The Influence of Media to Children
By edvc77
@edvc77 (2140)
Philippines
November 16, 2012 7:49pm CST
Watching television and surfing the Internet make a great influence to children. I've known a seven year old girl who watched anime with lots of violence in television, the result she became violent one day and hurt her classmates. Another boy, he always kicked his classmates, it was found out that he always watched violent cartoons like "anime." It is true, watching television has great impact on children. We, parents, should really monitor what our children is watching. What do you think of this?
4 people like this
14 responses
@Raine38 (12391)
• United States
17 Nov 12
I agree, it is the parents' duty to supervise or to police whatever TV shows their kids watch or sites at the Internet that they visit. It starts right at home. Anyway, most TV programs, cartoons included, are being mandated by the regulatory board on movies and television to issue rates and warnings, from general audience to those restricted to adults only.
Because kids are like sponges who can absorb easily anything they see or hear, my parents did not put television in my younger siblings' rooms and they're not suppose to use the Internet inside their bedrooms. All their laptops are kept in the work desk by the living room so we can see what they are up to or what sites they frequent.
2 people like this
@aireanna18 (1914)
• United States
17 Nov 12
I agree that parents due need to actively supervise their children, but I think part of this is also setting boundaries for their children. When I was growing up, the only channel we were pretty much allowed to watch was the Disney channel. Later on, we were allowed to watch some of the shows on Nickelodeon.
Here is the thing that television shows have changed so much over the years. I mean I grew up watching shows like Care Bears, Smurfs, Dumbo Circus, and Winnie the Pooh. It was even a very long time before Saturday morning cartoons on major channels were allows. Even then, we coue theld only watch a few of the shows like X-Men and Spiderman. Robocop was on the list of inappropriate television shows. If I was to compare television shows, I would say Robocop is very tame in comparison to a lot of the anime shows that we have these days.
One of the biggest issues though is that the television, video games, and I guess now even the computer have become baby sitters for children. Some parents are so busy that they will just get their children to plug into technology rather than interacting with them. Worst of all is the parents that are big children themselves that want to play video games, but knowing that they are supposed to be interacting with their children they will play video games with their children. Many parents actually consider this as interacting time with their children, but the problem is that some parents will chose adult type of violent video games because these are the game that they like to play with their children. The harm is that as parents choose to selfishly interact with there children this way the child is exposed to violent video games. Then, the child thinks that this is what appropriate interactions look like because these are the only examples that he or she has been exposed to on a daily basis. As you mentioned, the problem becomes that children start acting violent at school. I have seen issues with children hitting, kicking, and punching peers as early as kindergarten. This is a major issue.
Yes, you are right that all of this starts at home. Parents set the foundation for a child's life. Do you think that there needs to be more education on acceptable parenting practices for parents? It used to be that parenthood came at an age where adults were mature enough to accept the responsibilities that came with their new roles as parents. With teens become pregnant and raising children, lots of times it seems like we have children raising children. By this I mean that the parent has not matured to the point that he or she acts like an adult.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
17 Nov 12
I'm a parent and have always felt its my responsibility to turn off the television, so that she would spend time outdoors and do other activities. My daughter enjoys board games today and think its the amount of time we spent playing them for why she likes them today. Yes, she watches television now; however, there are many shows on that I think are good for children like Sesame Street and any shows that are about reading like Reading Rainbow. I loved watching Mr Rogers and would watch even when no children were in my home.
2 people like this
@aireanna18 (1914)
• United States
17 Nov 12
Fishmomma, that is wonderful that you expose your daughter to so many different things in life! I agree that children tend to learn to enjoy the activities that they are exposed to on a regular basis. Board games are a classic!
@romzee (937)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
A few decades ago, television monopolized the medium in which our children are exposed to violence through cartoons and anime but with the advent of computers and many gadgets, our children are thus expose to more media of violence. Most popular computer games today are base on violence and killing.
With so many busy parents that left their children on television and computers and without monitoring what particular tv programs they are watching or computer games they are playing. And without parental guidance, the children of today are becoming more and more violent...
Have a nice day.
Ciao!
1 person likes this
@meowchie (992)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
It's very true, not just to kids and to think even to adults too...
People share/express to others,what is abundant in them..
So if we are filled with love and happiness, we extend that to others..
And if we are filled with pain,hate,violent- eventually in our words or actions these can be seen..
So it's better to keep an eye to our young ones, for they can't weigh yet -
which is pleasing and not pleasing to watch..:)
1 person likes this
@hlfbldmom (743)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
Television, which once dominated children's media consumption habits, is now joined by computers, video game players, cell phones, and other connected devices. The result is that children today are completely immersed in media experiences from a very young age. Media these days shows violence in such a naturalistic like war games. Parents should exert some control over the influenced of media on children. With young children it isn't too complicated to limit their exposure to television and computers.Because everything that children can see or hear in the media early on their lives affects them in some way.
