The Negative Effects of Media and Television on Teenagers in Society. As implied by John Mil Stuart, “The only way in which human can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject is by hearing what is said by every person of every variety of opinion and by studying all the modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind.” No man ever acquired his wisdom in any way but this.” (David Haugen, pg 7). I believe this theory to be true. People have yielded to the influence of television and media as if their life depends on it. It is funny because as stated by Darry F Zanuck in 1949, “Television won’t be able to hold on to the market. “ People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box” (David Haugen, 88). What Darry F Zanuck said is the exact opposite of the role of television media in society today. Media and television both promote three negative things in teenagers drugs and alcohol use, sex and violence. As a result teenagers imitate what they see on television There is a saying “True beauty is only skin deep,” but if this saying were truly the case then why is it that an individual’s appearance is the first thing that people in our society judge when we first meet them? A person grows slowly. They need family, friends, teachers, and social groups to help gain a perspective or world view. An individual needs to learn about social norms, morals, good and bad behaviors, how to build good character, gain knowledge, a good education, and a large well connected social capital networks of friends. This will help an individual achieve their dreams and goals in life to be a successful productive, member of society who knows how to make a good decision that not only benefits himself or herself, but benefits all of society as well. This is due to the way we are socialized in society. As a result, from the time we learn to crawl, there are a set of guidelines, rules, and expectations, and images on how a person is supposed to look, act, and interact with other people. These factors are based on an individual’s gender, race, and social class, and can be detrimental to the success of women. The media in society today has portrayed the expectations of women with regard to body image and gender roles negatively especially through the interpretation of reality television shows. Media violence has been a problem of society for generations. Whether it is from movies, radio, or internet the reaction of young adolescents to media violence is the same. Media violence creates violence teens. In 1956, there was a study to compare twenty four children behavior watching television, twelve children watched a violence episode of “Woody the Woodpecker.” The other twelve children watched “The Little Red Hen.” The children who watched “Woody the Woodpecker” were more aggressive and began to hit each other and break toys. The other children remained passive playing with their toys.(mediaawarenessnetwork.com). This proves that children react very negatively to violent messages on television. After these children watched violent shows they interacted very aggressively with people and their surrounding environment. Children are imitating actions on television for many reasons. One factor is peer pressure the activities of teenagers are strongly influenced by their friends. Teens have the notion that if they do not participate in the activities, they will be labeled as outcasts of society by their peers. In addition, teens just want to have fun regardless of their morals even if they know the activities they are doing are wrong. Some teenagers do certain activities because they think they could get away with it. Sometimes when teenagers so things they should not they may feel invisible and this believe may lead some of them getting involved with illegal drugs and or other rebellious behavior. In Another study, one hundred children were divided into two groups to see the affect of real world violence versus the affects of cartoon violence on preschool children. The children were divided into four into groups; the first group watched a man shouting insults at a doll while hitting it with a mallet. The second group watched an incident on television. The third group watched a cartoon and the fourth group watched nothing. (www.mediaawarenessnetwork.com The children who were exposed to real violence and cartoon violence in these first three scenarios experienced conflicts with each other. They reacted very aggressively when faced with a problem in the real-world environment. This experiment proves that adolescents are very easily persuaded by media messages in society. The problem is that media messages emphasize the wrong ideals, such as racism, violence, sex, prejudice towards the elderly, and many more negative ideals. As a result, the messages are embedded in the minds of teenagers. The messages negatively influence the morals that have been taught to them by their parents, which may lead them to commit crimes. Research has proven that video games cause aggressive behavior and health problems such as high blood pressure, and increased heart rate. These are some of the short-term effects of media violence on children. In addition, Scientists have found that the long-term effects of violent television on adults can cause more psychological illness than in children. In addition, media violence has a direct coloration with juvenile arrests and the drug use of teenagers. Statics are very astounding according to the Department of Justice in 1997 2.8 million teens were arrested under the age of eighteen. Out of the 2.8 million 2,500 were arrested for murder in addition, 121 thousand teen were arrested for violent crimes such as drug possession especially the use of marijuana. The FBI accounted for nineteen percent of all juvenile arrests, and fourteen percent of all murder arrests. Even ought the number of teenage arrested had slightly decreased from 1996 ¬-1997. In 1997 the number of juvenile arrests for violent crimes was forty nine percent above the number of juvenile arrests in 1988. The most surprising fact is that nine to fifteen percent of teen boys carry a weapon to school including a knife, gun, and a razor. According to the Department of Justice the juvenile arrests will double in 2010. (David Haugen, pg 18-19). Bullying is another result of media violence. Did you know that two out of five kids get bullied every day? There was even a Supreme