The Media Influences Teenage Sex

Running head: The Media Influences Teenage Sex

The Media Influences Teenage Sex
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There is an overwhelming amount of sexual content in the media today. The media’s portrayal of sex is very unrealistic. It is glamorized and portrays sex as a casual activity and consequence-free. While the media occasionally delivers positive messages, they also have a tendency to convey negative messages as well. Teens who spend most of their time engrossed in television, music and the internet are more likely to engage in sexual activity.
Television and music have also become increasingly sexualized. The average American teenager watches about three hours of television a day (Collins et al., n.d.) Typical teen shows are full of sexual content, which may include touching, kissing, and jokes, to conversations about sexual activity and portrayals of intercourse. Two out of every three shows on TV include sexual content and sexual intercourse is represented or strongly implied in one of every ten shows on TV ("Teen Health and the Media," n.d.)
Sexual content on television is shown in such a way that it seems like the norm. For example, it is not unusual to see a couple have sex on their first date. Sex is made to seem as if it not a big deal, and is done by everyone whether they are married or not, and the risks are hardly ever mentioned. According to the “Teen Futures Media Network” only 10% of all television programs contain sexual scenes with any reference to the possible risks or responsibilities related to sex, including pregnancy or STDs ("Teen Health and the Media," n.d.). However, shows that show teens engaging in sexual situations are much more likely than other shows to mention safer sex, waiting to have sex, or risk of sexual activity ("Teen Health and the Media," n.d.).
A 2008 study, examined the link between teenage parenthood and found that teens who watched sexually explicit television (from simple shows that just talk about a character having sex to shows with soft sex scenes) were twice as likely as other teens who did not watch those shows, to have a baby by age 16 (Toppo, 2008)). The study concluded that when teens view sexually explicit content, they assume that everyone is doing it so there are not any major consequences to sex (Toppo, 2008).
Television, obviously isn’t all bad. There are many benefits to television programming if portrayed correctly. According to a recent survey of regular viewers of the show, ER, 53 percent said that they learn about important healthcare issues from the show and 20 percent said they learned about ways to prevent pregnancy, even after unprotected sex, from the show ("Teen Health and the Media," n.d.). Many people survey also said they had learn more about sexual issues from the media than from doctors or clinics.
Music plays an important role in the development of teens. For most teens, music is a great outlet for personal identity development and expression. Listening to certain music has been shown to improve mood, increase productivity, and even encourage intellectual growth. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation 's study "Generation M2," music is the second favorite media activity (after watching TV) for teens (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010). The average 8-18 year old spends almost two and a half hours a day listening to music and the time increases as they get older (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010)
Whether it’s hip-hop, rap, pop or rock, much of popular music aimed at teens contains sexual overtones. An article in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reported that teens hear 84 mentions of explicit material daily in popular songs (Associated Press, 2006). NBC news reported a survey that songs describing men as “sex-driven studs,” women as sex objects and with explicit mentions of sex acts, are more likely to trigger early sexual behavior than those where sexual references are more covered up and relationships seem to be more committed (Associated Press, 2006). The lead author for the research survey, Steven Martino, says that exposing teens to lots of sexually degrading music might give them a “specific message about sex”, meaning that boys would relentless pursue females, and girls may view themselves as sex objects (Associated Press, 2006).
Another research study found that teenagers who preferred popular songs with degrading sexual references were more likely to engage in intercourse or in sexual activities (Primack, Brian A. Gold, Melanie A. Schwarz, Eleanor B. Dalton, Madeline A, 2008). The study demonstrated that “among this sample of young adolescents, high exposure to lyrics describing degrading sex in popular music was independently associated with higher levels of sexual behavior (Primacket al., 2008). The surveys were completed by 711 ninth-grade students at three large, urban high schools. These participants listened to lyrics describing degrading sex for over 14 hours each week. Compared to those with the least exposure to the lyrics, those with the most exposure were more than twice as likely to have had sexual intercourse (Primacket al., 2008). Similarly, a 2009 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that students who listened to a lot of music in which sex was described in a degrading manner were more likely to start having sex earlier, and more often than others (Collins, Martino, & Shaw, 2011).
Benjamin Chavis, who is the CEO of the Hip-Hip Summit Action Network, believes that explicit music lyrics are a cultural expression that mirror “social and economic realities” (Associated Press, 2006). He doesn’t believe that music is the main factor that influences teen’s sexual behavior. Martino said the researchers did try to see what other factors could play a role, but they still found that explicit lyrics had a strong influence (Associated Press, 2006). However, Yvonne K. Fulbright, a sex researcher and author, said factors including peer pressure, self-esteem and home environment are probably more influential than the research suggests (Associated Press, 2006).
With the accessibility of the Internet use among teens, there is a lot of exposure to explicit sexual material and access to online sexual interactions with peers. Teens who use the internet the most are at highest risk of being exposed to unwanted material or solicitations (Rich, 2012). One study supports the idea that teens mainly use the Internet for social purposes, but this same study found that more than half the young users had misrepresented who they were online, and portraying themselves as older and more sexually experienced than they actually were (Rich, 2012). The growth of social networking sites has made it easy for teens to have a Facebook or Instagram page. Research on Internet chat rooms found that younger teens were more likely to offer information about their actual identities, while older teens were more likely to communicate openly about sexual material.
Even though there is evidence that shows a causation between sexuality in the media and teen sexual activity, the media cannot be directly blamed. It is important to remember that the media’s goal is to make money and to entertain. Reducing the amount of sexual talk and behavior on television, or the amount of time that adolescents are exposed to them, could probably delay the onset of sexual activity. The most effective response to the media’s influence would be to use media to educate teens about sexual health.
Television has been shown to be a powerful tool for changing minds about homosexuality and providing open communication about safe sex practices. Popular music can be used to explore sexual topics and promote health, and the internet provides a lot of information about safe sex and health issues. Reducing teens’ exposure to sex on television might be challenges, but if parents take an active role in their teens life, view programs with their children and discuss their own beliefs regarding any sexual behavior shown may help limit the negative effects of sexual portrayals that do not contain risk information.

