People all over the world use and experience the media every day. Using the computer, watching TV, reading the newspaper, flipping through a magazine, talking on a cell phone, or listening to the radio or an MP3 player are all forms of media. The media is a way of communication. Through the media, you can find out important news, listen to your favorite music and just relax with your favorite TV show. But there are also negative sides of the media that can be especially harmful to kids like you.

Listed below are some of the things that the media can negatively affect your life.

• School
• Obesity
• Advertising and Commercials
• Stereotypes
• Violence

School

Studies show that if kids consume too much media, it can negatively affect how well they do in school. Some media is good, especially educational TV shows that you might have watched when you were younger, such as Barney or Sesame Street. As you get older, the shows you are watching are probably not going to help you learn, so watching them takes time away from your schoolwork. According to Common Sense Media, kids who use lots of media have smaller vocabularies, worse reading ability and lower scores in school than kids who consume less media.

Academic performance, Common Sense Media, Accessed July 2007

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Obesity

Did you know that if you watch more than two hours of TV each day on a weekend day, you have a higher chance of being obese when you grow up than if you watched less TV? It makes sense if you think about it. If you are sitting in front of the TV or computer, you are probably not moving around or exercising. Getting enough exercise is key to staying healthy and preventing obesity.

You are the target for companies that want to sell their products, so they are trying to make their products look the best so that you will ask your parents to buy them for you. It is pretty uncommon to see a commercial for a kid that advertises something healthy. Most of those few commercials are during shows that your parents watch. The commercials that you see are usually for fast food, sugar cereal or other junk food—all of which have a high "kid appeal" but little nutritional value. These marketers have a tough job because they have to sell something that you will want and something that parents will buy.

Also, people tend to eat more when watching TV than they would while sitting at the dinner table because they are paying attention to what is on the screen in front of them―not to their stomachs. They may be full but not realize it, or they might get hungry when they see a commercial for something that looks appetizing.

• Children’s TV habits linked to adult obesity, Common Sense Media, Accessed July 2007


• TV ads market junk food to kids, Common Sense Media, Accessed July 2007

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Advertising and Commercials

Commercials are everywhere—TV, pop-up ads on the computer, magazines and billboards—and they have a large impact on what people buy. The people spending the money are mostly adults, but the commercials are aimed at kids. If the advertising is successful, kids will ask their parents to buy the product. Advertisers and marketers are clearly successful; kids ages 12 and under either spend or convince others to spend more than $500 billion a year.

Often, companies hire celebrities to try to sell their products. Other companies have fun "mascots" to sell their products such as the characters on cereal boxes or catchy slogans or songs that you will remember. The thing that is important for you to know is the difference between what you want and what you need. Most marketers know you do not necessarily need their products, but they want you to want it and think you need it.

Commercialism, Common Sense Media, Accessed July 2007

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Stereotypes

Unfortunately, most of the media you are exposed to does not show what people are like in the real world. Characters on TV are often shown with "perfect" bodies that actual people cannot have and still be healthy. Women are shown too thin and men are shown with larger-than-life muscles. Photographs in magazines or billboards are edited on the computer to erase flaws and imperfections. Even if you know that what you see is not normal or sometimes not even real, it can still have an impact on kids because they want to be like the characters they see on TV. Also, most media does not show the true diversity of the world. According to Common Sense Media, 74 percent of the characters on TV are Caucasian, and 64 percent of video game characters are males. These statistics prove how what is shown through media is much different than what is actually going on in the world. Keep this in mind.

• Body image/gender and racial stereotypes, Common Sense Media, Accessed July 2007

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Violence

Through the media, many kids are taught that violence can be a good thing. In video games, for example, the way to beat an opponent is to punch, kick or knock them out, or even kill them. In many movies, the good guy wins when he violently kills or defeats his evil enemy. Things like these teach you that violence is an acceptable way to win, but you probably know that this is not true.

A study shows that a 4-year old has a greater chance of being a bully when he or she is older if he or she watches a lot of TV. Seeing violent behavior on TV or through other media can make kids act more violently in their own lives.

• Media violence and kids, Common Sense Media, Accessed July 2007


• Study: Kids who watch TV more likely to bully, Common Sense Media, Accessed July 2007

After hearing all this, the media can sound like a scary thing. You shouldn’t be afraid of the media, but you should be educated on how to safely and healthily experience it. Listed below are some tips to help you do this.

• Don’t consume media during dinner or other meal times. Don’t eat in front of the TV, and don’t have the TV on in the background. Focus on the people around you.


• Don’t watch, use or listen to media while you are doing homework.


• Set aside a part of your day for media, and keep the rest of your day separate. Do not go over your limit. Common Sense Media suggests that you do not have more than one or two hours in front of a screen—that means TV, computer, movies, etc.—each day.


• Do not put media in your room. Keep it in the kitchen, family room or living room―but not your bedroom.


• Even if your parents are not home, obey the media rules in your house. This can include telling a babysitter about the rules you and your siblings must follow, or if you are the babysitter, asking the parents what is appropriate for their kids before they leave.


• Once your media limit is up, find something to do that is active or uses your brain. Go ride your bike, go outside and play, finish your homework or take up a hobby.


• When you see a commercial or advertisement, think about who it is targeting, if it is successful, what makes it appealing or not, and if it is realistic.

You have been around the media your entire life, even more than your parents were when they were growing up. Hopefully after reading this article, you are educated about how the media can affect your life and will use this knowledge to help you stay safe and healthy.

Common sense tips for a healthy media diet, Common Sense Media. Accessed July 2007

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