Prior to the Cold War, radio had been the dominant form of mass media, but the rise of television in the 1950s and 1960s dramatically changed the way that Americans received and consumed information. Television allowed for a much more immediate and visual representation of events, which made it a powerful tool for propaganda and persuasion.
The expansion of television during the Cold War had a number of significant effects on American society and culture. First, it helped to create a more cohesive national identity. By providing a common source of information and entertainment, television helped to break down regional and cultural barriers and create a sense of shared experience among Americans. Second, it helped to raise the level of political awareness and engagement among the American public. By bringing world events into people's living rooms, television made it impossible for Americans to ignore the challenges and threats of the Cold War. Third, it helped to shape the way that Americans thought about themselves and their place in the world. By presenting a constant stream of images and information about the Soviet Union and other communist countries, television helped to create a sense of urgency and danger that reinforced the need for American military strength and global leadership.
Overall, the expansion of television during the Cold War era had a profound impact on American mass media and society. It fundamentally altered the way that Americans received and processed information, and it played a major role in shaping the course of the Cold War itself.