How Did Mass Media Influence Adolescents and Children in the Last Ten Years? Essay Example
1. Introduction
Until the mid of the last century most adolescents spend their free time together with adults and monitor the behavior and activities of this social group. Therefore adolescents get the abilities they need in society to get well-integrated. Until that time parents, brothers, sisters and relatives were the most important examples for adolescents and children. After the Increasing of technology and globalization mostly everything changed. New Media were created and they not only changed the manufacturing process but also the quality and size of products. This had effects on the social behavior and relationships of young people. The media which influenced the life of mankind the most are mass media like television and internet. It is acquainted that TV was introduced in the 40s in the United States of America. Today TV and internet is a big part in the life of many adolescents but also in the life of many adults apart from their financial and social status. Furthermore the media fascinates children with the mixture of technology, creativity and possibilities. Many adolescents want to have a job in the media-branch because they dream to be on TV and many of them have the desire of being the next Madonna. Because of that development the question arises how mass media influenced the Youth Culture in the last ten years. To answer this question I first explain the term mass media in general. Then it is important to differentiate the types of media. I will go into detail and explain the terms print media and electronic media. After that I will concentrate on the influence and effects of television on adolescents and the relation between violence and television. Accordingly I will explain the influences of internet on adolescents and children with all its risks concerning online gaming. Finally I will conclude by saying what influences both mass media can have and what should be done to avoid negative influences on adolescents or children.
(Jenkins 2006:
Until the mid of the last century most adolescents spend their free time together with adults and monitor the behavior and activities of this social group. Therefore adolescents get the abilities they need in society to get well-integrated. Until that time parents, brothers, sisters and relatives were the most important examples for adolescents and children. After the Increasing of technology and globalization mostly everything changed. New Media were created and they not only changed the manufacturing process but also the quality and size of products. This had effects on the social behavior and relationships of young people. The media which influenced the life of mankind the most are mass media like television and internet. It is acquainted that TV was introduced in the 40s in the United States of America. Today TV and internet is a big part in the life of many adolescents but also in the life of many adults apart from their financial and social status. Furthermore the media fascinates children with the mixture of technology, creativity and possibilities. Many adolescents want to have a job in the media-branch because they dream to be on TV and many of them have the desire of being the next Madonna. Because of that development the question arises how mass media influenced the Youth Culture in the last ten years. To answer this question I first explain the term mass media in general. Then it is important to differentiate the types of media. I will go into detail and explain the terms print media and electronic media. After that I will concentrate on the influence and effects of television on adolescents and the relation between violence and television. Accordingly I will explain the influences of internet on adolescents and children with all its risks concerning online gaming. Finally I will conclude by saying what influences both mass media can have and what should be done to avoid negative influences on adolescents or children.
(Jenkins 2006: