The paper focuses on the impact of mass media, especially television, on the educational process and outlines implications for the future. Studies point out that children view an average of 8,000 hours of television annually between ages three and five. Positive effects include increase in the vocabulary of young children, a better appreciation of different cultural characteristics, a wider understanding of issues, and better concepts of geography. A major negative effect is that television does not encourage children to think or probe deeply. Negative role models and violence are also undesirable and formal education seems tedious and demanding to children who are used to being passively entertained. Most crucial is the impact of media in supporting materialism, hedonism, and unchecked consumption of scarce resources. Therefore, action that could enhance future survival depends on public influence over the media. Presently, the media as a vehicle of social change influence appearance, language, family, politics, religion, and status. Educational implications are that instead of specialization, an understanding of the complex world requires interdisciplinary scholarship, critical viewing, and new values; serious studies of the impact of the mass media must be made; educators and the general public must find ways to influence all media; and educators should examine more extensive use of media in private and public education. The author cites passages from the works of Marshall McLuhan and John McHale ("The Future of the Future"). (Author/KC)