IELTS Opinion Essay On Violent Media (Partially Agreeing) With Sample Answer

Question: Some people believe that violent media directly results in violent behaviour. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Answer:

In the last few decades, due to the evolution of media, the popularity of aggressive content on television and online games has increased drastically. While some argue that this trend makes people more violent, others insist that it has no impact on their conduct. In my opinion, despite the constant exposure to terrorising content in the media plays a significant role in encouraging violent behaviour, it is not the only element in promoting violence in humans.

Firstly, many individuals, especially youngsters are attracted towards online games, which include substantial violence and aggression. This creates a lasting impression on their mind and motivates them to imitate the same actions. For instance, a controversial, highly-addictive online game called “PUBG” has played a key role in exposing children to a world of criminality.

Secondly, the portrayal of violent content in movies is unrealistically stylised and glamorous. Several action movies or crime series include gruesome acts of brutality. For example, several crime thrillers have a lot of elements of physical conflict, frauds, sadism and injustice, which in turn influence the public, especially the youngsters, to model these hazardous acts.

However, it is also known that humans are violent in nature by evolution as well. The history of human civilisation shows that violence has been an integral part of our society long before the advent of media. The merciless havoc caused by wars, both national and international, raids by invaders, and heinous atrocities such as the Holocaust by Adolf Hitler during the Second World War are few examples of how violent humans can be, even without the aid or influence of media.

To conclude, it is undoubtedly true that we are influenced by what we see, hear and experience. In my opinion, although the projection of violence in the media in various forms definitely has aggravated the rate of crimes by normalising violence and aggression, it is not the sole source and cause of violent behaviour in our society.