Media

Tristan Wong

The Dangers of Violent Media Exposure In Youths

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Hello there,

My name is Tristan. I’m an undergraduate student from Toronto Metropolitan University, expected to graduate in the spring of 2026. The realm of communication always felt open to interpretation and exploration. The modes of messages have always been fundamental to functional civilizations. Leaders, politicians and influencers exemplify a mastery of audience communication and harnessing that power over the public to forward their own goals. Recently, I’ve been actively involved with following and researching how the news communicates politics, world events and social structures. I believe that media, real and fictional, serves a fascinating role in North American societies. I believe we are so reliant on their knowledge and authority to characterize our outlooks on situations and their efforts can even change our personalities. I aspire to obtain a position within this richly layered industry, learning about the nuances of reporting and analyzing the successes and failures of prior persuasive works.  Communication is a talent and passion I’m eager to continue throughout my future career.

This research study asks what types of violent media content are most commonly consumed by youths of today and the drastic impacts it can impose on their overall health. Violence circulates more attention than ever before, with constant headlines sprawling over high-traffic social media, reminding hapless viewers on local and international tragedies or intense conflicts. Depending on the demographic this information at certain influxes may be too much to bear and transpire into psychological damages with everlasting consequences.

I wanted to uncover how deadly violent news media can be when consumed by adolescents in frequent dosages. To my understanding, the general public agrees with this stance but are unsure of the gravity or the solution.  I feel there was something far more deeper to unpack when it comes to the moving variables that surround the central root cause of this issue. There’s culpability to be had by certain corporations who directly monetize off this issue by pulling back an unfiltered curtain for everyone to see, no matter the age range or possible inadvertent damages.

This study used a qualitative method of data collection using scholarly research articles, social media post analytics and news sources. To fully articulate the depth of this problem, diversity in studies was a necessity. The findings in the data showcased that observing or digesting violent media DOES and has always been harmful to a youth’s feelings of desensitization and safety. Stress, worry and anger are enhanced by these reminders that the world is filled with conflict, unfairness and cruelty with uncertain resolutions. Youths should not experience the weight of this burden, especially when developing their mentalities.

This research study dives deeper into these concepts, outlining how this problem is systematically programmed into the work ethics of mainstream organizations and further explains the degrees of suffering youths can endure when not adequately accounted for. Inappropriate content can be found everywhere, but not everyone should be able to find it anywhere.

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