Media Can Have a HUGE Influence On Teenagers

Parents, did you know this…? 🤔⁣⁣𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺.⁣⁣ Media can have a 𝘏𝘜𝘎𝘌 influence on teenagers whether it’s directly or indirectly. For example, have you noticed that advertising is often directed at children and teenagers? Commercials, ads, pop ups, etc. Media influence can also be indirect or discreet. For example, this might include sexualized images and content on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube etc. It might also include violent imagery or vulgar language in news media, documentaries, video games, and song lyrics. This kind of media influence can suggest to teenagers that these behaviors and lifestyles are “normal”. 🙅⁣⁣ 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. ⁣⁣When your child balances media use with other things like: physical activity, creative activities, and socializing face to face, they have a wide range of influences vs. just one. These can include peers, community mentors, employers, and family; as well as the media.⁣⁣The best way to help your child navigate the influence of social media, is to talk about media messages. Ask them if they are able to see the direct and indirect messages the media is promoting. Or if your child is into a computer game like Grand Theft Auto, you could talk about the violence, exploitation of women, and criminal activity. You could also talk about how your child would handle these situations in real life.⁣⁣What level of influence does the media have over your children? If you’re looking to add some variety to that list, click the link in our bio to visit all the programs and opportunities we can offer them! 📲