Impact+of+Media

=Introduction=

toc The media has a profound effect on the people who use it as a source of information or even entertainment, whether we want to believe it or not. Every time we watch television, listen to the radio, or read a magazine we learn something. For this reason, the media has been blamed for influencing the minds of the new youthful generation. Ever since the Colorado high school shootings, the media has become more of a target. The FTC has done research that concluded that exposure to violent media (via video games etc) does increase the chances of violence in its viewers, but does not state implicitly that children who see violent content will become violent themselves (Larose, Robert & Straubhaar 2004).

=**Effect on Children and Teens**=

Media is a very important aspect of our lifes as they are a very informative medium that offers entertainment, culture, sports, news etc. However, children can easily mimic ideas and concepts they see on television or hear on the radio. Some parts of media may not necessarily be positive learning for children. Sometimes you can see the impact of media right away, such as when your child watches superheroes fighting and then copies their moves. With new form of media, children can share their ideas and concepts with others through blogs or even distributing certain medias through P2P. Although some of the actions duplicated may be harmless others could be life threatening. Some of the harmful messages disseminated through the use of media include:
 * 1) **Use of alcohol and cigarettes** - Media perceives these habits as socially "cool" and when children see their favourite television character smoking a cigarette or getting wasted, that may lead them to believe that they should be doing it also.
 * 2) **Body Images (Fat and Thin)** - Media is constantly promoting unhealthy food (McDonald commercials) and at the same time they stress absolute vanity (Supermodels). This can create extreme confusion to young minds as they can easily be manipulated to perform either of the extremes.
 * 3) **Violence** - Children are easily influenced and can learn violent behaviours at a very young age, which tends to last a long time. Children can learn to behave more aggressively with others in situations of resolving conflicts instead of learning how to maintain self control. Violence in the media world may make children more fearful of the real world as they may believe that everything they see or hear is actually true. Violence in the media (especially in video games) is especially critized for //teaching// teenager specific violent behaviours. In a classic case about a school shooting in Kentucky, 14-year old Michael Carneal presented frighteningly accurate marksmanship when shooting 8 bullets – 4 head shots, one neck and three upper torsos. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, the director of a Killology research mentions that although "Michael Carneal had never fired an actual pistol before, but he had fired thousands of bullets in the video game ‘murder simulators’” (2000).
 * 4) **The Perfect Child** - The media also portrays how 'the perfect child' should be. For example, looking at family shows like __7th Heaven__ and __The Cosby Show__, the kids are portrayed somewhat perfect. This idea may be reflected to the children living in the real world in which shows like these lays a great impact on the children and expecting them to actvin a certain way and that is not necessarily a good thing.
 * 5) **Use of Sexual content -** Today many young children see sexual images and are confronted with sexual messages in all types of media outlets. When the topic of sex is portrayed on television show it is not done so in a responsible manner. A 2001 study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, entitled ‘//Sex on TV’// showed that 3/4 prime time shows contain sexual content. Comedies are made up of 84% of sexual content. As well TV shows that portray teenagers in sexual situations, only show about 17% of them referring to sex in a safe and responsible manner(Television's Impact on Kids).


 * __Violence__**

//3 probable responses to media violence in children identified by research:// Increased fear—also known as the "mean and scary world" syndrome** Young girls are mostly portrayed on television as the victims in a TV show, this in result can cause many young females to fear the world because of what they see on television.

Cartoons aimed at children are one of the most violent television show. They seem to make violence that is depicted in a humorous and realistic manner, which in turn causes a young child to think of violence of not being a danger or threat to themselves or others.
 * Real-life violence**

As soon as a children finish watching a violent show, they are more likely to be aggressive and show aggressive actions and attitudes (Television's Impact on Kids).
 * Increased aggressive behavior**

Another Look at Media and Violence
[|Jonathan Freedman], a psychologist at the University of Toronto wrote the book //Media Violence and Its Effect on Aggression//. He gives an extensive analysis of empirical studies and experiments about media violence and concludes that there is no causal relationship between violent media and violent behavior (2002). Rather, his meta analysis shows that the research on media violence and its effects on aggression is faulty.

