The Negative Impact of Sexual Content in the Media

1574 Words4 Pages

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.

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