Communications and Media

    Media technologies over the years have come out to be some of the most dangerous elements in the society due to their negative implications on sex and violence to people at different stages.  Psychology and criminal analysts concur that current trends in media technology development are so rapid and therefore not in tandem with critical extrapolation on their implications.  It is at this point that divergent views have resulted to consideration of media implications on sex and violence to be a hot-button-issue. 

Lawrence, Sharon and Alan (2009) explain that while proponents of media indicate that people of all ages must be effectively be subjected to realities in social life, opponents hold the view that the current media implications is pushing the society to the verge of collapse.  It is from the above consideration that this paper analyzes changes in the media sex and violence in the recent decades and its implications on children and adults.  The paper finally generates holistic recommendations for addressing the issue. 

Compare and contrast media sex and violence today to when you were a child
    According to Sarah et al (2010), media technologies and their associated negative impacts have greatly intensified after the information age era.  As a result, sharp differences are evident on the media sex and violence of 1980s and recently.  It is worth noting that 1980s marked a sharp turn towards intensification of the current technologies in the media industry. 

Notably, of television use in homes brought to the living room major pictures of war in Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia among other countries in relation to the cold war (Howell, 2008).  Though media is a common denominator for both ages, it takes place in variant intensities.  Cases of sex and violence influenced by the media were mild in 1980s a consideration that was contributed by lack of familiarity with the new technology, high government control and limited related violent tools. 

    In contrast to 1980s, media sex and violence is presently an all time high phenomena especially among the youth.  Notably, over 61 of all the TV programs have some violence in them while 64 contain sexual content (National Youth Violence Prevention, 2008).  In addition, 40 of the total bad programs have bad characters going unpunished.  Parents Television Council (2009) indicates that over 50 of children have televisions in their bedrooms a consideration that makes parents unable to control the content they watch.  As a result, over 46 of United States high school students have had sexual intercourse. Over 40 of youth involved in sex and violent crimes have some influence from the media (Sarah et al, 2010). 

    Unlike in 1980s when sexual abuse and harassments were societal deviations, the media has presently anchored their notion to be the norm.  Though the culture of violence and sexual abuse is strongly condemned both in practice and theory, Lawrence et al (2009) explain that it is highly regarded in the media.  In majority of the violent movies and games, the viewers often associate with the winning characters that successfully kills more opponents, conducts rape and other sexual assaults.  Howell (2008) points out that 10 of the total murders in the United States are conducted by youths who are below the age of 18 years.  Howell further laments from his findings that one out of every thirty women, three of them experiences either complete or attempted murder in their lifetime. 

    Unlike in the last decades of the 20th century, 21st century adult criminals are entirely derived form the media.  With most youths incarcerated of sexual and violence offenses having recidivism rates of over 60, Lawrence et al (2009) indicate that many adults offenders are carried from previous media influences.  

How media technologies increase the negative effects of sex and violence on children today
Peer influence
In his view, Richard, Glenn and David (2008) indicate that the media role in the society is informing and educating the community on key issues that spatial temporary affect them.  However, when this role is deviated from, the expected repercussion are indeed very negative and with great negative implications.  Lawrence et al (2009) indicate that with over 80 of the United States children being exposed to different types of media considerations such as the internet, music and television that have strong cases of sex and violence, their immediate social groups tend to center on related topics.  As a result, Sarah et al (2010) explain that this consideration circumnavigates in a whirlwind model as more children join it.  According to the pattern theory of crime, National Youth Violence Prevention (2008) indicates that once a criminal mind has been established, the crime will always take place when a chance arises.  Therefore, chances to practice what was seen in the media provide an effective platform for abusing others sexually or committing violence.   A good example to use in this case is the danger zone (after school hours) when children go unsupervised for three hours after 3pm.  


b) Role models
While analysts have so far failed to come up with an effective mechanism of addressing this problem of the media influence, Christopher, Claudia and Richard (2009) doubt if the solution will be found in the near future.  New media technologies have made it possible to manipulate audio visual information presented to the society to create particularistic effect.  Through the media, models who are mostly involved in crime are brought to the childrens homes and the extended communities.  In his view, Richard et al (2008) indicate that it is from this consideration that most children have been lost in the sea of violence.   By presenting models with bad habits to be very successful, they are easily emulated. 

