Violence in the Media

Media Violence is really cruel to teens during their developmental period. Around that time they are trying figure out exactly what group of kids they belong in. “Media violence is one of the key ingredients in the complex mix of factors that produce anti-social conduct.” (Etzioni, 1993) It all becomes so confusing to them, that they eventually turn to the media for help. For example if a not so popular guy were to watch the movie, How to get rid of a guy in 10 days, they would be more than tempted to one of those guys that seem to be getting all the ladies and vice-versa. Not only that but, the messages about tobacco and alcohol are everywhere in media. “Kids see characters on screen smoking and drinking. They see signs for tobacco and alcohol products at concerts and sporting events. Advertising and movies send kids the message that smoking and drinking make a person sexy or cool and that ‘everyone does it.’”(American Academy of Pediatrics, 1999) Such advertising like these changes the perspectives they once hand for themselves.
Like Steven Kirsh said in his book, Media and Youth: a Developmental Perspective,”Adolescence is a time of increased vulnerability to media images related to body image, sex and violence because that is the key point of development for determining one's identity and exploring unknown areas."(Kirsh, 2010) Teens are quite the fragile type around this time. They are open to all different types of characteristics and personalities. In the film, Miss Representation, they discuss how media plays a violent role in the lives of these teens. (Siebel, 2011) Whether it’s telling them that their not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not cool enough, not tall enough, or even not the right gender. In a society like this, it becomes very difficult to be who you want to be because everyday someone is out their judging you. In recent day, teens are committing suicide because they are being tortured for who they are.
Not only that, but the media is