The researchers asked specific questions about television viewing habits, including how often they watched more than 20 popular TV shows that were found to contain lots of sexual or suggestive content. Of the 718 boys and girls who said they were sexually active, 58 girls reported becoming pregnant over the course
Media can begin to play a role in forming ones body image from a young age through television, toys, movies, and magazines. Both girls and boys are being exposed to ideal body images as early as ages five though seven. Many individuals become so obsessed with the idea of a perfect body image that it sometimes leads into treacherous extents such as physiological disorders. According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA; 2006), 10 million females suffer from eating disorders, and among adolescent girls, eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness (Massey-Stokes, 2000). Body image can also effect what men and women look for in their partner.
A recent poll released by National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy shows that 20 percent of teens admit to “sexting” (Nightingale, 2009). Sexting is the new trend in teen flirting by sending nude or semi-nude pictures to each other by cell phone. A young man and young lady meet in class. They find one another attractive and exchange cell phone numbers. Over the next few days and weeks they send each other text messages, talking and flirting.
For example, former Detroit Mayer Kwame Kilpatrick had his whole life turn upside down through a text messaging sex scandal. He went from being the youngest to the only mayor to be charged with a felony in Detroit. On the positive side, text messaging is utilized as a source of information and reminders. Many credit card companies provide SMS reminders on upcoming due dates. With the increased popularity of cell phones with internet capabilities, people would be able to pay their bills upon receiving the alert.
To begin, TV programs reduce the quality of real life (According to the statistics, the average Irish child watches 26 hours a television per week.) In particular, the do this by narrowing people’s outlook, limiting the variety of free time activities, affecting family relations by reducing conversation, and even having an impact on health by discouraging exercise. Secondly, Violence and sex shown on television results in higher rate of crimes and encourages antisocial behavior. This is especially evident in the U.S.A and other western countries. Many criminals confess that their violent actions or attitudes to women were encouraged by TV.
''Over 1,000 studies point overwhelmingly to a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children.". The effects of media violence on society,especially children and teenagers, are doubtlessly very negative. Several studies done in the United States and Canada have shown a positive relationship between early exposure to television violence and physical aggressiveness in later life. Media exposure leads to a desensitization to violence and is associated with violent and aggressive behavior, bullying, fear, depression, nightmares and sleep disorders. The results of a longitudinal study tracked 700 male and female youths over a fifteen-year period.
Research shows that teens are more sexually active now than before. For example, twenty-five percent of all girls and thirty-three percent of all boys have had sex by the age of fifteen. This is a very young age, and by age seventeen the statistics have grown to 75% of all girls and eighty-six percent of all boys. This shows that there is greater need for sex education than ever before. Starting as early as kindergarten, children should be taught about relationships and to respect others.
Teenagers are being made the main ones to suffer from the side effects of technology. According to VGChartz.com, as of December 31, 2011, the U.S. alone sold a total of over 52 million Xbox 360’s and Playstation 3’s. Video games contribute to the downside of technology due to the fact that it requires so much time in front of the television, as to where 20 years ago, children would have rather played because there were pleasure of having a television screen available. Video games, TV, computers and other forms of technology contribute to the fast growing rate of obese children. The government on childhood obesity report that approximately 17% or 12.5 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 is obese.
The Negative Effects of Underage Sex By: Cory Walker 09/19/11 In a society that implies that sex is a path to happiness, it is difficult to maintain sexual abstinence. Sex, in which the participation of at a young age carries detrimental effects to emotional and mental stability, is a construct that should be partaken at a mature age. The effects of underage sex are many, but what are they? In 2009, 13.8% of high school students had four or more sex partners during their life. This statistic portrays an important facet of the abstinence argument.
Sex and Violence in the Mainstream Media: Hurting Our Youth With the increase in violence in the media and multiple forms of entertainment, our youth are viewing violent acts on a regular basis. The violent acts haven’t been viewed by the public forever either, just recently since the rise in the TV and the internet the media has become easier to broadcast to a broad range of people. “Indeed, six medical and public health professional organizations held a Congressional Public Health Summit on July 26, 2000, and issued a Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children.” This statement noted that, “Entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values, and behavior, particularly in children.” (Anderson, 355). Although this was around eight years ago, the issue with violence in the media is still affecting the way today’s youth acts. Today violence is just a part of everyday activity, flip on the TV to watch the news and there is another homicide, or robbery.