by Bobby Coles

Created on: October 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 03, 2012

How To Combat The Media Influence On Teens

The media is a teacher and parent to teens twenty four hours a day, and it is unrelenting. If the values of Hollywood, big business, the music industry, and consumerism are not in line with your thoughts and values, then you must make sure that your teens get their information from you in an honest and forthright manner.

The media has a tremendous influence on teens, much of which is negative. To combat this, you must be present in their lives, and you must advocate on behalf of yourself and the rest of society. Teens need to know that not everything they see is real, or a typical reflection of life.

Media is everywhere, and it is preying upon the most impressionable group that exists, the teenagers. Parents are desperate to try and combat the media influence on the lifestyle of their teens, but it is a battle that is hard fought, and seldom won.

Technology is ruling the world, and teens today have so many electronic devices that they are constantly being bombarded by the media, and their opinions and thoughts are being swayed by street smart marketing firms.

The media influence goes beyond anything that many parents can grasp the veracity of, because the world is such a different place than it was in the past. Many parents of teens grew up in a time and a place where basic cable television and a VCR was about all that was available to the majority.

Now, thanks to satellite television and the Internet, teens are attacked repeatedly by media influence. Television, movies, Internet, music, social networking websites, and file sharing sites such as YouTube have given the teen a chance to be connected at every turn.

Teens are watching or listening to something almost at all times. Cellular phones, iPods, MP3 players, BlackBerries, and all of the other gadgets available have teens linked together with the media twenty four hours a day.

Peer pressure is giving way to media pressure. Teens are receiving a plethora of messages on a daily basis, and for the most part they lack the emotional maturity to deal with it properly.

Parents are fighting to combat this media influence on their teen's lifestyle. Parents need to come up with some healthy ways to keep the media bombardments at bay. Some helpful hints for parents are;

*Turn off all electronic devices during supper. The supper hour should be where the only connections are between parents and children. This time should be a sanctuary where the parents have the ability

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>