Impact of medias

Jonathan BOULIANNE

Langue anglaise et culture

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MIDTERM WRITING EVALUTATION

The Impact of Media on young adults

Travail présenté à

Mme Amélie GRACE

Département de Commercialisation de la mode

Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy

Vendredi 20 octobre 2017

THE IMPACT OF MEDIA ON YOUNG ADULTS

Introduction:

        The impact of media on the psychosocial development has been a significant issue for young adults since the arrival of advertising and Internet. Are these problems need to be taken seriously? Definitely. For example, advertising increases alcohol consumption by showing promotions and benefits of absorption of this substance. They also found different ways to promote tobacco consumption, which is legally prohibited by law in the territory of Canada in advertising, by indirectly introducing cigarettes through other advertisements. Also, advertising encourages fast food consumption, which is completely bad knowing that the rate of obesity is increasing among young people. That is not all. Television has become a sex educator by introducing sexual behaviors in movies and tv shows; video games have started to teach violence since their arrivals, etc.

Development:

        First of all, impacts of advertisements are enormous. The consumption of alcoholic drinks and fast foods have increased since the arrival of those negatives advertising. In fact, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society, some alcohol manufacturers spend at least 10% of their budget on advertisements warning about drinking and driving. That should not be a problem technically but, young adults do not entirely understand the concept of all those commercials. They, unfortunately, increases the consumption of alcohol. Based on an annual analysis, teenagers see between a thousand and two thousand beer advertisements. Besides, these beer commercials send a message to young men that “real” men drink beers, which is a big stereotype in our society. Another problem of media is the fast foods consumption. There is, according to the American Psychological Association, a childhood obesity epidemic, which is a severe health problem. This epidemic touches teens ages 12 to 19.  Nowadays, young adults spend more time watching television and games screen than others activities. Advertisements enhance the consumption of fast foods and increase the risk of obesity among young people. To summarize, alcohol and fast foods consumption have been a serious problem in our society creating health problems and dangerous driving issues.

        Secondly, the power of media is enormous. Advertisements increase sexual and violent behaviors. In fact, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society, television exposes children and young adults sexual practices at the point that they considered them as normal and risk-free. Also, sex between unmarried partners happens 24 times more often than sex between a partnered couple. This affirmation also demonstrates that infections and unwanted pregnancy are increasing. Then, videos games are a problem for young because of the violent content. Unfortunately, they have a harmful effect on the psychological development by teaching teens violent behaviors as normal. Another problem is the tobacco industry. Since 1988, tobacco advertisements are prohibited in Canada. For fighting against this law, industries have found ways to promote their products. For example, some cigarette companies partnered events and carry their logo everywhere; this is a passive promotion. Everyone knows that young adults like to go to events: sports events, cars race events, etc. Brief, there are a lot of impacts of media in our society concerning sexual and violent practices. Without forgetting that tobacco is, nowadays, still a big industry and have consequences on health.