By Letiesha Dunn
I remember in the 90’s when phones had green backlights and the only game you could play on your phone was snake. There were TV cable boxes (which were the tv controllers) with only so many buttons to change channels. Pagers were popular and we had to blow into game consoles just to get the system to work again. WIFI did not exist, and as a matter of fact, you could not use the internet and the phone at the same time. Most movie nights consisted of renting a VHS or DVD movie and getting some candy and popcorn from Blockbusters. Personally, I believe the 90’s was the last decade where people generally desired to interact and communicate with others face to face, where children were not constantly exposed to the television or social media and were more active on the outside of the house than they were on the inside. With that said, in the 21st century the enhancement of media and technology has changed many aspects of our lives and has had both negative and positive effects on individuals and families alike. However, when it comes to issues such as violence, I believe both technology and media has had negative effects on different individuals within a family.
Stalking, Domestic violence and technology
Technology provides access to people. Furthermore, the access can be chosen to be used inappropriately. For example, I remember asking a friend if she was at Yorkdale because i could access her location through the voice note she sent me on a specific app. Similarly, technology has been used to facilitate stalking in the context of domestic violence. According to Woodlock (2017), most perpetrators are ex partners or intimate partners who often desire control of an individual and uses tactics beyond physical abuse such as isolation, micromanagement and threats of violence. Research identified smart phones (GPS and emails), mobile phones and social media as the most common technological ways used to stalk an intimate partner (Woodlock, 2o17). Individuals within a family who are victims of stalking by intimate partners are at risk for physical and sexual violence which lead to life and death situations. In domestic violence situations, technology stalking causes fear, which is a factor that often hinders both women and men from leaving the relationship. Therefore, technology has a potential negative affect as it provides the tools needed when a member seeks to have control over another within a family.
Media violence and Developing aggression
Media is constant, whether it is social, gaming, the internet or television. According to CNN(2017), children spend more than 2 hours of their day looking at the screen. The question is what are they watching and how does this affect who they are? Coker et al,.(2015) conducted a research comparing the exposure of violence in correlation to the behaviours in 5th graders. A strong correlation between greater violent media exposure and aggression was noted. Aggressive behaviour as a child develops affects their ability to perform prosocial behaviour(Coker et al., 2015). Aggression in children and preteens disrupt peer interaction, progression in school and behaviour in the home. Granted, violent media isn’t portrayed as the only causative factor, but strongly contributes.
Anxiety and Desensitization
Media and technology in the 21st century is a constant variable as a family develops. Exposure to TV and media violence has been seen to cause long term effects beyond aggression. Bushman and Anderson ( 2015) identified that those who are constantly exposed to violent TV were more fearful of being victimized, developed trust issues and perceived the world as dangerous and hostile. These characteristics puts persons at risk for anxiety disorders which can become disabling. As a family unit, finding ways to gain more knowledge and combat anxiety would require active participation of all.
Bushman and Anderson (2015) further states that others became more desensitized to the act of violence so much that they were less aroused to real life violence. I remember growing up and having friends outside my neighborhood be fearful to visit because of the violence that they would hear happen often. Meanwhile, anyone from the neighborhood would say things like “ oh yea, it happens all the time”. However, what happens when we become so desensitized? Subconsciously, once we are exposed to certain stimuli’s constantly we begin to lose feeling for it. This makes me question the thoughts of children and young adolescence that are involved in school shootings. Has the exposure of constant media violence decrease ones regard for human life?
Breaking down the debate over violent video games and school shootings https://abcnews.go.com/US/breaking-debate-violent-video-games-school-shootings/story?id=55324231
To Conclude
Violence portrayed through media outlets and facilitated through the use of technology can negatively impact the development of the family both children and adults alike. Recognizing their role in stalking/domestic abuse, aggression in children and possible increase in desensitization and anxiety provides insight and enables families to be more cautious and seek safety measures to reduce the risks.
Reference
CNN,2017. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/health/children-smartphone-tablet-use-report/index.html
Coker, T. R., Elliott, M. N., Schwebel, D. C., Windle, M., Toomey, S. L., Tortolero, S. R., … Schuster, M. A. (2015). Media Violence Exposure and Physical Aggression in Fifth-Grade Children. Academic Pediatrics, 15(1), 82–88. https://doi-org.gbcprx01.georgebrown.ca/10.1016/j.acap.2014.09.008
Rich, M., Bickham, D. S., Wartella, E., Bushman, B. J., Anderson, C. A., Rich, M., . . . Anderson, C. A. (2015). Understanding causality in the effects of media violence. American Behavioral Scientist, 59(14), 1807-1821. doi:10.1177/0002764215596554
Woodlock, D. (2017). The abuse of technology in domestic violence and stalking. Violence Against Women, 23(5), 584-602. doi:10.1177/1077801216646277
LDunn 