Influence of the Media

Just 60 years ago, we watched television as an unknown curiosity. TV was a mix of black-and-white ghostly figures on a screen so small hardly anyone in the room could see them. Today that curiosity is a constant companion to many, including our children. The TV has all but replaced the printed page. TV programs report the news and weather, persuade us to buy certain products, and provide programs that influence our opinions and shape our actions. TV programs also provide programs that glorify violence. TV affects our "family value system" in both positive and negative ways (Family Support America, 2005). TV violence has been related to aggressive behavior in children, although how much of an impact TV violence actually has is still not clear (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1999; Garbarino et al., 1992; Gilligan, 1991). According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (1999), hundreds of studies of the effects of TV violence on children and teenagers have found that children may

• Become "immune" to the horror of violence
• Gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems
• Imitate the violence they observe on TV
• Identify with certain characters, victims, and/or victimizers

Also, children may become more fearful of the world around them. The Academy (1999) suggests the following ways in which parents can protect children from excessive TV violence:

• Pay attention to the programs your children are watching and watch some with them.
• Set limits on the amount of time they spend with TV; consider removing the TV set from the child's bedroom.
• Point out that although the actor has not actually been hurt or killed, such violence in real life does result in pain or death.
• Refuse to let your children see shows known to be violent, and change the channel or turn off the TV set when offensive material comes on, with an explanation of what is wrong with the program.
• Disapprove of the violent episodes shown in front of the children and stress the belief that such behavior is not the best way to resolve a problem.
• Offset peer pressure among friends and classmates; contact other parents and agree to enforce similar rules about the length of time and type of program the children may watch.

A national survey undertaken in 2001 indicated that about one in five youth are solicited for sex over the Internet annually (Dombrowksi, LeMasney, Ahia, & Dickson, 2004; Finkelhor & Wolak, 2001). The Internet has changed the way in which many people interact. It is now a seemingly much more acceptable forum for seeking out friendships and romantic relationships, particularly among the younger generations (Wolak, Mitchell, & Finkehor, 2003).