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MEDIA ISSUE


Media Images of Teens

Student journalists from across Canada continue to write about and discuss how the media portrays young people — whether it is a popular television series, movie, television advertisments or print advertisments. These images can confuse young people, add to pressure pressure and poor self-image.

For example:

- In magazine ads, movies and popular television shows young woman are, for the most part, portrayed as slim, fashionable young girls.

- Alcohol related advertisements show "cool" images of young adults enjoying great lifestyles while drinking. The same holds true for cigarette advertisements

How do you feel about these images and how they affect young people?
Discuss the issue in class or with your friends.
Use a video camera to do a survey in your school on what people think!
Write an article about how it can affect a young person's self-image and how they relate to others!

HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT ASK.

What do you think?

How do you feel about ads and television shows that confuse young people on how they should look?

Do you feel advertisers and the companies they represent target young people intentionally?

What can you, as a young person, and society as a whole, do about these inappropriate portrayals?

How can you raise awareness of the issues - lobbying government, join groups, etc?

For further information check out:Media Awareness Network