As a group we read four different articles about how the media is influencing our society.  Daily, young kids and teenagers are being bombarded by advertisements selling a variety of products. The number one product being advertised is food, which is why kids today are more obese than they used to be. As obesity is rising, so is the risk of diseases such as Type II diabetes and other heart problems. Another reason kids are obese these days is due to the fact that they spend so much time sitting in front of a television. Kids aren’t just watching their favorite shows, they’re also watching advertisements. Kids ages 8-12 see the most TV ads; 21 ads per day which totals 7,600 per year.  One-half of the ads shown on TV are for unhealthy foods, there were no ads selling fruits or vegetables.

 

When asked if companies selling junk food cared about the negative effects it was having on kids, they replied that they didn’t really care. Companies use different methods to appeal to children and teenagers. They target young kids by having cartoon characters, like Spongebob, on the covers of their products. Children are drawn to these unhealthy items and develop bad eating habits. Most kids are too young to make good choices on their own and companies promoting unhealthy food are taking advantage of this. The positive part is that a couple companies have pledged to devote half of their ads to promoting healthy food. Other people believe it would be a good idea to ban advertisements for items high in fat, salt or sugar. Obesity is a serious problem that is becoming more common in America. It’s time for companies to quit promoting bad products which leads to young kids gaining weight.

 

Sources:

 

 

 

Brianna N., Brittany H., Travis B. 

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

After researching childhood obesity, our group found that the rise in obesity is directly linked to the media. Below is a fictional letter our group wrote to a local newspaper explaining our concerns on how the media is affecting America's youth.  

220 Amherst Avenue

Sheboyqan Falls, WI 53085

 

The Sheboygan Press

632 Center Ave.

P.O. Box 358

Sheboygan, WI 53081

 

Editor:

 

After reading a recent article in the paper, we are concerned at how the media is trying to influence the minds of American kids. As part of the media that is informing our town, you have the ability to make the right choices and limit the bad influences that are spreading to young children. The number one cause to the rising obesity in children is the advertisements that the media is promoting to young children. In order to lower the risk of obesity in young kids, the media must realize the harmful side affects of nonstop advertisements and work towards preventing it.

 

 

Even at school children are vulnerable to the media's influence. If a child sees an advertisement featuring a cartoon character that they like, they might interest their friends in the product. Teachers are also adding to the media addiction problem by hanging up certain posters and allowing young kids to browse the internet.

 

 

Another location that the media has spread its influence to is the stores in town. Store owners strategically place toys are on the bottom shelves of store windows where children passing by are at eye level. The bright colors of the toy packages appeals to the children and then they quickly beg their parents to buy it for them. At an early age children are able to decide what they want, even if these decisions aren’t wise.

 

 

The media has leaked into every aspect of our lives today and is even found in restaurants. Restaurants should be places where families can go to get away from all distractions and spend time together. Instead, media in restaurants takes the form of games on place mats and as cartoon characters on the cups children are drinking out of.

 

Parents, as guardians of teenagers and young kids, should make an effort to control the negative media that kids are being subjected to.