Court case that questionably blamed the impact of video game violence to be the cause that led a group of boys to supposedly harass and beat a boy until he eventually died. It turns out that the boy hung himself. This shows how misleading video games and media are on the youth of society. Media and television can be a bad influence on adolescents because it robs youth of their innocence. The programs that children and teens watch express inappropriate messages such as sex and teen pregnancies. The media is responsible for a serious problem with adolescent girls. Young girls are very vulnerable to media messages about being attractive and the having a perfect body. Some young girls have unrealistic expectations of having bodies similar to that of a Super Model. Many teenage girls worry about whether they can keep up with the fashion style of their peers. Research has shown that fifteen percent of young women have some eating disorder pattern (http// www Essay forum .com). Teenage pregnancy has become very common in this generation. Teenagers are becoming more sexually active at a younger age due to all the sexually explicit media that surrounds them in their daily life. These images are seen and heard on television, magazines, song lyrics, and the computer. Girls are subjected to sexually activity because they think it will keep them popular with their friends. Teenage pregnancy is taught to be safe because of contraceptives such as birth control bills. Did you know in t United States Teen pregnancy is double that of any other industrialized nation. There was a survey conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics the team interviewed 1,461 teenage girls between the ages of twelve to seventeen by speaking to them on the phone three times between the years of 2001 to 2004 http://www.time.com/time). These interviews confirm recent studies representing correlation between sexual context on television and teenage pregnancy. Teens that are exposed to high levels of television sexual content ninety percent of the population in America were twice as likely to experience a pregnancy in the subsequent three years. Teenage girls who watch less sexual content on television have no pregnancy before the age of twenty those teenage girls are only 10th percent of the population. Despite this fact it is very unrealistic that media will ever limit the amount of sexual content on television because the only thing famous producer care about is making money. As a result, The Academy of Pediatrics created a media awareness campaign to inform people about the dangers of media on adolescents. Teenage pregnancy has declined dramatically since 1991. However, this rate remains the highest among other industrialized nations. Research has showed that in the United States in the year 2002 out of one thousand pregnancies seventy six of them were teen pregnancies among the age group of fifth teen- nineteen -year-old individuals. Nearly one million young women fifth teen to nineteen years of age, in addition twenty percent of all sexually active women in this age group, become pregnant each year; the majority of these pregnancies are unplanned. (www.pediatrics.aappublications.org). The effects of a teen pregnancy (or pregnancy before age 20) on young mothers fathers, their children, and society as a whole can be profound. Young mothers are more likely than others to drop out of school, to require public assistance, and they are forced live in poverty because teens are inexperienced and cannot support themselves. In fact, teen mothers have earnings that average less than one half of the poverty level. In addition, teen mothers are less likely to have effective parenting skills or adequate social support as average adult parent’s .Teen fathers face similar challenges. For example, teen fathers complete an average of one year less of an education than other boys, who delay fatherhood until they are adults. Teen fathers often enter the labor market sooner than their friends because of their fatherhood and ultimately earn less in their twenties than their peers. Compared with children of older mothers, children born to adolescent mothers are at higher risk of low birth weight, limited fine motor skills, and low math and reading abilities. The children of ` teen mothers are also more likely to drop out of high school themselves. In order to avoid the corruption of adolescents’ parent should have a strong influence on what their children watch on television. Here are some suggestions on how to do so. One way parents can limit television is blocking certain channels, their children watch if the shows are violent or are age inappropriate for children. Children believe that the way actors are perceived to die in movies is the way they die in real life. Parents should talk to their children about the truth behind the death, and explain why they had to block the channels. To avoid peer pressure and embarrassment of your children, parents should try to talk to parents of their children’s friends into the same thing. Parents should try to persuade their children to watch educational programs with them, instead of the violent programs that children love to watch. Finally, the most important thing can do to prevent television and media from promoting three negative things in teenager’s drugs and alcohol, violent, and sex. Children must stop imitating the actions they see on television just because some celebrities encourage products or activities does not mean they are good for body or morally correct. Celebrities just focus on created an image that teenagers hope to obtain by the products. Meanwhile, the only thing celebrities have to do is read “fancy scripts and make millions of dollarsssssss. Many of today’s most popular role models are a bad influence on teenagers such as lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Lindsey Logan Justin Beater, and many more. A nice healthy alternative to watching television and avoiding too much media influence is parents persuading their children to get outside and excising by playing with their friends at the park staying active and healthy life. Instead of being a lazy couch potato watching television or on sitting there on computer on Face book to friends because teenagers are too lazy to hangout for their friends for real. The image above shows how much of a negative influence media has become on the adolescents of society.

