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IMPACT OF MODERNIZATION ON DEVELOPMENT OF ADOLESCENTS THE

MEDIA, CULTURE, TECHNOLOGY

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ISSN 2347-3614

UNIQUE JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Available online: www.ujconline.net
Research Article

IMPACT OF MODERNIZATION ON DEVELOPMENT OF ADOLESCENTS

THE MEDIA, CULTURE, TECHNOLOGY
Soheila Panahi*
Consultant Office Manager, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Received 28-02-2015; Revised 26-03-2015; Accepted 24-04-2015

*Corresponding Author: Soheila Panahi
Consultant Office Manager, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

ABSTRACT
No one can deny the effect of modernization on different aspects of people` life. Education, communication and even social
relationship have undergone different changes. Meanwhile, adolescents are the most vulnerable group suffering from negative effects
of modernization. The models of adaptation have changed greatly under the influence of modernization and social relationships have
paved the way of anomaly. What is more important is that adolescent preferred to have electronic entertainment and online teaching
which help to make them more isolated. The role of family has been stressed by some theories but the models of prediction and
remedy are very difficult to assess. Challenges of adaptation and coping in interpersonal and social relationship are of great priority
for adolescents while the rapid change of modernization, on the other hand, may counterbalance all the efforts to make a balance.
While many authors believe modernization must be used to solve the problems it brings about, this paper reveals and discusses the
hidden points of modernization impact on social life and especially on adolescents and proposes some models to modify the
abnormalities created.
Keywords: Modernization, Adolescents, Media, Culture, Technology.

INTRODUCTION Thirdly, religious institutions begin to lose momentum. As life

begins to get modernized, people start to feel that have lost
Millions of people all over the world witness revolutionary in control of their own lives, so as a reaction, they established
their daily life. The term modernization is used by social new religious groups and communities2.
scientists to refer to the extensively influential process through DEFINITIONS
which ordinary nations which a less-developed tradition to the 1. Modernization
more progressive societies. Modern societies enjoy certain As a process of social and cultural change, modernization is
features such as urbanization, literacy and industrialization triggered by industrialization and followed by increased social
accompanied by highly developed transport system and mass satisfaction and labor division. Even in absence of
media. As a result, those who live in such modern societies industrialization, societies can experience social change.
have to shift their commitment from their parents and priests, However, modernization is a specific kind of social change
who were their traditional sources of authorities, to new which is the result of industrialization. The shift to an
authorities namely, government officials1. industrialization society can bring about both positive and
THERE ARE THREE CHARACTERISTICS FOR negative outcomes1.
MODERNIZATION 2. Culture
Firstly, the decline of traditional communities marks the Culture refers to the behavior, beliefs, and all other products
modernization and industrialization which result in dramatic of a specific group of people that are passed on from one
fall in the importance of interactions among the primary generation to another3. In other words, culture is some ideas
groups and lead to the growing emergence of secondary and values that are established by the previous generation;
groups such s classmates in schools. however, they are subject to change.
Secondly, as modernization increases, the society becomes 3. Technology
more bureaucratized and interaction is shaped by formal By technology, it is meant the cultural information concerning
organizations. Consequently, the traditional ties of kinship and how to make use of the material resources of the environment
neighborhood diminish, and the members of the society begin in order to remove human needs and desire. Technological
to develop feelings of uncertainty and helplessness.
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 Soheila Panahi UJPBS 2015, 03 (02): Page 15-22

