Effects of Media upon Children and their Behavior in the Real Life - Essay Example

Number] Effects of Media upon Children and their Behaviour in the Real Life Today one of the biggestparts of our society is media, and every person acknowledges the fact that life without them would be incomplete. Media’s major elements are radio, television, internet, newspapers and magazines (Kirsh 15). The freedom and exposure of media affect society in both positive and negative ways. As children are the most vulnerable among all age categories, they are influenced by media very quickly. On the one hand, they increase the aggression of children; on the other hand, they are helpful in educating them. Media cover everything happening in the society: political issues, business, national and international travelling, entertainment, education, discoveries, and history news/facts (Evra 59). In current era, mass media have come to rival parents, school, and religion as the most influential institution in childrens lives. Television plays a major role for children. Almost all of them spend four to six hours a day watching TV. There are innumerable channels launched from all over the world, out of which few are informative and educating and some merely affect the children’s nature. While watching their favourite shows they also come across advertisements of sexual protection or hygienic products. In those advertisements the usage is openly shown. Sometimes, parents do not worry about what their children watch; in fact, they also take them to the movies without realizing that their children will be influenced (Gentile 23). Children tend to be very inspired by movies and movie characters. Films about national heroes, army, patriots and scientists influence them to study and increase their innovative thinking. They try to learn and to become like them. On the other hand, movies also become a major reason for aggressiveness, frequent nightmares, and negativity. There are some evidences that confirm strong negative effects of media on children. It has been found that many children adopt the attitude of aggression as a result of being influenced by television programs. Some weeks ago my mother, who is a psychologist, had 8-year-old patient. That young boy started acting inadequately in response to normal things. He stopped talking with everybody. His parents were really worried because he behaved very badly. Whenever his parents gave him anything to eat or play, he looked at them in a very pathetic way. After full observation and analysis, my mother advised his parents to control what he watches on TV. Conclusion was that the boy used to watch Mr Bean frequently, due to which he started acting like him. There should be limited timing for children to watch television. To date, children spend too much of their time with these different forms of media. Television has changed the American child from an irresistible force to an immovable object. Watching wrestling also influences kids to behave like wrestlers. They learn their styles and actions. In schools they try these things on their peers (Evra 59). Their aggressive behaviour, demands of signature products, their behaviour with relatives, attraction to sex and physical relationships, cruelty, ill-tempered character, abusive language etc. are a result of watching TV. Children learn how to deal with different types of relationships through media, especially TV. They frequently watch people having casual sex as well as using obscenity-laden language. I do not see how it could possibly be good for them. Other sports like football, cricket and races influence them to be passionate. Besides entertainment, sports motivate them to work hard and imbue them with winning spirit. Sports also let them to stay fit and healthy. Children participating in different sports have more confidence. Watching news also negatively affects the children’s brain. Parents should discourage their children from watching news channels, too. News channels convey all kind of news which result in depression and fear in children. In growing age, things affect them with more force. Bomb blasts, murders, deaths are scary for children. It not only creates mental depression but also decreases their self-confidence. Newspapers have informative columns written by different scholars. Children who read newspapers daily have good vocabulary and develop innovative thinking (Everette and Pease 13). Also, the child’s brain responds to music beat. Sometimes, when a song is played on TV or radio even in front of a 5 or 6-year-old baby, he starts clapping and moving. He giggles and shouts like he is trying to sing along. According to the University of Texas, students of arts who used to listen to music had higher scores in SAT. Music improves cognitive thinking of children. Children who listen to hip hop or rock music have better performance in mathematics and arts. It increases level of smartness and intelligence in children. As toddlers bangs on pots and pans, kids’ brains responds to the beats. With higher beats, blood flow increases in the body (Gentile 23). Music lyrics also affect cognitive thinking. They also have negative effects. The dark side of this picture tells that Elyse Pehler, a 15-year-old girl, was killed by three young boys. Autopsy report found that her body was raped several times. The defendants, however, clarify their position by saying that they were basically committing sacrifice to devil and this was something they learnt from television programs and shows. Headphones affect ear drums. Intensive music beat affects the heartbeat. It creates headache and ear problems. Sad music increases the level of depression. Sensitivity level increases and children start considering themselves in the same situation. Radio continuously plays all kinds of music. Children start following their favourite singers. They try their hairstyles, clothing, the way they move and dance, no matter what they do and say. In October 2002, youngsters brutally killed a 36-year-old man. They were just kids from the block. They used bats, shovels, boards and their fists. According to one of the boy, they hit this man so hard that his ear was torn off and his blood splattered around. One of these boys was just 10 years old. The young killers told police that they were influenced by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur’s song “2 Pacalypse Now”, which glamorizes the killing of a policeman. The gothic styles, no-mercy concepts in heavy metal music, and influence of Satan worshipping leave serious impacts. The popularity of such kind of songs and music is also because of magazines. Children love to read about their favourite singers or idols. They follow whatever they say in interviews. Children mostly compare their collection of fashion magazines with friends. They cut pictures and images and paste them in their rooms or cupboards. They read different blogs and articles in magazines, which also inspire them to take care of themselves by keeping their atmosphere clean and tidy, respecting their elders and reading good books. Almost all articles and advertisements mention their website links. The use of internet is also increasing among youngsters. Schools and educational institutions recommend carrying out the research work on internet. Also, different online libraries are present, from which students receive information and help in their studies. Almost every institute owns its website on the internet where children can apply online. Years ago, in order to study, people used to go to different cities and countries for admissions, but now it