From the above realization, Blow (2009) report in the New Times is therefore not surprising.  Blow indicates that after a violent event between Rihana and  Chris Brown (highly adored models), a 19 year old boy was arrested for threatening to hurt his girlfriend in a similar manner in Los Angeles.  However, the statistics presented after the story invokes some fear for the youths as well as the future of the United States.  Brown (2009) cites a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that indicate about 9 of children between the ninth to twelfth grades to have been physically hurt as a result of mimicking their role models. 

Besides, Richard et al (2009) explain that as computer games become more available to children especially in the internet, most of them easily try to mimic the most violent characters which result to violence in the society.  While virtual games in computers give the child effective choice of the arms to use, the real situation results to use of guns and knives which culminate to higher crime levels.  

Poor analytical capabilities
With advanced media technology bringing more audio visual images to the society, Howell (2008) indicates that childrens analytical capacities are indeed very limited.  In his theory of personality development, Erick Erickson indicated that development is cumulative and should be effectively nurtured with high objectivity.  From this consideration therefore, children view bad behaviors and practices in the media to be okay and therefore try to implement them.  Notably, Christopher et al (2009) indicate that at this point, the community fails to provide guidance and therefore creates a seemingly new world such as sex and violence which children further seek to explore.  It is critical that all the media information presented to children is given adequate guidance to avoid lifetime mistakes.     

How new media technologies have negative effects of sex and violence on adults today.

Role models and celebrity orientation

It is worth noting that though sex and violence implications from media technologies have largely been centered on youths, the adults have equally been affected.  Similar to the youths, the impression created by the media on lifestyles patterns models endangers adults greatly.   Sarah et al (2010) point out that most of the sexually related pictures and images create the sense that the presented lifestyles are indeed better.  As a result, many adults seek to emulate them a consideration that is culminating to increased cases of family and marital breakups in the community.  Particularly, pornography has resulted to increased violence and drastic changes on sexual patterns between partners (Christopher et al, 2009).  Christopher et al further laments that with many pictures being created through special software for business purposes, the manipulated images are taken to be real by the viewers.  For instance, promiscuity and having more sexual partner and the ability to satisfy them sexually as presented in pornography is increasingly being admired.       

Providing conviction in committing crime
In his view, Lawrence et al (2009) indicate that most adults view media as a possible source of information to effect their crime in the society.  Notably, cases dealing with adults on sex and violence are indeed very disturbing since considered to be in full control of their instincts.  Sarah et al (2010) report that many of the violent and other action movies are at times considered as operational guideline towards committing crime.  For example, Christopher et al (2009) indicate that the movie prison breaking has resulted to reduced fear of incarceration a factor that increases preference of violent crime in the society. 

Use of drugs
It is worth noting that most of the violent activities and sexual assaults as depicted in the media require an individual to be under influence of drugs.  As a result, drugs such as marijuana, cigarettes and cocaine have become common as the best approaches towards attaining specified status (Richard et al, 2009).  It is worth noting that there seem to be great preference in doing what is bad as opposed to what is right.  As Claudia (2010) puts it, many wives to Mexican drug barons often die after long battle with the police or their colleagues.  While expounding on drug cartels, Claudia reported that they had found a ripe market as a result of the increasing conviction on their use especially through the media.  Paradoxically, Lawrence, et al (2009) indicate that media is like a double edged sword that has great positives and negative implications.  Other drugs like alcohol equally contribute to violence by adults in their homes as well as with their colleagues.     

Minimizing sex and violence problems from new media technologies
    Owing to the strong negative effects that result from new technology in relation to sex and violence, it is important that the government establish legislations to criminalize use of such information either in private or in public.  In addition, there is need to re-establish strong drive towards assimilation of societal values.  These would be very crucial in self propelling the society towards ethical basements.  Besides, intrinsic education and awareness creation of negative implications of the media should be conducted to the society to avoid extreme effects.  This consideration should be emphasized especially children and youths.  Finally, it is critical that more research on levels and implications of negative media should be established. 

    It is from the above discussion that this paper concludes by supporting the thesis statement, media technologies over the years have come out to be some of the most dangerous elements in the society due to their negative implications on sex and violence to people at different stages.  It came out from the discussion that new technologies have greatly changed over time and therefore culminating to further intensification of sex and violence.  It is therefore critical that recommendations are effected with emphasis on long term objectivity.