products such as planes, automobiles, televisions, the atom During the school hours, adolescents are in peer-centered
bomb, and more recently, the computer, digital media, and the settings, away from the adult setting of the family and
mobile phone have given rise to remarkable changes to our community. In industrial countries, after their school, the
patterns of socialization, social institution culture, and daily adolescents spent hours either alone, or studying and listening
social interactions1. to music at the same time, they are with friends, which is, in
4. Mass Media fact, another peer-centered setting. The extension of schooling
The term mass media refers to a section of the media which is along with other changes in social programs has led to pulling
specially designed to reach a very large number of people such the adolescents away from participation in adolescents-adults
as the population of a country. This term was coined in the interaction11. A change in the adolescents' society makes them
1920s when the nationwide radio networks, magazines and find a new atmosphere where they can spend most of their
mass-circulation newspapers emerged4. time with peers rather than company of the family. The
MODERNIZATION THEORY condition of teenagers(known as generation gap) causes the
The origin of modernization theory can be traced back to parents to be concerned about their children because they are
Durkheim's (1993) theory. It maintains that a countries shift absent from home for a long time.
from traditional to modern societies (a shift which is usual INFLUENCE OF MODERNIZATION ON CULTURE
characterized by high levels of industrialization and AND ADOLESCENTS' ACHIEVEMENT
urbanization), the traditional values and norms are violated by The nature of culture in the United States is an Achievement-
rapid social changes resulting in increasing crime rate. Thus, oriented one; accordingly, the American adolescents are more
such determining factors as differences in speed and level of achievement oriented compared with the young people in
modernization lead to variations in crime rates across other nations; however, when the American adolescents'
countries5,6. This is a theory that has been applied in studying activities are assessed in terms of the duration of time they
changes in crime patterns and rates within single countries spend and type of work they do in school, they cannot reach
such as China7 as well as cross-nationally. According to the East Asian adolescents. Many U. S. parents teach social
Arthur8, modernization theory was to lesser extent accountable manners to their adolescents so as to make them independent
for crime rates in African nations. He supported a more and achievement-oriented. In a research conducted on 104
comprehensive framework that paid attention to such crucial societies, it was revealed that parents in industrialized
issues as political instability and informal social controls in countries like U. S. emphasized more on socializing
these particular countries. Moe recently, Lafree9, trying to find adolescents for achievement and independence than the
if modernization theory could account for homicide trends parents in none-industrialized countries such as Kenya, where
over time 134 nations, reached the conclusion that there was there was a higher emphasis on responsibility and obedience 3.
sufficient support for the argument among the most This is because people in the developed countries are more
industrialized nations10. individualistic than the underdeveloped countries; that is to
Based on modernization theory, the economic progress of say, in underdeveloped societies, adolescents still prefer to
countries originates from technological changes. According to communicate with relatives and groups. This causes them to
this theory, increased technological development can make a develop some social skills such as responsibility that, in turn,
country more modernized. The initiation of modernization is an important ability and adolescents should learn in order to
theory dates back to the 1960s when it tried to explain why make a better future.
some countries had success and why some had not. MODELS OF CULTURAL ADAPTION
Modernization theory maintain that as long as traditional To understand the process of adaptation within and between
customs and culture prevents individuals from gaining cultures, there are some models like (1) assimilation, (2)
achievement and kin relations dominate the atmosphere of the acculturation, (3) alternation, and (4) multiculturalism.
society, nations remain underdeveloped 2. 1. Assimilation happens when individuals turn away from
Modernization theory has been criticized as a functionalist their culture identity and move into a large group and merge to
approach that proposes that modernization and progress will form a new society. They frequently suffer from a sense of
gradually improve the lives of people in developing nations. isolation and alienation before they are accepted into the new
Based on this theory, even though countries progress at an culture. Nevertheless, some non-Latino white American
uneven pace, the development of peripheral countries will be whose ancestors were U. S. citizens for several generations do
aided by innovations which are derived forms from the not know what countries or cultures their earlier ancestors
industrialized world1. descended from.
IMPACT OF MODERNIZATION ON ADOLESCENTS' 2. Acculturation refers to culture change which is the result
SOCIAL LIFE of continues, firsthand content between two distinctive culture
Adolescence is a critical period when young people prepare groups. Contrary to assimilation (which stresses that people
themselves for their future lives as adults. In modern and will finally become full participants of the majority group's
developing countries there are huge investments in the culture and lose their identity with their culture of origin) , the
cognitive training of adolescents, teaching them the acculturation model emphasizes that people can become
knowledge and skills that are believed to be necessary to competent members in the majority culture while still being
acquire. While, they are at school, they are in the peer- regarded as members of a minority culture12. For instance,
centered environments and away from the adult-centered many Hasidic Jews in New York City retain the Yiddish
settings of family and community. language and customs of clothing and religious observation
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 Soheila Panahi UJPBS 2015, 03 (02): Page 15-22

