Media illiteracy

Name(s): 
Critical desensitization in television and film viewing
Passive media reception
Nature 
As television, film and newspapers pervade the lives of individuals, the loss of critical perspective while viewing such mediums may increase. Often overexposure to the media's images and conventions leads to analytical desensitization, which may render the viewer unable to separate fact from fiction. Under these circumstances the viewer is more susceptible to manipulation by the media, which may place undue emphasis on the media's power of persuasion. Children are particularly vulnerable to such manipulation.
Incidence 
A 1990 study by a television rating organization showed that children in the USA watch an average of 4 hours of television per day.
Aggravates 
Type 
(F) Fuzzy exceptional problems