The media, including
television, magazines, radio, internet and billboards surround everyone daily, sending messages about
what items to buy and why. While the effect is obvious among the adult
population, the effect is even more profound on the teenage population. The present day media has established a target on adolescents, influencing them to smoke, drink, look a certain way and dress a certain way in order to be accepted by society. This paper focuses on the affect that
television has on teenagers, showing that the average American teenager will view nearly 14,000 sexual remarks, sexual innuendos, and jokes per year. The paper details the negative effects on these youths, including an increase in violence, early sexual activity, substance abuse and eating disorders.