In a world run by the media’s fast-pace rhythm and uncanny declarations, the media’s impact on today’s youth has become a more pressing issue than ever before.  Although the media’s ability to be a danger to society has been an issue since the printing of the very first newspaper, with today’s technology and news at the touch of our fingertips, our generation seems to be in some serious trouble.  Deciphering the difference between fact and fiction has become a blurred line that very few are able to differentiate.  In addition, achieving independent thought as a teenager becomes a nearly impossible task as our personal opinions become tainted by what the media describes as socially correct or acceptable.

Quite recently, Elle magazine tweeted the link to an article about model Leah Kelley beside a caption that read, “why model Leah Kelley is proud to call herself plus size.”  In the article, a picture of the named model in a skimpy bathing suit was displayed with a slim figure that most would label skinny, or fit at the least.  The strong, negative reaction to the article demonstrated readers’ frustration at the misleading “plus size” label.

[ot-caption title=””Elle magazine calls model Leah Kelley “plus size” drawing criticism from many. ( Source via Elle Magazine Twitter)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/2014-10-09_13-42-31.jpg”]

This sends the wrong message to all of the young teens who see these articles.  If Kelley is “plus size,” a girl reading the article who might not be as thin as Kelley might consider herself overweight!  This caption also sends the message that you have to be thin to exemplify beauty, which is both incorrect and disturbing to our society.

The issue regarding body image among our youth would not be such a large problem if people didn’t believe everything they read or see.  The media can be quite convincing, and oftentimes it is very difficult to differentiate between what is true and what is not.  For example, commercials on television display ads for pills that can reduce the after effects of a hangover, which only promotes negative behavior.  Besides the fact that these so-called pills are probably only a placebo, kids are beginning to believe everything they see in the media.  The absurd claims these various forms of news make are not only ridiculous, but also are threatening to transform society into a brainwashed culture solely dependent on everything in the media.

We live in a world where teens today are lost without their cellphones and bored without a television, but how much longer will it take before our society is totally reliant on the media?  I believe that the vast majority of the claims the media makes, seemingly factual, are, in reality, untrue.  Having said this, where would our society be without these various forms of news?  To avoid our youth becoming corrupt from media influence, it is essential to remember that  not everything you read is always accurate, and most importantly, doing what is socially “cool” according to the media should never supersede being happy, staying healthy, and being yourself.