Print Media

Print media refers to publications that are distributed in a printed form on paper, such as newspapers, magazines, and advertisements. Print media is one of the most common ways for people to stay informed about current events, technology and other special interests (Answerbag). Print media plays a huge role in influencing teenagers’ culture all over the world. Does print media reflects today's teens, or are today's teens influenced by media portrayals of young people? It's important that parents discuss these issues with their teens, and challenge the materialistic values promoted in the media. The following context will discuss the major issues teenagers are facing today through print media.

Print Media’s Influence on Teenage Smoking

The print media and advertisements have an influence on our teenagers. For example, Joe Camel smoking ads were used for the purpose of showing teenagers that smoking is cool. Joe Camel’s ads influenced other tobacco companies to follow suit in promoting smoking among teenagers. Tobacco products were banned from radio & TV in 1971, so “the tobacco corporations have been finding other way to infiltrate into the lives of adolescents.” This shows how print media has affected teenagers through the use of images to change the lifestyle and acceptance of our youth. (Read more)

A survey was conducted of 117 teenage students about the portrayal of smoking in media. Teenagers showed signs that smoking was normal and acceptable. Some young people noted the acceptance of smoking in a social setting as well as looking “cool” among their peers. It states that,  “positive images of smoking in the media have the potential to down-play the serious health consequences of smoking by portraying it in a way that young people interpret as a normal part of everyday life” (Health Education Research, Vol. 18, No. 5, 554-567, October 2003).(Read more)

How Magazines Impact Female Teens

Many magazines can impact female teenagers in either a positive or negative way. Print Media has proven to show teenagers how to look good through articles on appearance, advertisements or photos. Articles on appearance often show young girls information on how to get perfect abs, how to have the perfect makeup look and it shows tips on what to wear. Advertisements often show beauty products, hair products, clothing and perfume. In these advertisements, however magazines often show underweight women and over muscular men. The photos shown in magazines are often photo shopped and only show flawless skin and no imperfections in women. When teenage girls see this, they want to have the appearance that the magazine is portraying. The ideal look of beauty can make teenagers feel depressed when they compare their bodies to the ones shown in magazines.

Recommendations: 
  • Talk to your teenagers about health risks of smoking
  • Show your teenagers after effects of smoking
  • Limit the magazines your daughter has access to, don’t subscribe to a magazine without looking through it first
  • Talk to her about health risks of becoming too thin
  • Talk to her about how the models in magazines have been photo-shopped or airbrushed
  • Start an advertising awareness program at her school

1 comment:

  1. thought-provoking material; great pictures; good statistics and documentation; strong tie-in to other topics related to advertising (TV);
    great recommendations;
    open communication with teenagers is key!
    very insightful points about female teenagers and the impact of print media on their self-esteem and self-perception.
    WELL DONE! AMP

    ReplyDelete