Societies’ attachment to media has increased as the development of technology increased. Social media, TV shows, movies, advertisements, and all forms of media play a large role in most Americans’ daily lives. The content that is advertised to us can change our perceptions and subconsciously influence our decisions.
Media Portrayal
Many TV shows and movies have scenes of the characters in party scenes, partaking in drug use or alcohol consumption. A lot of these scenes portray these occasions as fun, lively, and exciting. They often fail to outline the dangers of these behaviors. Unfortunately, this can make these behaviors seem almost expected in these false realities. Engagement with these shows can cause adolescents to perceive substance use as normal behavior and even encourage the decision to try a variety of substances.
A 2019 article by Jena Hilliard titled “The Influence of Social Media on Teen Drug Use” shows that viewing advertisements may increase a variety of behaviors. Even simple advertisements promoting a brand of beer can persuade people to grab a drink, potentially turning into problematic behavior. Back when smoking cigarettes was extremely common, and even recommended by doctors, many commercials were advertising the positive use of cigarettes. For a while, after e-cigarettes were developed, they were advertised as the new alternative to cigarettes and a healthier way of smoking. While there is still a lack of research on this matter, the media seems to be turning away from positively advertising these.
Personal Image
Many teenagers and adults are influenced by the portrayal of celebrities. Worrying what society will think of their own appearance, actions, and overall personality, some individuals can fall into the trap of obsessing over how their own followers or friends on social media will perceive them. Those who try to create a picture-perfect image of themselves may be drawn toward behaviors that are harmful or out of character in hopes that society will view them in an idealistic way.
Long-term drug use has many side effects, some of which alter our physical appearance, and consistent substance abuse can lead to a variety of physical health issues. Many celebrities who take part in this behavior have a variety of surgeries, editing, and image-altering effects to make them appear as perfect as possible. This hides the negative physical effects of substance abuse and actually can cause society to believe that substance abuse may enhance their image.
Media has a large influence on the obsession over looks; however, this also can lead to false expectations about the outcomes of certain behaviors and actions, which can potentially lead to addiction. It is important to understand the difference in media’s portrayal compared to reality. Substance abuse is often portrayed as fun and consequence-free. If their role models online are engaging in this behavior, individuals are led to believe it is not as harmful as it is.
Peer Influences
Through the use of social media, many teenagers find posts of their peers drinking or using drugs. Exposure to this sharing of social behaviors can encourage teenagers to view this behavior as normal. When peers are posting about these behaviors, they usually portray only the positive aspects of these behaviors, not showing the strong negative effects these substances can have or how they can lead to addiction.
90% of adolescents and young adults regularly use social media. 99% of college-age social media users have posted some form of content related to alcohol consumption. These rates are drastic, which shows how social media can affect others’ perceptions of alcohol consumption. Posting the use of other substances is much less common than posting about alcohol; however, it is still present as an influence on others.
Positive Effects on Addiction
While media may have many effects in increasing the likelihood of addiction, it can also be used to influence individuals away from addiction. Advertisements showing the health risks of smoking, drinking, driving under the influence, and using other dangerous substances can reinforce a viewer’s motivation to stay away from drugs. Some movies and TV shows have scenes where drinking and partying lead the character to an unsafe situation, in which the character finds themselves in a great deal of trouble. These shows can influence individuals to avoid using drugs and reach the level of addiction. Implementing more forms of media with this focus can help to lower the overall rates of addiction within our society.
Paying attention to the forms of media you consume and choose to engage with is extremely important if you are currently working through addiction or tend to follow the influences of others. Pay attention to shows and media portrayals that show the truth of substances abuse and choose to support them. Engaging in shows with an accurate portrayal can help you understand the true effects of a substance and not persuade you into following the behavior subconsciously.
Media portrayal plays a large role in subconscious choices to engage in substance use, potentially leading to addiction. As media is a strong influence on our everyday lives and overall trends in society, the portrayal of substance use can have a strong effect on the way society views this behavior. By neglecting to show the harmful effects and portraying a glamorous image of substance use, the media encourages these behaviors. The media we choose to engage in can influence our decisions, behaviors, self-image, surrounding peers, and overall social stigma. Fortunately, this means we can influence our own behaviors by being selective about the media we consume. It is important to avoid media that may influence you toward developing or maintaining an addiction. Instead, support media influences that are honest about substance abuse. To learn more about media’s influence on addiction, reach out to Dream Recovery at (949) 732-1960.