Separating Fact from Fiction in the New Media World
Would you allow a complete stranger to come into your home and spend time
with your children? Of course not. Yet, many parents allow their children to
spend large amounts of unsupervised time watching television, surfing the
Web, or listening to popular music.
While there are many good and educational television programs, Web sites,
and popular songs, there are also many that contain messages harmful to
youth — messages about drugs, alcohol, body image, sex, and violence
— and kids often take these messages to heart, especially when they
come from some of their favorite celebrities.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents can help their
children by watching and listening to the messages their children receive.
This critical viewing skill is called media literacy. There are many ways
parents can help their kids become media literate. Some suggestions:
- Watch television, surf the Web, and listen to music with your child.
Find out what kinds of media they are being exposed to. Ask probing
questions about why your child finds these shows, Web sites, and
songs appealing. Have them look or listen for pro-drug or other
unhealthy messages and discuss how to resist those behaviors.
- Remind your child that there are people — actors, producers,
directors, screenwriters, songwriters, corporate sponsors,
advertising executives, and others — whose job it is to create
these messages to inform or entertain. Discuss any messages about
drugs that are untrue or that show drug use in a positive way. Point
out the disadvantages of using drugs, like failure in school or
losing the trust of the family.
- Help your child look for media messages that might not be so
obvious. Ask questions like, "Does this song suggest that
violence is a good way to solve problems?" "According to
this movie, what are women like? What are men like?" "What
does this commercial say will happen if you wear those jeans? Is
that true?" "Is drug use portrayed as positive or
glamorous?"
- Use movies, advertising, or TV shows that show drinking alcohol or
smoking cigarettes as a catalyst to discuss why people drink or
smoke and why the behavior was perhaps not necessary to the scene.
Visit www.TheAntiDrug.com for additional
tips on kid-friendly entertainment.
