Media Violence

Ahmed

Cause and effect of media violence There is now doubt that nowadays, television is one of the most influential media devices that spread across the globe but this influence might not be as productive as one might expect. According to scientific researches, more than 65% of people are violent because of TV shows’ contents. It is quite obvious that at the recent rate of watching TV, teenagers and children will be influenced by what they watch. If these programs were to be scientific and informative, it would be a great asset for teaching the upcoming generation. However, this is not the case because children and teenagers are more attracted to watching violent shows and movies which unfortunately leave a bad influence. Since the effects of mass media started to appear on children, parents have raised their concerns. It was noticed that exposure to these kinds of programs and movies will leave a huge impact on the lives of the children leading to: a life of crime, committing robberies and doing drugs.
Furthermore, there are complications related to aggressiveness attained from television violence. Studies focused on other harmful effects associated with viewing television violence. Among these effects is learning aggressive behavior and attitude. Media violence might not directly cause children to behave violently, but it teaches them that violence is a normal way of solving problems. Moreover, frequent exposure to frightening scenes and sudden horror moments that the entire business of horror movie production lives by will have serious aftermath problems. One of these problems is that the viewers will get used to horror and sudden violence that they will not be surprised by any violence that happens in real life. In addition to this, According to psychologists, if children watch television more than 4 hours continuously, they lose their power of concentration. Watching the characters behave in an irregular manner influences children to do the same.
There is an old saying which says “learning in childhood is like carving into rocks”. This saying proves that whatever children learn in their youth grows with them and stays with them throughout their lives. Having said that, one must pay attention to what children learn from violent movies. Whether it is bad words or insensitiveness to the weak, violent movies and shows teach ill manners to children. Statistics have shown that many children who were exposed to a lot of television violence grow up to be aggressive by nature and they almost lose their humanity because they do not feel sympathy anymore to whoever is in danger. Being accused of physical or even verbal abuse can be a black spot on a child’s record. This kind of unacceptable behavior will be demonstrated by a child in his own environment with his friends, parents or even teachers. Of course it is obvious that these behaviors will not be tolerated by anybody and thus the child will not be welcomed into his own society making the anger build up more and then he watches more violent programs. This vicious cycle continues and may lead to growing up and finding the child convicted with crimes of robbery or even worse, murder.
Added to this, media also has a big effect on teenagers too, by showing beautiful models on TV with perfect bodies or strong guys in perfect shape with big muscles. In fact, researches show that more than 70% of girls get influenced by models in magazines. That is why when girls turn eighteen, they will be obsessed with dieting and losing weight, some even smoke to lose weight !. This is only a simple proof of how the media targets teenagers, specially girls, and how they affect them negatively. Nevertheless, one of the major weapons they use on teenagers is “sex”. In movies and in TV shows, when you see a man kiss a women or saying “I love you”, this shows a lot of sexual desire. Teenagers, in most cases, are driven by the desire to have sex as a response to what they see in the media. Advertisement is another asset used by the media, other than movies and TV shows. For example, ads for Calvin Klein where there is physical connection between a topless man and a woman with pants almost down. This for sure suggests having sex. Thus the tendency of teens to have a perfect body and sex is something normal and the media is responsible about that. Also, young children have become angrier and more aggressive because of the fight and action contents the media shows on TV. These are only few examples on how media violence affects teenagers and children.
On the other hand, another perception to the topic of aggressiveness might fight for the fact that violence in games or even watching violence might be an advantage. This is true in the case that this observed act of violence is considered as an alternative way to release anger held within children especially males due to any bullying they suffer from.
In conclusion, For the sake of the better future of the next generation, the government needs to take rapid actions. There must be a stronger control over the spreading and the repeated release of violent movies or else children might end up being aggressive and addicted to drugs. In fact, not only the government should take actions, but also parents should have a role in controlling what is watched by their children. Only then will there be a more controlled environment and children will be raised up to be civilized citizens and not mainly influenced by violence.
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References:
Buzzle, Effects of media violence on society, extracted on 14th of April 2013, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/effects-of-media-violence-on-society.html
Crisis Connection, Media Influence on youth, extracted on 16th of April 2013, http://www.crisisconnectioninc.org/teens/media_influence_on_youth.htm
Denise Witmer, How does Media affect body image in teens, extracted on 16th of April 2013, http://parentingteens.about.com/od/bodyimage/f/media_bodyimage.htm
Gale Cengage, E notes, Is media violence a problem?, published in 2002, extracted on 16th of April 2013, http://www.enotes.com/media-violence-problem-article