while socializing with business associates from a great number do not believe the parent's approaches and so they do not obey
other cultures. and enjoy the experience of the parents although the parents'
3. The alteration model maintains that an individual can get guidance is useful for them. That is why at the age of
to know and understand two different cultures. It also suggests adolescence, human is not mature enough and is at risk in the
that individuals can change their behavior to fit a specific sophisticated, advanced world.
social context. There are some differences between the IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIO-CULTURAL
alternation model and the assimilation and acculturation DIVERSITY ON ADOLESCENTS
models: in the alternation, there is a possibility to maintain a With the advent of technology, certain social issues appear.
positive relationship with both cultures13. For instance, it is One of the worrying issues is that whether the growing use of
possible for an African American teacher to use Standard the technology particularly computers at home and schools
English in the classroom but prefer Black English at home and can augment the gap between rich and poor people as well as
church. the boys and the girls 20. According to one national survey, in
4. The multicultural model promotes a pluralistic approach lower-income communities when children and adolescents go
to understand two or more cultures. This model helps to keep to school, they spend more time with most types of media than
their distinct identities and the same time, they socialize with their counterparts in wealthier neighborhoods, but they use
other from different cultures so as to meet common or computers to a lesser degree 21. A recent study indicated that
economic needs. Cross-cultural psychologist Berry14 there are significant gaps in computer availability across
maintains that a multicultural society encourages all groups to ethnic groups; for example, about half of the African
(a) preserve and/or develop their group identity, (b) promote American and Latino adolescents do not use the internet, wile
other-group acceptance and tolerance, (c) get involved in just one-fifth of Latino white or Asian American adolescents
inter-group contacts and sharing, and (d) learn each other's have access to the internet 22. It can be said that in lower-
language. In the multicultural model, it is possible for people income communities, kin relationship is important and
to keep a positive identity with another culture at the same perhaps they do not agree with an individual's private
time. activities. In addition, they have not obtained the essential
Based on the situation and person, any of these models may skills on working on the internet and computer; furthermore,
account for people's experiences as they acquire competency they have not grasped the importance of the computer or
in a new culture. For instance, take an Africa American family maybe, providing this new technological device imposes some
that has moved from the rural South to live in a city. There are financial burden on the families, Besides, among families of
many options for the family members such as assimilation into lower-class societies there is a kind of cultural resistance to
the dominant Anglo culture, following the path of the programs shown via the new technological devices,
acculturation, alternating between the two cultures, and finally because the young may negatively be affected.
living in a context in which the two cultures co-exist as IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIAL
described in the multicultural model. Recent research RELATIONSHIP
increasingly displays connection between acculturation and There are some ideas concerning the advantages of the internet
adolescents' problems 15. In the United States, for instance, the and email communication. There are greater number
Latino youths who are more acculturated, experience higher interpersonal relationships as email users' new friends on the
rates of behavior problems, drug abuse, and risky sexual Net. There are also some argue these forms of communication
behaviors than their less-acculturated counterparts 16. The may result in a decrease in the number of friendships and level
mentioned problems for adolescents might be as a result of of intimacy 23. It is important to note that these days,
lack of an absolute law that can support the right of the teenagers find many friends on the internet and they do not
minority group in various aspect of life, and under such a know each other enough, because in the face to face
condition they do not feel belonging to the majority group; integration, people express their feelings visually and take
finally they cannot establish a positive relationship with the responsibility for their communication and consequences of
members of the majority group; likewise, because of probable their behavior. This kind of relationship is more viable than
discrimination, adolescents' attitude toward majority people is making friends through the internet in which relationships are
not positive. shallow and inconsistent. This is a logical reason for the
INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY ON ADOLESCENTS loneliness of the adolescents who have many internet friends:
Over the past 40 years few developments in society have had a They do not have commitment to their friends and do not play
greater effect on adolescents than television did 17, 18, 19. The a supportive role in their communication.
persuasion power of television is overwhelmingly impressive. According to psychologists there is often a distinction between
Since infancy, most of the today's adolescents have spent more strong ties and week ties. Strong ties are related t frequent
time sitting in front of television set than with their parents or contacts, deep feelings of affection, obligation and interaction
in the classroom. Besides, television, radio, CDs, and music for many purposes, whereas weak ties are superficial and are
video and other media have especially important impacts on easily broken, characterized by infrequent contacts, and are
the lives of many adolescents. This is more likely to increase narrowly focused. On-line ties tend to be fragile24.
the generation gap between adolescents and their parents People are socially supported mostly their peers with who they
because teens can witness diversity issues in their lifespan, have an intimate relationship, so it is necessary to develop
while the knowledge of parents is related to the past time and stronger ties. These ties are usually supported by physical
cannot meet the needs of today's teenagers. Hence teenagers proximity. It is quite certain that people can and do on-line
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 Soheila Panahi UJPBS 2015, 03 (02): Page 15-22

