Negative Effects of Media on Children

The Negative Effects of Media on Children Did you know according to the university of Miami, 40% of the average thirty minute news program was devoted to crime? That crime on your television set may be the reason your child may thinks it’s alright to bring a gun to school. Did you also know that “ 12% of the magazines, 20% of books, and 7.1 percent of pornographic films portrayed some violent theme?” (Carter 1). Sex and violence in media can traumatize youngsters, lead to mistrust later in life and negatively influence children and young adults. This is what incites sexual violence and abuse in the home, toward children, and many of the sex crimes committed in today’s society. Most people would agree that violence is a natural part of life, but what effect is it having on the children, teens and even adults of America? “ Studies conclude viewing certain programs of violence can increase aggression in children, make them more fearful and less trusting, and desensitize them to violent behavior in other people” (Clark 1). Studies show a much higher likelihood of a child exposed to violent media to carry out the same violent acts they see on television and film and hear everyday in popular music. Many people

Most people remember the shooting at Columbine high school. choose to argue the fact that television and film aren"tmt anything but fantasy, but to a child they can"tmt quite tell the difference. Music has a lot of brainwashing qualities. It interprets the code and transmits a signal to your televison giving instructions to deny access to all programming or video exceeding your preset ratings limitations" (Leo 2). "With growing rates of violence, teen pregnancy and teen sexual activity, critics and religious leaders are up in arms against the media" (Leo 1). The Discovery, Discovery Health, and The Learning Channel all have programs where for example, lions kill wildebeest, cadavers get sliced open, and sharks kill large sea life. It becomes rather routine to see a shooting on the five O"tmclock news, or to see someone get dismembered on an episode of your favorite show. You know that happiest day of my life, I swear the happiest day of my life is that day that I die. "Music is different from other forms of entertainment and a "one size fits all approach" simply doesn"tmt make sense. A major problem as well is that adults are not cautious enough when it comes to watching inappropriate programing in front of their infants and children. The only reason "sex sells" is because people in general as a whole are going to their local video store and buying these movies and tuning their television set to these channels high in violent content. Since explicit lyrics sell just as well as sex on televison, it"tms a known fact that these records sell extraordinarily well, and for all the wrong reasons. "Though not all children will imitate media violence, certain children who are exposed to repeated depictions of a particular nature are at risk for such learning" (Rolfe 1). "Violent programing on major broadcast networks has increased 14 in prime time since 1994" (Torr 26).