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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

After the first half of the 20th century, television widely spread to the world. In communication and media studies, the influence of media violence and aggression on children has been widely scrutinized (American Academy of Pediatrics. 2001). With the development of technology, animation gained popularity and its target was the children. In time, some researchers proved that cartoon in television influences children. The present study seeks to investigate to what extent do the cartoons influence and lead to violence and aggression.

Background of Media on Children

Media is a major medium of dissipation of information that exists in our world today; either deliberately or indeliberately, we are affected by it because we are living in a media concentrated society. As a result, children who have easy access to television media want to inculcate all that is shown on the television. Media is one of the tools used for creating and maintaining culture in the society. Access to media is very pervasive in the society today, children are continuosly exposed to various media such as television, videos, movies, comic books, internet, music lyrics and computer games. They get attracted to the colour, excitement and the graphical images the media displays. In the present media dispensation, television has become a tool for sharing information among the teenagers. Television serves as a source of entertainment, educational tool that can assist children intellectually. Children learn skills from popular culture which determine their behavioural patterns, their needs socially, mentally and emotionally. Television is one of the major agents in the socialization process along with other socialization agents such as the family, schools, peers groups (Bandura, 1986). Indeed, television really has numerous roles in a child’s development. Media is observed and understood differently by the children unlike the adults. The literate adults have a deeper understanding about the media and what it represents, while the children see it only as entertainment. Children develop skills in watching television gradually, along side mental and physiological development. In the process, a number of negative behaviours are being inculcated at their age and linguistic maturity, which determines how a child will respond and engage with television. Such behaviours include using sharp object on themselves on their  mates, being bully to their classmate, using indecent, inappropriate language among themselves and at home. Due to their level of understanding, they misinterpret the message the media is passing out, children nowadays are eager to learn and interpret anything they see the way it has been shown.

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