13 Positive And Negative Influences Of Media On Teenagers

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When speaking nigh the influences of media on teenagers, nosotros may quote the well-known vocaliser and lyricist Jim Morrison, who aptly said, "Whoever controls the media, controls the mind." Media has the capability of shaping the ideas and beliefs of the receptive brains of adolescents.

Continuous media exposure has proven impacts on a teen'southward concrete, psychological, and social development. In this post, we tell you about the possible impacts of media on teens and share some useful tips to manage media influence on children and adolescents.

Positive Furnishings Of Media On Teens

Exposure to media is non always bad. Media at large can have a positive touch on teenage behavior and attitudes in the post-obit ways (1) (2). Merely remember, it depends on the quality of content the child is watching.

  1. Mode of amusement and self-expression: Social media platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, provide space for teens to interact with people of similar interests beyond the globe. Teens detect this interaction entertaining and satisfying for their self-expression, thus boosting their confidence and cocky-esteem.
  1. Could exist a source of inspiration: Online documentaries, movies, inspirational stories on the internet, print, and broadcast media can exist a source of inspiration for your teen. For instance, you lot and your teen could picket real life-based movies such every bit Steve Jobs and Chaplin to get inspired in life.
  1. Helps develop social skills: Some teens and tweens are introverted. For them, social media is a free environment where they tin can collaborate without much hesitation. Social networking helps them develop social skills that are necessary for effective advice. Effective communication is necessary to develop and maintain relationships.
  1. Develops social and political sense: Teens and tweens who take an interest in current diplomacy and news are highly likely to be interested in social, political, and human evolution issues, like poverty, global warming, etc. Information technology is an important positive consequence that could help make up one's mind your child'due south personality and interests.
  1. Makes them enlightened of the importance of health: Media disseminates data on health and well-beingness. A teen, who pays attention to such information, is more likely to be aware of various health problems like teen depression, childhood obesity, etc., and their possible solutions. This might help them make informed and good for you lifestyle choices.
  1. Aids in developing an identity: Telly shows, series, and movies with good-quality content can help your tween and teen develop an identity. For example, a film that reflects gender equality may motivate a teen to follow that in their life. Yous can strike upwardly a discussion on such bug to educate your child.

Negative Furnishings Of Media On Teens

There are several ways in which visual media and social media apply can become a source of negative influence. Hither are some scenarios that must be evaluated (1) (2) (3).

  1. Might lead to health and developmental issues: Extended screen fourth dimension is associated with poor academic performance, slumber impecuniousness, reduced physical action, and face-to-face social interaction. All these factors are associated with health issues, such as obesity and the negative impact on the overall development.
  1. Could develop unrealistic torso epitome: Media has a sharp effect on how teens translate beauty and positive body image. For instance, the media usually creates an impression that "thin and fair" are beautiful features to have. Such misleading letters tin can have a negative upshot on the kid's self-esteem.
  1. Might instill wrong perceptions: Media oftentimes portrays a grown-up to be cool if they eat junk food, smoke, drink alcohol, utilize drugs, drive fast, etc. All these presentations of adult life can have an influence on a tween or teen, making them emulate their favorite actors.
  1. Might develop erroneous beliefs: Social platforms sometimes are used to spread biased information and simulated news. Teens may start believing the provided information, thus causing a shift in their attitude and behavior. Several existent-life cases demonstrate how online platforms are used to promote hateful or biased attitudes towards a section of people, eventually causing dreadful results.
  1. May develop mental health concerns: Tweens and teens often get exposed to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people's lives, and peer pressure through the media. All these factors can cause a negative ripple effect on the teen's mental health. They may go depressed, anxious, isolated, and maybe suicidal.
  1. Might develop fierce behavior: A written report showed that watching violent television shows and an increase in children'southward violent and erratic beliefs are positively correlated (four). Similarly, studies testify that playing violent video games alters a teen'due south beliefs and could make them aggressive (5).
  1. Might cause addiction: Habitual viewing or gaming may be the almost speculated negative outcome of the media, specially social media. Enquiry shows that the overuse of social media networking could lead to stimulation that is similar to other addictive behaviors. Virtually teens post pictures or feelings online and eagerly wait for likes, shares, and positive comments from friends. These experiences activate the brain's reward organization and increase the levels of dopamine. It can heighten the likelihood of media addiction in the long run (6)

The negative and positive upshot of media on your kid depends on the corporeality of time spent on media and how well parents regulate the child'southward exposure to it.

Tips For Parents To Protect Teens From Undue Media Influence

Information technology is essential to guide the teen on age-advisable utilise of all media, including television, radio, music, video games, social media, and even the internet. It can help shield the kid from undue media influence. Here are some simple steps that y'all could follow (seven).

