Medias negative impact on children

[amydravnieks]

To What extent do films and television have a negative impact on children in terms of behavior?

I'm currently doing Media studies at A2 level and have chosen this subject as my question for the exam. This question is part of my research. Please give your opinion. Thank you.

[Ethel]

Our opinion is meaningless for your research - you won't be able to quantify or qualify it. However, you should be able to get good information here:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=To+What+exten t+do+films+and+television+have+a+negative+impa ct+on+children+in+terms+of+behavior%3F&ie=utf- 8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official &client=firefox-a

I suggest you contact a local mother and toddlers' group or any other group of parents and ask their opinions in a structured way. Take the names of the participants and make sure they understand they may be quoted in your finished work.
You could ask the same questions of a group of teachers - it would be interesting to contrast and compare the parents' view with the teachers'.
And your peers will have opinions too - aim for 10 parents, 10 teachers, 10 young people at least.

[Eve]

Try and think of recent examples where the media may or may not have been blamed for things.

One example is the media's glamorisation of violence, guns etc...

You could counter it with looking at how this may or may not have changed over the years and what changed eg if you consider cartoons from years ago many were actually quite violent but in a cartoony way and often involving animals (eg Roadrunner, Tom & Jerry). Even things like Punch and Judy were quite violent but is there more to it in the way it is portrayed?

You could try and find data to support the kind of media watched by children (may be easier to specify an age group) and how that has changed over a period of time and whether it has had any influence on behavioural trends.

The amount of media and availability could also be an interesting context.

You could consider the classifications of films (eg PG, 15, 18) and whether there is any corresponding links.

[anotheoldgit]

I don't think that TV or Films are to blame for the increase in the crime and violence of today.

Since the beginning of films being shown, youngsters have copied the antics of their hero's and sometimes their villians, Cops & Robbers, Cowboys & Indians etc.all to no ill effects.

Toy guns, homemade bows & arrows, tomahawks & swords, boys even carried sheath knives and air-guns around with them, all to no ill effects.

Therefore for the actions of some youngsters these days, one must look into other reasons apart from Films, TV, Video Games, for their behavour.