Running head: SEX IN THE MEDIA

COURSE TITLE: Media Use and Effects

COURSE IDENTIFICATION: COMM-45006
INTRUCTOR: James Hayes
COURSE COMPLETED: Fall 2015
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Final Research Paper
ASSIGNMENT PROJECT DESCRIPTION: For this assignment you will
choose a topic of your choice (must be approved by me first) and do research on it.
Once you have collected all of the information you wish to write about, try to
provide a two sided argument and come to a conclusion on which side you agree
with more and explain why. Please use proper APA formatting and all that fun
stuff.
REFLECTION: I included this piece in my portfolio because I really enjoyed
writing and learning about this topic. It is similar to other papers I have wrote but
what makes this one different is its focus on Sex in the media, not just the effects
media may have on society. If I had the chance to do this again, I would try to
focus on a more specific demographic.

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Sex in the Media

Kaylee M. McLaughlin
Kent State University

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Introduction
Mass media, whether we like it or not, has some type of impact on our society. One of the
biggest mediums that has major impacts and consequences are social media sites such as:
Facebook, twitter, and Instagram. What research has shown is that, these social media sites have
both positive and negative impacts, mostly on adolescence. A more narrow approach to this
research is to zero in on a specific issues within these site; sex in the media. Claims are made that
there are positive aspects to viewing social media, in contrast, there are also negative aspects of
consuming social media. In order to see the types of effects social media has on adolescence
viewing sex in the media, first there must be some information given on factors to social media.
We know all too well that the younger generations are constantly being exposed to numerous
amounts of content on social networking sites, but one of the biggest worriers is the amount of
sex that has accumulated over there years on these SNS and as discussed later on, adolescence
are in their prime when they are most influenced by the world around them.
Literature Review
There is concern about adolescences amount of sexual content they are being exposed to
through these social media sites that is said to have effects on their behaviors, beliefs, and sexual
attitudes (Grube & Gruber, 2000). As Grube and Gruber discuss, adolescence are the most at risk
group for effects of sex in the media because, cognitive skills that allow them to critically
analyze messages from the media and to make decisions based on possible future outcomes are
not fully developed (2000). Broadcast media analysts have shown that, on average, teens are

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being exposed to 143 incidents of sexual content per week. Of those sexual behaviors, three out
of four time have shown that these behaviors are between partners that are not married.
Positive Effects of Sex in the Media
For most, people just believe that there are only negative outcomes and consequences for
having sexual content and behaviors on social media, but, there are others that believe some
good can come out of it too. According to GreatSchools Staff, they say that teens are getting a lot
of their sex education from these social media site (2015). There are some public health experts
that believe, if done correctly, having sexual content in the media can educate teens on safe sex
practices (proper uses of birth control and condoms) and sexual transmitted disease (STD)
(GreatSchoolStaff, 2015).
Since teens are always being exposed to social media, as well as, viewing television, the
argument is brought up that, You cant always be around to cover your kids eyes or ears, but
you can help them develop inner compasses by sharing your feelings about the role of sex in
their lives says, GreatSchoolStaff. What better way to help inform teens about sexual behaviors
that are portray poorly on television than use a medium that they are already accustomed to.
These researchers are suggesting to use these bad views as motivation to turn things around and
teach right from wrong. Researchers say that, of teens who watch television with sexual
content, 72% of them are then being influenced (GreatSchoolStaff, 2015).
Based off of a statistical survey published by the Journal of Adolescent Health, social
media acts as sexual super peer for young adults and it seems to be where they are getting their
information from (Jones, 2006). They also say that media viewing has the same amount of
influence as religion or the relationship one has with their parents (Jones, 2006). Because of this,

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and the negative stigma having the sex talk brings with teens, viewing this media content is a
way for them to save face and avoid embarrassment, but these researchers are trying to have
parents openly talk about sex so kids dont get the negative impressions that sex in the media
gives off.
Negative Effects of Sex in the Media
Media such as: Tv, movies, the internet. Etc. does not show the negative consequences of
engaging in these sexual behaviors which they are being exposed to (Gilbert, 2010). One huge
issue that studies have shown is that, with the amount of sexual content being aired on television
and being shown in movies, they rarely ever show any actions to safe sexual activities or any
negative consequences that comes out of engaging in sexual activities.
Health professionals and policy makers are concerned about premarital sexual activities
and the negative outcomes that can happen such as, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted
disease, that these television shows lack to show (Grube & Gruber, 2000). A survey conducted
by Youth Risk Behavior in 2009 says that 46% of high school students have had sex; about one
in six with multiple partners; of that percent, only 39% recall using a condom with these sexual
activities (Gilbert, 2010). Thus, bringing up the point that teens and young adults need better sex
education and understanding the consequences of having unprotected sex can lead to. Some
research has found correlations between sociodemographic (gender, age, and ethnicity) to what
they preferred to view, understand, and interpret in terms of sexual content in the media (Grube
& Gruber, 2000).
There is a fear that teens may not be cognitively developed enough to pull apart the
messages they are seeing on social media site (this specifically focusing on television) (Grant,

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2003). A claim is made that social media sites are bombarding teens at an age where they are
high vulnerable and highly influenced on what they see. The average teen spends about three to
four hours a day consuming television (Grant, 2003). Experts say we need to take into
consideration of how violence is looked at by viewers of televisions and the impacts it has
caused on teens who are enacting in violent behaviors, i.e. if teens can learn violent behaviors
from TV, could they not also be able to do the same with sexual behaviors? (Grant, 2003).
Conclusion
Teens will always have access to social media site, which also means they are being
exposed to (at some point) sexual content. There can be both positive and negative effects of this,
it depends which we as individuals believe are more important to focus on. A positive effect
would be to take advantage of social media to promote safe sex behaviors and sex education
(GreatschoolsStaff, 2015). On the other hand, the fear that teens at this age are not cognitively
mature enough to retain the content they are being exposed to (Grant, 2003).

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References

Great School Staff. (2015). Sexual Behavior: What Teens Learn from Media.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/mar/22/pressandpublishing.broadcasting
Grant, Christina. (2003). Teens, sex and the media: is there a connection? Pediatric Child Health.
8(5): 285286. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792686/
Jones, Sam. (2006). Media Influence adolescence sex. The Guardian. Retrieved from
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/mar/22/pressandpublishing.broadcasting
Gilbert, Sarah. (2010). Sex in the Media: A New Study Finds Troubling Links to Teens.
Daily Finance. Retrieved from http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/04/sex-in- the-media-anew-study-finds-troubling-links-to-teens/
Grube, W. Joel & Gruber, Enid. (2000). Adolescents Sexuality and the Media. Western Journal
of Medicine. 172(3): 210214. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1070813/