Effects of Movies on

Youngsters

By Andalib Azfar Chowdhury

Instructor: Dr. Shireen Huq

Introduction
In recent times the entertainment industry is
growing like never before and youngsters are
being exposed to a wide array of variables that
may affect their lifestyle and choices. Movies are
one of the main forms of entertainment and due
to rapid advancement of technology movies are
available at the fingertips.
The history of movies began in the 1890s when
films were only 1 minute long. Today billions of
dollars are spent every year in making movies
and is among the most favorite pastimes for
people of all ages.

Introduction(cont.)
The Great Train Robbery is considered the
worlds first blockbuster film. It changed how
movies were made, and its success made it
possible for theaters to continue opening in large
numbers across the US.
To say that what a person watches doesnt affect
their mindset is just ignorant. Movies depict a way
of life, inspire us to do certain things and even
shapes what is acceptable. The possibilities are
endless in this simulated world where every
imagination can be turned into reality.
How can such a strong and limitless variable have
no effect on the minds of the audience?

Hypothesis
There can be various sorts of effects that movies
may have on an individual. Through my research I
hoped to establish that movies delude youngsters
in to harmful lifestyle and choices. They affect
their family life and have a deteriorating impact
on their moral values.

Significance
This research may be used to address the
malignant effects of contemporary movies on the
lives of youngsters.
The results can be used to identify and treat the
harmful side of movies and promote healthy forms
of entertainment.
I hope to be able to differentiate between a good
movie and a bad one and whether it is up to us at
all to be able to choose the movies that will be
beneficial to the development of psychological
and behavioral aspects of a person.

Primary and Secondary

questions
What are the effects of movies on the lifestyle,
career and choices of young minds?
What kind of family values are movies teaching?
Is our society being deformed by the harmful
depictions in movies?
What sort of image is portrayed in movies
regarding women?

Methodology
The research is extensively based on primary and
secondary data. All primary data is gathered
through questionnaires. All secondary data was
gathered through journals and online articles.
The questionnaires are structured and include 12
close ended questions and 1 open ended
question.
The sample size was 31 which included males and
females.
The sample consisted of students of North South
University. As the topic appeals to a generalized
audience there was no feasibility of choosing a
specific category of sample.

What is your favorite industry?

50

45

45

42

40
35
30

Percentage

25
20
15
10

6.5

6.5

5
0

Bengali

Hollywood

Bollywood

Foreign

Bollywood is the most famous industry among the samples

with 45% saying that it is their favorite industry. Next comes
Hollywood with 42%.
The surprising fact is that only 6.5% claimed that Bengali
movies are their favorite. This shows that we are more
exposed to foreign cultures and our youth are not interested in
watching the local movies.

On a scale of 1-4, how much do you think movies affect the way you dress? 1 represents 'very much' and 4 represents 'not at all'
50

45

45
40
35

29

30
25

Percentage

22.5

20
15
10
3.5

5
0

45% of the sample said that movies does affect the way
they dress with 22.5% of them saying it affects them very
much. We can see that the youth follows the culture and
lifestyle portrayed in the movies whether consciously or
unconsciously.

What kind of image do movies portray regarding women?

70
58

60
50
40
30

26

29

32

29

23

20
10
0

This is indeed harmful for the youth and their mindset on

women. Male teenagers from a tender age tend to look at
the opposite sex with disrespect and this can even be
correlated to eve-teasing sexual harassment.

45

What sort of family42 values do you think movies portray?

40
35

32

30
25

22.5

22.5

20
15
10
5
0

Positive and fruitful

Negative and harmful Benegicial traits of foreign families

Weak family ties

Most foreign movies portray that families are very apart

from each other and children leave home at an early age
and live separately. The parents are left alone and they
meet for dinner twice a year for thanks giving and
Christmas. Our youth may pretty soon accept these as the
norms

Did violence in movies ever seem exiting to you influencing you to perpetrate violent behavior?

Yes ; 35%

No; 65%

The mere 35% may be a dangerous indicator and says

that todays movies does make the youth commit to even
mild forms of violent behavior. As more time passes this
statistic may rise and is indeed an alarming issue which
should be treated with vigilance.

Movies and drugs

50

45

45
40
35

32

30
25
20

16

15
10

5
0

Discourage the use of drugs

Promote the use of drugs

Influences to start smoking Encourages to never smoke

This may be the most important indicator that movies are

indeed a threat to the lives and choices of our young
generation and if proper remedy is not found there could
be catastrophic damage.

Do you think that the negative effects of movies can be avoided if we carefully select the movies that we watch?

No; 36%

Yes; 64%

This is good news for all that is concerned because to avoid

the negative effects of movies we do not need to stop
watching movies but make the proper choices.

Findings
Violence and criminal activities have affected the
moral values and ethics of the youth.
The use of drugs is being promoted which are
exposing our youth to the possible thinking that
drugs are not dangerous and recreational use is
tolerable.
Moreover the sexualization of women in movies is
deforming the way the teenager and young adults
look at women and can lead to sexual harassment
and eve teasing.
It can, however, be said that if we properly select
and impose laws on the type of movies that we
watch then we can reduce the negative effects.

Recommendation
The youth of our country should be more
motivated to watch local movies which are free of
vulgarities and have healthy content.
The government should take measures to increase
censorship of Bollywood and Hollywood movies
which have explicit content.
Moreover the youth should completely avoid
movies which show the recreational use of drugs
and beach parties because these are hampering
our culture and mindset.

Conclusion
It cannot be denied that no society can prosper
without the integration of various cultures and the
knowledge that can be gained from each other.
But we must understand that teenager and
young adults are more susceptible to changes
whether good or bad. They learn more at this age
and will unconsciously act out whatever they will
see.
We should encourage our youth to hold on to our
own culture and take in only what is good from
others.
And we should also try to bring in better forms of
entertainment and much more beneficial movies
which would build character and promote healthy
knowledge.