**The Negative Effects of Media and Television onl in Society**

As John Stuart Mill suggests, “The only way in which humans can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject is by hearing what is said by every person of every variety of opinion and by studying all the modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind.” No one acquires wisdom in any other way (David Haugen, p. 7). I believe this theory holds true. People have become heavily influenced by television and media, as if their lives depend on it. It is ironic that, as stated by Darry F. Zanuck in 1949, “Television won’t be able to hold on to the market. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box” (David Haugen, p. 88). What Zanuck predicted is now the opposite of the role television plays in society today. Media and television promote three negative influences on teenagers: drug and alcohol use, sexual behavior, and violence. Consequently, teenagers often imitate what they see on television.

There is a saying, “True beauty is only skin deep,” but if this were truly the case, why is it that a person’s appearance is the first thing others judge when they meet for the first time? A person grows and develops through their family, friends, teachers, and social groups, which shape their perspective or worldview. Individuals must learn about social norms and morals and distinguish between good and bad behaviors. They also need to build character, acquire knowledge, and establish strong social connections. This foundation helps individuals achieve their dreams and goals, becoming successful and productive members of society capable of making decisions that benefit not only themselves but society as a whole. Our socialization plays a crucial role in this process; from the moment we learn to crawl, we are influenced by guidelines, rules, expectations, and images regarding how to look, act, and interact with others. These factors can be detrimental to women’s success, as they are often influenced by gender, race, and social class.

Today’s media has negatively portrayed societal expectations for women regarding body image and gender roles, particularly through reality television shows. Media representations often promote narrow definitions of beauty and reinforce harmful stereotypes, leading to issues such as low self-esteem and body image disturbances among young women.

Media violence has been a societal problem for generations. Whether from movies, radio, or the internet, young adolescents often respond similarly to media violence—media violence breeds violence in teens. A study conducted in 1956 compared the behaviors of twenty-four children while watching television. Twelve children viewed a violent episode of “Woody the Woodpecker,” while the other twelve watched “The Little Red Hen.” Those who watched “Woody the Woodpecker” exhibited more aggression, hitting each other and breaking toys, while the other group remained passive (mediaawarenessnetwork.com). This demonstrates that children react negatively to violent messages on television. After exposure to violent shows, these children interacted aggressively with both their peers and their environment.

Children imitate actions they see on television for various reasons. Peer pressure heavily influences teenagers' activities; they often feel that if they do not participate in certain behaviors, they will be labeled as outcasts by their peers. Additionally, teens may engage in risky behaviors simply to have fun, disregarding their morals even when they know the activities are wrong. Some teenagers may test boundaries, thinking they can get away with certain actions. The illusion of invisibility may lead some to experiment with illegal drugs or engage in rebellious behavior.

In another study, one hundred children were divided into groups to examine the impact of real-world violence versus cartoon violence on preschoolers. The groups were divided as follows: one group watched a man shouting insults at a doll while hitting it with a mallet, the second group observed an incident on television, the third group watched a cartoon, and the fourth group had no exposure. The children who witnessed real and cartoon violence in the first three scenarios exhibited conflict with one another and reacted aggressively when faced with problems in their immediate environment. This experiment highlights how easily adolescents are influenced by media messages. Unfortunately, these media messages often emphasize negative ideals such as racism, violence, sexual behavior, and prejudice against the elderly. Consequently, these messages become ingrained in teenagers' minds, negatively influencing the morals taught to them by their parents and potentially leading to criminal behavior.

