The Negative Effects of Media on Society

Children are exposed to the negative effects of the media every day. Shows such as Bad Girls’ Club and Real World serve as poor role models for young people. There are many steps parents and guardians can take to lessen or completely stop the influence. Parents and guardians should offer children proper supervision, plenty of play, and education to shield them from the negative effects of the media.

A very effective way to keep children from the negative influences of the media is to properly supervise. Overly excessive interaction with violent movies, music, and video games can influence a child’s behavior. Becoming media literate may help gain control. Parents should know what kind of media children are interested in and should keep them from watching any inappropriate material, and all programs should be age appropriate. Most television shows and movies announce the age preferences at the beginning of the program. Parents should be aware and strictly limit your children, also “limit children’s total media time (with entertainment media) to no more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming per day” (Shelov and Bar-on, par. 9). Children who watch a lot of television can end up doing poorly in school. This should give them time to do more productive activities with their free time. Caregivers should pay careful attention to the shows school children are viewing. They should approve only programs that are “informational, educational, and nonviolent” (Shelov and Bar-on, par. 9). Caregivers should watch television programs along with young people. Also, they should discuss the content of a program with the children. (Shelov and Bar-on, par. 9). I remember growing up in my grandparents’ home, where we spent quality time together, wa...

... middle of paper ...

...(“Achieve a Balance, 32). Although, my team mates and I disagreed on many things, the game taught us to come together and talk it through until we came to an agreement. “By giving children a way to expend their energy, sports can be a vehicle to achieve peace” (“Achieve a Balance”, 32).

These three steps can help parents, guardians, and all other caregivers bring peace and serenity to a child’s life. All the wrong television shows, music, and video games can be damaging beyond repair. Music by artists such as Gucci Mane and Wocka Flocka can teach your child that bad habits such as smoking marijuana can be okay. Video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row may teach your child that they can get away with any crime and that gang violence is acceptable. Starting your child off early with healthy activities can benefit you and your child in the future.