Though I feel this piece shines a useful light on the harmful nature of certain aspects of the culture promoted in commercial media, this is different from how

Though I feel this piece shines a useful light on the harmful nature of certain aspects of the culture promoted in commercial media, this is different from how real people live their lives, ignoring the individually empowering influence of the internet, along with other forms of decentralized communication. While the piece helpfully defines the motivations of various commercial entities marketing their products to us, it seems to discount the value of those services as sources of inspiration (if not convenience) to us, and to understate the individual will and ability to oppose the detrimental aspects of this culture. It would be easy to spend a week-day at home watching daytime television, and come away from it with the impression that our culture is toxic, but that would be exaggerating the accuracy of this supposed window into our culture. Reality is much more complex.