is very easy to submit an application to any institute. Some institutes also provide facilities for students to study online. Students only need to take admission and start studying on internet. Teachers are available in chats and emails. Different websites provide jobs, part time and full time, online. Different companies hire employees with the help of internet. Children who have skills can work and earn money from home. Different social websites are also available where children can promote their art works, writing and other skills. When they are appreciated and praised by other people, it increases their self-confidence. Sometimes, while surfing the internet, one can see advertisements of adult websites popping up. It is really necessary for parents to sit with their children and let them do their work on internet. Facebook is a fever nowadays. Children chat with different people, share their images and videos. They can play online games like chess and puzzles, which increases planning qualities in children (Everette and Pease 13). With the advent of video games in 1970s, a revolution occurred in the entertainment world. Video games overpowered the existing sources of entertainment and now have become one of the most influential industries earning billions on a daily basis. As the video games have become part of everyday life, especially for teenagers, they impact their users and are becoming a great source of concern. Many studies have been conducted to examine the impacts of violence in video games on children, and they came to varied conclusions. However, majority of these studies reveal the fact that the violence in video games does create aggression and frustration while many, on the other hand, conclude that it does not affect children’s behaviour in any way. In fact, these studies postulate that video games are a source of self-expression for the children and help them let out their frustration. The analysis of different studies regarding the problem of violence in video games conducted by Craig A. Anderson and Brad J. Bushman reveals that playing violent video games does increase the level of aggression in children and adults. However, the analysis shows that aggression was usually heightened in case of inanimate objects as compared to real person. There studies also supported the fact that healthy social behaviour is also affected by the exposure to violence in video games. They, however, insisted on the fact that the studies they analysed lacked significant research which may yield results different from the ones postulated. Panel study conducted by four members of Tokyo University with elementary school children revealed a different result. Students of fifth grade from different Japanese elementary schools were the subjects of this study. Survey was conducted twice, and final data of 780 students were analysed. Their conclusion was that they did not find any adverse effects of video games on children as regards the increase in aggression; on the other hand, the social behaviour was defiantly affected by it. Both these studies validate the fact that pro-social behaviour is highly affected by the video game usage. There are other health problems related to video games: obesity, long hours spent in playing video games, which makes children addicted, which, in turn, affects not only their eye-sight but their academic performance, making them isolated and non-social. The excitement caused by video games can ultimately become hazardous as the players become so involved in the game that they lose control over their behaviour for that particular period when they are engrossed in the game. This makes them irritable and frustrated when they are disturbed during the game. Some children become so addicted to these games that they lose track of time and end up playing for hours without realizing it (Kirsh 15). The fact that video games teach cannot be denied. They teach regardless of their content. Even the most violent video games teach. It depends on the player what he understands and comprehends in the game he/she has chosen to play. Video games teach whatever they inspire the game player to rehearse mentally and behaviourally. Implementing whatever is learned depends on a lot of other factors such as home environment, upbringing, relationships with parents, and social factors. It also depends on the situation that one encounters and his/her reactions to that particular situation. For example, a rich child plays violent video games yet he never faces any violent circumstances, while, on the other hand, a not so privileged child plays violent games and has circumstances of violence around him; the latter child is very likely to act violently. He may have his father in prison or his brother involved in drugs or robbery. Violent games may be collaborating with his circumstances, or these games may become the last straws left to ultimately try out something violent. There are in fact a lot of gamers for whom playing video games has become more than just a hobby. They take it more like a professional thing, and they still manage to stay normal and have normal social and personal relations with people. Yet at the same time long-term exposure to violent video games may increase the level of aggression in individuals. As we become insensitive and numb when we are shown by different media massacred or brutally murdered bodies again and again, we are prone to become insensitive to violence and brutality in the games, which has impacts on our real lives. At the same time, the desire to see violence may also increase as the level of sensitivity to violence and sympathy to the victim decreases. The fact that with the passage of time the violence in video games is increasing is also very alarming. In these times, when the world daily faces so many sour subjects of violence, the alarming increase of violence in video games is a great matter of concern. Such acts are making our future generations desensitized from the childhood. Misuse of things makes them harmful for us. Parents should take care what their children are doing, what they are watching on television. Different websites do not allow making profiles if a person is under the age of 13. Parents should communicate with children so that they can share their thoughts with them (Kirsh 15). Television, computers, internet, VCRs, DVD players should not be kept in the child’s room. There should be stipulated specific time-limits as regards watching TV and using the internet. Children under 15 must not be allowed to visit cinemas and theatres. Their behaviours and ways of dressing should be observed by parents. Different movies, songs videos, internet websites, magazines make celebrities look so stylish when they are drinking and smoking. Parents should pay attention to who their children are meeting, and what conversations are going around. They should not start investigating everything, of course, but should do it moderately. It will decrease aggressiveness, love for electronics, insecurity, feelings of being ignored, inferiority and superiority complexes, and habits of hiding things. Work Cited Everette, Dennis, E., and Edward Pease. Children and the Media. NY: Transaction Publishers, 1994. Print. Evra, Judith Van. Television and Child Development. London: Routledge, 2004. Print. Gentile, Douglas. Media Violence and Children: A Complete Guide for Parents and Professionals. Texas: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003. Print. Kirsh, Steven J. Media and Youth: A Developmental Perspective. NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Print. Read More