Media Mock Exam Revision

3) To what extent has new and digital media given younger audiences the opportunities to shape their own media representations? (12 marks)

The emergence of new and digital media has allowed audiences to shape their own media representations, as platforms such as e media and broadcast allow younger audiences to be more plural in the way they represent themselves. Through social networking sites for example, teenagers can represent themselves and challenge beliefs through discussion pages . Yet it can be argued that younger audiences are still misrepresented in the media, as teenage boys in particular are objectified as being 'folk devils' who often 'violate societal values of self control'. Similarly, younger audiences are influenced by the media in negative ways, for example teenagers may play video games and be injected with ideologies of violence or may watch rap videos and adopt a 'gangster' attitude.

On one hand, it can be argued that new and digital media has allowed younger audiences to shape their own media representations, as they can represent themselves more accurately through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The younger audiences can join discussion groups and represent themselves more positively.