The importance of the media – Article 17 - (2-15)

CyberDodo and the Importance of the media 2/2

A teenager in the west watches an average of 6 hours of television per day. Beginning at primary education age, nearly 2 out of 5 children have a television in their bedroom. It is thus important to respond to this need for knowledge, this thirst to discover the world and be aware of what your child is watching.

The impact of televised violence on a child varies not only with respect to his or her age, personality and family or social context, but also with respect to the nature and mode of presentation of the images. All realistic representations of violence impart a profound impact. Crime news and war scenes that may arise during the course of a news broadcast are particularly traumatic for children. Lacking references or explanations, children risk receiving such information as a shock ; they cannot reference the explanations, or commentary, of the reporter (which is not adapted to children) as adults can do.
 

Nonetheless, studies continue to state that there is no direct relationship between violent television (or internet) scenes and children's behavior. The majority of children do not seem to be incited to violence from watching television. However, the depiction of violent, anti-social, disrespectful, destructive or self-destructive behavior does not constitute education. On the contrary, the above engenders intolerance and stigmatization.

Increasing number of specialists are left to study the all too numerous cases of massacres perpetrated by adolescents and young adults trying to decrypt their interior motives and the origin of their violence. They are puzzled by the apparent absence of perceived limits, and context.

The media presents nothing short of a vision of the world, in addition to transmitting information and culture. The extensive presence thereof in the lives of the very youngest members of our society allows young people to effectively create their own universe by grouping around various analogous references. As such, an interrogation of the use of these images not only by these youths but at the level of the family, or society, is crucial.

The media has a responsibility with respect to the content that they choose to disseminate, just as each family has a responsibility- with resepct to the use thereof, and the creation of a dialogue with respect to propagated imagery and content.

It is not acceptable to allow a child to look at whatever, without worrying about the impact that this will have on him or her. A simple, vigilant reflection by the adult accompanying a young viewer will allow that child to avoid future difficulties. For example, the following questions are important to ask :

« What am I watching ? What do I think about it ? What do I do about it ? ».

For the text of the Convention, click here

To watch the animated cartoon about the medias, click here 

For the quiz, click here

© CyberDodo Productions Ltd.