For more than 50 years, psychologists and other scientists have been studying the effects of media on the development and growth of adolescents. For most of their studies, they concluded that media has a significant influence for adolescent trajectories especially in the aspect of health. It is the most important issue in understanding of adolescent development since most of them spend more time in media than any other activities aside from sleeping (Strasburger, 2010, p. 757).
In most of the studies, it is concluded that adolescents spend almost more than 7 hours a day in media. The media pertains to the old media such as television, radio, and magazines and new media such as internet, social networking, online games and cell phones. Due to the longtime of participation of adolescents to media, its effects should be important to them. The most common effect of media to the adolescents is the minimization of time for other activities. Most of the adolescents nowadays usually enjoy more time in new and old media rather than other activities such as socialization. However, the main issue of its effect is the behavior change due to the influence of media to the adolescents.
Due to the increase in violence of video games, music videos and other forms of media, the adolescents tend to have a more violent behavior (Strasburger, 2010, p. 758). Media is one of the most powerful influences in the development of adolescent minds. Violent behavior is mostly associated to the increase influence of violence in the media. Another influence of media to the adolescents is the increase participation in drug or substance use.
Most of the adolescents learn drugs and other prohibited substances in the media. Lastly, adolescents prone to media influences tend to become more aggressive. Media could be an important factor for the development of the adolescent stages since it becomes more and more available to anyone. In general, media is becoming the main factor that influences the adolescent minds (Strasburger, 2010, p. 760).
Reference:
Strasburger, V., Jordan, A., Donnerstein, E. (2010). Health effects of Media on Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics: Official Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics. 125: 756-767.
