Literature review
Essentially information is always intended to reach a large audience presented by the assorted mass media platforms such as print media, broadcast media and outdoor media. This enables us to identify with the notion that there are both negative and positive impacts of the mass media to our lives. In particular, this particular paper will focus on how mass media has affected teen girls in our modern day society (Gullotta, et.al, 2005). Mass media has since developed in the contemporary times making its impacts more apparent that never before. Arguably, though mass media affects all of us in the same way, it is important to note that the impacts brought about by the same are more profound in teens particularly the girls. Apparently, the issue related to the topic mentioned herein is of utmost significance owing the act that some people have been quoted blaming the mass media for influencing teens negatively. Subsequent to the above, teens particularly those in adolescence copy destructive behaviors exhibited by media personas. This issue is of great significance culture wise because mass media is perceived to have some influence to the culture of our contemporary society. It is evident that mass media has some influence to our society particularly the way we think consequently to the fact that I live with people whose behaviors apparently constitute of the impacts of mass media (Lerner, 2009). This issue is of particular importance to me because I have teen female friends who have been evidently subjected to the impacts brought about by mass communication. With the above said, my interest on this topic subsequently grew owing to the fact that I can perceive and sometimes anticipate to the impacts of mass media as it affects those around me. The responsibility of correcting destructive behaviors influences the past as a means of reinstating our constructive cultural norms. Considering that the sources used to support notions and facts in a research paper is of utmost significance, I not only used Communication & Mass Media’s complete databases to search for validated articles but also used EBSCOHOST database to retrieve information that does not relate directly to mass media concepts. Prior to choosing these articles, I read the summary of these articles incorporated in the abstracts to ascertain that they contain beneficial and valid information in regards to the topic of the research mentioned herein. I chose to include these articles essentially because of the impacts brought about by mass media to teen girls are psychologically aligned. The sources that I chose prior to conducting the research of the topic above are all accredited and established to be appropriate (Kearney, 2013). Subsequent to the fact that; these sources contain validated and adequate amount of information about the subject matter. From my thesis statement, the major issue of concern in this case is the ways in which teens particularly girls are affected by the information, presented by the assorted mass media platforms that include print media, broadcast media and outdoor media. Choosing to align my arguments on a feminist approach is of particular relevance because the issue mentioned herein has been relinquished despite its essence to the social, economic and political stance of our contemporary society. In essence, behaviors demonstrated by teen girls in particular such as unscrupulous dressing codes, morally wrong sexual conducts as well as insolence have in the modern day grown rampant (Gullotta, et.al, 2005). Therefore, there is a high need to solve such issues by conducting a profound research in a bid to establish the root cause and solve the same in the aftermath. In a nutshell, the topic of the research scheduled was chosen succeeding a thorough analysis of the imperative contemporary issues.
What type of mass media is common to teenagers?
Apparently, the most common and readily available Mass media include the social networks, the Internet. These two have been incorporated into nearly all people’s lives. Indeed, recent researches have revealed that the total number of both adults and teenagers who use mass media as a platform for gathering information or else as a means of communication, has increased tremendously in the last few years. Apparently, many debates have heated up on whether mass media have any positive or negative effects on our lives especially with the teenagers. It has been noted that nearly everyone argues that there exists the socializing benefits of media, in the sense that distance is no longer an insoluble issue; hence the likelihood of sharing information internationally proves how mass media have transformed our entire lives for the better. On the other hand, there exists another side of the argument that states the increased risks, isolation and the loss of critical thinking are the core consequences that media have impacted on our lives, transforming them for the worse. Ironically, these two arguments are very true as authenticity lies in between them.
The effects of mass media to teenagers
The most common types of media affecting teenagers have become the online ones (Hargreaves, & Tiggemann, 2003).Ideally, social networks are the best examples of mass media communication that have had a great blow on our society. Apparently, Facebook alone has attained an approximate estimate of 500 million users whereby 65% of them are teenagers (Ibtimes, 2014). The reason behind this is that there exist various virtual platforms offering the so called “third space”, remotely from home and school, whereby psychologists argue that it is indispensable to teenagers especially when socializing and building up their personality. However, the opportunities offered by social networks are more accessible ‘third space’ and welcoming, thanks to whatever embarrassment as well as social differences eliminated as barriers to socialization.