References
Associated Press. (2006, August 7). Dirty song lyrics can prompt early teen sex - Health - Sexual health | NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14227775/ns/health-sexual_health/t/dirty-song-lyrics-can-prompt-early-teen-sex/#.VZL8-flViko
Collins, R. L., Elliott, M. N., Berry, S. H., Kanouse, D. E., Kunkel, D., Hunter, S. B., & Miu, A. (n.d.). Does Watching Sex on Television Influence Teens’ Sexual Activity? | RAND. Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9068.html
Collins, R. L., Martino, S. C., & Shaw, R. (2011, April). Influence of New Media on Adolescent Sexual Health: Evidence and Opportunities. ASPE. Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/11/adolescentsexualactivity/newmedialitrev/index.shtml
Primack, Brian A. Gold, Melanie A. Schwarz, Eleanor B. Dalton, Madeline A. (2008). Degrading and Non-Degrading Sex in Popular Music: A Content Analysis (123). Retrieved from Association of Schools of Public Health website: http://www.publichealthreports.org/issueopen.cfm?articleID=2095
Rideout, V. J., Foehr, U. G., & Roberts, D. F. (2010, January 10). Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds | The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from https://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/8010.pdf
Teen Health and the Media. Teen Futures Media Network. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=medialiteracy&page=fastfacts
Toppo, G. (2008, November 3). Study is first to link TV sex to teen parenthood - USATODAY.com. Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-03-tv-sex_N.htm

References: Associated Press. (2006, August 7). Dirty song lyrics can prompt early teen sex - Health - Sexual health | NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14227775/ns/health-sexual_health/t/dirty-song-lyrics-can-prompt-early-teen-sex/#.VZL8-flViko Collins, R. L., Elliott, M. N., Berry, S. H., Kanouse, D. E., Kunkel, D., Hunter, S. B., & Miu, A. (n.d.). Does Watching Sex on Television Influence Teens’ Sexual Activity? | RAND. Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9068.html Collins, R. L., Martino, S. C., & Shaw, R. (2011, April). Influence of New Media on Adolescent Sexual Health: Evidence and Opportunities. ASPE. Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/11/adolescentsexualactivity/newmedialitrev/index.shtml Primack, Brian A. Gold, Melanie A. Schwarz, Eleanor B. Dalton, Madeline A. (2008). Degrading and Non-Degrading Sex in Popular Music: A Content Analysis (123). Retrieved from Association of Schools of Public Health website: http://www.publichealthreports.org/issueopen.cfm?articleID=2095 Rideout, V. J., Foehr, U. G., & Roberts, D. F. (2010, January 10). Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds | The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from https://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/8010.pdf Teen Health and the Media. Teen Futures Media Network. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=medialiteracy&page=fastfacts Toppo, G. (2008, November 3). Study is first to link TV sex to teen parenthood - USATODAY.com. Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-03-tv-sex_N.htm