The Influence Of Media On Children

More and more children are consuming large amounts of media each day. According to Mashable.com, The Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a study that showed children are consuming “11 hours’ worth of media content within a seven and half-hour span.” The American Academy of Pediatrics states that, “The average young person views more than 3000 ads per day on television (TV), on the Internet, on billboards, and in magazines. Increasingly, advertisers are targeting younger and younger children in an effort to establish “brand-name preference” as early an age as possible.”

Quick facts from greatschools.org –

• Half of all kids who start smoking do so because they saw it in movies.
• Movie smoking is even more effective than cigarette ads with teens.
• Research shows that 9- to 11-year-olds can identify the Budweiser frogs better than Tony the Tiger, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers or Smokey the Bear.

Why does this matter?

• Because alcohol advertising affects underage drinking behavior.
• Because kids are using drugs at younger and younger ages.
• Because kids, especially teens, are bombarded with thousands of images of smoking in movies alone.

(See infographic below)