The Media's Perception Effects Children

The Media's Perception Effects Children

Introduction

Children are exposed and observe various forms of prejudice in today's media. They are surrounded by technology, entertainment, and other forms of media that supports violence, sex, and drugs. Today's entertainment conveys a conflict in communications in books, television, magazines, and even in some school textbooks. Some commercials on television present stereotypes and exert misinformation. Because of the growing number of children in today's society that are continuously influenced by what they see on the media, the exposure has depict a negative and ill form of communicating truths to children and heavily effect them in being more analytical to facts and logical thinkers. Improvements are being assessed to moderate some of the negative behaviors and the influence in TV shows but it is prevalent that children are drawn to what the majority prefer. The media is very powerful in changing the mindset of children and their behaviors. Children often observe violence on television and see that there are no real consequences for their actions because TV has depicted the lifestyle that lives as a menace gains. Also, there are various misconceptions about sexual immorality which TV never emphasizes diseases and pregnancy but only pleasure and popularity. Children who live in low income disadvantaged areas uses the media to give them a sense of false hope to come out of the environment they currently live in. It is proven that children learn from what they see and hear. Their brains are like sponges. It absorbs large quantities and consumes it in a small formation. In this speech, I will illustrate how the media has a greater influence on children than their parents, the outcome of children who were influenced negatively by the media, and what needs to be corrected in today's media to positively influence children. "The average child watches TV four to six hours daily." If they are watching TV for more than 25% of their life and 90% of what they are watching presents ill behavior, they will soon began to act out what they have observed.

I. Children are more influenced through the media than parents, school teachers, etc.

a. The media shows target age groups who do not understand that the shows are not "reality" therefore falsely misconstruing the expectations of the youth.

i. E.g. TV shows like Glee, 16 and Pregnant; glamorized lifestyles that are much more difficult in real life than depicted on television. Teens see these teens being turned into overnight celebrities for living risqué.

ii. America constantly downs our youth, and the parents that raise them, but no standards are being put on the media, when it has been proven the amount of power that media holds is dangerous.

iii. Media should be restricted because the youth is not mature enough to handle the subject material being shown.

b. "Reports have indicated that many families in the US have their TV on an average of 6 ¾ hours per day potentially giving their TV a stronger foothold in a child's education than their school teacher."