Impacts of Media on Teens

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Does the Media Have A Positive or Negative Effect on Our Generation? “Whoever controls the media controls the mind.” -Jim Morrison Media has been around for decades now, but within the past generation it has become an all-consuming concept that kids rely on far too much. This infatuation with any and all things media related puts the power in the hands of those who produce it—so why do they choose to use this power for evil? Those in control of today’s ads, commercials, and other forms of media are partly responsible for this generation’s increased self-image issues, bullying, and suicide rates. It’s not difficult to see that insecurity is a problem with many of today’s youth, but in recent times these once small insecurities have opened doorways to eating disorders, self-harm, and a mindset that we should all look and act a certain way. The media portrays this image to the world of what beauty is, and this is where they first went astray. Beauty cannot be defined by a specific body type, hair color, or style. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, meaning it has a different definition for each of the nearly 7 billion people on this planet. So why has it become prevalent in today’s society that only tall, lithe, blondes can be considered truly beautiful? This stereotypical idea that we’re all meant to be 6 feet tall and 100 pounds is drilled into our head incessantly by ads and commercials. Not everyone is meant to look like a Victoria’s Secret model, and yet that has become what the media teaches us to idolize and strive for. Beautiful girls starve themselves every day because that’s what it takes to be considered “beautiful” in this day and age. This is only one of the various negative effects of media on today’s youth. These same demented ideals carry over into more than just personal body issues. Suddenly, it’s become acceptable to terrorize and
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