ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how the media teaches children about the social world around them. We take a multidisciplinary approach to highlight key concepts and theories from media studies, sociology, and education. We first discuss how children learn about the world around them at different stages of their lives. Then, we examine media as part of the broader sociocultural experience of young people today. Next, we describe the social world that is constructed by mainstream children's media content. Finally, we elaborate upon theories about the prosocial and harmful effects of such media content on children's perceptions, moral reasoning, and behaviors.
