Effects Of Individuality In The Media

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"Momma, look what Jessica commented on Facebook about my new haircut,” the girl says, pulling up the hateful post to read for the third time that day. Her mother looks at the degrading words and frowns. “Oh, don’t worry what she thinks, sweetie. Your hair looks great just how it is,” her mother reassures her. “No, momma. Nobody else’s hair is like this. I want my hair like one of those pretty girls on TV!” Unfortunately, individuality is becoming an extinct quality in today’s youth. Teenagers begin to change themselves to be more like other people shown in the media to avoid criticism. Although some people believe the media inspires teenagers to be a better people or to pursue their dreams, the media can also suppress individuality and make teens feel like they are not good enough the way they are. The purpose of the media – social, news, or any kind – is to broadcast information. The information is retrieved through all different types of technological items. For example, ninety eight percent of Americans have at least one television in their household. Seventy percent have more than one television, seventy percent have cable, and …show more content…

They believe that media may aid in the child “develop[ing] their sense of self” and also help them discover somewhere that they fit in (Werner-Wilson et al 304). They say that the celebrities seen in magazines and on television may be an inspiration to a child, and help them come out of their shell. They also think that these people shown on children’s television may be useful as a “model and guide” for the kids (Ward et al 66). Another benefit they believe the media may have on teens is that age appropriate media programs could be related to academic enhancement (Kirkorian et al 39). For instance, young children may watch programs that encourage things such as kindness, teamwork, problem solving, and healthy

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