In my opinion, the most effective agent of socialisation for my generation is the mass media, particularly non-print digital media through the internet. This is receiving considerable attention especially in urban areas and has become a dominant influence on young people's attitudes and behaviour.

The mass media influences children significantly through methods like learning by imitation. For instance, the Shaktimaan serial led children to imitate dangerous actions like diving down buildings, resulting in fatal accidents. This shows how powerfully media shapes behaviour, as children frequently learn by observing and copying what they see on screen.

Before, the situation was quite different. In traditional communities, people lived and worked close to their homes, tilling the land or having workshops in their dwellings. Socialisation occurred primarily through family and immediate community, with fewer external influences shaping individuals' attitudes and behaviour.

Earlier generations had a more limited set of socialising agencies. There was less diversity in the sources from which people learned values and behaviours. The parental generation had more uniform outlooks shaped by family, school, and local peer groups.

Today, the very existence of a diversity of socialising agencies leads to many differences between the outlooks of children, adolescents, and the parental generation. Conflicts often arise between what is learned from family versus peer groups, media, or school, making socialisation more complex for my generation.