Throughout their development, youths vary cognitively, emotional, physically, and socially. In taking a developmental perspective, the theories and research throughout the book effectively reflect these variations.  This approach results in far greater clarity in understanding the effects of media on youth as a result of age and developmental status.  

Kirsh offers a unique and wide-ranging overview of this fascinating subject, addressing the crucial issues of how much media youth consume and why; the positive and negative impacts of varying media across development; the theories behind the impact of media on youth, and what can be done to reduce the harmful consequences associated with media consumption. Each chapter ends with a section on developmental points of interest; these sections place the empirical findings, underlying theory, and suggestions for future research discussed in that chapter within the context of developmental change.

This textbook is of primary interest to those teaching courses on, and studying, media effects and children in the areas of Psychology and Communication.