Since birth human behaviour is influenced by what the individual sees and there surroundings, this influence is greatest at a young age and fades as the individual grows in age, but never completely goes away. In today’s society where sex is something that is openly broadcasted in order to promote everything from products to television shows, sex is something that the youth of today are exposed to from an early age. But what effects can this exposure at such a vulnerable stage in life cause? Early exposure to sexual content can increase the likeliness of youth participating in sexual activity by the large amount that they are exposed too, the glorification of sex, the lack of regulation of sexual content in the media by the government, and the twisted message about unprotected sex and the meaning of love. For centuries the media has had a great deal of influence on people how they behave and view there world. From fashion trends to physical ideal the media has influenced what people believe is the ideal way to look, act and speak. In the 21st century where sex has become the most effective way to get ratings for television shows or sell your product to the masses, the amount of sexual content the appears on television increases day by day. To the point where youth are exposed to large amounts every day. With the rate of teenage pregnancy and increasing numbers of youth engaging in sexual activity as early as the age of 12 years of age, it is undeniable that youth today are being influenced by the large quantities of sex they are exposed to in the media. Research shows that if a child watches more then an hour of television a day there is a sexual scene in the content every 10 minutes. (Landau E, 2008, November 03) This is a lar... ... middle of paper ... ...ets the girl, they fall in love, happily ever after, babies come, I thought that was one way of being loved,” this shows how the media teaches youth an unhealthy perspective on unprotected sex and love and being loved. Thus the media gives teens a twisted idea about unprotected sex and the meaning of love. In conclusion teens are influenced to have premarital sex through the increasing number of sexual intercourse and other sexual scenes portrayed in the media, the glorification of sex, along with the objectification of woman and the unhealthy messages on unprotected premarital sex and the meaning of loving and being loved. The media continues to influence the youth of today, if today’s media isn’t given proper guidelines and regulations and if adolescence isn’t educated properly on sexual activities and there risks this probably will only continue to escalate.
A review of the contemporary research on the negative effects of pornography is replete of scholarly and anecdotal evidence and opinion about the damages associated with viewing it. But the evidence is limited when it comes to criticism of mainstream media’s damages to certain groups, particularly young women with their romantic comedies.
...n credit cards with men’s names. What is even more important is the reach of porn’s influence. The emerging generation that has grown up in the Internet age and most likely porn has been this generation’s first sexual experience. In most cases the habit sticks, about 70% of 18-24-year-olds visit porn sites each month. Porn has both massive ubiquity and ease of access; the average age when hardcore porn is first viewed is now only eight years old (Viewpoint , 2012). Children are necessarily looking for it but, these images and videos are shared on phones, advertise in magazines and found by innocent Googling. With porn so omnipresent and sex education budgets being slashed across Europe and the United States, porn has become de faco sex education (Viewpoint , 2012). As a result, a whole generation of kids is growing up with a distorted impression of human sexuality.
Today’s young Americans face strong peer pressure to be sexually active and engage themselves in risky behaviors (Merino 100-109). Anyone deciding to have sex must first think about all the risks involved. Kekla Magoon, author of Sex Education in Schools, says that “half of all teens aged 15 to 19 years old in the United States have had sex” (Magoon 64-65). It is currently not required by federal law for schools to teach Sex education and those few schools that do teach Sex education have the decision to determine how much information is allowed. Advocates from both sides of the Sex education debate agree that teens need positive influences in order to make practical decisions (Magoon 88-89). Opponents of Abstinence-only education believe it fails because it does not prepare teens for all the risks of sex (Magoon 64-65).
Countering the Culture of Sex is an article by Ellen Goodman dealing with the entertainment industry’s plague upon society. With sex rooted deep in children’s minds it creates this idea of what life revolves around. Digging deeper, Goodman brings up the point of why one never sees the consequences of sex. If the media were to show the consequences of people’s actions, the industry could create a sense of fear into the public.
... The Sounds of Sex: Sex in teens’ music and music videos. Sexual Teens, Sexual Media: Investigating Media’s Influence on Adolescent Sexuality (p. 253)
A report published by the U.S Department of Health and Human Accommodations “suggests that as many as 50% of all adolescents are sexually active” (White, 2008, p. 349). A portion of those are puerile women who will become pregnant, adolescent men who will contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and teenagers who will suffer from emotional distress and regret. Albeit the majority concurs inculcation is the solution to this dilemma, one q...
