The Oompa-Loompas’ cautionary song about the hypnotic effects of television on children may have seemed alarmist in 1964 when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was first published, but now its lyrics seem almost understated. In Roald Dahl’s story, television addict Mike Teavee pays for his obsession by getting shrunk to the size of an actor on a television screen. Dahl exaggerates the effects of excessive viewing, but for children glued to media screens today, the consequences may be more insidious and just as hazardous.
Decades of research have established that television and other screen media—movies, the Internet, and video games—constitute a powerful environmental influence on children’s health and development, according to the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston. American children aged 8 to 18 spend an average of 6 hours and 21 minutes daily using media—more time than they spend in school or with their parents. And the risks of so much time spent in thrall to their screens are serious.
Decades of research have established that television and other screen media—movies, the Internet, and video games—constitute a powerful environmental influence on children’s health and development, according to the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston. American children aged 8 to 18 spend an average of 6 hours and 21 minutes daily using media—more time than they spend in school or with their parents. And the risks of so much time spent in thrall to their screens are serious.
More than 2,200 studies have linked media use and aggressive behavior. By age 18, a child will, on average, have witnessed 200,000 acts of violence, including 18,000 murders. Children’s programs—shows that one would expect to be free of violence—average 14 violent acts per hour, 8 more than adult programs. For adolescents, the influence of violence in media may even prove fatal: the top three causes of death among 15- to 19-year-olds all involve accidental or intended violence.
but the media has like ratings too so young kids will be restricted to watching shows inappropiate for them. and older kids who are able to watch it shld be mature enough to know whats right and wrong. if they dont know how to differtiate, shld we blame the parents?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the parents are to be blamed for the children not knowing how to differentiate between right and wrong especially when they are still at a very young age. A good example would be the movie Les Miserables. It is a very interesting movie shown in the cinemas but it is rated NC16 in Singapore. Quite a number of children under the suggested age group have tried sneaking into the shows just to watch it without their parents' consent. This may be caused by peer pressure where they want to watch it because they want to be with their friends.
DeleteMedia plays a very important role in children's lives. For studies, entertainment, etc. It is not surprising that the children are getting negatively influenced through media... Shows like Happy Tree Friends teach them no morals and encourages them to take part in violent activities. The children themselves choose to watch such shows when the parents are under the impression that their children are spending their time wisely. It's purely the children's fault that they allow themselves to get influenced by media.
ReplyDeletewell but parents can RESTRICT their child from allowing themselves. I mean this is like the role of being a parent, so impose discipline on your child right? (and happy tree friends is an adult animation so i dont think kids will have access to it quite easily)
ReplyDeleteHappy Tree Friends can be easily accessed through Youtube by just searching in the search engine. My first 'Happy Tree Friends' video was way back when I was in kindergarten. Parents can restrict their child from viewing the shows/videos but the child may still go to the sites without the parent knowing example through links shared by their friends. I myself have shared and received links of videos that I may find funny or entertaining. I see why it is sometimes hard for a parent to control their own children through influences from peers and the media.
DeleteAlso, Happy Tee Friends is a misleading name for the cartoon as cartoons are often associated with 'cute', 'innocent', 'childlike', etc. Plus, the word 'Happy' and 'Friends' suggest that it is age-friendly. However the violence in the videos contradicts the name.
DeleteHowever, I feel that if the child is educated enough, he/she would know what is right and what is wrong and so he/she would not be so easily affected by the media that are presented to them.
ReplyDeletebut the statistics above proves that they are affected by the media. "the top three causes of death among 15- to 19-year-olds all involve accidental or intended violence." and i think 15-19 year old are kinda educated already. why do you think can still be affected by media?
DeleteI think that as much as the child knows the difference between right and wrong, he would still continue doing a bad habit as long as he gets pleasure or feel a sense of achievement when doing it.
Deleteooh i kinda agree with filzah cause its like a personal recount which is quite convincing.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that it is not always that parents are able to restrict their children in this area. However, they can still watch the shows or videos together with their children. After watching the shows or videos, they can tell their children of whatever is wrong or good to learn from in that show or video. From there, children are able to differentiate between what's good and bad.
ReplyDeleteThat is another way of learning. But you cant always trust that the child will really absorb the advice given from the parents. The child might appear to understand what the parent might say but still take up the bad habit. It is then not the parents fault as they have already taught the child but child refuses to follow the advise of his own parents.
DeleteThis post was posted by Tim Min Jie.
ReplyDelete