Evaluate the Impact of Media such as Video Games, Film and TV on the Behaviour of Teenagers - Essay Example

?Impact of media on the behaviour of teenagers Affiliation: Media has increasingly played a very critical role in the societal setting. It has actually become an influential force culturally, socially, economically, and politically. In the process, the impact of media has been felt across all age groups. In particular, media and all that is associated with it have influenced teenagers in diverse and dynamic ways. This has resulted in both positive and negative behaviours associated with teenagers. As this paper explores media impact on teenage behaviour, it holds that the negative impact of media on the behaviour of teenagers outweighs the positive side of it. Media has had its success stories as far as the target audience is concerned. It is observed that media is an influential and an informative factor in the societal context (Gruber and Grube 2000, pg. 210). In this respect, it upholds and fosters the need to know across different social settings of the world. On the same note, media empowers people to gain insights about culture, society, economy, politics, and environment among others. In so doing, it has become part and parcel of the contemporary society. However, being informative constitutes only one side of the story. Amid its positive aspects, media accounts for some negative impacts especially when it comes to the behaviour of teenagers. Teenage behaviours have continuously been shaped by media and its affiliate aspects in the contemporary society (Brown, 2002, pg. 42). At the same time, teenagers are becoming more and more reliant and dependent on media in running their daily lives. From video games to film to television to internet, the presence of teenage audience cannot be disputed. On the same note, teenagers comprise an ever growing target market for media related products and services. In the process, the behaviour of teenagers has been affected in one way or another. A key impact of media on teenagers is the exposure of this age group to global trends, diversity, and dynamism. While this may not seem to carry any negative factors, the consequences are dire than they seem. To start with, teenagers are continuously becoming sensitive to the concept of sexuality. This means that their sexual behaviour is influenced in one way or another. As media exposure reaches out to teenage persons, pornography becomes a point of concern (Wallmyr and Welin, 2006, pg. 292). This is because different forms of media have made pornographic materials easily accessible to both intended and unintended audience. The readily available explicit materials have had immense effect on the behaviour of teenagers. While not all have succumbed to the force of pornography, others have plunged into the ditch of immorality and undefined sexual behaviour. This has been accelerated by the need for teenagers to identify with influential people in the world as they grow and develop physically, emotionally, and mentally. As a result, new trends keep emerging relative to sexuality and sexual behaviours. At the same time, sexual attitudes have enormously changed. The respect and importance accorded to sex and related activities have continued to lose meaning as this generation becomes more and more exposed inappropriate sexual materials through the media. Even as the negative implication of media on teenage behaviour rages on, all is not lost in that regard. The media plays a very crucial role of sensitizing teenagers on safe sexual practices and the importance of using contraceptives. In so doing, more and more teenagers are becoming cautious and responsible for their sexual behaviours. Media advocacy in this respect is commendable but the challenge surrounding teenagers and explicit sexual exposure through the media still remains. Over and above the sexuality factor, the daily lifestyles and standards observed by teenagers have faced the influence of the media. As earlier mentioned, the media platform is characterized by global diversity and dynamism. For this reason, the definition of an ideal lifestyle or standard varies from one social setting to another. Notably, this is the case as far as eating behaviour among teenagers is concerned. Media trends around this issue are dynamic. Eating behaviour and teenage identity can constitute a critical point of concern. In some societies, ideal eating behaviour is defined body size. This is to say that some societies across the globe adore fat people while others do the exact opposite. It goes without saying that the growth and development of teenagers is highly influenced by these socially defined factors. In the media context, modelling is a key selling point. Unfortunately this selling point has the source of life threatening eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. These disorders have majorly affected the film and TV industries, where there are ideal body sizes that fit the industry while others do not. Teenagers’ responses to the above-discussed issue may vary, but the common denominator is that majority of them are likely to suffer emotionally, physically, or mentally. This is because the media creates a picture that only a given category of people are good enough to undertake media-related jobs while other do not. In the process, the behaviour of teenagers is highly likely to be negated as they try to be that ideal person that the different media platforms present to them. The above discussion does not imply that the media