Effects of Mass Media on a Child

4253 Words18 Pages
Mass media means reaching a large audience using different kinds of communication methods. Examples of mass media are magazines, newspapers, radio, television, but also recently Internet has established big expansion so it is also considered as mass media. Mass media are media, which can be used to communicate and interact with a large number of audiences. Be it the pictorial messages of the early ages, or the high-technology media that are available today, one thing that we all agree upon, is that mass media are an inseparable part of our lives. Entertainment and media always go hand in hand, but in addition to the entertainment, mass media also remain to be an effective medium for communication, dissemination of information, advertising, marketing and in general, for expressing and sharing views, opinions and ideas. Mass media is a double-edged sword which means that there are positive effects of the media as well as negative influences of media. Mass media is a medium of communication that reaches very large numbers of people. Media’s unique power and reach can be used to educate children and enrich their lives and have negative consequences at the same time. Heavy media exposure on children increases the risk of harm which includes obesity, smoking, sex, drug and alcohol use, attention problems and poor grades in school. Too many children are neglecting schoolwork and exercise in favour of eating chips in front of the television. Fast-paced video games and television shows have shortened children's attention spans. Recreational reading is almost non-existent, basic reading and math skills are lagging way behind. Today, children spend at least six hours a day with media. Children spend more time with media to compare with any other activities, except for sleeping. Children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching the television are more
Open Document