The Positive and Negative Impact of Media on Teens

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Each day, the importance of mass media is increasing among society. More people are becoming dependent on the media and are being affected by it unknowingly. “Over the past five years, the time kids spend using media has increased significantly” (Media's Grip on Tweens and Teens). “According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 87 percent of teens with cell phones use them for texting, sending an average of 50 messages a day. It's not just teens; the same study showed that 72 percent of adult cell phone users also text. More and more teens and adults are also using phones to access social media sites like Facebook and Twitter” (Rossiter, M). While the mass media can have a positive effect, it can also have a negative effect on teens. Therefore, teenagers intentionally, or unintentionally, pick up the habits they see in the different mass media. “It would be naïve to believe the media has no effect on teens and tweens” (Media's Grip on Tweens and Teens).

Magazines and their ads depict a negative message to the young readers that buy these magazines. Perfect, flawless, skinny girls and muscular boys are used in the ads to advertise products that often don’t deal with the product itself. The magazines portray an unrealistic representation of what people look like and how life is. There is no doubt, young girls and guys are deeply affected by the photos in the magazines; which eventually results in teens being depressed, anorexic, or on steroids in search for the perfect body. “Experts say children are being bombarded with messages about looking good, are pressured to wear sexualized, adult-style clothing and see celebrity kids like Suri Cruise wearing high heels and lipstick (Doherty,E).

Another type of media that is ...

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...l 25, 2011, from the Ebsco database.

Doherty, E. (2011, March 31). Anorexic and only seven. Herald Sun, p. 9. Retrieved April 23, 2011, from the Newspaper Source database

Giuliani, D. (2011, April 2). Expert praises Sterling schools' security. Daily Gazette, p. p.7. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from the Newspaper Source database.

Jersey Shore cast set rules to film by. (2011, April 21). Townsville Bulletin, p. 41. Retrieved April 23, 2011, from the Newspaper Source database.

Kimmel, M & Aronson, A. (2009). Sociology Now. Boston: Massachusetts.

Media's Grip on Tweens and Teens. (2010, February 8). Current Events, p. 8. Retrieved April 25, 2011, from the Middle Search Plus database.

Rossiter, M. (2010, December 19). Step away from the smart phone for the holidays. Gazette, p.7 Retrieved April 25, 2011, from the Newspaper Source database.

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