The correlation between journalism and child development may seem minimal to many, but that’s exactly what Penn State graduate Annie Ward researched for her Schreyer Honors College thesis while earning her bachelor's degree in journalism.
Her thesis, titled “Raising the Media Generation: How Web-Based Media Influences Adolescent Development,” examines how web-based and digital media, such as social media, television, streaming services (like Netflix) and video games change the way adolescents perceive and conduct themselves. Ward focused on the developmental period of 10 to 19 year olds for her project.
“While technology can improve the educational development of young children in many ways,” Ward said, “some technology can also have negative impacts on adolescents as they grow.”
Ward explained the average American adolescent spends roughly seven and a half hours consuming media each day, in addition to academic-related media. While mobile devices and web-based media have many benefits, the effects of media consumption can differ for younger users, as today’s adolescents are experiencing added pressure from social media.
“When users are younger, they neglect to consider the manipulation that many photos and advertisements undergo prior to being published. This can impact their mental health and development as they age,” Ward said. “Adolescence is a fragile time in development where children begin to develop their own sense of identity. Individuals begin the search to find and understand themselves, continue to develop their self-esteem and discover where they fall within society.”