Time spent with media often displaces involvement in creative, active, or social pursuits. 7-10 Violence appears in various forms of media entertainment, such as movies, video games, and television news. Research has shown that news reports of bombings, natural disasters, murders, and other violent crimes have the potential to traumatize young children. Popular movies are often showing the lead character or likeable characters using and enjoying tobacco and alcohol products. Although there is concern that overstimulation from high levels of media use might lead to attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity, there has been no research to date that demonstrates such a causal relationship.
Media education is defined as the study and analysis of mass media.
A media-literate public is able to decipher the purpose and message of media rather than accepting it at face value. With an educated understanding of media images and messages, users can recognize media's potential effects and make good choices about their and their children's media exposure. Media education represents a multifaceted approach to understanding and eliminating the negative impact of media images and messages on young people. At the same time, it allows the positive and prosocial uses of media to be explored and appreciated. Media education includes the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and produce media products.