social relationships; however, the depth of these ties is theoretical issues among teenagers. Although it is necessary, it
questionable23. is practically not enough. In addition to practice; otherwise,
According to the findings of another study which monitored our knowledge will not be useful.
the use of the internet by high school students, it was revealed IMPACT OF THE TECHNOLOGY ON
that as the use increased, the degree of close relationship ADOLESCENTS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
reduced. The students who worked on internet for less than Almost all of the teenagers who have access to the internet
one hour per day were regarded as low users; those who used have used it for school assignment and about seventy percent
the internet for 1 to 2 hours were classified as moderate users, said their on-line research turned them into better students 27.
and the students who were on the internet for more than 2 According to some studies, the use of the computer can
hours a day were considered as high users. The researchers improve academic progress 28. A survey of junior high school
administered questionnaires on the social relationships and students with computers revealed that the students who
measures of depression. It indicated that low users had better extensively used computer gained better score 29. However,
relationships with their mothers and friends25. Low users of many teachers to cast doubts, because anyone can post
the internet are more extravert than heavy users of the internet. anything on the internet, and it happens that some information
This will help the teenagers to pay attention to different is incorrect and out of date, as well as biased and incomplete.
activities, but heavy users just focus on the internet. As a The internet helps the students collect a lot of information that
result, this causes them to have less social skills to solve the is necessary to do assignment but it is not enough to make a
problem that occurs, because they do not experience the creative student, because the students learn to rely on the
natural interaction that is necessary for a successful internet without having to think and analyze the materials
communication. deeply on their own. This probably does not generate deep
It is no, of course, possible to generalize and claim that the progressing of information; rather it can be a blocking force.
adolescents with poorer relationships with parents and peers FUNCTIONS AND USE OF MASS MEDIA
have a great tendency to be classified as heavy users of the If the amount of time spent n an activity is suggestive of the
internet or the heavy use of the internet ends up with important of the job, then undoubtedly the mass media play
decreased social ties. significant roles in the adolescents' lives. A national study had
Kraut and his colleagues conducted a study to determine a deep investigation into the media habits of children and
whether computer interactions can take the place of deep adolescents 21. The study which was done over 3000 children
relationships 26. In this project ninety three families from and adolescents aged 2-18 confirmed that the youth today are
diverse neighborhoods in Pittsburgh took part in the Home-net surrounded by the media. In the United States, average
study. They were given free computers, unlimited access to adolescent lives in a home that has three radios, three tape
the internet, different software, and telephone lines in return players, three TVs, two VCRs, two CD players, one video
they were going to be monitored and furthermore, they had to game player, and one computer. The survey showed that the
answer questionnaires for 2 years. Te researchers also bedrooms of adolescents are covered with media. Two-thirds
discovered that the participants who used the computer more of 8-10 year olds in the United States had television and about
often were involved in less social interaction, as measured in one-fifth had a computer.
terms of both communication within the family and the size of 1. Entertainment
people's social groups. The subjects, many of whom were Like the adults, the adolescent often use media only for
teenagers, suffered from an increase in loneliness and mild amusement and an enjoyable diversion from every day
depression possibly because of lack of face to face worries. They use computer for entertainment. Many teenagers
communication. play computer and video games and downloaded music; some
As computer use developed, the feelings of isolation and other surf the net to look for interesting sites, for example, to
unhappiness surged without caring about race, age, gender, learn where their favorite recording stars are performing and
household income, or initial level of social interaction. It was how they can grab the concert tickets23.
reported that adolescents who used emails and the internet It is questionable that new technological devices can be quite
more frequently experienced greater isolation and loneliness. positive entertainment, because as it is known some
It is possible that some adolescents resort to the computer as adolescents resort to the internet since they do not have any
an escape from social contacts. It is vivid that the relatively other choices.
shallow interaction, often with the on-line individuals, who do 2. Information
not know, may not present the same type of social support and The adolescents' use of the internet for information is also
interaction as the face to face communication 23. The social prominent. They use the media to collect information,
experiences of the adolescents are low and when they are especially about topics such as sexuality that their parents may
exposed to challenging situations, they cannot present a be unwilling to discuss in the home. Another use of the
fruitful reaction; likewise, they do not have the enough social internet can be seen in obtaining health-related information. A
networks to help them in emergency situation. Sociability stud which used an ethnically diverse sample of suburban
increases the capacity of people to be exposed to problematic tenth graders (40 percent African American, 30 percent with,
issues. Ultimately people feel that their life is under control so 10 percent Latino, and 20 percent others) found that half of the
they live calmly, because they do not concentrate o their subjects had used the internet to collect health information, but
problems very much; therefore, they save time and mental most commonly it was on sexually transmitted diseases,
power, because the use of the new technology increase sexual behavior and diet fitness and exercise 30.About a third
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 Soheila Panahi UJPBS 2015, 03 (02): Page 15-22