only affects eating behaviours negatively among teenagers. In fact, there are key positive aspects associated with the media as far as eating behaviour is concerned. The media is a rich source of information on weight loss programs. These programs have made it possible for teenagers to manage their own weights from wherever they are all over the world. TV programs offer help to persons dealing with eating disorders. There are doctors’ reality shows that are primarily designed for teenagers and teenage life, and they are meant to enhance the quality of life that teenagers lead (Becker et al., 2002, pg. 512). Over and above that films have been developed that deal with eating behaviour among other issues that teenagers face. In the process, media also fosters a positive behaviour line among teenagers although both the open and underlying negative implications are still critical. All said and done about the positives of the media on eating habits, research indicates that most of the teenagers with eating disorders have developed them from watching too many model media shows such America’s next top model and in their emulation of these celebrities, they end up with the eating disorders. Video games have been the main mode of entertainment for the teenagers in the recent past. Research conducted by Gentile, 2003 indicates that these video games have proved nothing more than to be sources of violence for those playing them. This is so because the content of most of these video games has the theme of fighting and killing. These teenagers as a result of the exposure tend to consciously or subconsciously play out the same in real life. Their violence is majorly transferred to animals especially their pets and younger siblings. More evidence of this violence and even that which is seen in the television and action or thriller films is portrayed in their social life where most of them and especially boys constantly engage in fights and other violent behaviour all in the name of emulating their favourite character from the media. Even though there are claims that the violence effect is not scientifically proven, many more research findings have verified that a majority of teenagers who have over the years been exposed to too much action-filled video games, films and even television programs act out the same in real life. There are video games that are however not violent but entertaining and somewhat educational. Some of these include those that deal with car racing like NFL which make the teenagers become competitive in nature and this is good for them for the present and even in future. Lastly, the other negative impact of these different type of media mentioned above is the indulgence into drugs by the teenagers. This is brought about by the advertisements in the television which show the thrill and “cool” effects people who engage in smoking of cigarettes or even drinking of alcohol have. This sends a message to the teenagers that when they also engage in the same, they will eventually be as cool as the people in the advertisements. The same case happens in films where majority of the characters engage in drug use and even abuse for different reasons. Other than making one feel cool and popular, the films indicate that these common drugs are good and effective in relieving stress and running away from reality. The teenagers who are in their adolescent stage which is marked by turbulence and misunderstanding with the parents therefore indulge in drug taking to relieving some of the stress and pressure associated with the stage as well as try to look cool in front of their peers and more so the peers from the opposite sex. When teenagers continue to use these drugs all in the name of either having fun or escaping from the realities of growing up, then the results will be drug abuse, addiction and even engaging in sexually unhealthy relationships as well as crime if this is not controlled (Gentile, 2003, pg. 22). This does not necessarily mean that all advertisements are negative. Most alcohol advertisements for example has warning about the health consequences but this is normally rushed over and not dwelled upon much and hence tend to be ignored by many. Advertisers therefore need to insist on the negative parts of these adverts even though it will not be good for their business but will prevent the future generation form ruining their lives early and hence not living long enough to even enjoy the alcohol (little and controlled amounts) being advertised and produced. All in all, a reality check needs to be taken with the teenagers about the other effects of the drug’s use by the same films and media channels so that they can understand it is not all roses. References Becker, A., Burwell, R., Herzog, D., Hamburg, P. and Gilman, S. (2002). “Eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to television among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls.” British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 180, pp. 509-514. Brown, J. D. (2002). “Mass media influences on sexuality.” Journal of Sex Research, vol. 39(1), pp. 42-45. Gentile, D. A. (2003). Media Violence and Children: A Complete Guide for Parents and Professionals. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group. Gruber, E. and Grube, J. (2000). “Adolescent sexuality and the media.” Western Journal of Medicine, vol. 172(3), pp. 210-214. Wallmyr, G. and Welin, C. (2006). “Young people, pornography, and sexuality: Sources and attitudes.” Journal of School Nursing, vol. 22(5), pp. 290-295. Read More