Children are a special audience in need of regulatory protection from the media. Children in this paper refer to all kids that have not graduated high school. The estimated age of these children is comprised of two important age groups. The two age groups include children between ages 6- 12, and ages 13- 16. This paper takes the position that media content should be more regulated for children between ages 6-12 compared to those between ages 13-16. Children need regulatory protection from the media because of five important reasons.
First of all, children spend lengthy amount of time consuming media content. This time should instead be used in developing constructive activities such as improving the socialization capabilities, learning different curricular and co-curricular skills, and maintaining healthy life styles. Susan Villani explains that “American teens spend approximately 7 hours a day consuming media content. The average time spent playing is 4.2 hours per week” (Villani 395). This illustrates the large amount of time spent on the media at the expense of other activities. It is important to understand that there have been increased technological advancements in the recent past. Children have moved from the traditional sources of media content such as television and the mass media. Children are now able to access media content from newer sources as the internet that is available on computers and other smaller gadgets. This makes it difficult for parents to be able to monitor and regulate the amount of media content consumed by their children. Considering the emerging complexity of media content with regards to children, there is a need for statutory protection of children from media content. This will make sure that the responsibility of regulating media content from children is not solely left to parents, but is also a responsibility of media outlets as well.
Secondly, unregulated media exposes children to acts of violence. Despite the fact that television is traditional source of media content, television remains to be a key source of media content for children. Television contents are composed of elements such as violence, actions of nudity and sexuality, and advertisements characterized by statements or actions that are not necessarily true. Children tend to have difficulty differentiating the appearances they watch on TV from reality. Most children will try to imitate what they see on television despite the fact that what they might have seen is not reality. The internet and video games for example, expose children to high levels of violence and sexuality. This kind of content can create the wrong impression among children. Children in many cases are likely to believe that violence is justified. This negatively impacts how children relate with other people. Children might turn to violence because they believe that violence is justified because unregulated media content illustrates so.
Huesmann explains that “ a child constantly exposed to violence is more likely to develop and maintain cognitive scripts emphasizing aggressive solutions to social problems” (Huesmann 127). It is important to understand that despite the fact that media contents such as video games are prescribed for different age levels, most guardians and caretakers have gone ahead to ignore the prescriptions of the manufacturers. Underage children are exposed to media content that is not appropriate for their age. This because some parents do not have an idea about the level of harm that they are putting their children in by allowing them to view media content that is not appropriate for their game. For instance, most video games are created in a way in which children earn points for being violent within the game. Most video games entail activities such as shooting guns and fighting. Children have to use actions of violence within video games for them to be in a position to win the games that they are playing. This creates the impression, for children, that they have to be violent for them to be able to win in different situations.
Third, uncensored media content exposes many underage children to acts of sex. Many of the advertisements and programs on television and the mass media entail large amounts of sexuality. It is important to understand that children between ages 6-16 are in the process of learning about different things in life. Exposing these children to high levels of sexuality is likely to influence their understanding of sex and negatively impact their behavioral habits. According to Ward “evidence indicates that frequent and involved exposure to sexually oriented genres such as soap operas and music videos is associated with greater acceptance of stereotypical and casual attitudes about sex, with higher expectations about the prevalence of sexual activity and of certain sexual outcomes, and, even occasionally, with greater levels of sexual experience”(Ward 348).
Many diseases are transmitted through acts of sex. However, most sources of media paint sex as a casual action that should be enjoyed at any time. Most children are likely to view sex as normal and risk free. This impression from the media is likely to make many children to be victims of sexually transmitted diseases and cases of unwanted pregnancies. This is because children are not afraid about the consequences of sex because the media does not clearly explain to children that sex is not risk free. In addition actions such as murder, rape, and suicide are some of the events that characterize media content today. Children are likely to view these actions as normal occurrences that can be imitated. This puts society in danger of raising a breed of children who do not have key moral values.
Regulating of media content may be seen by some people as an infringement of the constitution. The constitution provides for free speech and protects against personal freedoms and liberties. This has in many cases been used as a reference point to justify the fact that media content should not be censored. However, there is a need to have a balance between the provisions of the constitution and the welfare of children and future generations. Media outlets benefit from the large amount of money that they generate from the media content they release to the public realm. However, the effect of the media content towards children is negative. Therefore, there is a need to make sure that media outlets are accountable for the content that they expose to children.
It is important to realize that media outlets have the capacity to provide security mechanisms in which adults can view uncensored contents while children continue to view regulated content. However, this would mean that media outlets would need to build more infrastructures to enable this development. This would however cost most media sources lots of money. As corporate entities, media outlets are unlikely to embrace such an idea. Therefore, there is a need for a statutory intervention with regards to children and media. This would ensure that both the welfare of children with regards to the media, and the interests of media are protected within the confines of law.
In conclusion, children are a special audience in need of regulatory protection from the media. This is because children waste a lot of time consuming media content at the expense of important curricular and co-curricular activities. Children are also at the risk of being exposed to large amounts of media violence and sexuality which may negatively affect their behavioral dynamics. It is worthwhile to conclude that regulatory protection of children from the media can be done within the confines of law without infringing upon personal freedoms and liberties
Works Cited
Huesmann, L. Rowell. "Psychological Processes Promoting the Relation Between Exposure to Media Violence and Aggressive Behavior by the Viewer." Journal of Social Issues 42.3 (1986): 125-139. Print.
Villani, Susan. "Impact of Media on Children and Adolescents: A 10-Year Review of the Research." Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 40.4 (2001): 392-401. Print.
Ward, L. "Understanding the Role of Entertainment Media in the Sexual Socialization of American Youth: A Review of Empirical Research." Developmental Review 23.3 (2003): 347-388. Print.
.