of them used the internet to obtain information about birth adolescents and some of them are not mentally mature enough
control. Adolescents believe that the internet information is and furthermore, due to the generation gap, they concentrate
highly valuable, trustworthy and relevant. They regard the on the TV program and find it attractive; consequently, they
internet as a confidential and secure way to receive imitate everything that is broadcast on the TV and generalize
information. it to different situations, as social learning theories run.
3. Sensation Children and adolescents see a great deal of violence on
The adolescents are usually more eager to seek sensation the television. In the examination of more than 10000 hours of
adults are. There are certain media that offer intense and novel cable TV, the National Television Violence study concluded
stimulation to attract adolescents. Adolescents are energetic that, the shows depicted different degrees of violence; in 26%
and need to release their emotion. It is better for them to of the violence, guns were used; 38% of the violence was
release their emotions in a positive way that media provides committed by attractive criminals; over 50% of the victims
for them in order to prevent some negative activities; for showed no seeming pain or suffering; 75% of all violent acts
example, they can encourage the adolescents to learn life skills brought no remorse, criticism, or penalty; and 40% of the
so as to be able to find the useful ways of relieving negative violence was accompanied by humor34.
emotions. In a study of more than 700 high school students, it was found
4. Gender-role Modeling that 75% of the students were exposed to moderate and high
Both males and females follow models which the media rate and violence. The study revealed that 10% of the students
present to the viewers. People may identify themselves with were seeking counseling for such symptoms as anxiety, being
the television personalities they consider as beautiful afraid to be alone, nightmares, withdrawal, and even
powerful, capable of getting things done, or trendsetters. violence35.
Companies often invest huge sums in advertising using It has been demonstrated that there is a positive statistical
fascinating modes to sell products to the teenagers, clearly relation between aggression and television violence36,37. A
hoping that adolescents will buy these to imitate the models 31. review over two hundred studies on age groups showed a
Based o the cultivation theory32 viewers' opinions about relation between aggressive behavior and viewing television
violence, sex, roles, and marriage are cultivated by the media. violence, regardless of age38. It also suggested that the impacts
5. Coping n males were only slightly greater than the influence on
Adolescents use the media to get rid of anxiety and grief. females. The young children who are heavy viewers of
There are two responses by the adolescents to get relief: television violence likely to tend aggressively respond to
listening to music and watching TV. Since adolescents live in violent situations. Under this situation there be responsibility
this world, they experience a lot of stress and media can play for both parents and media programmers to provide
two important roles for the adolescents.1 (to teach them how opportunities to prevent aggressive behavior via preparing
they can cope with the stressors 2) to provide suitable positive activities and fitting the programs based on
programs for them to alleviate their anxiety. adolescents' psychological theories. One important solution
6. Youth Culture Identification for this problem might be helping the adolescents to acquire
Media provide many adolescents with a sense of being linked their identity as soon as possible and to release their inner
to a large peer network and culture, which is united by conflicts so that they can restore their positive self-esteem. In
different types of values and interests conveyed via other words, when adolescents have less conflict, perhaps their
adolescent-oriented media. tendency to watch the movies with the theme of aggression is
IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON ADOLESCENTS' decreased. On the other hand, when teenagers have high and
AGGRESSION positive self-esteem, they do not get influenced by any
Television may induce aggressiveness in a great variety of program they watch.
ways33. IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON ADOLESCENTS'
Firstly, there are some people who may directly imitate; they SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
just copy what they see on television. There are, of course, There is a tendency in young people to easily believe that what
other factors which involved, as most people do not follow is shown in movies such as sexual behaviors is common that
such behaviors. they really are. According to a stud, college students were
Secondly, televised violence may also prevent aggression; that asked about their viewing habits and perceptions of real-world
is to say, there are some people who have certain inhibitions sexuality. It was found the participants who watched more
against violence, and watching on TV may reduce the degree soap operas maintained that sexual activities outside of
of aggressiveness. marriage were much more common than did the subjects who
Thirdly, violence on television may result in antisocial did not watch such programs39. Since adolescence is a period
attitudes which may encourage children and adolescents to hit when biological changes happen, there is an increased sexual
first and talk later. They may accept violence as a way of tendency in the adolescents. It is important to give them
solving problem. correct and suitable information. Likewise, they also should
Finally, people may become insensitive to violence on not be exposed to the programs that reinforce their sexuality
television and begin to accept it as something normal and tendency.
natural in their life; they may not show empathy for others or Viewing sexual content may trigger sexual behavior.
not take violence seriously 27. These days, most families have According to a longitudinal study, it was found that watching
access to television and most viewers of this device are sex on television in early adolescence is associated with the
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 Soheila Panahi UJPBS 2015, 03 (02): Page 15-22

