Introduction
The era in which we are living has increased the importance of media in many different ways. Most of the organizatons, individuals like celebrities are heavily dependent on the media. Effective use of media like ananlyzing, evaluating and organizing the message that is being delivered can change many things in a positive manner.
Today, media has a great influence on the psychological,physiological and pshychosocial development of the children. Thus it is important for all the physicians out there to discuss with the parents proper use of the media in accordance with the age of their child. The purpose of this is to identify that the effects that media is givng to the children are either harmful or beneficial for the children’s physical & mental health.
Nowadays a teen’s life in hugely impacted by the media whether it is computer games, social media, video games or any other medium. But above all, nothing is bad with the media if we use it properly, it can change our lives in a positive way.
Discussion
Before getting to anything, there rises a question that why media is so much important? Why our youth has become so much addicted to the media ? Because if we talk about the time 20 years ago, people were also living their lives but at that time media was not much important to anyone. Then why it has gained so much importance now ?
The answer to all the questions written above is, media today has spread in so much ways that within minutes your news can be spread all across the globe. The moment you upload anything on the social media, it get hits from your social circle and within few minutes it makes you a star. Exposure to different types of media is not bad, but the main thing is how make it useful for your child. How to tell your children that what is good for him/her and what is not.
According to a recent research, an average teenager in the US spends almost 294 minutes of his/ger daily life while utilizing media. 75 minutes out of 294 are being spent on the smartphones while they spend 62 minutes to listen music and radio (Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, 2011).
There are many ways by which media has influenced the children in positive and negative manner. Lets talk first about the positive side. The media has given the sense of awareness to the youth. Most of the teens in the US live a sheltered life. With the help of media, they aware of what is good for them in this society and what is not. It helps the children to groom thereself. To enter in a new social circle to make new friends and to learn some skills so that they can earn by themselves through any online medium .
It looks like we are being overloaded by the information that we are getting, but for the children, excess of information can cause some serious issues (Strasburger). Thanks to social media which has made the so much concern about their beauty that is almost impossible to achieve because the pictures they see are mostly photoshopped which raised the standard of beauty. Risky sexual behavior is also a serious issue in our youtj that is penetrated due to the excessive use of sex in the media. Our youth is going towards sex without responsibility which is causing many mental issue along with the unwanted pregnancies.
Conclusions
The era today is the era of mass media and the era of mass communication. Media is now a necessity for everyone whether is it youth, generation x or babay boomers. Usage of media is not wrong but as someone said excessive use of anything can bring disaster. Its upto the parents how they teach their children to use the media in a creative manner because positive use of media can change the live in a good manner and can make your child a person who is useful for the society.
References
O’Keeffe, G. S., & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics, 127(4), 800-804.
O’Keeffe, G. S., & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics, 127(4), 800-804.
