Essay on the influence of media on the youth.
Answers
Media strongly affects youth culture. The media executives are quick to defend their role in youth violence and bullying while selling millions of dollars in adds focused on youth.
TV producers, network executives, motion picture companies and others in the media deny any impact of their programs on the attitudes and actions of youth. Meanwhile they continue to spend millions on special effects and marketing geared to increase appeal to youth markets. While corporations spend millions on market research and advertising to create products and campaigns targeted at a youth demographic, they still deny their ability to influence youth. If this were true to fact, would NIKE continue spending millions every year on product development, marketing and advertising? Would McDonalds still be using cartoon like characters to sell hamburgers? Would music labels be increasing the level of violence and sexual content in the music geared towards the youth audience? Would liquor companies be using youth oriented activities in their advertising? Of course it works on influencing youth and its ideals advertising would not be a multi-billion dollar a year business
Role of Media
Explanation:
Advantages of influence of media on youth:
a. Media be it print or electronic media is an important source of information and can certainly broadens youths horizon.
b. Youths can make use of media as a platform to express their views, any form of dissent, any changes or policy action in the education sector. Media can be used as a tool by youths to make claims and demands on the government.
c. Media is an important medium for making youths aware about the growing crime going against youths like rape, kidnapping, sexual abuse and can make them more alert.
Disadvantages of Media on youths:
a. It can have a negative impact on youths as there are many channels, news items, photographs which are vulgar, violent and therefore require parental guidance.
b. Youths under the influence of negative programmes indulge in crime, without realising its consequences.
c. Youths generally get swayed away by attractive endorsements of gadgets, cosmetic products, junk food , and engage in lavish extravagant life style putting a burden on their parents finances. Further it creates a feeling of inferiority among those who cannot afford them. This is psychologically damaging.