Compare and contrast the two texts, with particular reference to the representation of teenagers

Firstly, the Metro newspaper, a free tabloid paper, represents teenagers as criminals as the word ‘gangsters’ connotes. It is specifically the black youths who are targeted and so the image with the black youth with the revolver connotes that black youths are submerged with the ‘gangster’ lifestyle. In addition, the fact that the paper targets youths reiterates that new and digital media is used for crime by youths as strategies to recruit or target others. This is emphasised by the heading ‘YouTube gangsters’, it partials blames the website as it implies that the negative portrayal would not be available if the website was not there for the youths to use. That use of this image by the Metro stereotypes all black youths in particular to be criminals.

In addition, the emphasis on the gun and weapons as a whole exaggerates that youths dictate society, which in turn causes moral panic. The thought of the next generation being the future is somewhat tarnished by the newspaper report as the image and the headline connote that the future generation is violent and therefore do not contribute positively towards society. Ironically, in contrast to this focal point the ‘short break’ advertised presents an utopia for the readers to identify with and provide a sense of escapism. By doing so, the highlight on the criminal youths in the UK offer readers to literally take a ‘short break’ from the hectic lifestyle that the youths provide where the citizens reside.

The Daily Mail, a respected paper known for its reliability, also encourages the thought that children are now thugs and therefore also dictate society, adding to moral panic. However, as shown in the daily mail article the ‘yobs’ are shown to be white and therefore this provides an alternative group of youths to blame. The stereotype produced by the media branding youths generally targets ethnic minorities, but this article refers to white children who look about 13. The white children are now also branded criminals, shown to be binge drinkers and effectively portrayed as lower class citizens. In particular, the use of the word ‘must’ has forceful connotations by society, suggesting that if youths are represented in the media to be bad, then they must be ‘yobs’ or ‘criminals’.