Sex is commonly portrayed in teens lives by media. The media thinks that sex is in most teens lives (Somers and Tynan). Statistically they're right. “61% of all high school seniors have had sexual intercourse”(“Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media”). The media trying to stay up to date puts content out that they think the teens will relate to even if that content sends a bad message. Every year more and more teens aren't virgins (Somers and Tynan). If the media cut down on the amount of sexual content shown maybe teens wouldn't be having so much sex, but they won't they are actually expanding and influencing everyone. All races and genders are targeted sexualy by the media (Somers and Tynan). They also try to trick people into having sex. The media says everyone is doing it (“Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media”). This makes it sound like its okay for teens to have sex, and that its no big deal everyone does it. It is a big deal though. More and more kids are becomomg sexualy active and the media is a big part of that. They need to stop showing so much sexual content to teens. They are sending bad messages to a group of very easily influenced people. Sex has no business being in teens lives or media.
“In 2005, out of 68% of TV shows that showed steamy sexual content, only 15% discussed risk and responsibility. And it’s not just movies and TV: Music, video games, and the Internet are also filled with sexually explicit, often-degrading messages that can shape kids’ attitudes about sex.” (greatschools.org)
The media is a large part of our everyday lives; everywhere we go we can find a source of media. It influences our thoughts, feelings and behaviours every day as it is a huge influence in today’s society. Society heavily relies on the media to show them what is in the norm and what is going on in the world. The media also serves as another way to display the normative of the society. Sexuality is a big part in the media and what is appropriate sexuality. The media negatively affects the people who do not fit society’s ideal normative. This includes people with a sexuality that is not the normative of heterosexuality. In the media, these people of other sexualities are excluded and made to feel they do not fit into society. My pyramid shows how society classifies people by their sexuality in the media. This involves highlighting the normative sexuality and excluded any other sexuality from the mainstream media.
Watching television programs with a high level of sexual content can shape the patterns of sexual behavior of a teenager. According to Brown (Brown, Greenberg, & Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1993) many teenagers are not able to receive useful information about sex from their parents, this is the reason they usually use the alternative way to find this information through the media. A Kaiser Family research from 1996 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 1996; 1998) shows that a quarter of all the young people have told that they have learned a lot about pregnancy from television shows and 40 percent of them have gotten ideas how to talk about sexual issues. In these modern times media is holding the power to influence the audience and most of all the youngest audience which is developing their view about sex.
Have you ever noticed walking into a large shopping complex and seeing children as young as 6 years old wearing midriff bearing t-shirts and short skirts? And wondered to yourself why the younger generation of today portray themselves like that and why their parents allow it. It all goes back to the strong impact that sexualization portrayed in media and marketing has on everybody in today’s society especially young children from toddlers to late teens, both girls and boys. They see it everywhere from movies/television shows, magazines, clothing, computer games, toys, the music industry and of course the internet.
Research Questions and/or Hypotheses The research question and basis of the study can be summarized as whether or not the exposure to sexual concepts through the media have significant influences on the sexual practices of teenagers. Similarly, it is proposed that, if proven to be accurate, media can be used in similar formats to encourage safe sex and preventative sexual health practices. The use of focus groups, journal writings, room tours, and interviews allowed teens the opportunity to discuss sexuality which was operationalized as teen views on love, sex, and relationships. Steele, 1999, p. 334.
A media panic or often referred to as a moral panic, is a term that describes how the media is formulating issues amongst our society. Over time, our culture has shifted and caused for many conclusions regarding media panics and the relationship between youth and the media culture. Based upon previous knowledge and course readings, I have drawn a very disturbing conclusion; this being that no matter what age, children are willing or non willingly now under surveillance to determine what kind of role media is playing in their lives. With what I have gathered from the readings and class lectures, most authors strongly believe that different forms of media directly influence children's thinking or perception. What authors and researchers continue to imply is that there is a direct correlation to what youth today see on different forms of media and their behaviours. However, it is important to remember that children are humans as well and do have a mind of their owns. Our society cannot assume that these media panics ultimately take away their ability to think on their own and develop into mature individuals. The first media panic I will discuses is how video games have developed a relationship with violence amongst our children. The second media panic is the sexual objectification of young women online.
Young people especially the teenagers are sensitive and receptive to learning new things. The media provides more than they can handle. Access to different programs, shows, and movies affect the manner that the teenagers behave. Today, it is unfortunate to say that the media is becoming more sexual and violent than the older days, resulting in similar behaviors among the teens (Craig, & Baucum, 2001). By watching programs intended for the adults, teenagers are drifting even further. They start behaving like adults without the prerequisites of becoming one. This means that they have contents that do not match with their ages. And then terrible things begin – increased college dropouts, teenage pregnancies, and increased cases of suicides. Some teenagers who had bright future ahead of them will
“The media may be especially important for young people as they are developing their own sexual beliefs and patterns of behavior and as parents and schools remain reluctant to discuss sexual topics (p.26)”.