TV and its influence on children

Most members of our society today are heavily influenced both directly and indirectly by what information is made available to them through the print and electronic media.

That is perfectly understandable considering the media is there to inform, educate and entertain the general public.

Experts say the role of the media in shaping public perceptions and opinions about significant political and social issues has long been the subject of both speculation and research. It is widely accepted that what we know, think and believe about what happens in the world, outside of personal first-hand experience, is shaped, and some would say orchestrated, by how these events are reported in newspapers and communicated through the medium of radio and television.

Today I would like us to focus on television and its influence on children. Television can be a powerful entertainment and education tool for children given the right programming. However, studies have shown that television, and media in general, can also have a very negative influence on our children.
Some studies indicate it can shorten attention span, distort body image, work in conjunction with other factors to escalate obesity, create fear, and increase aggressive and anti-social behaviours if exposure is unmonitored and unlimited.

But before you get discouraged, take comfort in the fact that the influence of media on children, television in particular, is capable of being positive despite many of the negative images as long as good choices and critical thinking are used.

There are two important factors that must be included in the discussion of media influence on children. One factor, called media literacy, was addressed by Research expert Renee Hobbs. Hobbs contended that:

Just because our children can use media and technology at an earlier age doesn't mean they are effective at critically analysing and evaluating the messages they receive. Children need a set of skills to ask important questions about what they watch, see, listen to and read.

Often called media literacy, these skills include the ability to critically analyse media messages and the ability to use different kinds of communication technologies for self-expression and communication.

Hobbs was confident that, “A child who is media illiterate is more vulnerable to being influenced by messages in all kinds of media.”

The second factor that can affect how children are influenced by media is the amount of parental involvement in supervising media exposure of children.
Research experts believe parental monitoring is a key factor, since the research studies show that increasing guidance from parents is at least as important as simply reducing media violence.

Children may learn negative behaviour patterns and values from many other experiences as well as TV programmes, and parental guidance is needed to help children sort out these influences and develop the ability to make sound decisions on their own.

An important media literacy skill, which can be developed through parental guidance, is a child's ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy in media messages. Children may not be capable of making this distinction without an adult's help, resulting in a child's confused perception of fantasy as reality.

But with proper adult guidance, they can learn to critique what they view and become more discriminating consumers of media.

Studies over a span of three decades, beginning in the early 1970s, have shown that significant exposure to media violence increases the risk of aggressive behaviour in certain children and adolescents. Other effects on children include desensitisation to others' pain and suffering. Research has also shown that news reports of violent crimes can traumatise young children.

So it is imperative for parents to always remember that it is not the violence itself but the context in which it is portrayed that can make the difference between learning about violence and learning to be violent.
Other areas of concern include:

Sexual content- Most parents will agree with me that sexual content alongside foul language seems to have become the norm. Fortunately, our national broadcaster ZNBC has done a tremendous job in censoring content of such nature.
However, a good number of people in our society today have access to so many free television channels and digital television satellite networks where children can easily access programmes they are not supposed to watch.

Some cartoons are even televised during prime time periods but they are not meant to be viewed by children due to the excessive sexual and foul language scenes they contain.

Body image and self-esteem- Body image and self-esteem, are widely affected by advertising in the media. Researchers have suggested that media may influence the development of self-esteem in adolescents through messages about body image. Television, movies, magazines, and advertisements present images that promote unrealistic expectations of beauty, body weight, and acceptable physical appearance. And, when adolescents fall short of their own expectations based on media images, self-esteem can suffer.

Media theorists have determined that the effects of this trend are being seen in both boys and girls, with negative psychological affects.
A consistent recommendation in studies, however, is proactive parental involvement in children's media experiences.

By monitoring what children hear and see, discussing issues that emerge, and sharing media time with their children, parents can moderate the negative influences as well as increase the positive effects of media in the lives of their children. You can go about this by:

Setting Limits. Know how much TV your child is watching. Set some basic rules such as no television before homework or chores are done.
Participating. Watch TV with your child and discuss the programme. Ask them questions and express your views. This will also let you know what your children are watching.

Monitoring. Avoid shows, movies, or video games that have violent or sexual content. Encourage children to watch programmes about characters who show cooperation and caring.

Be a Good Role Model. Because children model behaviour, set a good example with your own television viewing habits. Avoid watching programmes containing adult content when your child is in the room or nearby.





Source : www.zambiapost.com