I think chapter 12 introduces a very important issue that is affecting children throughout the country today, and that is the power and influence of the media and popular culture. Children are heavily influenced by what they see on T.V., the internet, and other forms of entertainment. It is difficult for children not to see advertisements that promote certain lifestyles or material goods, or even different ideologies and beliefs. Children are often pushed and influenced to consume different material goods, engage in certain activities, or to believe certain things. The most influential and the most powerful aspect of the media and popular culture is its ability to keep children distracted and disinterested in important things like education and learning. It is common for children to spend more time watching T.V. and surfing the internet than studying and doing their homework. It is extremely rare to see a young child reading a book as they’re too busy playing videogames or engaged in other unproductive activities.
HOWEVER, I don’t think the government should step in to regulate and censor the media in order to protect children. It is the job of the parents to understand and know what their children are watching and listening to and to protect them from any content they believe to be negative and harmful. Censorship does nothing to teach children right from wrong or any moral or social lessons. This is why I agreed with the advocates of self regulation as opposed to government censorship. Prohibiting/censoring content will only make it more appealing. It would be more effective to positively change or influence the content and the messages expressed within the media. Although I agree with the idea to make movies and other forms of entertainment more educational, I still think individuals should have the freedom to choose what material they want to view. As I mentioned, parents are the ones responsible for what their children view.
In what ways do the media positively influence students? Should the government do more to regulate or even censor material they find inappropriate for young individuals?
