AMERICAN YOUTH AND THE MEDIA

FROM THE BEGINNING…. FAMILIES STAYED INTACT, ACTING ON INNER STRENGTH TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY THE MAGNIFICENT PLACE IT IS…AND YES, THERE WAS MEDIA…

EARLY AMERICAN MEDIA CONSISTED OF THE NEWS OF THE DAY, DELIVERED BY WAY OF RAIL TO AMERICAN CITIZENS. THE NEWS INCLUDED TOPICS OF INTEREST AND ADVERTISING, MUCH LIKE TODAY’S MEDIA. HOWEVER, ANY MATERIAL GEARED TOWARDS CHILDREN WAS AS INNOCENT AS THE RECIPIENT, THE CHILD.

THE HEROES OF EARLY CHILDREN’S TELEVISION INSPIRED IMAGINATION, CHARACTER AND WONDER

MEDIA CONSUMPTION BY TODAY’S YOUTH

THINK CHILDREN DON’T WATCH ALL OF THESE SHOWS? ~ The target audience age range for MTV is 15-24. However, the actual average age of viewers is eleven. ~ The age most viewing “Desperate Housewives?” Nine years old. Nine year olds account for over 43% of the show’s high ratings. ~ In a study given by Neilson family ratings, more five year olds recognized photos from Jerry Springer than Sesame Street. ~ In a study by Yale Pediatrics, 87 out of 100 six year old girls aspired to look more like the Olsen twins than Cindy Crawford. The girls were shown photos of each, to which 87 thought Cindy Crawford was too “chubby.”

Television is where she will learn what is fun, cool, decent, American and who she is expected to be.

PERCEIVED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TELEVISION INFLUENCE AND CHILD DEVLOPEMENT: Diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) has more than quadrupled in the past 10 years. Symptoms include: aggression, violence, defiance, disrespect for authority, and disregard for the law. Anorexia and related eating disorders, once obscure, are now common disorders among girls and boys with the onset age of around nine years old. Huesmann (renowned researcher) has revealed that 59 percent of those who watched an above-average amount of violence on television as children were involved in more than the average number of such aggressive incidents later in life.

A poll by Pennsylvania State University concluded that on average, children ages five to nine watch television until 9:30pm

A CARTOON OBVIOUSLY GEARED TOWARDS HUMORING ADULTS? THIS SCENE IS FROM “FAMILY GUY”. THE SHOW IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED IN PRIMETIME. PRIMETIME IS BETWEEN 7-9PM, WHEN MOST FAMILIES SETTLE IN TO WATCH TV.

What is on TV Tonight? MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" 10:00 p.m. "Castle" TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Family Guy” 9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" 10:00 p.m. "Detroit 1-8-7" WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Desperate Housewives" 8:30 p.m. "Better Together" 9:00 p.m. "Modern Family" 9:30 p.m. "Cougar Town" 10:00 p.m. "The Whole Truth" THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. "My Generation" 9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy" 10:00 p.m. "Private Practice" FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Secret Millionaire" 9:00 p.m. "Body of Proof" 10:00 p.m. "20/20" SATURDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Saturday Night College Football" SUNDAY: 7:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos" 8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" 9:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives" 10:00 p.m. "Brothers & Sisters"

WHO ARE WE AS AMERICANS?

Our next generation of adults?

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE NETWORKS MARKETING IDEAS TOWARDS CHILDREN? ACCORING TO A POLL FROM THE AMERICAN DREAM NETWORK, 84% OF CHILDREN WOULD RATHER DO SOMETHING FUN WITH THEIR PARENTS THAN GO SHOPPING. MORE THAN 91% OF THOSE SAME CHILDREN SAY THEY FEEL PRESSURED TO HAVE THINGS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEIR FAMILIES. 77% OF THE SAME CHILDREN POLLED SAY THEY FEEL A SOCIAL PRESSURE TOWARDS HAVING SEX BASED ON WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS NORMAL FOR THEIR AGE.

MRS. LAURA PATTON, ENGLISH TEACHER AT HERBERG MIDDLE SCHOOL IN PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTES…

CHILDREN LEARN FROM THEIR SURROUNDINGS CHILDREN LEARN FROM THEIR SURROUNDINGS. CHILDREN NOW WATCH ON AVERAGE THIRTY HOURS OF TELEVISION A WEEK. THE MEDIA HAS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATION’S YOUTH. IS THE MEDIA MIRRORING REALITY OR CREATING IT? STUDIES HAVE SHOWN AN ASTRONOMICAL INCREASE IN PRESSURE ON CHILDREN TO PERFORM, ACT AND DRESS WELL BEYOND THEIR YEARS. WHERE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ADULT CREATORS OF THIS IMAGE? CHILDREN DON’T HAVE THE CHOICE OF WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED. DO WE?