazines there is a photo of a famous actress, model or singer and a headline explaining how much weight she has lost and how people can do it themselves. Although the message is presented as a health benefit, the results in society are anything but positive. Although it is noted when a celebrity looks sick ... middle of paper ... in mass media. People who feel insecure about their bodies are getting younger and younger, and the results are getting worse as the media gains more power over society. Additionally, due to the growing influential power of the media, each time a magazine is published, more women are likely to be affected by the woman on the cover. The more people are exposed to harmful messages, the more negative body image and complacency spread in society. This will continue to lead to a higher rate of eating disorders and self-harming activities until enough people can come together and stop the messages being conveyed. It is simply unfair that people receive messages every day telling them that who they are is unacceptable and that they should sacrifice their health to become beautiful..