Research has shown that video games also contribute to aggressive behavior among teens, with many popular games featuring graphic violence and immoral acts. This constant exposure creates a desensitization to violence, blurring the lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

In conclusion, the influence of media and television on teenagers cannot be underestimated. From shaping body image and gender roles to promoting violence and risky behavior, the implications are serious and far-reaching. Parents, educators, and society as a whole need to foster discussions about media consumption and encourage critical thinking skills to help teenagers navigate the complexities of the media landscape. By understanding these negative influences, we can work towards creating a healthier media environment that promotes positive behavior and values among young people. The messages become ingrained in teenagers' minds, negatively influencing the morals taught to them by their parents and potentially leading to criminal behavior.

Research has shown that video games also contribute to aggressive behavior among teens, with many popular games featuring graphic violence and immoral acts. This constant exposure creates a desensitization to violence, blurring the lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

In conclusion, the influence of media and television on teenagers cannot be underestimated. From shaping body image and gender roles to promoting violence and risky behavior, the implications are serious and far-reaching. Parents, educators, and society as a whole need to foster discussions about media consumption and encourage critical thinking skills to help teenagers navigate the complexities of the media landscape. By understanding these negative influences, we can work towards creating a healthier media environment that promotes positive behavior and values among young people. The messages become ingrained in teenagers' minds, negatively influencing the morals taught to them by their parents and potentially leading to criminal behavior.

Research has shown that video games also contribute to aggressive behavior among teens, with many popular games featuring graphic violence and immoral acts. This constant exposure creates a desensitization to violence, blurring the lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

In conclusion, the influence of media and television on teenagers cannot be underestimated. From shaping body image and gender roles to promoting violence and risky behavior, the implications are serious and far-reaching. Parents, educators, and society as a whole need to foster discussions about media consumption and encourage critical thinking skills to help teenagers navigate the complexities of the media landscape. By understanding these negative influences, we can work towards creating a healthier media environment that promotes positive behavior and values among young people. The messages become ingrained in teenagers' minds, negatively influencing the morals taught to them by their parents and potentially leading to criminal behavior.

Research has shown that video games also contribute to aggressive behavior among teens, with many popular games featuring graphic violence and immoral acts. This constant exposure creates a desensitization to violence, blurring the lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

In conclusion, the influence of media and television on teenagers cannot be underestimated. From shaping body image and gender roles to promoting violence and risky behavior, the implications are serious and far-reaching. Parents, educators, and society as a whole need to foster discussions about media consumption and encourage critical thinking skills to help teenagers navigate the complexities of the media landscape. By understanding these negative influences, we can work towards creating a healthier media environment that promotes positive behavior and values among young people. The messages become ingrained in teenagers' minds, negatively influencing the morals taught to them by their parents and potentially leading to criminal behavior.

Research has shown that video games also contribute to aggressive behavior among teens, with many popular games featuring graphic violence and immoral acts. This constant exposure creates a desensitization to violence, blurring the lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

In conclusion, the influence of media and television on teenagers cannot be underestimated. From shaping body image and gender roles to promoting violence and risky behavior, the implications are serious and far-reaching. Parents, educators, and society as a whole need to foster discussions about media consumption and encourage critical thinking skills to help teenagers navigate the complexities of the media landscape. By understanding these negative influences, we can work towards creating a healthier media environment that promotes positive behavior and values among young people. The messages become ingrained in teenagers' minds, negatively influencing the morals taught to them by their parents and potentially leading to criminal behavior.

Research has shown that video games also contribute to aggressive behavior among teens, with many popular games featuring graphic violence and immoral acts. This constant exposure creates a desensitization to violence, blurring the lines between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

In conclusion, the influence of media and television on teenagers cannot be underestimated. From shaping body image and gender roles to promoting violence and risky behavior, the implications are serious and far-reaching. Parents, educators, and society as a whole need to foster discussions about media consumption and encourage critical thinking skills to help teenagers navigate the complexities of the media landscape. By understanding these negative influences, we can work towards creating a healthier media environment that promotes positive behavior and values among young people.