early initiation of sexual intercourse in middle and late The overwhelming point is the fact that most of the models
adolescence. The boys who watch television separately have a depicted in these magazines have perfect figures, which may
rate of intercourse three to six times higher than the boys who influence adolescent girls who already care much for their
watch with their families40. bodies. According to one study, it was found that 71% of the
When all the family members watch television together, adolescent respondents stated that when they saw the models
parents can talk about the issues that are not being raised on in the clothing ads, they thought how bad they themselves
the show. Another conclusion can be that the result of these were49. The fact is that being exposed to these magazines
studies may show that the teenagers who are sexually active reduces self-perception of attractiveness. Another study found
are more attracted to the shows in which freer sex is apparent. a connection between adolescent girl who read beauty and
Adolescents believe that the continuous themes of sexuality fashion magazines and their unhealthy eating habits, such as
played on television affect behavior. Based on the survey data diet pills 50. These days, magazines have powerful impact on
derived from teenagers, it became evident that 76% of the adolescents about how they should wear, eat, make up etc.
teenagers believe there is one reason why people have sexual This way might cause them to develop how self-esteem about
intercourse: the television shows and movies encourage the their body and appearance then we can see some teenagers
adolescents to do so as a normal act41. resort to cosmetic surgery to mentally and physically satisfy
The important role of the family in the adolescents' tendency themselves although after operation they are sometimes still
to sexual issues is like the job of the media programmer in dissatisfied. Some teenagers go on a diet to get slim, but it
forming sexual behavior or adolescents. It means parenting may result in malnutrition and lack of essential vitamins.
style of parents have a significant influence on adolescents Scientific views should be directed to the magazines to make
approaches toward sexual issues. For instance, in some them create influence on adolescents.
families, children have more freedom and there is not the least SOCIAL POLICY AND THE MEDIA
supervision on the adolescents' activities. In other words, The young people are exposed to the huge mass media with
teenagers do not receive any feedback from their parents and messages to shape the adolescent's adjustment and behavior 51.
they do not know what is right and what is wrong. Or The following society policy initiatives are recommended by
sometimes parents present conflicting styles about the same the Carnegie Council on adolescents' development52.
issue, then the teenagers cannot identify the best way about 1. Encourage Socially Responsible Programming
sexual issue or they prefer not to openly talk about the concept It is clear there is a link between media violence and
of sex with the adolescent. adolescents’ aggression. The media have a strong influence on
IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON ADDICTION TO shaping many dimensions of adolescents' development as in
