BARBIE Reveals Media’s Powerful Influence Over Culture, Trends
By Movieguide® Contributor
The BARBIE movie’s widespread influence over culture this summer reveals how media can detrimentally affect people’s thoughts and actions.
For as long as the iconic doll has been around, people have questioned the unrealistic ideal she conveys to young girls, sometimes leading to harmful practices like eating disorders.
“You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin,” American Ferrera’s character said in the BARBIE movie, summing up this experience.
This phenomenon highlights how the media we consume impacts our thoughts and beliefs—a simple doll can cause millions of girls to starve themselves.
It also reveals why being careful about the media we and our families consume is so important. Widespread eating disorders aren’t the only thing spawned by irresponsible media use.
Violence in media, for example, has caused people of all ages to become more violent and aggressive in their everyday lives, as Movieguide® frequently discusses. This aggressive behavior has found its way into the bedroom as well, as the pervasiveness of pornography has led many to perform violent sexual acts they learned from adult media.
Teenagers seem to be most affected by media, especially social media, because their stage in life—often riddled with insecurities and seeking approval from peers—causes them to act in ways they otherwise wouldn’t, such as partying or having sex.
Media’s impact explains why wisdom and discernment are key whenever engaging with content.
As Christians, we are called to be in the world, but not of it. However, if we consume the same media as the rest of society, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep our beliefs from being shaped by that media.
Christians, instead, are better consuming media that edifies and nurtures their souls. Parents also need to teach their children how to consider the impact the media they consume has on their thoughts. Children who are taught to be media-wise can better endure the difficulties of growing up in a sinful society.
Movieguide® previously reported on how to raise media-wise children:
With the explosion of children’s content on streaming sites and social media platforms, it is more important than ever for kids to be taught how to be wise about the media they consume.
Even within the last decade, kids’ options were relatively limited when it came to the media they consumed. There were only a handful of TV channels dedicated to children’s shows and streaming sites were not yet big enough to regularly produce media for them.
However, as streaming has continued to eclipse cable TV, children now have an almost endless stream of media available to them at all times. From shows to movies to YouTube channels starring kids their own age, there is no shortage to the content they have available at their fingertips.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
