OVERVIEW

Sixty-seven percent of kids polled said they believe and want to do what they see on television. According to a poll of 750 kids, ages 10-16, TV encourages youth to participate in premature sexual activity, show disrespect for parents, and act more aggressively.

The following statistics emerged from a poll conducted by Children Now:

• 72% Agree that there’s too much sex before marriage on TV.
• 62% Say sex on TV influences their peers to have sex.
• 67% Say shows like "Married With Children" and "The Simpsons" encourage kids to disrepect their parents.
• 82% Believe media should teach right from wrong.
• 60% Have televisions in their bedrooms.
• 58% Watch 2-4 hours a day.

A representative from Children Now says:

‘There’s a general sense that the values in society are declining and that kids growing up today are facing much more difficult choices at earlier ages…therefore, they need much more solid foundations of values to deal with these very heavy choices.’

These findings prompted Children Now to request that TV programmers depict situations teaching the consequences of antisocial behavior and to show kids how to handle real life issues in credible ways. Some programmers agreed that their shows influence teenage values and accepted the request; other programmers maintain that their job is to entertain—not to monitor what kids watch.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. What have you learned about the influence of television on kids?
2. Do you think television programmers have a responsibility to society with regard to the values they portray?
3. Where should youth learn values to counterbalance what they experience on television?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Kids generally know that they are influenced by TV, even saying that TV should be teaching them better values.
2. Since television is such a big part of kids lives, youth workers need to teach them how to watch critically. Use popular shows and commercials to compare values they communicate with values taught by parents, church, school, and the community.

Beth Crimmins cCYS