The media provide access to and construct social problems for large numbers of
audiences throughout the world and in turn themselves have become a social problem in
view of their multiple and complex effects, many negative. The media have been blamed by
a wide spectrum of theorists and critics for promoting violence and sexism, racism,
homophobia, ageism, and other oppressive social phenomena. Social problems connected
with the media also involve allegedly harmful media influence on children and youth;
pornography and the degradation of women and sexuality; advertising manipulation; and the
promotion of excessive consumerism and materialism.