THE ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN SOCIALIZING CHILDREN (A CASE STUDY OF EDO STATE)

ABSTRACT: Journalists willing to advocate for children and young people face the challenge of counterbalancing negative images or 'deionization' (Franklin and Horwath 1996) of children and, particularly, of adolescents, in print, television and film. Starkly contrasting with once popular views of childhood as a time of innocence, less than positive images of children and young people in the media may place obstacles in the path of attempts to prevent their abuse and neglect. In the last 70 years, mass media such as radio, motion pictures, recorded music and television have become important agents of socialization. Television in particular is a critical force in the socialization of children. Many parents in essence allow the television set to become a child’s favourite “playmate”. It is generally agreed that children are exposed to a great deal of violence in the process. Mass media are important in socialization because they provide models of behaviour particularly among children.