Title: Media Portrayals | Children and Screens
Headings: 
Research Summary [ 1]
FAQs [ 1]
How do media, especially those targeting children, portray various social groups?
What do we know about any negative consequences that media stories about social groups might have on children’s development?
Can media stories of social groups also lead to positive impacts on children?
Key Takeaways [ 1]
Guidelines for Parents [ 1]
Sources
Additional Information

Content: If at all present, marginalized groups (such as racial/ethnic/religious minorities, women, LGTBQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities) are largely limited to stereotypical misrepresentations and peripheral roles. Such stories often focus narrowly on a single dimension of identity (for instance, a person’s disabilities) without recognizing that multiple aspects of identities co-exist simultaneously in complex ways. What do we know about any negative consequences that media stories about social groups might have on children’s development? We know that the content and frequency of media stories that they consume impact children’s development. These stories shape young people’s shared norms, expectations, and attitudes about themselves and other groups around them. For instance, sexualization and objectification of girls and young women in the media have been associated with a range of negative outcomes, such as body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, appearance anxiety, depression, lower self-esteem, and reduced sexual well-being. The lack of representation of racial and ethnic minorities and the stereotypical portrayals, when they do appear, can lead to lower self-esteem among minority youth as well as alienation from them by majority groups. Can media stories of social groups also lead to positive impacts on children? Recent research shows that counter-stereotypes and positive media portrayals can lead to better intergroup attitudes, healthy relationships with others, and greater empathy toward minority groups. Children from underrepresented groups have better self-concepts and increased self-esteem when they see complex and positive portrayals of their groups in media.