it has been a hot topic discussed heatedly for the time being that how indeed the media influence our teens. different peopiecomeupwithdifferent opinions. the following passages are two different comments given by severalteenagers ranging from 15 to 20.
one, teens are the most influenced and the easiest to be influenced by the media. the media influence the way they dress, talk and conduct themselves. from the latest trends to the coolest celebrities, they imirate what they see, whether it's katie holmes's new haircut or the pink shirt that christina aguilera wore. so it follows that more serious actions like carrying arms or doing drugs could be copied as well.
young people are impressionable. therefore, some request that the media should take responsibility by changing some of the content of their showsespecially those for teens. they are huge consumers of media, so networks should show them respect by promoting positive images. they think some shows confuse the lines between entertainment and life.the producers know their audiences are young, so they should realize that teens watching 'reality' shows might not be able
to tell the difference between fantasy and fiction.
opposing voices have also come from others. they think that they use the media--magazines, television and movies--to connect to one another and to the world, so naturally,they're influenced by the images the media present. for example, a boy would be lying if he said he didn't want to be like brad pitt. pitt's flawless style, good looks and moneymaking talent seem to define what's 'cool'.
nevertheless, those teens hold that the media only provide information, what they as viewers do with that knowledge is up to themselves. they have to learn to make their own choices and accept responsibility for their actions. to blame entertainment figures for certain crimes committed by teens is
funny. it's not the fault of tv. media are an expression of our culture--not the cause. it's time we stop making the media a scapegoat for our nation's problems. it's not the media's job to make sure kids understand what they're watching; that responsibility belongs to parents. parents and schools should dedicate more time to establishing clear rules of discipline.the influence of parents and teachers--the teens' true role model--carries more weight with teenagers than what they hear on the radio or see at the movies.
