As I’ve mentioned countless times before, media has a massive influence on teenagers. We are young, impressionable and can easily be drawn into the ideas and ideals of social media.
There is a constant flow of negative media; we see it all over the place; on our phones, on our laptops, our televisions, magazines and in advertisements. We may see false advertising, idealizations and dangerous trends that circle the internet.
The media has a way of filtering content, and not always in our best interest. In the film industry, for example, there is plenty of romanticizing, stereotyping and dramatizing.
As teenagers, and also younger generations, we tend to have a naive quality about us.
We may sometimes find ourselves absorbed in the ideals of media and take things far too literally. In one moment, we may think it is “cool” to follow the next trend or become too engrossed in television shows or movies that we let them influence us in certain aspects of life.
What we don’t always realize is the unrealistic expectations, standards and stereotypes depicted in media are not reality; they are merely a dramatization to draw in viewers.
It does not necessarily mean we must cut ourselves off from the internet or television programs, but perhaps take a more logical and realistic approach. The way we perceive and take in information determines how it will affect us.
We will never be able to completely rid ourselves of negative influences, but our outlook makes all the difference.
We can take all the guidance we can get from our friends and the people we look up to. A wise perspective on things can help us make our own filter for media.
Macy How is a grade 10 student at Brooks Secondary School.