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
17 Nov 12
6 years ago, a discussion was made here also regarding the effects of media to chilren. http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/947476.aspx. and indeed media has a great influence to children. That's the reason why media has a big social responsibilities to their audience. If we would like the children learn the value of friendship, respect, love, family, and so on... more shows should be shown about this matter. Even a simple commercial can greatly influence the children. Whose kids will not learn the word Mc. Do or Mc Donalds? and every time they see the M sign they will drag their parents to have a meal there. They are exposed at all times. An 8 year old boy done bad to a 6 year old girl. When asked why did you do it. I saw it in the TV. A boy shoot a playmate while playing, when asked why did you shoot your friend. He replied, "we are just playing like in (mention a tv series with so much violence with it). This is reality, it happened.
@aireanna18 (1914)
• United States
17 Nov 12
Yes parents do need to take responsibility for monitoring what their children are exposed to these days. This also includes that parents need to actually be aware of the types of video games that they purchase for their children to play. It is also important that those materials that are intended for the adults like violent types or adult themed movies be put away out of the reach of parents.
Part of the issue though is that there are so many issues where both parents work, and the children are either watched by an older sibling or home alone. I think this also accounts for a lot of the issues. Unless the parents have good boundaries, rules, and parenting controls to keep these shows, games, and etc out of their child's viewing or hands while they are work - it can become an issue. I would also add the whole social networking sites of Facebook to the list of danagers because you never know who a child is talking to on the internet, and these people can become a source of influence upon children as well
1 person likes this
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
In a way I guess it may, but I think it may also depend on how their parents raised or reared their children. I guess some children who are affected by this are those whose parents could hardly spent time with them. Children needs guidance from their parents especially in their growing up years, so they should also monitor what they are viewing.
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
20 Nov 12
You are right parents should pay attention on child but this is start from childhood because if once the child grow up and reach in young age they dont want to hear any suggestion of parents and this is the worse effect of TV or technology. Parents should behave with their child as friend so they can accept the suggestion of parents.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
17 Nov 12
Sorry but I do not believe in this statement. Everything is on a great influence of children. As the first cartoons started, tom and jerry for example, we only saw them walk around with dynamite etc. No kid did that. Commercials always been there. In the shops, in prospects, on the street, radio etc. No child became violent of that or agressive or more pushing to get it. Same with movies who are nowadays not more violent as the very first one. What did change is that parents spend less time with their kids. They do not watch a tv programm together anymore or talk about it. Tv is used as the opportunity to keep the kids silent so the parents can do something else. My kids always knew if it's for real or not (they even say it when they see a commercial: it's not real, it's just to make you buy it). They already did know that on the age of 3-4 years old! TV has no more impact on children as books have, parents have, society has and not to forget to mention: religion and schools (the teacher) have with their already made up standard opinions about what they teach (or is it preach) with no room for an own opinion. BTW it's normal for little kids to try out how far they can go. What the result will be if you kick someone or scold at someone. When to cross a line or not. It's a very cheap excuse to blame an anime for that. If that would be true every person watching a (violent) anime should have that behaviour which is not the case at all. This all has to do with the way you raise your child and your plus your kids character as well. It's about 25 years ago I had a penpall from the USA who did visit me in the Netherlands. He had a "sport"club with the name: be your own hero. He told me many kids in the USA took a cartoon/anime character as their hero. Thought they are superman, spiderman etc..jumping from roofs etc. At that time it already sounded weird into my ears. No dutch kid would take that for an example or even think it's for real/possible. Now many years later kids over here still see the difference between what is real or not and they have plenty of imagination/fantasy as well.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Nov 12
yes definitely and that to the modern children are mad about the internet and television and also cell phones. Monitoring today's children is very important ,as they are just going with the flow and not realizing the bad effects of what they follow.
1 person likes this
@Gretchen522 (715)
• China
17 Nov 12
Yes, it is really harmful, maybe we should spend more times with our kids, take them out to play with other children instead of just let them watch TV or surfing on internet.
@DaWarMushtaq (1)
•
17 Nov 12
I am a teenager and I agree with this thought. As a teenager I also like to follow the footballers I like and the actors too. Same is the case with children. They watch anime and try to copy or do somewhat the same thing they see.
1 person likes this
@ksundari92 (4)
• India
17 Nov 12
media creates a lot of exposure and awareness among children. Bad things do exist. but under proper guidance things like surfing net, e books, watching debates , news channels would be a lot of help in improving communication skills. Just controlling one's mind matters. good luck :)
1 person likes this
