Age: Media Representations

How are children commonly represented in the media?

• innocent

• vulnerable

• in need of protection

How are young people often represented in the media?

• troublesome

• irresponsible

• antisocial

• linked to crime or moral panics

What is a moral panic?

an exaggerated media reaction to behaviour that is seen as a threat to society

How are elderly people traditionally represented in the media?

• dependent

• frail

• lonely

• a burden on society

Why have representations of older people become more positive in recent years?

older people have greater spending power (the “grey pound”) and make up a growing proportion of the population

What is a criticism of media representations of age?

they often rely on stereotypes that oversimplify and distort the reality of different age groups

How has new media challenged traditional age stereotypes?

individuals can create and share their own content, allowing more diverse representations of age groups