TV's Effect on Youth Development
Is there proof that television is a negative influence?
Jul 27, 2006
Christina* recently found out she was pregnant. It wouldn't be so bad if she weren't 16 years-old and still in high school, failing miserably. Weeks later, after suffering a sudden miscarriage of the fetus, Christina's doctor informed her she had contracted gonorrhea from her last sexual partner.
Though gonorrhea is curable and pregnancy worries are no longer a concern for Christina, one still wonders if Christina has suffered enough to learn from her experience. One also questions where Christina was introduced the idea to become sexually active so early.
Amidst recent reports of increasing numbers of reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, syphilis and herpes among America's teenagers and young adults, and more particularly, African-American young people, it is most fitting that the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, a national health policy, research and analysis foundation, recently held its latest roundtable discussion on the foundation's biennial study Sex on TV 4. The roundtable discussion featured Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy; Fox Television Networks President and CEO Tony Vinciquerra; Dr. Neal Baer, executive producer of Law & Order:SVU and ER; behavioral scientist and RAND Corporation researcher, Rebecca Collins; and National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Executive Director, Sarah Brown and Senator Barack Obama.
The discussion was fueled by Kaiser research that indicated that the number of sexual scenes on television have nearly doubled since 1998. And, although some shows include references to "safer sex" issues such as condom use, abstinence or consequences of risky behavior, there has not been an increase in these messages as sexual content steadily becomes mainstream. The study examined over 4, 000 television shows and more than 1, 000 hours of programming that excluded daily newscasts, music videos, sports events and children's shows.
The Kaiser Foundation found that, "Among shows with any sexual content, 14% include at least one scene with a reference to sexual risks or responsibilities-up from 9% in 1998 but approximately the same rate as in 2002 (15%)." One researcher, Vicky Rideout, stated, "Television has the power to bring issues of sexual risk and responsibility to life in a way that no sex ed class or public health brochure really can."
The question is, will young people like Christina, who did not attend this roundtable and most likely will not watch its broadcast on-line or on television, understand the intent of Baer and other producers who continue to create programming that is found on television? Will the intent make much a difference to the young people who are latch-key kids and often left unattended to watch whatever is on the tube?
Perhaps the Kaiser Foundation will follow their lead and include music videos, which comprise up to 85% of most urban teens television viewing experience, in their future studies and roundtable discussions.
For more information on the this study, the roundtable discussion and more information on the Kaiser Family Foundation, visit Kaiser Network.org.
*Named changed to protect identity
