Lotus FM talk
The influence of the electronic media on our youth

TV, DVD’s, Internet (social networks such as Facebook and MXIT ) and music.
Behaviour problems (‘Risk behaviour’)
• Not only aggression but other forms of risk behaviour in youth can be learnt from the electronic media.
• What is risk behavior?

Risk behaviour is defined as practices that compromise the quality of life and life expectancy of self or OTHERS in terms of physical, emotional, social and psychological wellness, in other words, actions which will have a negative effect on a person’s mental or physical health.

• This can include behaviour by teenagers which affects the entire household negatively.
 Criminal activities (stealing) aggression and violence (bullying, fighting at school)
 Anti-social behavior (disobedience, lack of discipline, lack of empathy)(cruelty to animals)
 Alcohol and drug abuse (substance abuse)
 Smoking
 Unsafe sexual practices /promiscuity (Hiv and Aids).
 Exposure to pornography
 Dangerous relationships (older men) Facebook/MXIT

 Dietary/Eating disorders
 Lack of physical activity (obesity)
 Suicide attempts
• Aggression –This was discussed during the last programme
•
Research suggests a link between aggression and violence and the media
(TV, movies, DVD etc) The case of Morne Harmse (Sword attack- Nic Diederichs Technical High school in Kugersdorp in August)
 Eisengberg 1980 –Children who see violence on TV are more aggressive than others who do not
 Wood et al 1991- Observation of media violence enhances aggression in similar settings
 Lefkowitz et al 1977- Amount of televised violence watched by boys correlates highly with aggressiveness in same young men 10 years later.
 Huesman and Eron 1986- Aggression has been shown to be related to the degree with which boys identified with aggressive characters on TV in 5 different countries.
• Music and aggressive or rebellious behaviour)
Prof (Laurens Shlebush (Univ KZ Natal) (SA expert on teenage suicide and depression) (You
magazine) says that emotionally immature young people are being exploited by the music
industry and imitate the behavior of bands

Influence of the electronic media
• Experts agree that the electronic media is not the cause of teenage behaviour problems, but is a factor which must be taken into consideration.

• The social systems approach shows that there are a number of factors which can influence risk behaviour
• Most psychologists agree that an individual may be predisposed to risk behavior but is then influenced by outside factors.
• Remember that these factors also influence each other
• Predisposing factors
 Inherited factors and personality
 The child‘s home life
 Social factors
 The environment ( which includes the electronic media)
• Personality
 Some children can inherit certain genetic characteristics from parents that may lead to problems with self-esteem later on. For example, low IQ, small size, fat -obesity, very emotions, high or low activity level (ADHD) and even their level of tolerance.
• Family factors
 Sometimes the home is not a very supportive environment. (abuse, alcoholism, absent parents , lack of parenting skills)
 Children are not being taught social skills or proper values ( Prof Marie Poggenpoel and Chris Myburgh –Univ JHB (RSG)
 Self-discipline and values in a child will help them resist bad influences
 A family needs to teach good values and enforce discipline in children from an early age.
 A child who is emotionally immature or has low self-esteem as a result of family factors will more open to influence.
 Parents are struggling to cope with demands of modern life. They feel defeated and negative themselves. This influences their children. Parents need to be a positive influence and example. (Dr. Antony Constandius : ‘You’ magazine)
 A lack of cohesion or communication in the family can cause the child to withdraw and seek entertainment from the available media.(divorce, separation)
 A good relationship can help the parent and child to communicate well and resolve many of the problems relating to the influence of the electronic media.
 A bad relationship could cause the child to draw away form the parents and be more dependent and influenced by the electronic media.
• Social factors.
 Social isolation and low self-esteem as a result of shyness, poverty, distance from friends, being at boarding schools can cause a child to withdraw or become bored and be more open to outside influences.
 A child having low self-esteem is more open to influence by the electronic media.
 Social pressures can influence young people(Peer pressure) (all the other children are using MXIT)
• Environmental factors
• The current crime and violence in our country places stress on people (3rd degree 26Aug ETV) Can encourage people, including children, to seek escapism.
• The role of the media
 Research has shown the media to be a factor (NOT a cause)
 Experts agree that children who are already emotionally unstable can be pushed to the edge by influences such as heavy metal, violent videogames and satanic clothing and symbols. (Joan van Niekerk-Childline in ‘You’ Magazine)
 Music groups can easily influence young people who lack direction with their messages.
 Someone sees on TV or DVD a person who is cool and violent and gets away with it or becomes a hero. (hero worship)
 Teenagers see role models on TV programmes and DVD’s who behave badly and get away with it (multiple affairs, easy sex, drinking and drugs etc) (Bandura et al 1973)
 They imitate the behaviour of celebrities. (Bandura et al 1973)
• Powerful messages from advertising
 Young people must be thin and beautiful otherwise they are not popular.
 Drinking is cool, smoking is cool, junk food adverts etc
 This influence can result in risk behaviour in children who are not able to resist it.
• Technology
 Emotionally immature persons are more easily influenced by entertainment industry.
 Technology can allow teenagers to escape from reality (TV, internet, DVD’s MXIT )
 The internet can create worlds of fantasy and expose children to risk behaviour (MXIT)PORN
 Some new technologies expose children to pornography and pedophiles (Internet, social networks, MXIT )
Solutions
Home
 Research shows that prevention begins early, at home with young children
 Need to improve socialization and child-rearing practices
 Need to improve supervision from an early age
 Children with problems at home or at school need proper counseling and support.
• Community
 We need preventative programs at government level and at schools
 Training and education, discussions, debates, DVD’s
 Need to improve community support structures (counselling)
 We need to change the society
 Reduce exposure to bad influences
Summary :
I am not against the electronic media( I use it myself) However, parents must be aware of the dangers, inform their children and supervise their activities.

References
Tessler, A.(Ed) (1995).Advanced social psychology. Macgraw Hill, Inc.
‘You’ magazine, 28 August 2008
3rd Degree ETV TV Programme : 26 August
Aggression in schools : RSG radio programme on 22 August