Media Programming on Teenage Violence

Examines the impact of media on violence in teenagers.

This paper discusses the impact of television violence on viewers and looks at the studies on the correlation between violent media and youth crime. The paper uses the Columbine school shootings to demonstrate how these two young boys were influenced by the Hollywood produced film, “The Trench Coat Mafia”. The paper predicts that it is only a matter of time before the media in the United States becomes accountable for some of its violent programs.
“Over 1,000 studies, reports, and commentaries concerning the impact of television violence over TV viewers have been conducted since 1955. The accumulated research clearly demonstrates a correlation between viewing violence and aggressive behavior. American Psychological Association and other organizations including the American Medical Association, National Institutes of Mental Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control hold similar positions on this issue.
“According to the American Medical Association, [AMA] “Teenagers view an average of 21 to 22 hours of television per week and listen to the radio several hours per day. On television, and especially in the movies, teenagers who are practicing abstinence — or are waiting to have sex — are rarely shown in a positive or cool way”.”