The Media’s Influence on Adolescents
Bianca Thompson
T. Thompson
AP English IV Period
15 February 2010
The Media’s Influence on Adolescents
In today’s day and age, multimedia is a central focus of teen society. From television advertisements broadcasting the latest Apple-product to magazine covers featuring an “airbrushed” supermodel, American teens are bombarded with images that can serve as negative influences towards their self-esteem. The purpose of this research paper will be to analyze the American media of the twenty-first century and will propose ways in which the media’s influence on teens can become the positive messages they need. Perhaps one of the most controversial, if not then certainly the most contributive, media influences is television. According to a Nielsen study released in 2008, the average American household watches television eight hours a day (Semuels). If this is finding is true, it means that the average American family watches anywhere between fifty-six to sixty hours of television per week. With that being said, in a 2005 study conducted by Kjersten Oligney and Linda Klepacki on teen sexual behavior, it was determined that the average American teen watches only three hours of television a day (4). Regardless of how minimal the amount of hours appear, the overall impact of television on teens is still negative. In a special article published by Rolling Stone Magazine, teen-interest shows display the following subliminal messages about young people to viewers: (1) They all appear “sexy,” (2) They are all Caucasian, (3) They do not seem to have parents, (4) The do not need to have an education, (5) They find high school uninteresting, (6) They live in a world that does not bear a resemblance to reality at all (Media Awareness Network, 1)
Realistically speaking, adults are able to comprehend that reality is not as it appears on television. But for teenagers doing without parents and positive role models to keep them on the right path, what
T. Thompson
AP English IV Period
15 February 2010
The Media’s Influence on Adolescents
In today’s day and age, multimedia is a central focus of teen society. From television advertisements broadcasting the latest Apple-product to magazine covers featuring an “airbrushed” supermodel, American teens are bombarded with images that can serve as negative influences towards their self-esteem. The purpose of this research paper will be to analyze the American media of the twenty-first century and will propose ways in which the media’s influence on teens can become the positive messages they need. Perhaps one of the most controversial, if not then certainly the most contributive, media influences is television. According to a Nielsen study released in 2008, the average American household watches television eight hours a day (Semuels). If this is finding is true, it means that the average American family watches anywhere between fifty-six to sixty hours of television per week. With that being said, in a 2005 study conducted by Kjersten Oligney and Linda Klepacki on teen sexual behavior, it was determined that the average American teen watches only three hours of television a day (4). Regardless of how minimal the amount of hours appear, the overall impact of television on teens is still negative. In a special article published by Rolling Stone Magazine, teen-interest shows display the following subliminal messages about young people to viewers: (1) They all appear “sexy,” (2) They are all Caucasian, (3) They do not seem to have parents, (4) The do not need to have an education, (5) They find high school uninteresting, (6) They live in a world that does not bear a resemblance to reality at all (Media Awareness Network, 1)
Realistically speaking, adults are able to comprehend that reality is not as it appears on television. But for teenagers doing without parents and positive role models to keep them on the right path, what