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Influence of Media on America’s Youth

In: Social Issues

Submitted By delilahct
Words 1263
Pages 6
Influence of Media on America’s Youth
What teen has not been exposed to the internet, cell phones, television, video games, or social networking? They control the lives of our youth. American teenagers have become obsessed with new hobbies, and no, they are not knitting, fishing, or gardening. Our nation’s adolescent lives revolve around handheld electronic devices, gaming consoles, and anything and everything that has a screen. Obviously the present growth of technology is remarkable, but do we truly know how it is directly impacting America’s youth? The lives of today's teens revolve around technology and various social media, all of which severely affect adolescent health, relationships, and education, exposing young adults to the bittersweet reality of modern life.
In more ways than one would initially believe, the media affects the well being of adolescents. California Adolescent Health Collaborative provided survey results showing that 21 percent of teens who regularly use the media in California are at risk for depression. The collaborative also supplies the fact that teens who are habitual users of technology and social networks report not being satisfied with their lives due to often feeling glum and having a lack of excitement or even frequently being in trouble (Carroll et al). Teens who often try to stay under the radar, but are glued to their cell phones, are inclined to have damage to their mental wellness which may impair how they function on a daily basis. This impairment could potentially make it possible for them to develop feelings of helplessness or an odd irritability gradually leading to thoughts of suicide. In addition to consuming most of children’s time, television can cause sleep deprivation. The American Academy of Pediatrics records the average 8- to 10-year-old spends nearly 8 hours a day with a variety of different media, and

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