Are Television, Movies, and Music Responsible for Teen Violence?

Are Television, Movies, and Music responsible for teen violence? Most people would like to know why violence among teens is rising. Most people blame parents for the way the child acts. Others blame the kids they’re around. In my opinion, I don’t think neither parents nor peers are to blame. The media is responsible for teen violence in our society. The media teaches teens that violence is acceptable. Children will try to imitate the things they see on television.

For example in Toronto, a six year old boy wearing a Ninja Turtle costume stabbed his friend in the arm for not giving back a toy he had borrowed. When the child is young and watches shows that have violence in it like SpongeBob Square pants children will want more violence when they grow older. The more they grow the more violence they want. This makes them less sensitive to violence. Only 16% of shows actually show the long-term effects of violence. The other way media portrays violence is by music.

Rappers like Eminem have violent lyrics. One example is when Eminem wanted to kill his wife and ask his daughter to help throw her mom in the bottom of the ocean because he made a bed at the bottom of the ocean. When reporters ask him why he has such violent lyrics he blames his alter ego Slim for everything that happens, with his family, and work, that is bad. “I do promote violence and I don’t care. ”-Eminem. Artists don’t get in trouble for the negative message they send to teens. Rap music puts teens at risk to get arrested 2. times more. 66% of 13- to 17-year-olds believe violence in music is partly responsible for violent crimes. Music has a big impact on a teenagers life it helps up when were down and to make us happy. The last way media portrays violence is in Video games. More than 70 percent of American teenage boys have played the violent and adult-rated Grand Theft Auto video games. This will make them more aggressive. This can cause teens to fight with their peers by using what they see in the game to attack their peers. 8 percent of games show aggression that went unpunished. Video games are a form of entertainment among youth. 70 percent of children from ages 2 to 18 have access to video games at home. Teens that aren’t exposed to violence in media will be less likely to have violent behaviors. If parents don’t allow their child to watch too much T. V and play less video games than they will be less likely to have violent behaviors. People say it’s not the media’s fault if that is true than whose fault is it?

Most teens grow up with T. V. Violence on T. V starts off young and they grow up with it and the more they grow the more violence they want. Violence in the media has negative effects on children. For example it increases aggressiveness and anti-social behavior. It also increases their fear of becoming victims because they see what happens and they are scared if it will happen to them. In summation media is a major component in the upbringing of a child whether good or bad, the key to stopping it is to not purchase it.