The Effects Media Have On Children

In America, the media plays a big part in the daily lives of most people young and old. The media is everywhere-- from TV, to magazines, to billboards, so it is a difficult task to try not to pay attention to it. While some media can be helpful and beneficial, the bulk of it is really just ‘junk’. Most of media, specifically entertainment media, is junk due to the fact that, in the same way candy rots teeth, succumbing to too much entertainment media influence will most likely rot your mind. (Evaluation and analogy!) In my final paper I will explain how mass media negatively impacts the lives of children and young people. When the media takes over, as it unfortunately already has inside and outside too many households, the mind and body go to waste. Due to the fact that children and young adults are still growing and learning, they are the most susceptible to the negative influence of media. The issue of media’s harmful affects is a very important topic, especially for parents. My paper will be directed towards parents and guardians raising young adults and children and why it is important for them to take action in controlling the media’s influence on their children. (Question: does anyone disagree?)

Media’s influence on children and young adults has become an increasingly relevant problem in our society these days. With some type of media practically everywhere you turn, it’s a tough problem to conquer. The reason why I have chosen to focus on the media’s negative effects on young Americans is because that due to the fact that they’re still developing and learning about themselves and society, they are more vulnerable to being greatly influenced by the media. Unfortunately, much of what is being ‘influenced’ includes negative topics such as violence, drug and alcohol use, and sex. Another big problem with media is that all too often it portrays unrealistic views of life in general, and children, not quite grasping this concept, take whatever the media feeds to them as true. How often have you heard a kid say the phrase “Well I saw it on TV, so it must be true!”

In my paper I plan to persuade parents to limit their children’s exposure to ‘media’— from television, magazines, ect. I will explain how building on activities and hobbies that don’t involve being a zombie to ‘entertainment media’ can ultimately benefit and enrich children’s lives—by boosting their confidence and self-esteem about themselves. (Counter-argument: Parents are very busy. It's unfortunate, but true. How will your suggestions be brought about?) TV and magazines, on the other hand, will most likely do the opposite—lower young people’s self-esteem by making them think they need to be a certain way to ‘fit in’ or make friends. Another reason parents should be concerned about limiting their children’s exposure to media is the fact that it can be very harmful to their health. An obvious example of this is how kids who watch too much TV do not get enough exercise. A less obvious case though could be the fact that by looking through fashion magazines, many young girls get the impression that they are not thin enough, and therefore not beautiful. This idea can eventually lead to eating disorders and low self-esteem. In addition to limiting their children’s exposure to media, parents must also take time to explain why it is important to do so; otherwise children will most likely take it as their parent being unfair as opposed to helpful.

My final paper will include arguments such as definitional arguments, evaluation arguments, and causal arguments. For a definitional argument I will define what I mean by ‘entertainment media’. My evaluation argument will be based on the evaluation of why the media is so negative to children and young adults. The causal argument will show how the influence of the media causes negative effects in young Americans. These arguments will certainly not be the only ones, but they are the ‘back bone’ arguments in which others will in turn stem from. All in all, the arguments and explanations throughout my final paper will prove to my audience (which are parents of young children) that the media’s influence on their children is, most of the time, negative and therefore should be acted upon in order to better their children’s lives. (Do you want to include some kind of proposal as to how parents might combat the negative influences of certain elements of media exposure?)

Final Proposal Bibliography:

Barker, Martin. Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate. New York : Routledge, 1997.

Buckingham, David. Young people, sex, and the media : the facts of life? New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.

Gentile, Douglas A. Media Violence and Children: A Complete Guide for Parents and Professionals. Westport, C.T. : Praeger, 2003.

Ravitch, Diane. Kid Stuff: Marketing Sex and Violence to America’s Children. Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003.

Roberts, Donald F. Kids and media in America. Cambridge, M.A. : Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Valkenburg, Patti M. Children’s Responses to the Screen: A Media Psychological Approach. Mahwah, N.J. : Lawrence Erlbaum, 2004.