{"id":63258,"date":"2026-05-17T10:35:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T02:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/?post_type=health-article&#038;p=63258"},"modified":"2026-07-14T10:41:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T02:41:44","slug":"teenage-aggression-is-media-really-to-blame","status":"publish","type":"health-article","link":"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/health-articles\/teenage-aggression-is-media-really-to-blame\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenage Aggression: Is Media Really to Blame?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"63258\" class=\"elementor elementor-63258\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-983b0d3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"983b0d3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5eb831b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5eb831b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Today, parents are raising children in a world where screens are deeply woven into everyday activities. While parents may try to limit their children\u2019s digital activity, doing so entirely is nearly impossible. Violent video games, viral fight clips, online drama, constant notifications, and social media comparisons have become part of daily life.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">So, when a teenager becomes more irritable, rude, or aggressive, parents may begin to wonder:<br \/><i>\u201cIs it the phone?\u201d<\/i><br \/><i>\u201cIs it the games?\u201d<\/i><br \/><i>\u201cIs social media making my child angry?\u201d<\/i><i><\/i><\/p><p class=\"p1\">The honest answer is that while digital media can play a role, it is rarely the only cause.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad8034b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ad8034b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d44d08f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d44d08f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-01.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63259\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-01.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-01-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-01-768x367.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b88e291 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"b88e291\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10e9b86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"10e9b86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic01\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Research Tells Us\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e519c52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e519c52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p2\">Decades of research show a small but consistent link between exposure to violent media and aggressive behaviour in young people. <br \/>However, this does not mean that every teen who plays a shooting game or watches an action movie will become violent. Media is better understood as heat under a pot. If the pot is already filled with stress, anger, or emotional pain, added heat can cause it to boil over more easily. If the pot is relatively calm and supported by healthy habits and strong relationships, the same heat may have little effect.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9758fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e9758fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afaa7a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"afaa7a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic02\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Teenage Brain\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33fa60e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"33fa60e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Two major processes are happening during adolescence:<\/p><ul class=\"ul1\"><li class=\"li1\">The emotional brain (responsible for excitement, fear, anger, and reward) is highly active during the teenage years.<\/li><li class=\"li1\">The thinking brain (which controls impulses, plans ahead, and weighs consequences) is still maturing and will only fully develop in the mid-20s.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">When teens consume violent content, their emotional brain is strongly activated. Meanwhile, the rational part is still catching up.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Over time, intense media can make everyday life seem boring, increasing a teen\u2019s desire for extreme stimulation and drama.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2959cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a2959cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-294c1d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"294c1d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic03\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Which Comes First: Aggressive Teens or Aggressive Content?\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1b974d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f1b974d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">The relationship goes both ways.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Some teens already carry emotional pain and are drawn to intense media because it matches how they feel. Others start off relatively calm but become more reactive after repeated exposure to aggressive content.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Media does not create aggression on its own but amplifies and reinforces what is already happening inside a teen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-043c54f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"043c54f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-737d403 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"737d403\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic04\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Teens Are More Sensitive\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bb6609 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3bb6609\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Teenagers are in a crucial stage of identity-building, and much of this exploration now happens online.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Because of this, teens are particularly affected by:<\/p><ul class=\"ul1\"><li class=\"li1\">Comments about their appearance or abilities<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Being excluded from groups or social events<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Numbers linked to social judgment, such as likes, views, and followers<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p2\">These often cause hurt, shame, or fear\u2014emotions that teens may not yet know how to express in healthier ways.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-745cb59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"745cb59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de193ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"de193ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic05\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Beyond screens\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c45c26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c45c26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Other contributors to aggression include:<\/p><ul class=\"ul1\"><li class=\"li1\">Family conflict: Frequent arguments teach teens that this is a normal way to handle problems.<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Sleep deprivation: Lack of sleep makes teens irritable and less able to control impulses.<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Bullying at school: Feelings of fear and humiliation may later explode as anger elsewhere.<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Academic pressure: Constant stress about performance can cause frustration and outbursts.<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Mental health conditions: Anxiety, ADHD, and trauma can all reduce emotional control.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ce8906 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"7ce8906\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-659b87d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"659b87d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic06\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Can Families Do?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89dc8d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"89dc8d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-02.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63260\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-02.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-02-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-02-768x367.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-224459f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"224459f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65d6039 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65d6039\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Completely banning devices is usually unrealistic and can drive use \u201cunderground.\u201d Instead, aim for guided, healthy use.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Rather than, \u201cYou\u2019re always on that stupid phone,\u201d<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Instead, try: \u201cI notice you seem more upset after spending a long time online. How does it make you feel?\u201d<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Set reasonable boundaries together, such as:<\/p><ul class=\"ul1\"><li class=\"li1\">No phones during meals<\/li><li class=\"li1\">No screens at least one hour before bed<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Charging devices outside the bedroom at night<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Agreed daily limits on gaming or social media<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">If parents constantly check their own phones or rant online, it sends a negative message. Show that it\u2019s okay to put phones away and disagree respectfully.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Encourage face-to-face activities so that teens do not only depend on social media for their self-worth.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Most importantly, keep the door open. Let them know, \u201cIf something online makes you feel scared, ashamed, or very upset, you can always talk to me. I won\u2019t just punish you; I will help you.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38900be elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"38900be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c89505 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1c89505\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic07\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When Is It Time to Seek Help?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0173153 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0173153\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"836\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-03.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-63261\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-03.jpg 836w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-03-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/health-article-teenage-aggression-03-768x367.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-584ac12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"584ac12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcab91d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bcab91d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Do seek expert opinions if:<\/p><ul class=\"ul1\"><li class=\"li1\">Aggression is more frequent, intense, and\/or frightening<\/li><li class=\"li1\">There are physical fights, threats, or destruction of property<\/li><li class=\"li1\">Your teen seems withdrawn, hopeless, or has big changes in sleep or appetite<\/li><li class=\"li1\">They talk about not wanting to live, self-harm, or \u201cdisappearing\u201d<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">A mental health professional will look at the full picture and to understand whether the media is a main driver, a contributing factor, or just one piece of a larger problem.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">From there, they can suggest methods to counteract the underlying cause.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-951e025 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"951e025\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a26cf7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a26cf7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"subtopic08\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Moving Beyond Blame\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffb02d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ffb02d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Teenagers are are complex human beings, trying to grow up in a demanding and highly connected world.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Instead of wondering if media is to blame, a more helpful question is:<\/p><p class=\"p1\">\u201cWhat is this teenager going through, online and offline and how can we support them better?\u201d<\/p><p class=\"p1\">With timely help, most teenagers can learn to use media more wisely and grow into adults who respond with thought, not just anger.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-428bcb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"428bcb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72bf2e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72bf2e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>This article first appeared in <a href=\"https:\/\/readnow.isentia.com\/Temp\/181151-1346200364\/MY0069313444_20270517.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sinar Harian, 17 May 2026<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today, parents are raising children in a world where screens are deeply woven into everyday activities. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":63262,"template":"","topic":[94],"language":[137],"class_list":["post-63258","health-article","type-health-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-health-wellness","language-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Teenage Aggression: Is Media Really to Blame? - Columbia Asia Hospital I Private Hospital in Malaysia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.columbiaasia.com\/malaysia\/health-articles\/teenage-aggression-is-media-really-to-blame\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Teenage Aggression: Is Media Really to Blame? 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