Media Influence on Teen Shoplifting

The rise of shoplifting has been labelled a cultural phenomenon and is often tied with it's constant portrayal in pop culture. But is it the main source of the rising statistics? The article "The Influence and Power of Visual Media on Adolescents and The Need For School-Based Media Literacy Instruction" believes that it is.

Teens are constantly being bombarded with visual messages that must be received, interpreted, and critically analyzed. Although these images can be received without a problem, the real issue lies in the interpretation and analysis of them since they all embody social, consumeristic, and capitalist components. Since teens are at a stage where they have an increased level of susceptibility to messages from the media, they are more likely to internalize them. This can negatively impact them, making some more prone to criminal activity, violent behaviour, negative self-image, etc.

When asked if they thought they were being desensitized to disturbing and sensitive issues, 92% of female and 73% of male teens believed that they were. This growing desensitization can be linked to growing trends of teens who possess no belief systems and have no moral qualms with many forms of criminal behaviour, including shoplifting. The glamorization of stealing and drugs and alcohol causes adolescents to see it as culturally acceptable, despite parents and other authority figures making it clear that the opposite is true.