Media use has been increasing given the simple fact that access to different types of media is more widespread. Children and teens are just as likely to use different types of media as adults, but the effects may be very different. The biggest difference between how media use effects children and youth versus how it effects adults is largely tied to development.
During the earliest developmental stages, children form the attitudes and mores , or values, that will shape their lives. Frequently, those values are tied to how much children view certain types of media productions. So, the impact of media use on children and youth is a question of how much exposure they have and to what type of media.
It is first necessary to fully understand what media is before it can be evaluated. In short, media can be defined as a means of communication. So, media is anything from two cans tied together with a taut string, to the most complicated cellphone or tablet sold. The types of media used today are television, the internet, newspapers, cell phones, radio, magazines, and computers of all types. Children and youth have access to all of the means of communication and what effect new methods of communication have on children is a question parents have been asking for some time.
In general, parents worry about two things primarily when it comes to video media: sex and violence. This has been a topic of study for more than a hundred years or since the first movies were shown. It has generally been assumed that children and youth should not be subjected to too much of either, but where is the line? Since movies, television and all other forms of video media have added more sexual and violent content, how has this impacted young people?
Several important facts have been gleaned from different research studies. Namely:
Besides TV and movies, video games have become a major source of entertainment. They have the same adverse effects as TV (player is sedentary, increased consumption of snacks, violence, unreality, sexual scenes), but they are in worlds that are obviously not real. However, children and teens can have trouble separating reality from game play. With the advent of real world play (such as in Pokemon Go), the division between what is real and what is fantasy blurs even more.
Audio communication devices and written communication (such as texting and Twitter) have also advanced significantly in the past few decades. Although some children and youth still don't have cell phones, they becoming fewer all the time. As with visual media, there are both positive and negative aspects to these types also. A cell phone allows a child to stay in touch with parents and gives them a feeling of security. However, there are many ways in which these types of media are used negatively.
Parents should realize that there are positive and negative aspects of all types of media. They should be aware of what their children watch and what they are doing online. It is also necessary for parents to maintain communication with their children by simply sitting down and talking to them every once in a while.
There are more forms of media every day and children and youth are very adept at their use. Visual media such as TV, movies and video games do have their positive points (such as educational programs), but they can also have some deleterious effects also. When a child watches too much TV they can begin to mistake fantasy for reality, eat too many snacks, not get enough exercise, be exposed to too much violent programming and programs with adult sexual content. Audio media such as cellphones and written such as social media also has good and bad points. Children are more susceptible to cyber bullying, sexual pressure and sexual advances. Parents need to communicate with children in real time to make sure that their media exposure is kept within healthy bounds.
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Life Span Developmental Psychology: Help and Review21 chapters | 293 lessons
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