My "Media Amplification" Theory

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Now, I had always been thinking of this: does TV reflect reality or make reality? How much of what we see on TV actually reflects reality? How much is just showing what the audiences want to see?

We have all come across research on the effects of media on the psychological development of people and I just can't help but feel puzzled how, despite knowing this, people allow decadent behaviours e.g. sex (particularly casual pre-marital sex) and violence (particularly gruesome details on humans being slaughtered by serial killers) to be portrayed on media, particularly to the impressionable.

If indeed the media DOES reflect reality, does it worsen matters because the media somehow gives others the impression that "this is common (and maybe even normal) in our society"?

If it DOES NOT reflect reality, then wouldn't it be misleading since people might think that, by virtue of the fact it is portrayed by media, it is commonsight?

The power of visuals could not be underestimated.