Does Media Influence our Children
posted by Shakenna Moore | October 23, 2023 | In OpinionFor nearly a century, television has been an integral part of our lives. Have years of this exposure affected our behavior? Have we been subliminally brainwashed by this media, or is this society’s way of putting blame on someone else and not accepting responsibility for their own actions?
T.V. or not T.V.? That is the question.
The hegemony of media has caused controversy for many years. Everything from violent content in children’s video games to sexual content in movies and television shows has been the topic of discussion.
Cartoon Network, a television network caters to children, shows animated programs that depict children using profanities that no grown adult should use, such as The Boondocks, a show that depicts an infant son who has adult manifestations and almost always says something about sex, featuring a pet dog that drinks martinis and has adult conversations, such as Family Guy. We should not forget to include music videos and video games.
Video games sales are an industry that rakes in billions of dollars per year. The influence that these games have on youth and adults alike could cause irrational and impulsive behavior.
In 2008, NY Daily News published an article with the deadline: “Six Teenagers in Nassau County, New York Went on a Crime Spree and Blamed it on the game Grand Theft Auto.”
Can you imagine being a parent and getting that phone call? I can’t. And although things have changed a little since then, parents and friends need to be aware of the effects of media on their children.
Media has evolved. Although an integral part of our lives, its effects on us as a society haven’t always been positive. Before we leave our children unattended with games, T.V., or any kind of media, we need to be educated on the contents and the potential it has to influence our children, whether positive or negative. When you know better, you do better.
Photo courtesy of Russell Davies
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