10 Hidden Purposes of Media You Consume Daily

We engage with media for entertainment, but what if the content we consume has a secret agenda? From the music in our headphones to the shows on our screens, much of what we experience has been engineered for a purpose far more complex than simple enjoyment. These subtle tactics are designed to influence our mood, alter our behavior, or serve a hidden commercial purpose without our awareness.

This list uncovers the unsettling truth behind ten common pieces of media, revealing how they are used as tools for psychological manipulation, commercial strategy, or even social control. Prepare to see your favorite forms of entertainment in a new light, as we expose the ulterior motives hiding in plain sight.

Related: 10 Ways Social Media Is Used to Commit Crimes

10 The Unseen Purpose of ASMR Videos

ASMR, or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is a sensation characterized by a tingling feeling on the skin, often in response to specific audio triggers like whispering, tapping, or scratching. While many view ASMR videos as a niche form of entertainment, their purpose can go far beyond simple curiosity. These videos are often crafted to act as a form of non-medical relaxation, designed to elicit a calming physiological and psychological response.

The creators of ASMR videos are, whether they know it or not, practicing a form of media-based biofeedback. By using consistent triggers and a soothing tone, they can help viewers manage anxiety, reduce stress, and even combat insomnia. The videos are a tool for a specific outcome, making them a very different kind of media from a typical TV show or song.

The hidden power of ASMR is its ability to directly influence a person’s physical state. It is a powerful, non-pharmaceutical form of relaxation that is tailored to create a neurological response. This intentional design, aimed at achieving a deeper purpose, makes ASMR a unique form of media that is more than simple entertainment.^[1]

9 The Deceptive Simplicity of the Wilhelm Scream

If you’ve watched a blockbuster film in the last 70 years, you’ve likely heard the Wilhelm Scream. This sound effect, a high-pitched cry used for a person being shot, thrown from a great height, or falling from a building, is a staple of film and television. Its purpose, however, is not to create a sense of realism or to add a layer of fear, but to serve as a hidden “in-joke” among a small group of sound designers.

The Wilhelm Scream was first used in the 1951 film Distant Drums. It was later rediscovered and popularized by legendary sound designer Ben Burtt in the 1970s. Burtt began including the sound in every film he worked on, from Star Wars to Indiana Jones. The practice was later adopted by his friends and colleagues, and the Wilhelm Scream became a cinematic Easter egg, a secret signal to other sound designers that they were in on a joke.

While the scream is now widely recognized, for decades it was a sound effect with a secret, internal purpose. It was a piece of media designed for a very specific and very small audience. This hidden use demonstrates how a simple sound can be transformed from a background element into a piece of a larger narrative, a secret code for those in the know.^[2]

8 The Business-Driven Purpose of Infomercials

Most people view infomercials as a simple way to sell a product. However, their existence serves a far more strategic business purpose. Infomercials are paid programming that allow broadcasters to fill low-viewership hours with cheap, profitable content. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires sponsorship identification for this kind of programming, but it does not require commercial broadcasters to air “non-commercial” shows.

These shows are often produced for a fraction of the cost of a traditional TV program, and they can air during hours when viewership is at its lowest. By selling these time slots to companies, broadcasters can turn otherwise unprofitable airtime into a source of revenue, making the infomercial a clever business solution.

While an infomercial’s primary goal is to sell a product, its existence is also a direct result of a network’s need to monetize downtime. This hidden purpose demonstrates how a seemingly simple piece of media can be a sophisticated business solution, turning filler hours into profit.^[3]

7 The Anxiety-Reducing Purpose of Elevator Music

Elevator music, also known as Muzak, is a specific genre of instrumental music designed to be played in public spaces. Its original purpose was not to fill silence, but to serve as a psychological tool to calm the public’s anxieties about being in small, enclosed spaces. The music was created to be a subtle, unobtrusive background element that would make people feel more comfortable and at ease.

In the early 20th century, as skyscrapers became more common, many people were fearful of being in an elevator. The small, enclosed space, combined with the unnerving sensation of moving between floors, caused anxiety. Muzak was created to counteract this, using familiar, low-key tunes to create a sense of calm and predictability.

The music was so effective that its use was expanded to other public spaces, from shopping malls to airports. The company even developed “Stimulus Progression,” sequencing tracks to subtly influence productivity in workplaces. The music was designed to be heard but not listened to, soothing people’s subconscious without them even realizing it.^[4]

6 The Manipulative Power of the TV “Laugh Track”

For decades, many TV sitcoms have used a laugh track, a prerecorded soundtrack of human laughter that is added to a program to guide a viewer’s reaction. While it might seem like a simple sound effect, the laugh track is a sophisticated psychological tool that is used to manipulate an audience’s perception of a joke’s funniness.

The laugh track is designed to make viewers believe that a joke is funnier than it actually is. By hearing others laugh, a person is more likely to laugh themselves, even if the joke is not particularly good. This social conformity, known as the “social proof” phenomenon, is a powerful psychological tool that is used to make a show seem more successful and more entertaining than it actually is.