Freedman mentions that results were often twisted to fit the needs of the researchers. For example, positive results of aggressions could be attributed to the arousal effect of action-entertainment. Moreover, there were only 200 studies and experiments, not thousands. Even with the experiments that were conducted, only 37% of them supported the hypothesis that media violence causes real-world violence or aggression. 22% had mixed results, while 41% did not support the hypothesis.

**Media Basics Children Should Know**

 * **People create media messages** - All messages created whether by commercials, newspapers are all created by a team of people who have a purpose for their message.
 * **Different media form uses their own language** - Children can learn that certain techniques are used by different media forms to persuade one to believe a particular message. This helps prevent them from simply being affected by the message instead of being capable of learning from the message.
 * **People do not experience media messages exactly the same as others** - How one interprets a particular message is dependent on factors that are specifically unique to that person's life.
 * **Media messages can be bias** - Children should always compare what media tells them with their own beliefs and not always automatically assume any messages given by the media is correct.

=Censorship or Regulation=

Many people really believe that violence in the media can have a profound effect on today’s youth. Regulation can be seen as a way of ensuring that if this is the case, there will rules in place to minimize its effects on the world. On the other hand, this type of regulation could be seen as a form of censorship. Regardless of what is decided upon, it is important for parents/guardians to take it upon themselves to monitor what their children are exposed to (Couldry 2001).

=On the other Hand Media can be a benefit to children=


 * Media has the ability to create thought, debates and question what a child sees or hears from any media outlet.
 * Viewing any media outlets such as a TV show or movie allows a family to share time together.
 * Parents can use TV as a way to get their child to read more. Doing this by buying them a book of their favorite TV show. This will make the child participate more in reading in a fun and interesting way that they would like to be apart of.
 * Some television shows can teach younger adults important values and life lessons about love, life, learning and sex. Issues that are controversial or sensitive are also taught through television, which then makes it easier to discuss as a family.
 * Educational programming is great tool, which is available outside of the classroom.
 * Critical thinking about world events, issues and topics allows children to think and question the world they live inn.
 * Media is a great way to relax and enjoy with family and friends.
 * Cultural programming can impact a child’s musical and artistic ability (The Good Things About Television).

Despite the number of good, educational shows for children (especially those geared towards preschoolers), it is reccomended that children under 4 watch little to no television. The reason for this are the negative physiological and psychological effects it could have if the child develops the habit of excessive television viewing. After all, the television, like many other things, can be regarded as a drug. The Merriam-Webster's Medicial dicotionary defintiion of drug is "something...that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness." Excessive television can do just that. It is also reccomended that grade school children (K-12) limit their TV time to 10 hours a week (approx 1.5 hrs per day).
 * __Caution:__**

=Related Articles=

Media Use and Its Impact on Social Influence

=Works Cited=

Couldry, N. (2001). ‘The Hidden Injuries of Media Power’. //Journal of Consumer Culture// [online]. Vol.1, Issue 2. Available from: http://scholarsportal.info.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=14695405&issue=v01i0002&article=155_thiomp&form=pdf&file=file.pdf [Accessed February 20th 2006]

Grossman, David. (Fall 2000). "Teaching Kids To Kill". In //Killology Research Group//. Retrieved February 25, 2006, from http://killology.com/article_teachkid.htm.

Heins, Marjorie. (June 2002). A Psychologist Surveys the Wreckage. In The Free Expression Policy Project. Retrieved February 25, 2006, from http://www.fepproject.org/reviews/mediaviolenceJF.html.

Larose, Robert, and Joseph Straubhaar (2004) //Media Now: Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. 4th ed//. Belmont: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning.

__Television's Impact on Kids__. Media Awareness Network. Available at http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/television/tv_impact_kids.cfm [accessed from 25 February 2006].

__The Good Things About Television__. Media Awareness Network. Available at http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/television/good_things_tv.cfm [accessed from 25 February 2006].

"Understanding the impact of Media On Children and Teens". AAP 2005. http://www.aap.org/family/mediaimpact.htm (Retrieved February 22, 2006)

"Drug." Def. 2. __Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary.__ Revised ed. 2002.

LimiTV Org. "Health Effects of Excessive TV Watching". 2000. __LimiTV, Inc__. Feb. 26, 2006. .