Media and the effect in teens and children

Television is one of the most popular media sources for children. It is estimated that children under the age of 15 watch approximately 6-8 hours of television each day. A recent study done by Rand Publications showed a strong correlation between the amount of television watched by a teen, and premature sexual activity committed by a teen.
Most shows on MTV have drugs, sex, alcohol, drug use, and other things that are highly inappropriate for any child, especially one that is under the age of 15. When kids watch sexual content on television, they soak in the “facts” and begin to think and treat sexual intercourse the same way they view it on TV, casual and without consequences. The media represents a powerful source of information for teens, and when there is no counter-balance of information provided by parents or educators, consequences increase.
The media make sexual intercourse seem like normal, common behavior even for teens. The message that "Everyone does it" is relayed through television and in the movies. The need for birth control, the risks of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections, or the need for responsibility are rarely discussed. Because of this, the media functions as a "super peer," putting additional pressure on teens to have sex at a young age. In a 2004 survey of 2100 teenage girls, only 11-year-olds said that they do not feel pressure from the media to have sex.