Objective Students will interact with the presentation Myths, Messages & Mottos about Health in order to make healthy recommendations to counteract the unhealthy consequences of mass media messages.

Drill What impacts can media have on a person’s self-concept?

Forms of Popular Media Digital media Interactive media TV programs Computer and video games Films Music Websites Multimedia software & networking YouTube Others????

By the end of the decade there will be … 250 million cellular phone subscribers 124 million U.S. households 80 million with broadband internet 55 % will own a laptop 35 million satellite radio subscribers DVRs in more than 30 million homes VOD in 60+ million households More than 90% of teens will be online

Non-school activities of 8-18 year olds Rideout, V., Roberts, D.F., Foehr, U.G. (March, 2005). Generation M: Media in the lives of 8-18 Year olds. Menlo Park, CA: The Kaiser Family Foundation. A Day in the Life of a Teen

Pervasiveness of Media in Lives of Youth 8-18 year-olds: Average of 7 hrs, 38 min/day. More than 53 hrs/week In Actuality Media multi-tasking Examples? Packs 10 hrs, 45 min. in those 7½ hours

Examples of Risk: Smoking In a nationally representative random digit phone survey of year olds, a positive association was found between increased exposure to smoking in movies and smoking initiation.

Examples of Risk: Alcohol A recent study of more than 1200 films rated G, PG, PG-13, and R, and released between 1996 and 2003 reported that 95% of films depicted substances (drugs, alcohol, tobacco) while the Motion Picture Association referenced drugs and alcohol in only 18% of its ratings.

The Media and Alcohol Early 1900s Mid-1950s 2011 A Look At Print Advertisements

Behind the plate, the center field camera shows an ad that is not seen in the ball park, but through TV technology, the director can insert the ad. Alcohol Ads & Sports

Alcohol and the Health Bandwagon

Risks of Mass Media An overwhelming presence of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs viewed by youth Portrays unhealthy behaviors as glamorous and risk-free Poses significant public health risk for youth

Why Companies Have Changed Their Ways of Advertising Companies see that there is “glamour” associated with drinking alcohol. “Characters who drink on television tend to be well liked, professional, and wealthy.” One of the newest ways is advertising the caloric content of alcohol to appeal to a “healthier” set of consumers.

Analyze the Ads… Positive or Negative?–

Alcohol Ads Targeting Youth?

Responsible (?) Alcohol Ads “Just one for the road”

Social Networks and Alcohol

Drugs and the Movies: 2000s

Something to Sing About? Adolescents are exposed to an average of 2.4 hours of music each day. Researchers used data from Billboard magazine to identify the most popular songs of Of the 279 songs studied, 93 (33.3%) contained explicit references to substance use, with alcohol being most frequently mentioned, followed by marijuana. The most common elements associated with substance use in the lyrics were partying, sex, violence, dealing and humor. Only four (rock) songs portrayed a specific anti-use message, and none portrayed refusal to use.

Song Charts:

Examples of Risk: Sexual Behavior There were 53 sex episodes in 28 (32%) of the 87 movies reviewed. There was only one suggestion of condom use, which was the only reference to any form of birth control. There were no apparent depictions of important consequences of unprotected sex.

Media Sex Symbols: Then & Now

Society, Sexuality & the Media

Sexting What it is What it does With/without text Cell phones & built-in cameras The cyber tattoo

Impact of Sexting on Teens Humiliation and harassment Little thought of consequences Reaction from adults? Technology outpaces legal codes

Textual Harassment

Myths, Messages & Mottos about Health This presentation has been adapted from the presentation title below as part of the MAPHRED Conference Sources: