Pineda 1

Jennifer Pineda
English 113
13 March 2015
Affects of Media
Many parents are concerned about what their children watch on a daily basis.
Furthermore, concerned parents wonder if the media has any influence in their childs
life. Everything that children see or hear in the media early on in their lives affects them
in some way. Therefore, media has an affect on adolescent development, which
contributes to sexual activity, rebellion, drug and/or alcohol use. Mass media has exposed
them to inappropriate behavior that any parent should be afraid of their children falling
into. Mass media has rapidly grown with their sexual content movies, shows, and
television shows that expose the use of drugs and alcohol to even profanity. Mass media
has an impact on everyone but the ones being affected the most are adolescents.
Teenagers tend to enter a stage of vulnerability that they do anything to fit in. The
department of Psychiatry and bio behavioral Sciences of University of California, Los
Angeles, states that at times they are in their developmental period when gender roles,
sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviors are being shaped. All this sexual content has gone
out of hand and has grown rapidly; University of California, Los Angeles found that 80%
of all movies shown on network or cable television stations have sexual content.
Television shows illustrate that it is okay to have meaningless sex if it helps them to fit in.
Thus, young adults learn by imitating what they see on television. Young teenagers
becoming sexualized sooner then average and it results in poor behavior. Rand health

Pineda 2
conducted a study of the influences of watching sex on television and the correlation of
sexual activity. Rand Corporation declares, Across all age groups, teens who saw the
most sex on television were twice as likely to initiate intercourse within the next year as
were those who saw the least(Does Watching Sex On Television Influence Teens Sexual
Activity?). Media that obtains any kind of sexual content has multiple effects on society.
Times have changed immensely. Whereas 50 years ago a teens family, friends, school
and church were the primary influences on his or her attitudes, values and beliefs about
sexuality (Steele). As stated, things have now changed, teenagers have accessed to wider,
powerful influence-the ubiquitous mass media. Mass media shows teens compelling
images of sex. Jeanne Rogge contributor of The Journal Of Sex Research adds, These
media windows of the world are part of teens lived experiences(Steel). Teens now live in
a media centered world. Mass media tends to leave out the crucial three Cs, which are
commitment, contraception, and consequences. By media leaving out the most important
Cs it puts adolescents at risk to have an unwanted pregnancy and get a sexual transmitted
disease. Volunteering to have sexual intercourse comes with great responsibility as well
as the acknowledgement of consequences that come with it.
Consider, a show that premiered on MTV called Jersey Shore from December
3, 2009 to December 20, 2012. Jersey Shore is an American reality television series in
United States that follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the
Jersey Shore in the state of New Jersey. These eight-cast members go out and party
every night and influence premarital sex. This show was very popular and was a great hit
that aired for three years (Rader Online). These cast members engage in extremely
inappropriate behavior. Conversations about sex are endless; cast members are shown to

Pineda 3