Impact of Media on Children's Attention Spans

Impact of Media on Children's Attention Spans

Introduction

The impact of television and games can be seen as a most debating issue among various social, academic, psychological and legal circles in relation to negative impact of media on children's attention span (Fisch, 2004). No doubt, TV is a powerful source of not only children's entertainment but also for their education. However, research has revealed that media has mostly developed negative influence on children that itself results with a significant deficiency in their attention span. In fact, curtailing attention span affects the learning abilities of a child and prevents them to focus on something.

It is very common in every house that children watch movies or TV programs and play video games that contain violence and other contents that children should not be exposed to during a certain age. Most of the programs are produced to provide entertainment but the element of violence is also very obvious in these television programs, movies and video games (Eron et al., 2008). In fact, it would not be wrong to say that such media presentations do not deliver any productive message rather contribute significantly in developing violent behavior and reducing their attention span (Fisch, 2004). In addition, the role of media cannot be denied in the formulation of ideologies and opinion about any particular thing or subject. However, the exposure of deaths, weapons, murders, sex and drugs is a major cause of the development of negative attitude or behavior and attention deficit among children.

Discussion

Impact of Technological Development on Children

No dubt, emergence of technology has brought various benefits and eases to human life but it is also important to know that there are also some negative impacts of today's high-tech media. It is not easy for parents to stop their children to watch TV programs as there are some programs and shows that play a vital role in the education as well as mental development of children (Eron et al., 2008). However, it is also a fact that today's media and other video technology has gone beyond the limits in their aim to provide good entertainment to their audiences. Media also claims that their programs are essential for change and betterment of children and society. However, it can be seen that most of the programs have violence, drugs, etc. that most of the children find fascinating for them. Recent research shows that effects ...