Children tell us they think kids their age are influenced by the media, that television should help teach kids right from wrong, and that the shows they're seeing now don't reflect the kinds of issues they're facing in their own lives. Most kids had plenty of good things to say about the media as well, and both their concerns and their praise should be heeded by those in the entertainment industry whose work these kids are watching. Now conducts annual public opinion surveys of young people ages, 10-17, concerning their relationship with the media and how they believe it affects their lives. The following poll questioned children about values in the media they consume. Children are widely exposed to the media.
Children believe that kids their age are influenced by the entertainment media.
Children say television and movies do an average job addressing the issues they think are most important. Kids think television does a pretty good job offering positive portrayals of girls and ethnic minorities. Older girls have a much different opinion on the subject. The results were then weighted to reflect the overall population. Respondents for interviewing were selected from a random digit dial sample, thereby allowing access to all listed and unlisted phone numbers.