Abstract

Teenagers spend more time with the media than they do in any other activity except sleeping. Is it mere coincidence that the rises in rates of adolescent sexual intercourse during the past 30 years have coincided with the new era of electronic media? Do the media merely reflect society's changes, or do they have the capacity to influence human behavior as well? Although currently part of the problem of teenage pregnancy, the media could become part of the solution, if they were to portray human sexuality responsibly and allow the advertising of contraception.

PIP:

Television (TV) and other media have become major sources of sex education for teens in the US. Although these media show prostitution, homosexuality, rape, frigidity, menopause, abortion, infidelity, divorce, and impotence, there is little about birth control, self- control, abstinence, or responsibility. Teens average 23-24 hours of TV a week, and by the time they graduate from high school, they will have 15,000 hours of TV time versus 11,000 hours of classroom instruction. American TV is sexually suggestive and has become more so in the last 10 years. Instances of hugging, kissing, physical and verbal suggestiveness have doubled in that time and sexual acts not portrayed 10 years ago are shown today. Teens have a tendency to believe and trust sexual portrayals on TV more than their parents. However, when asked about information on birth control, over 50% of teens get information from parents and friends and less than 25% from the media. Many studies have demonstrated that people who watch much TV get misconceptions of violent crime, the use of contraception, and sexual intercourse. Movies are viewed less, but are usually more explicit on sex than TV is, and magazines reflect the same trend as portrayed on TV and films. Rock music and music videos are often explicit about sex and especially the heavy metal groups, but it is not clear as to the effects on behavior because only 15% of the 12-18 year olds thought they new the lyrics to the songs. High teen pregnancies result from inadequate information and availability of birth control. TV executives are reluctant to allow advertisement of birth control, although a majority of the public including Catholics surveyed favor it on TV.