GAMES AMONG ADOLESCENTS ethnic and occupational roles as well as the standards of
According to some psychologist, playing video games is beauty, family life, and sexuality. It is essential that writers,
similar to a compulsion42. Some very heavy users show a need producers, and media executives understand how powerful
to play the games; they do not have any interest in order their messages are the adolescents and they should work with
activities; they get along mainly with others who play those experts on adolescents' improvement to offer more positive
games, and show physical and emotional reluctance when an images to the youth.
attempt is made to prevent such a behavior43. Very heavy uses 2. Support Public Efforts to Make the Media More
may stop going to the movies spend most of their money on Adolescent friendly
new games, use the games as an escape, and sacrifice other It is highly essentially for the U.S media to regulate
activities to play these games44. themselves about their influence on adolescents. Expect the
Many people who play video games (% 97 percent, in one United States; all other western nations have strong
study) maintain that it is possible to become "addicted" to regulations in fostering proper educational programming.
games. One of the games which are regarded more addicting is 3. Encourage Media Literacy Programs as Part of School
the arcade, because it is more challengeable and encourages Curricula, Youth and Community Organization, and
players to spend more money8. A few adolescents may sow a Family Life
compulsive tendency toward video games, but a great majority There are many adolescents who do not have the knowledge
does not 45. There are many adolescents who do not play video and skills to critically comprehend and analyze media
games at the expense of school performance, their social messages. It is the job of the media literacy program to focus
interactions, or adjustment Nevertheless, there is substantial not only on television, but also on the internet, radio video,
evidence indicating that video game players are less pro-social music, electronic games, newspapers and magazines.
and communicative people46. 4. Increase Media presentations Health Promotions
INFLUENCE OF MAGAZINES The community-wide campaigns claimed success when public
These questions can be definitely answered by the magazine. service announcements in the media were employed to reduce
The secret to success is learning how to dress, being well- smoking and increase physical fitness in adolescents. It is
groomed and acting appropriately in social situations. The necessary to enhance adolescent health and well-being by
articles do not deal with the idea that a woman's personal means of media.
achievement, public services, education, friendship, or long- 5. Expand Opportunities for Adolescents’ View to Appear
lasting relationships are more significant than outward in the Media
appearance 47. They place emphasis on the romantic and much The media should try to increase the number of adolescents’
of the fiction which can be found to boost these themes48. voices in their programs by letting the adolescents present and
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other author editorial opinions, news stories and videos. This 9. LaFree G. Evidence for elite convergence in
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