The Effect of Sex and Violence on Young People

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The effect of Sex and Violence on Young People Sex and violence is evident in today’s media. Sex and violence is on television, video games, music videos, and movies. Ask yourself how the increase of sex and violence in the media is negatively affecting our future generation. There have been a number of research studies that indicate that sex and violence in the media is negatively affecting our young people. Research indicates young people’s exposure to sex and violence has caused increased violence and health risk behaviors such as risky sexual behavior, body image distortion, substance abuse, and obesity. “I believe television is going to be the test of the modern world, and that in this new opportunity to see beyond the range of our vision we shall discover either a new and unbearable disturbance of the general peace or a saving radiance in the sky. We shall stand or fall by television. --Author E. B. White” (Strasburger & Donnerstein,2005,p129). We have to ask, are the reasons for increased sexual activity and violence in our society an issue that the media must take responsibility for or is it the responsibility of the parents? Digital media is controversial because it has positive and negative aspects. There is a large amount of sex and violence in video games and television but can media be blamed for increased sexual activity and violence? Video games and television can be positive, educational, and a good source of exercise. The gaming industry has done an excellent job creating games that are interactive. Gaming systems such as the Wii and X-box have games that encourage exercise and movement. Society has come a long way from the Super Mario brothers and Pac Man.
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