Media Issue Impact by the media

Introduction

Television is one of the most prevalent media influences in kids' lives. According to Kids' Take on Media, a survey conducted in 2003 by the Canadian Teachers' Federation, watching TV is a daily pastime for 75 percent of Canadian children, both boys and girls from Grade 3 to Grade 10 (Bernard-Bonnin, 49).

How much impact TV has on children depends on many factors: how much they watch, their age and personality, whether they watch alone or with adults, and whether their parents talk with them about what they see on TV.

To minimize the potential negative effects of television, it's important to understand what the impact of television can be on children. Below you will find information on some areas of concern (Berry, 332).

Violence

Over the past two decades, hundreds of studies have examined how violent programming on TV affects children and young people (Berger, 176). While a direct "cause and effect" link is difficult to establish, there is a growing consensus that some children may be vulnerable to violent images and messages.

Researchers have identified three potential responses to media violence in children:

Increased fear—also known as the "mean and scary world" syndromeChildren, particularly girls, are much more likely than adults to be portrayed as victims of violence on TV, and this can make them more afraid of the world around them (Bessant, 48).

Desensitization to real-life violenceSome of the most violent TV shows are children's cartoons, in which violence is portrayed as humorous—and realistic consequences of violence are seldom shown (Malcolm, 146).

Increased aggressive behaviorThis can be especially true of young children, who are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior after viewing violent TV shows or movies (Betsch, 137).

Parents should also pay close attention to what their children see in the news since studies have shown that kids are more ...