philosophy

New Method 12 | Control Your Media Diet

Sharmadean Reid

21 Mar 2025 — 2 min read

This is your weekly affirmation to help you build your personal philosophy. Have a great weekend!

Take a deep breathe in...and say it with me...

The entire media industry, and in particular magazines, have for hundreds of years done extensive harm to our self-worth. They create false and misleading images of what it means to be a woman. Advertising – which pays for media – creates even more potent images, inciting women to shop, diet and drug ourselves. Social media initially democratized media by allowing us to take control of the messages we consumed, and turned every individual into a media machine. But sadly, the algorithms then took over, serving advertisers and ensuring our attention is on the content they want us to see, which has been proved to be especially harmful to young girls and women. It’s our mission to break their hold over us and our decisions. We approach all media with a certain level of distance and wariness, and use ad-blockers and online anonymity where possible. We pay attention to how we interact with the advertisements themselves. We read a wider breadth of sources to create a more informed picture of the world and news. Finally, we read news and consume media produced by diverse voices.

Actions

Set Media Boundaries: Dedicate specific times for social media use and avoid aimless scrolling to limit algorithm-driven content consumption.
Empower Your Feed: Replace harmful or superficial content with creators and publications that align with your values and inspire you. Subscribe and pay to support the writers you believe in.
Be an Active Reader: Question the intent behind ads and articles, seek out diverse perspectives, and actively resist content designed to manipulate your choices.

Read the full essay and 48 other lessons for how to take control of your life in my book New Methods For Women. Already got your copy? Gift it to the woman in your life who you want to see win.