Media Messages Matter: How Children’s Media Shapes Young Boys

I watched a TED talk posted a decade ago about how children’s media was subtly shaping how young boys understood masculinity. The presenter of this talk, Colin Stokes, unmasked a stark difference between content designed for young girls and young boys. Content for young girls included building community and relationships with others, while content tailored toward young boys often revolved around a male character embarking on a quest or battle alone. While the latter is not innately bad, I questioned how these storylines impact how young boys perceived asking for help or building relationships.

Ten years have passed since the posting of this talk, leading me to wonder how children’s media has evolved since this period. Given that today’s children are spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, an amount equivalent to a full-time job for adults, it inevitably raises concerns about the media content itself. It’s crucial to ensure that children’s media is not detrimental to their well-being.

In a 2020 study on children’s media, researchers examined representations of masculinity in the most popular boys’ television shows, particularly for boys ages seven to thirteen, from 2018. The results presented a mix of findings, some positive and some negative.

Here are a few of the positive findings:

Nearly half of the male characters are depicted in relationships. It is important for young boys to see male characters in community with others, reminding them that building relationships is a healthy component of life. When boys only see male characters endure challenges on their own, it reinforces the idea that they should not ask for help when they need it.

Less than one percent of male characters persisted in pursuing romantic interests after rejection. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that storylines in children’s media are teaching young boys how to respect others’ preferences. This general lesson on respect ultimately lays the foundation for understanding consent, an important lesson for all to learn at a young age.

Here are some of the not-so-positive findings:

Male characters exhibit fewer emotions, including empathy and happiness. While not surprising, it is unfortunate that many children’s media programs today do not depict male characters expressing their full range of emotions. This only perpetuates the stereotype that young boys should suppress their feelings, as they do not see what healthy emotional expression can look like within media.

Male characters of color are shown displaying shame more than white male characters. It is essential for children’s media to change the way characters of color are portrayed. In its current state, young boys of all backgrounds will receive the message that men of color are worthy of shame and do not deserve the same respect as others.

Male characters are more prone to perpetrate violence than female characters. While violence may be a part of media for adults, it is concerning that it is a part of children’s media. We need to show young boys that violence is not a form of resolution and there are other peaceful methods of communication to resolve conflicts.

Evidently, media serves as a powerful tutor for young boys, directly and indirectly teaching them the social norms of masculinity. As a society, we must transform the unhealthy norms ingrained in children’s media. While we may not be able to get rid of existing media, we can use it as an educational tool. By providing context and information, we can teach young boys to discern between constructive and detrimental behaviors depicted on screen. We can collaborate with parents and educators to offer positive and healthy examples of masculinity that young boys can emulate.

We want the boys of today to become socially responsible adults and tomorrow’s exemplary citizens. Therefore, we bear the responsibility to challenge the messages that seek to dictate their paths otherwise. Let’s empower society’s young minds with narratives that encourage empathy, diversity, and healthy masculinity, inspiring them to forge a future defined by compassion, equality, and strength of character.