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kennymatic 
Most media messages are constructed with a purpose. Media literacy can help youth understand messages — actual or "between the lines" — heard in music lyrics, promoted on clothing and jewelry, shown in ads, and portrayed on TV or in movies. This helps youth learn to see and resist messages that promote using alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.
Media literacy is being able to analyze media messages, understand the intent of the messages, and judge how the information in the messages is used. These skills are especially important to young people, who are flooded with media messages at the same time they are building their own identities and values.
Media images often impact teens' decisions about which attitudes and actions are "normal." The need for group acceptance and peer approval is high during the teen years. Teens who understand how the media works are better able to make choices based on facts rather than on "hype."
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Reprinted with the permission of the National Mental Health Information Center.
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