  1. Stay aware of your child's likes and dislikes. Keep a record of the movies, shows, games, and public figures/celebrities that your child likes. This fashion, you could stay on peak of what influences your child the about.
  1. Monitor your child's media activities. For instance, if your child spends a pregnant amount of time on online platforms or forums, inquire your child:
  • What people talk about or discuss on that forum
  • Does the forum seem to encourage a specific attitude
  • Does the forum promote contempt towards any particular ethnic grouping, race, or gender
  • Does the forum promote biased or hateful beliefs
  1. Provide your teen with some digital support. Consider it very important to continue track of any aberrant behavior in your teen. Social media may sometimes cause issues that may lead to anxiety and irritability. In such cases, spend fourth dimension with them and pay attention to their behavior.
  1. Hash out the pros and cons of media. Encourage him/her to express his/her feelings about diverse programs and media outlets. Discuss various social media platforms that the teen uses oft.
  1. Be a function model for your kid. The use of digital media amongst adults is equally prevalent as it is in teens. Thus, be your child'south role model by limiting your screen time. Likewise, indulge in some social media activities with your child and then that you could spend fourth dimension together and understand your kid'due south preferences.
  1. Talk about media messages to help guide your teen on the means to handle the influence in life. For example, if your teen likes watching grooming channels on YouTube, then you could talk about the paid product endorsements, advertisements, and sponsorships.
  1. Set rules and limits about screen time for all media sources. This way, you volition exist able to monitor what your child is watching and for how long.
  1. Do not go along a tv set, computer, or video game panel in your child's sleeping room. It is best to go on digital media equipment in a common space and preferably take shared passwords.
  1. Restrict shows, games, and apps that promote illicit beliefs. You should explicate why some programs are not suitable. You could besides block channels and websites on the internet that you call back are inappropriate. However, in a calm and rational style, talk over your motivation with the teen and explain why such content can be bad for them.
  1. Advice your teen to plan the week's viewing schedule in accelerate. As a parent, you lot can supervise these choices and be a role model by making your choices wisely. Praise your child for making proficient and advisable choices.
  1. Encourage your teen to spend time with the family doing indoor and outdoor activities like swimming, skiing, camping, etc. Such activities are a nifty opportunity to talk to your teen and develop a rapport with them to sympathize their preferences.
  1. Motivate your child to indulge in group activities past joining local communities, groups, clubs, etc. This motivation will assistance your child balance media use with other activities.
  1. Suggest your teen to clarify the content presented in the media past asking some questions. For instance, watch a series with your teen and ask your teen:
  • What he/she liked in the serial
  • What his/her motivation was to select a particular series
  • What message he/she received from information technology
  • What his/her expectations were from it

This activity will help your teen differentiate between reality and fantasy. It will also help your child sort facts from opinion, identify advertisement, empathize bias, and get aware of the misuse of statistics.

  1. Encourage your teen to question his/her role model. Guide him/her to inquire himself/herself:
  • Why he/she likes a certain public effigy or celebrity
  • Reasons for following a celebrity/public effigy
  • Specific values that interest him/her before he/she chooses to follow someone
  1. Motivate your teen to participate in media awareness programs in communities and schools. Such activities could equip your child with all the necessary skills needed to ensure the positive use of media. Participating in mentoring programs is another option that y'all and your child could talk over.

How Can Media Celebrities Influence Teenagers?

Celebrities are powerful influencers that have get an inevitable role of the media. Their power to influence is used to promote and advertise an idea, conventionalities, behavior, or production. In particular, teenagers are one of the most vulnerable audiences that easily gets attracted to lifestyles, products, or behavior that celebrities promote on social media. These influences tin exist positive, but at times, they can be negative, equally well.

Thus, it is important for parents, educators, and caregivers to guide children and teenagers on responsible analysis of the content. Information technology is crucial as virtually of the endorsements washed by celebrities are paid.

The influence of media on teenagers is unavoidable. While it tin provide a platform for your teenagers to express themselves, develop social skills, etc., it can as well have some negative effects–instilling false letters, fake beliefs, trigger-happy behavior, spending too much time in front of a screen may cause health and development bug. The greatest way to safeguard your children from negative media impact is to arm them with tools such as sensation and analysis and guide and teach them through the procedure without intimidating your kid. Additionally, parental supervision may assist children in gaining the maximum benefits from any media.

References:

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Tamara Green is an individual and couples psychotherapist and an international best selling author, speaker and trainer. She is also the President of Loving Meditations, a transformational mindfulness program that helps those living with cancer to feel calm and ease throughout their medical ordeal. As a mindfulness, dating and relationship skillful, she is regularly featured on various websites. Tamara combines... more than

Sagari was a math graduate and studied counseling psychology in postgraduate higher, which she used to understand people better. Her interest in reading nigh people made her have up articles on kids and their behavior. She was meticulous in her enquiry and gave information that could be of assist to parents in times of demand. An animal lover, vegan, and... more