I Need It Today By 10 PM Please No Plagiarism And Make Sure

I Need It Today By 10pmplease No Plagiarism And Make Sure You Are Abl

Read a selection of your colleagues' postings. Respond to your colleagues' postings. Respond in one or more of the following ways: ask a probing question, share an insight gained from reading your colleague's posting, offer and support an opinion, validate an idea with your own experience, make a suggestion, expand on your colleague's posting.

Paper For Above instruction

Understanding contemporary youth culture is pivotal for effective counseling within adolescent populations. As young people navigate their developmental stages amidst rapidly evolving societal influences, counselors must discern the core messages conveyed through various media and social platforms. The cultural messages embedded in media shape adolescents’ self-perception, social behavior, and values, which counselors need to recognize to foster trust and facilitate positive development.

A significant example of media influence is Girl’s World magazine, aimed at girls aged 7 to 12. The magazine's content emphasizes fashion trends, celebrity gossip, arts and crafts, and tips from celebrities. Two core cultural messages in this magazine are the association of femininity with beauty and the reliance on external influences for self-identity and beliefs. The emphasis on fashion and appearance propagates a message that beauty and femininity are predominantly tied to physical appearance, which can undermine self-esteem, particularly for girls who do not conform to stereotypical beauty standards. Research by Lamb et al. (2016) indicates that media representations often portray women and girls as conforming to ideals of thinness and youth, which may lead to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among impressionable youth.

Conversely, the magazine also promotes positive social messages by highlighting friendships and encouraging girls to build strong peer bonds. This fosters a sense of community and self-confidence but still may inadvertently reinforce superficial standards of attractiveness and social validation based on appearance and external approval.

Similarly, Girl’s Life magazine targets a slightly older demographic, emphasizing not only external beauty but also social acceptance, dating, and peer opinion. It perpetuates the cultural message that appearance correlates with personal worth, often showcasing images of thin, stylish girls. While it offers some focus on inner qualities, the overarching narrative underscores the importance of looking good and being socially desirable. Such messages, as discussed by Van den Beemt et al. (2010), influence adolescent self-image and can lead to issues such as low self-esteem when personal appearance does not align with media images.

Social media platforms, especially YouTube, serve as pervasive channels shaping youth culture today. Content creators often emphasize appearance, self-disclosure, and lifestyle, profoundly influencing teenagers’ perceptions of self and others. For instance, beauty vloggers like HappyCurlHappyGirl (2018) promote natural hair and self-acceptance, which can boost confidence among African American girls but may also underscore aesthetic standards about beauty and hair. There are also videos featuring personal stories such as Raif Derrazi’s (2017) disclosure of living with HIV, which can foster awareness and empathy but also expose youth to sensitive content that may be inappropriate or distressing.

The core messages from YouTube revolve around the importance of physical appearance, lifestyle, and authenticity. On one hand, these messages empower youth by promoting diversity and self-expression; on the other, they can perpetuate idealized images or expose adolescents to harmful behaviors such as substance use or risky lifestyles showcased in some videos. A systematic review by Anderson et al. (2009) underlines that media influences significantly impact adolescent behaviors, including substance use and social norms.

Recognizing the influence of social media, counselors need to develop cultural competence that encompasses understanding the norms and behaviors prevalent in online spaces. Applying theories like social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) helps explain how adolescents imitate and model behaviors observed online. Counselors should also employ cultural humility, acknowledging that adolescent experiences are shaped by digital environments that evolve swiftly (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016).

In conclusion, contemporary youth culture is profoundly influenced by media messages emphasizing appearance, peer validation, and lifestyle choices. While some messages promote positive social connection and self-acceptance, others reinforce detrimental standards and risky behaviors. Effective counseling requires an understanding of these cultural influences, fostering open dialogue, promoting media literacy, and building resilience against negative messages. By recognizing the duality of media impacts, counselors can better support adolescents in developing a healthy identity and critical mindset amidst pervasive cultural messages.

References

  • Anderson, P., de Bruijn, A., Angus, K., Gordon, R., & Hastings, G. (2009). Impact of alcohol advertising and media exposure on adolescent alcohol use: A systematic review of longitudinal studies. Alcohol & Alcoholism, 44(3), 229–243.
  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Oxford, England: Prentice-Hall.
  • Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2016). Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (6th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Hawk, S. T., van den Eijnden, R. J. J. M., van Lissa, C. J., & ter Bogt, T. F. M. (2018). Narcissistic adolescents attention-seeking following social rejection: Links with social media disclosure, problematic social media use, and smartphone stress. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 65-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.10.032
  • HappyCurlHappyGirl. (2018, November 22). My holiday up-do on stretched hair!!! yall FT. jamaican mango and lime. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx
  • Lawson, D. M. (2009). Understanding and treating children who experience interpersonal maltreatment: Empirical findings. Journal of Counseling & Development, 87(2), 204–215.
  • Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2007). Tough kids, cool counseling: User-friendly approaches with challenging youth (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
  • Van den Beemt, A., Akkerman, S., & Simons, R.-J. (2010). The use of interactive media among today’s youth: Results of a survey. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(5), 1158–1165.
  • Vording, V. (2017). Depicting Femininity: Conflicting Messages in a “Tween” Magazine. Youth & Society, 49(4). Retrieved from
  • Raif Derrazi. (2017, September 22). Living with HIV (Today): What it's like? [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx

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