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| Are you media literate? |
| By Sarah Etter, News Reporter |
| Published: 03/05/2007 |
Substance abuse issues, broken families and peer pressure are just some of the things that can put juveniles on the path to crime. But what about television, video games and movies?
According to Joe Behson, vice president of the Alliance for a Media Literate America, overexposure to media, defined as any source of information or entertainment such as television, movies, music and commercials could be a factor that pushes youths toward a life of crime. “The media glamorizes unhealthy lifestyles and choices. It gives this image that if you are successful, you have many material things and you have a right to be successful and have material things,” Behson says. “For people who don't have much, it creates a need, a craving. It's a Gotta-Have-It attitude that sometimes leads to a life of crime.” For example, if a new pair of sneakers is all the rage on television and among a youngster's peers, he or she might automatically decide that they must have them too. “These sneakers won't make the youth happy in the long run,” Behson says. “The happiness will be short-lived. But if they are convinced they need those sneakers, they will go to great lengths to get them.” Although the effects of media on children have been widely studied, a new effort is focusing on the effectiveness of teaching media literacy. This involves thinking critically about the commercials, Internet websites, movies and sitcoms that saturate our daily lives. Behson believes the concept is so important that he developed a media literacy curriculum for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, where young offenders learn about the impact of the media, and how to become critical media thinkers. In the its Independent Living Skills Program, youths returning to their communities learn about everything from how to buy a car to how to make sure they aren't being sucked into a consumer-crazed culture. The four-month program requires attending evening sessions that delve into these topics. “Teaching these kids critical thinking skills, especially when it comes to the media, has been a huge asset to our organization,” says OCFS program director Jim McDermott. “We do pre- and post- program testing and we've seen a big change in the way our kids react to media.” One study showed that OCFS youths between the ages of 10 to 14 had the biggest change in attitude when it came to understanding how different media impact society. One technique is a Jeopardy-style game that makes kids question consumerist culture. “It sounds so simple, but helping them question what they see on television makes a difference. The kids are starting to understand that they are targeted during commercials. They are starting to ask questions about whether or not someone recommending a certain brand of toothpaste in a commercial is a dentist or an actor,” McDermott adds. Behson, who helped establish the program, says that media literacy can change the daily thought process of youths. “Being a good consumer of media is important. There are a couple of processes that you need to have,” Behson says. “You need to understand the principles of being a media literate person. To be literate in our culture today means you need to negotiate visual media messages, print ads and technology. These things are thrown at us all of the time.” Learning to second-guess these images can stop youth from becoming a sneaker-craving consumer. Behson says that four main points can help minimize the media's impact. Obviously, the media is not entirely to blame for all of our social ills. But Behson says that circumventing its impact can reduce the likelihood that children will fall into a cycle of desire, crime and punishment. “You could take a protectionist perspective and tell everyone to shut off their televisions,” he says. “But I just take an awareness perspective. I don't think it's smart or possible to ban books, shut off all of the televisions in the world and call it a day. But once we know how the media works, we can make sure we aren't suckers.” Joe Behson is the president of Media Awareness Consulting in New York. He is also a licensed psychologist. He can be reached at JBEHSON@nycap.rr.co. Related resources: Center for Media Literacy PBS: Don't Buy It Campaign |
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