Teenagers? Teenagers are influenced by many factors. This includes family, friends and media. Teens can be influenced through media on many levels, including their identity, their lifestyle, and how they view the world.
Teens today rely heavily on tv and movies to show them a lot of their life. Media is much more than entertainment. It now depicts many social issues teenagers face, and delivers messages to them. Teens can also learn from shows that they watch. Netflix is the most popular platform to distribute series of this type. Shows that feature sensible topics aim to spark conversations and encourage viewers to think. While series can have a positive impact on viewers, they also need to be open to debates. Netflix’s 13 reason why drama series is one example. It shows teens dealing with difficult issues such as bullying, suicide, gun violence and drug use. Clay Jensen’s suicide attempt by Hanna Baker is the subject of the series. Hanna Baker had suffered through a number of difficult high school events and left behind only 13 tapes explaining the circumstances and who made the decision. These tapes show the profound impact that these events had on her self-esteem and mental health. The series is targeted at young adults and teenagers. The main purpose of the series is to increase awareness and open productive discussions among viewers. This series’ controversy goes beyond the content and language used. It also concerns how the show depicts real high schools in America. Northwestern University found that 62% of teens agreed that the portrayal of high school is authentic. 80% of them said that their peers act and deal with problems exactly as the show depicts. This essay examines how teens in The United States responded to this series. This essay will focus on three topics: Teen suicide and teenagers. The impact on teens’ behavior and communication with their family members. There are many questions about the effects of explicit scenes in the show and the quotes/phrases surrounding them. Suicide is a major problem in America, particularly for young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide was the second leading cause for deaths among individuals aged 10-24 in 2017. The Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry was concerned by the increase in suicide. It also considered media and the portrayal of a suicide attempt as an influential point. We must also consider how this suicide scene was constructed, its purpose, and how teenagers were affected by it. Opinion about the 13 Reasons Why Suicide Scene. Experts have concerns about the suicide scene. The scene lasts just over three minutes. Hanna stares at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and evaluates her life. Hanna then takes a razor blade and tears to her left wrist. Hanna can only focus on Hanna’s pain. She is bleeding everywhere. Hanna’s mom soon discovers that Hanna is dead. Hanna’s mother shows her pain by pointing out Hanna?s family and friends. A scene like this could trigger a lot emotions in parents of children who are struggling with mental illness. This is why Hanna’s mom finds her daughter dead in the bathtub. There was a lot discussion between mental health professionals about the effectiveness of the series and what it meant. People involved in the production of 13 Reasons Why gave their opinions and shared some of their reasons for filming that scene. Brian Yorkey, the creator of 13 Reasons Why, stated that his intention was to show the horrifying reality of suicide in so graphic detail in season 1. This perfectly reflects Nic’s own situation. Nic Sheff wrote inside Vanity Fair about his struggle for a suicide portrayal. He relied on his own story. He was about to commit suicide at the time. But a woman had told him a story which showed him the awfulness of suicide. It was also a concern that teens could identify with the main character encouraging them to commit suicide by copycats. Phrases such “When you feel empty” are examples. No one. It is almost as if you are drowning. “I desired a purpose…a reason to exist on this earth.” “I thought about how everyone would live without me,” Hanna said. There are many ways to do things differently, so it is important that we discuss mental health. Clay’s pain is sometimes relieved by phrases like “memories of my pain”. They can also be torture, illustrating the devastating effects of suicide on loved ones
Everyone reacts to situations differently. Suicide contagion in teens, a well-known phenomenon that results from exposure to suicidal behavior, was a concern for both experts and survivors. Teen Vogue published their thoughts on the scene. Most of them felt that the show was giving a “step-by-step guide” for suicide, romanticizing the idea, and avoiding mental health issues Hanna may have experienced. Teens who aren’t struggling should find it different. Teen Vogue asked them their thoughts on the scene. While it wasn’t shocking to them, others could be misunderstood the message. Teen Vogue also did not discuss mental illness or its overcoming. It also shows suicide as revenge. This leads to important key findings. Hanna left cassettes for people who she thought influenced her decision. This is where the lackluster discussion about mental healthcare is evident. For someone who knows enough about mental health, they can see patterns and know when it is best to make a decision. People that don’t understand the character’s mental health issues could assume that they can just accept their behavior. They may also believe that suicide is the only answer. Statistics should prove the truth. JAACAP’s research entitled “Association between the Release Netflix?s 13 Reasons why and Suicide Rates In the United States: A Interrupted Time Series Analysis” found that suicide rates among youth would increase if the series was released. They used data from the CDC’s Web-based suicide prevention program to analyze suicide rates for one month prior and after the show’s release. The series was released for teens aged 17 and older. However, they did not find any evidence linking the series to the suicides. The suicide rates of boys were higher than those of females, with no statistically significant difference. Suicide contagion is something that must be considered. It affects only people who identify strongly and who commit suicide. Since suicide contagion can also affect those who are not able to, this should have been shown in the research. Daniel Romer’s January 2020 research article, “Reanalysis of the Bridge et al.” supports this conclusion. Research on suicide after the publication of 13 Reasons Why has shown that the rise in teenage suicide rates in boys was not due to suicide contagion. The suicide rate for teens in America has been increasing due to a lack of portrayal and language. The positive impact of 13 Reasons Why on teenagers who are not struggling was due to the use of language which is useful in identifying patterns and preventing suicide. The show’s portrayal of the terrible consequences that suicide brings, not just with those who are in crisis but also their loved ones, is a great help for anyone. Papageno Effect: This reduces copycat deaths by certain types of portrayals. These do not have to include sensationalists features and instead focus on social messages. The way teens view tv programs and shows has changed. Instead of everyone watching the same show, it’s now more personal. Because adolescents are now more familiar with the program’s topics, it makes it harder to have meaningful conversations. Teenagers also need guidance. You might also need to be able to help your family and friends with some of the topics. Teenagers should also be able to openly share their feelings with others. 13 ReasonsWhy addresses a number of sensitive and important topics about teenage life. A show like this is easily accessible and can be used to encourage teens to talk with others. The impact of this show can vary depending on the teenager’s mental state.