This hidden use of sound is a powerful example of media being used as a form of social engineering. It is a way to tell an audience how to feel, and to encourage a predictable reaction. While it is now a widely criticized practice, the laugh track is a reminder that even the most seemingly harmless parts of a program can be used to influence an audience’s behavior.^[5]

5 The Alleged Purpose of the “Brown Note”

For decades, an urban legend has circulated in the media about the “brown note,” a specific sound frequency that is so low it can cause a person to lose control of their bowels. While the existence of a single, uniform “brown note” has never been scientifically proven, the concept is used in media for a very specific and unsettling purpose: to create a sense of subconscious dread and unease.

Many horror films, video games, and musical compositions use infrasound, or sound frequencies below the human range of hearing, to create a sense of unease. While the sound itself cannot be heard, it can be felt by the body as a vibration, which can cause feelings of anxiety, fear, and even nausea. This subtle manipulation of the audience’s physical and psychological state is a powerful tool for a creator.

The concept of the “brown note” has been used in media for a variety of purposes, from scaring an audience to creating a sense of tension. While the sound itself may be a myth, its use in media is a testament to the power of sound to manipulate human emotions.^[6]

4 The Psychological Purpose of Nursery Rhymes

Many of the nursery rhymes we learned as children have dark and unsettling reputations. These rhymes, which are now seen as a form of innocent entertainment, are popularly claimed to have been created as a form of social and political commentary. They are said to document and communicate information about historical events, to criticize powerful figures, or to warn children about potential dangers.

For example, the rhyme “Ring Around the Rosie” is often claimed to reference the Great Plague of London, with the phrase “ashes, ashes, we all fall down” referring to the symptoms of the disease. “Humpty Dumpty” is sometimes said to reference a cannon used in the English Civil War, and “London Bridge is Falling Down” is sometimes connected to the collapse of a real bridge.

However, folklorists caution that many of these dark interpretations are speculative and not strongly supported by evidence. What is clear is that rhymes were a clever way to preserve and transmit cultural commentary in memorable form. They remind us that even the most innocent forms of entertainment may carry hidden, and often misunderstood, purposes.^[7]

3 The Manipulative Use of Music in Horror Films

The music in a horror film is not there to simply entertain an audience; it is a tool for a very specific, and often manipulative, purpose. The score of a horror film is designed to manipulate a viewer’s emotions, to build a sense of tension, and to signal a coming scare. It is a piece of media that is used to control and direct a person’s emotions.

A horror film score often uses a combination of dissonant tones, sudden bursts of sound, and a lack of a clear melody to create a sense of unease. The music is designed to be unsettling, to create a sense of psychological discomfort that will make the viewer more susceptible to a scare. It is a form of media that is a deliberate tool for a desired emotional effect.

The use of music in a horror film is a perfect example of a piece of media being used for a manipulative purpose. It is a way to tell an audience how to feel, and to guide them through a specific emotional journey. It is a reminder that even the most seemingly harmless parts of a program can be used to influence a viewer’s emotions.^[8]

2 The Alleged Use of Subliminal Messages in Advertising

For decades, there have been rumors and documented cases of subliminal messages being used in advertising, music, and films. These messages, which are allegedly embedded in the media, are designed to influence a person’s behavior without their knowledge. The messages are often hidden in the background, in the form of a flash of light, a hidden word, or a subtle image.

The use of subliminal messages is a controversial topic, and early “proof”—such as James Vicary’s 1957 cinema experiment flashing “Drink Coca-Cola”—was later revealed to be a hoax. Later lab research suggests subliminal priming can influence behavior under very narrow conditions, but its effects are weak and context-dependent.

The idea of a hidden message, a secret code that is designed to manipulate a person’s mind, is a truly unsettling concept. It is a reminder that even the most seemingly innocent forms of media can have a hidden, and potentially manipulative, purpose.^[9]

1 The Crime-Deterring Purpose of Classical Music at Gas Stations

When you pull into a gas station, you may have noticed that a calming classical music station is playing over the loudspeakers. This is not a random choice by a manager with refined taste; it is a subtle but deliberate psychological tactic used to deter crime and antisocial behavior.

The practice of playing classical music in public spaces to deter loitering and vandalism began in the 1990s. The theory is that classical music, particularly baroque or orchestral pieces, is not typically enjoyed by young people who might be inclined to loiter. Its sophisticated sound creates an atmosphere that is not conducive to chaotic or criminal behavior. This tactic has been reported to be used in public transit stations, retail stores, and parking garages. However, evidence is anecdotal and results vary by location.

By playing classical music, gas station owners are creating an environment that is less appealing to those who might be inclined to cause trouble. The music works as a subtle deterrent, encouraging a quick and efficient transaction rather than a lingering presence. This simple but clever strategy demonstrates how a common, artistic form can be used for a practical and unexpectedly security purpose.^[10]