Mass media unhealthy debates
Mass media’s virtual communication has been debated to characterize a very ‘unhealthy’ approach of socializing, whereby their impact on our teenagers’ lives cannot be for the better. Apparently, it has been accounted that every social network user approximately spends 3.22 hours every day online whereby every hour is spent alone, probably sitting behind a screen. Furthermore, getting to understand an individual virtually is very tricky: aspects that may include anonymity, or rather the fact of not being physically rendered to the other persons, thus, inducing the public to form a new online persona which often does not echo them as a person. The outcome of this is the formation of distance between the individual in place and the world, isolation in an implicit, made-up character.
Nevertheless, social networks have been a major concern for the transformations they have had on our lives. Indeed, the internet itself, in conjunction with the new technology for instances, smart phones, are used to communicate and share information as well, has been the subject of debates. Singling out the effects of mass media, we can say that the undeniable and affirmative changes that it has brought is the likelihood of sharing ideas, information, news and creativity on a universal scale in a span of seconds. Additionally, search engines that comprise of Google, smart phones’ applications and online blogs are widely utilized as a way of gathering information as well as sharing ideas. Blogs like Myspace have been lately recognized as “creative outlets”. This has inhibited that distance is no longer an insuperable concern, and news can be shared easily by different people living on different parts of the world.
However, the advantage of sharing of information through mass media in regards to teenagers and in particular the teenage girl is subject to evaluation. Many individuals argue that the ease of use along with bombardment of information teenagers, advertisements as well as others’ ideas have greatly contributed to people losing their aptitude to think critically. Basically, this signifies a matter particularly in the education system: countless teenagers do not analyze their pieces of work anymore. This is facilitated by the fact that the internet offers them with all required information as well as ideas they could ever think of.
The opportunity to socialize, share information and ideas and the ease of connectivity, reveals that mass media in their entirety have been transforming and having affirmative effects on our contemporary society (I, S. L., 1978). Conversely, the isolation and inability to think critically shows that the negative impacts brought about by mass media on our lives. Personally, I would say that in a highly developed and technologic world such as this of the modern days, it would not be prudent to not take advantage of the benefits offered by mass media. The reality is that to get the most out of the positive transformations of the modern technology that we have, there must be a balance between the virtual and the real world. However, the use of mass media should be reached; this was depicted by the ancient Latin philosopher Horace who once said “In Medio stat virtus” (Karney, 2007).
Media’s Effect on Body Image in regards to teenage girls
Recent research has examined the types of media most frequently viewed by teenage girls: commercials, television, music videos, films, magazines, and advertisements (Hargreaves, & Tiggemann, 2003). Even though the study revealed that some positive role models of women and girls use their intelligence and as well act independently, it is apparent that the media a major role in hence following how they look.
Cutting Girls Down to Pant Size
Adolescent girls tend to become a major target due to their new and inexperienced character traits as consumers. It is evident that they are underway learning their ideals as well as responsibilities and boosting their self-concepts (Brown, 2000, p. 38). It should be noted that advertisers are always aware of their job and do not dither to take any advantage of the insecurities and anxieties of teenagers, especially in the pretext of offering solutions (Serdar, 2005, p. 761). For instance, a cigarette depicts a sign of independence; whilst sneakers or rather a pair of designer jeans conveys someone’s status and the right perfume used by a given person resolves doubts regarding masculinity or femininity (Brown, 2000, p. 39). Precisely, all adolescents especially girls are vulnerable to the unruly messages that are put across by advertisers in almost all the mass media platforms available.
Both advertising and marketing strategies have become renowned in the manner in which they strategically place themselves in the battle for consumers. Recent studies have proved that not only are girls are influenced by images of fellow girls but also the fact that they are attuned to images of older women. This is as a result of the fact that they perceive that they can learn from the images that they come across and translate this to what they might become (Brown, 2000, p. 39). It is evident that expectations put across mass media are aimed at promoting their own self gains in terms of monetary value only by misleading the adolescent girls.
Media Effects on Sexual Purity
In this modern world, mass media has increasingly gained popularity and ease of access as well, hence, being a nice platform for teenagers to see and learn about immoral sexual behaviors (Brown, 2002, p. 1). It is estimated that in the United States, teenagers averagely spend six to seven hours daily with some type of media (Brown, 2002, p. 1).
Conclusion
References
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