Mass Media Representation of Young People

Question 1

Common Stereotypes

Answer 1

• Deviant or criminal (e.g., gang members, knife crime).
• Rebellious or disrespectful (anti-authority).
• Vulnerable (in need of protection).
• Obsessed with appearance or social media

Question 2

Key Studies

Answer 2

• Wayne et al. (2007)
• Cohen (1972)

Question 3

Wayne et al. (2007)

Answer 3

• Youth often portrayed as a threat to society in news coverage.
• freq. portrayed as troublemakers, assoc. with crime, gangs, or antisocial behaviour
• argued this creates a “moral panic” about youth

Question 4

Cohen (1972)

Answer 4

• Moral panics
• media amplifies deviance among youth (e.g., mods and rockers).

Question 5

critical perspective

Answer 5

Media reinforces social norms by contrasting deviant youth with adult authority.

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

• Ignores positive portrayals (e.g., activism, success stories).
• Social Media now gives youth a platform to create counter-narratives

Question 7

representation of children in media & effect

Answer 7

• Often portrayed as vulnerable and in need of protection.
• Media can socialize children into consumerism, increasing peer pressure

Question 8

representation of Young People in media & effect

Answer 8

Frequently depicted as problematic (e.g., gang-related crime) or exceptional achievers. - This can lead to moral panics and reinforce stereotypes

Question 9

Reinforcement of Stereotype

Answer 9

For example, portraying young people as rebellious or old people as burdensome can reinforce ageist attitudes.

Question 10

Influence on Policy and Social Movements

Answer 10

Media coverage can shape public opinion and influence political discourse, driving social movements or policy changes.

Question 11

Wayne et al (2008) - %

Answer 11

Found that 82% of media stories about young people were negative.

Question 12

Cohen (1972) , focused on

Answer 12

• Focused on the Mods and Rockers in the 1960s.
• The media exaggerated and sensationalised youth disturbances, labelling them as “folk devils”, which led to public fear and harsher policing.

Question 13

Cohen (1972), introduced the concept of

Answer 13

moral panic, now widely used to understand media portrayal of youth.

Question 14

Heintz-Knowles (2002)

Answer 14

• analysis of American TV representations of teenagers
• Found that teenagers are often portrayed as shallow, materialistic, & obsessed with romance.
• Rarely shown engaging in serious issues or academic success.

Question 15

McRobbie & Thornton (1995)

Answer 15

• Argued that moral panics are less effective now due to media saturation and fragmentation.
• Young people can now challenge stereotypes through new media (e.g. social media platforms).