Adolescence Behaviour towards Television Programmes

It is now widely accepted that the adolescence is a time of transition involving multi –dimensional changes; biological, psychological (including cognitive) and social. Biological they

Adolescence

are experiencing pubertal changes, change in brain structure and sexual interest. Psychologically, adolescence capacities are maturing. And they experience certain changes that make them fit to assumed roles in family, and society. Adolescence go through this various psychological and physical changes to prepare them for adulthood

Mcquail (2005:6) argues that an audience can be defined in difference and overlapping ways. Audience by place, that is the case of local media, by people when the audience is characterised and appeal to certain group , gender, political people by particular types of media technology involved in origination combined by the content of messages ,subject matter, style by size that is when one speak of the day time or primetime audience. According to john (1997) cited in Asemah (2011:25) is as a result of technical breakthrough and pressures which is changing the mass media dramatically they decided to streamline their areas of coverage to a specific interest of people . There are difference area of interest in the society like sport, religion, business politic, educations and more. Most of television programmes focus on one interest; their interest could be the education and the segmented audience “Adolescence”. This therefore constitute concept of adolescence as the television audience as a result of audience fragmentation. For example we have television station that are strictly for cartoon and educational programmes for children and adolescence, while some are for religious activities and so on. This television programmes pick a section of the society that appeals to them. They look for specific audience as their viewers, readers and listeners.

Much adolescence spent hours a day watching television. This television programmes has the potential to significantly shape their behaviour in certain manner. Most adolescence behaviour toward television programmes could be passive or active depending on their interest, level of exposure and what the messages could impact to them.
According to Jeffres (1994:187-188) adolescence period is a time of searching and introspection in which the adolescence confronts the need to find a suitable in adult- dominated society. The attempt to escape from parental influence and often dissociation from others in the family. He added that the media capture the attention of adolescence for significant portions of time and possible interaction with television characters and some of the lessons on television are useful in their own lives. It period is very crucial in shaping their adult life. Because they are still on a biological, social and psychological journey. Adolescence of 21st century is restless because of the pubertal period and most times, they lack interest in television programmes because they feel like there is nothing fun, captivating and adventurous television programmes can impact to them due to advancement in technology and availability of social media.
I advice parent allowed their adolescence to watch more educative television programmes than dwelling more on social media. Although social media is a blessing disguise. In which there are numerous flow of information that are educative and also out pour of harmful information that can be damaging to their minds because the are no parental control. So more emphasis should be laid on producing a better package and quality educative television programmes that can served the adolescence. When they do not get the right information from the right source at that stage in their life. They will absolutely get it from the wrong source. We all know how information can shape our mind into adulthood. Those information we have gathered from childhood and adolescence stage into adulthood is what make most of us behave the way we do.

Television programmes for adolescence should be properly research out and captivating too. You know the adolescence age is the hardest to train a child because of the biological, social and psychological and physical transition they are going through. If you are not smart and careful you could have it all wrong. Most of the adolescence are more in tune with exciting programmes except for the few nerdy ones. They want to act and behavior as their role model on television. Parents should not leave their job for the movie and music stars to mentor their children alone. Get involved. Because you don’t want to be throwing blames at the end of the day. The husband will be like” Darling you are to blame for our daughter behaviour” and the wife will quickly cut in. “Do you dare point those fingers at. Where were you when this and that were happening”. Before you know it quarrel have crawl in. One person will say” you know what am done with this,i want out. The adolescence child will be shuffle up and down.

Like they say prevention is better than cure. Expose your adolescence to educative television programmes because it has a positive effect on them.