Media Influence on School Children in Britain - Essay Example

Media Influence on School Children in Britain Media has played a huge role in our daily lives. It has been an avenue for conveying information to the masses and a crucial source of entertainment. Cellphones, internet, Magazine, TV programs and news are the popular types of media which are quite reliable as far as information and social updates in trends are concerned. Over the past years, parents have been influential in the social lives of their children posing to be social models (Perse, 2001, p.23). Advancement in technology has led to a significant decline in the relationship between parents and their kids. The busy work schedule has denied most parents opportunity to spent precious time with their children to find out what revolves around their lives. Children have resorted to social media for company. Parents have also not been able to control and regulate their access to media such as television watching thus excessive exposure. The uncontrolled access to internet and television program has influenced children’s thinking and behaviors to a great length both positively and negatively. Weiten & Lloyd indicate that children in Britain spend 3-5 hours watching Television and it is a habit which is increasing daily as the kids get to youthful stage. Children and the youth comprise the largest percentage of the population which fancy media as an interactive social site. “It brings as to a world of reality and enormous believes”, respondent a group of respondents. Brazelton, a child development expert explains to parents that media competes relatively to a Childs way of thinking and how he/she view things. Nevertheless, James Steyer points out in his article that media is the “the other parent” to a child meaning, it has plays a major role in a child’s life. There are both negative and positive implications of media to children in our society today. Media offer academic learning opportunities to school children. Shows such as Teletubbies and Blue’s Clues among others have offered learning opportunities to pre-aged children over the past thirty years. Zoom, Zoboomafoo and cyber chase programs are sated with edifying scientific facts to the youth. Educational programs have enabled children to highly adapt to the programs they are watching (Palmer, 2007 p.67). For instance, Barney show, which teaches English language, boosts the linguistic ability of those children who don’t understand the English language properly. On the other hand, programs such as National Geographical Channel explores on the geographical features enabling a leaner to be conversant with his/her environment. Children are taught different types of animals and they are showed their real appearances (Palmer & Young, 2007, p.34). It makes it easier for such kids to visualize when discussed during class sessions. Children have been able to learn pro-social skills through media. “Children adapt to social skills like sharing, empathy and self-calming by watching others do it “, reports Klinker, an author (social and emotional development).Watching of T.V programs such as soap operas helps a child learn from adult hence enhancing high level of social intelligence (Bryant & Zillmann, 2005 p.45). Media has its negative effect on children as well. Children tend pick up weird unethical behaviors from models presented in on TV screen e.g. eating disorders and body image (Liebert & Sprafkin, 1998 p.29). Magazines tend to portray girls who are skinny. As a result young girl put themselves on diet and at times they restrict themselves to eating in quest for a skinny sexy body. School girls caught up these trends as little as 7 years of age. In 2006, a national eating disorder treatment center indicated that 67% of school teachers complained of eating disorders in their classroom. The issues of modes of dressing and fashion trends have been major issues in the media where by individuals want to be kept updated. Children on the other hand have been on the receiving end. Parents have found it difficult to recommend clothes for their kids. They Watch celebrities on Television dressed in modern fashionable attires and wears thus having the urge to dress like them. Parents desire their children to dress in well-fitting dresses and clothes that are decent. This has proven to be difficult since there has been a huge influence from the media. Young people prefer clothes that are tight. To be precise girls go for dresses which are shorter exposing them half naked as portrayed in the media by models. Parents have been left with no option but to succumb to their needs buying the younger ones what they want. Keeping up with social trends has been caused parents financial strains and stress since these products are very expensive. Toddlers are now demanding for the latest toys as they are advertised on T.V making parents to adjust to the new demands (Nesbit, 2009 p.78). Drug abuse has been another negative influence of media to children. Youth viewers become enthusiastic when they watch adult adverts with promotes cigarette smoking and liquor done by their role models. The society tends to overlook the issue making children act out of curiosity. Children have been exposed to watching movies, music videos whose character smoke. Young kids copy these behaviors in return exposing them to drug abuse (Strasburger & Wilson, 2004 p.56). Media has introduced some children to bullying other pupils in school. Harvard centre on media explains that after children have watched heroic scenes they model them at the playground to display the tactics of superiority over others resorting to violence. Nance Hoxton adds that heroes depicted in adventure movies sometimes happen to be role models to these kids thus the influence (Kitzinger, 2004 p.57). Media is so instrumental in shaping children both intellectually and psychologically. It has proven to be an educative platform to many school children over the year. However, young ones need to be guarded on the scenes which they exposed to. Failure to guard them has resulted into bad behaviors among young ones and psychological disorientation. Closer supervision need to be exercised, media is of great importance to kids equipping them with a lot of social skills which helps them to build friendship with others in school. Parents need to allocate precious time from their schedule to get involved in a child life and act as mentors. Bibliography Bryant, J., & Zillmann, D. (2002). Media Effects Advances In Theory And Research. Mahwah, N.J., Lawrence Elbaum Associates. Bryant, J., & Zillmann, D. (2005). Perspectives On Media Effects. Hillsdale, N.J., L. Erlbaum Associates. Bryant, J., & Zillmann, D. (2005). Perspectives On Media Effects. Hillsdale, N.J., L. Erlbaum Associates. Freedom Forum Media Studies Center. (2004). Children And The Media. New York, Freedom Forum Media Studies Center. Kitzinger, J. (2004). Framing Abuse: Media Influence And Public Understanding Of Sexual Violence Against Children. London, Pluto Press. Liebert, R. M., & Sprafkin, J. N. (1988). The Early Window: Effects Of Television On Children And Youth. New York, Pergamon Press. Meyrowitz, J. (1985). No Sense Of Place: The Impact Of Electronic Media On Social Behavior. New York, Oxford University Press. Nesbit, E. (1990). The Railway Children. Champaign, Ill, Project Gutenberg. Palmer, E. L., & Young, B. M. (2007). The Faces Of Televisual Media Teaching, Violence, Selling To Children. Mahwah, N.J., L. Erlbaum Associates. Perse, E. M. (2001). Media Effects And Society. Mahwah, Nj, L. Erlbaum Associates. Singer, D. G., & Singer, J. L. (2001). Handbook Of Children And The Media. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. Strasburger, V. C., & Wilson, B. J. (2004). Children, Adolescents, And The Media. Thousand Oaks Calif, Sage Publications. Read More