It has been a hot topic discussed heatedly for the time being that how indeed the media influence our teens. Different people come up with different opinions. The following passages are two different comments given by several teenagers ranging from 15 to 20.
One, Teens are the most influenced and the easiest to be influenced by the media. The media influence the way they dress, talk and conduct themselves. From the latest trends to the coolest celebrities2, they imitate what they see, whether it's Katie Holmes's3 new haircut or the pink shirt that Christina Aguilera3 wore. So it follows that more serious actions like carrying arms or doing drugs could be copied as well.
For example, a 13-year-old boy recently landed in the hospital with terrible burns after copying a stunt4 from MTV's show. In its 30 minutes of ridiculous5 violence, the show makes self-bodily harm humorous—which becomes dangerous for teens who can't separate fact from fiction. So stars are considered to inherit the job of role model and should choose their actions wisely.
Young people are impressionable6. Therefore，some request that the media should take responsibility by changing some of the content of their shows—especially those for teens. They are huge consumers of media, so networks should show them respect by promoting positive images. They think some shows confuse7 the lines between entertainment and life. The producers know their audiences are young，so they should realize that teens watching “reality” shows might not be able to tell8 the difference between fantasy and fiction. Opposing voices have also come from others. They think that they use the media—magazines，television and movies—to connect to one another and to the world，so naturally，they're influenced by the images the media present. For example，a boy would be lying if he said he didn't want to be like Brad Pitt. Pitt's flawless9 style，good looks and moneymaking talent seem to define what's “cool”.
Nevertheless，those teens hold that the media only provide information，what they as viewers do with that knowledge is up to themselves. They have to learn to make their own choices and accept responsibility for their actions. To blame entertainment figures for certain crimes committed by teens is funny10. Boys don't set themselves on fire11 or body hurt12 each other just because those stars did it on TV. It's not the fault of TV. Media are an expression of our culture— not the cause. It's time we stop making the media a scapegoat13 for our nation's problems. It's not the media's job to make sure14 kids understand what they're watching; that responsibility belongs to15 parents. Parents and schools should dedicate16 more time to establishing clear rules of discipline. The influence of parents and teachers—the teens' true role model—carries more weight with teenagers than what they hear on the radio or see at the movies.
It seems that disputes will continue. Concerned with this situation, people are finding their way out17 to help teens. Each year, teens spend 1,200 hours on average in class—and 1,500 hours in front of the TV—which is why the Center for Media Education works with academic researchers and politicians to promote positive media. Its efforts have helped establish the standard that requires stations to provide at least three hours of educational programming per week.
“Media are a wonderful resource,” says President Kathryn Montgomery. “But the debate has focused too much on the harm and not enough on the potential to enhance18 kids' lives. One of our goals is to ensure that potential is fulfilled.”
Research from more than 1,000 studies shows that those who watch a high number of violent programs are more likely to imitate19 what they see and use aggression to resolve conflicts. But Montgomery sees a bright future20 if teens are encouraged to be a part of the creative process. “With the Internet, there's an opportunity for kids to help create quality programming—to have a voice and be more involved21.” And if teens play an active role shaping the media, hopefully they'll finally have influence.
传媒对青少年究竟有何影响？目前已经成为热点话题,在这方面讨论也很热烈，不同的人有不同的观点。下面是几个15到20岁的青少年的两种看法。
第一，青少年最容易受传媒影响，受其影响程度也最大。传媒影响他们的穿着、谈吐和行为举止。从最新潮流到最酷的名人，青少年仿效其所见所闻,从凯蒂·霍曼思的新发型,到克里思汀娜·安吉莉娜的粉红色衬衫。由此推断更严重的行为，像携带枪支和吸毒等，也能成为仿效对象。
例如,最近一位13岁的男孩因模仿MTV节目中的某项特技,造成严重烧伤而住进了医院。该片长达30分钟的暴力表演荒诞无稽，让自虐身体显得滑稽可笑，这对那些无法分辨真实和虚构的青少年来说是非常危险的。所以人们认为，明星应该继承好榜样，其一举一动都要谨慎。
正因为青少年比较容易受影响，所以，有些人呼吁传媒必须对青少年负责，改变其节目某些内容——尤其是那些针对青少年的节目。由于青少年是传媒庞大的消费群体,因此传媒网络应该树立正面的形象，以尊重他们。他们认为，一些节目模糊了娱乐表演和现实生活之间的界限。这些制片人知道，他们的观众还是小孩子，所以应该意识到观看“仿真”节目的青少年，也许不能把想像与虚构分辨开来。 但另一部分人则持相反的意见。他们认为自己在运用杂志、电视还有电影这些媒体来相互交流，加强和外界的联系。因而很自然的，传媒所树立的形象会对他们造成影响。比如，如果一个男孩子说他不愿意成为布莱德·彼得这样的人，那他一定是言不由衷。彼得以其完美的风度，帅气的外表以及赚钱的天赋，诠释了当前“酷”的含义。
尽管如此，这些青少年坚持认为传媒仅仅是在传递信息，至于受众怎样对待这些知识则由他们自己做主。他们应该学会自己作出选择，为自己的行为承担责任。因为青少年的一些犯罪行为而去谴责娱乐圈内人士，这听来实在荒谬。男孩子并不会因为看到电视中明星的表演就去效仿自焚或互相残害身体。电视并没有错。传媒也只是在表现文化，而不是造就文化。现在不应该再让传媒屈当社会问题的替罪羊了。让孩子们理解所看节目的内涵并不是传媒的职责，他们的父母才应责无旁贷。孩子的父母和所在学校还应该投入更多的时间去制定明确的纪律规章。父母和老师才是青少年真正的楷模，他们带来的影响远远超过青少年从收音机所听来的或是从电影中所看到的东西。
看来争论还要继续下去。不过，鉴于这种情况,人们正在寻找帮助青少年的方法。每年,青少年平均花在课堂上的时间为1,200小时，而在电视前为1,500小时。这就是“传媒教育中心”要与专家学者及政治家们联合起来以促成积极健康之传媒的原因。这种努力已帮助人们确立一套规范，即要求各电台、电视台每周至少要播放三个小时的教育节目。
“传媒是一种很好的资源,”“传媒教育中心”主席凯瑟琳·蒙哥玛丽说道。“然而争论往往过度集中在传媒的危害上,对其提高孩子们生活价值的潜力却没有足够的认识。我们的目标之一即是确保这一潜力的实现。”
1,000多份调查研究显示,那些经常看暴力节目的人更有可能仿效暴力,更倾向于以攻击来解决冲突。但是蒙哥玛丽认为，如果鼓励青少年加入到制作过程中,前景将会更加乐观。“有了互联网,孩子们就有机会参与制作高品质节目——提出自己的见解并更多地投身其中。”如果青少年在传媒定向方面能起到积极作用的话, 最终他们会影响传媒。
1． media n．媒体
2． celebrity n．名声, 名人
3． Katie Holmes; Christina Aguilera 均为美国公众人物
4． stunt n．特技表演
5． ridiculous adj． 荒唐可笑的
6． impressionable adj．容易受感动的, 敏感的
7． confuse v．把(界线,视线等)弄得模糊不清
8． tell v．分辨
9． flawless adj．无暇的，完美的
10．funny adj．可笑的, 滑稽的
11．set on fire 焚烧
12．hurt v．伤害
13．scapegoat n． 替罪羊
14．make sure 确定,确信,证实
15．belong to 属于
16．dedicate to 贡献，献身
17．find way out 找到出路、办法
18．enhance v．提高, 增强
19．imitate v．模仿
20．bright future 令人振奋的前景
21．be involved 与……有关，牵涉其中