When I was a kid, I remember watching some television shows that might not have been appropriate for my age. These shows included things such as sexual content, drug and alcohol use, as well as violence. Though it didn't affect me much, there have been studies into viewing certain activities unfit for children on different types of media, including television or social media apps, and how it has affected their growth, mental health, anf future decision making. Experts and AAP News and Journals believe that "the media contribute significantly to the risk that young people will engage in substance use" (American Academy of Pediatrics).
In a study, it was discovered that "a preadolescent or adolescent who smokes tobacco or drinks alcohol is 65 times more likely to use marijuana, for example, than someone who abstains. The younger the age at which experimentation occurs, the greater the risk of serious health problems"(American Academy of Pediatrics). What leads to this cause of children and young teens wanting to start to drink or use drugs? The media has a huge affect. "Research has revealed that advertising may be responsible for up to 30% of adolescent tobacco and alcohol use" (American Academy of Pediatrics). In a reason analysis, “51 separate studies revealed that exposure to tobacco marketing and advertising more than doubles the risk of a teenager beginning to smoke" (American Academy of Pediatrics).
It seems that companies advertise directly to younger kids to get them using these illegal substances at an early age. Studies have shown that "Currently, teenagers are 400 times more likely to see an alcohol ad than to see a public service announcement (PSA) that discourages underage drinking. Teen-oriented magazines contain 48% more advertising for beer, 20% more advertising for hard liquor, and 92% more advertising for sweet alcoholic drinks than do magazines aimed at adults of legal drinking age" (American Academy of Pediatrics). Media can be harmful in the way that it is promoting the use and activity of illegal substances to children who do not know any better. If a child was watching a show and saw one of their favorite characters drinking, then continued to see lots of advertising for alcohol, they are probably way more inclined as younger people are way more impressionable.
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