In the News How'd We Get to this Point?

I find it ironic that the Murdoch empire, the media choice of the "Conservative Christian Republicans" is the very network most guilty of packaging and selling shows promoting teenage sex, promiscuity, under age drinking and glorifying prison escapees. Hipocracy for profit...

M-O-N-E-Y It really is all about the money. I'm from the Boston area and early 30's. MTV, Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek, etc. was targeted to me in the same way that Gossip Girl and the other programs today are targeted to teenagers. Talking to my nephew and nieces is shocking. They talk about sleeping around and dressing "dirty" like it's nothing. I almost jump out to say something but realize I'm not THAT much older and I don't want to be that old guy I remember who didn't "get" what we were doing in 1990. Kids follow very closely what happens on TV. The advertisers know it and they can make money selling to them. End of story.

I think more kids are having sex and parenting is at an all time low. Kids are raised by TV and the internet. There were girls this last weekend who were no older than 13 but were dressed like the girls from my days in school who "put out". I wonder how this will turn out. I can't imagine it getting any more out of control but that's probably what the generation ahead of mine said.

Watching this makes me ill. There is enough blame to go around. Doesn't anybody care. Are parents so wrapped up in themselves? Is television so desperate for money and ratings? Deep down I know the answer is yes, but I am so repulsed by that fact. Yes, kids will engage in sex, but distributing soft-core porn disguised as entertainment, disguised as information is truely repugnant. The children in those clips behaved as though they were making a pornographic teaser. No thirteen year old boy or girl should be behaving this way. It was also clear they were to young to understand the implications of their actions. Where are all the parents?

I'm sure everyone know what goes on in the fantasy suite on The Bachelor/Bachelorette. That show encourages and glorifies sex before marriage which I thought was opposed by the right wing. Where is the outrage about that? I'm confused by the right wing. They must be wrong.

I'm 17, and it's only now, after watching this, that I've realized how much of an "epidemic" teen sex is, where it comes from, and how it's kept up to look "cool" and even the "norm". And the narrator's description of it as a "giant feedback loop" hits spot on, in my opinion. But I think another big reason for the teen obsession with sex is the WANT for sex. And I find it disturbing that media moguls make and sell shows that promote teen sex, because they know that us teens have raging hormones and strong desires for making love, and that's prime time for making business for them. Thank you to FRONTLINE for posting this, otherwise I would not be thinking so strongly about it.

if god didn't want teenagers to have sex, we wouldn't experience puberty until we reach 21 or 18 or 30 or whenever the moral high grounders think sex is safe. the thing is, sex is never safe. it never was and never will be. it's a lesson learned one way or another, sooner or later. it's not like teens started having sex because of TV. for thousands of years, the human race has procreated because teens have sex. good luck trying to stop nature at its seed.

peace

Teenage sex isn’t the problem. The problem is teenage pregnancy and STDs, which America now leads the industrialize world in. The reason for our failure is not the sexual content of our media – Europe has a beat there – it’s the lack of sex in our public education and, worse still, fear based education (e.g. abstinence only curriculum). The data is out and the Jury is in. Read the “Sexual Education” entry in Wikipedia. The data will astound you. Sexual education must be taught early and often and it must be mandatory if we want to save our children.

I appreciate you keeping me abreast of contemporary culture so when I can I try to reciprocate. Don't get the wrong idea that all I concern myself with is youthful sexuality... I often watch PBS Frontline shows on my laptop. I was looking for the Bernnie Madoff story when I found the attached. It wasn't so much the sex part I found interesting as the last little piece in there where they're talking about the media filming youth culture and then the kids in turn watching the media to learn about being kids.

I wondered where kids pick up the data. The world seems so different these days. All this 40 year anniversary of Woodstock & the Moon Landing are taking me back.

This is capitalism at its pinnacle - profitability dictates content. Parenting -or the lack of it- has a big role to play as well. But consider this: more than 50% of American births now happen to single moms. Like Salvatore Rodriguez, I shudder to think how single moms will battle the 24x7 pervasive influence of the media even if they give up cable TV. All this sadly reminds me of a quote by a 19th century Asian poet who remarked in colonial era after observing the British that "western culture itself will be the undoing of the West".

Teens will be teens. Boys will be boys. Girls are all cute and fragile.

These are blanket statements that are said to be backed by "researched" statistics. Who is doing the research? How is this research completed? I do not remember any surveys administered to the many teens I have taught. Before making any sort of judgement call or statement, we really should look into this so called research of teen promiscuity, and yes, in today's society, it is much easier to influence the world of teens and children via media. Why do you think billions of dollars are budgeted for PR and advertisement?

I do believe that if parents and society hold teens to higher standards, they will perform at those high standards. It is to easy to say that teens will be teens and will engage in sex because of thier developmental state. It is much more difficult to educate those same teens about sexuality, its consequences and its true "sacred" purpose (to strengthen a sincere relationship). Think about it. YOur body is your most intimate and sacred possession. Do you really want to freely share it? What about the psychological and sometimes physical consequences (there are other physical consequences besides pregnancy and STDs) for female teens who are sexual? Why is there such a great need for Gardisil? There wasn't a need before. Why are female teens so insecure and struggling with their images instead of the smartness? I have girls pretend to be dumb, so the guy they like is not intimdated.

As a teacher, I study the physical, psychological and physiological developmental stages of teenagers. The more I learn about their development, the more I believe every parent and teen should know it too and that maybe religion isn't so out there. A lot of what is being learned now is addressed by many religious attitudes. It is making me see religious structures in a better light. Others have gone through it and established a set of rules for the new generations to follow so as to continue to survive and flourish.

In the words of Dumbledore in Harry Potter The Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling, "Do what is right, not what is easy." And in the words of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, "How little of permanent happiness can belong to a couple who are only brought together because their passions are stronger than their virtues."

I am 22, second eldest of 7 kids, college student- my parents never ascribed to the "they will do it anyway" abject failure of a parenting philosophy. They simply taught me by example mostly, through love, how to make the right decisions on my own. They stuck together despite unreal marital difficulties, extremes of poverty, mental illness, familial strife, loss. They insisted on teaching a moral view which they have spent a long time developing and constantly challenge and sculpt. They didn't have to be "cool" or "uncool" parents because they operated outside those pitiful boundaries. They weren't my friends they were my parents and thank God for that. They are HONEST!

As a result I never expected my parents to be "cool". By the time I was old enough to see what the other kid's parents let them do, I didn't care what the other kid's parents let them do. I never was a difficult teen because they had the humility to tell me about their pasts, their decisions, what that lead to... and somehow I was able to make that mental effort and take them seriously. Which really wasn't my doing, that was theirs. And I'm the relative failure so far! My older sister's a PhD student and would agree with my assessment word for word, though she'd say it more eloquently.

Despite the strong natural urge to rebel in my teenage years I find myself coming back to their philosophy because in the end it is based on LOVE and RESPECT and HONESTY. I have failed to make good decisions plenty of times, but I am proud to say that I have been confronted with drugs (many varieties), alcohol, and sex and have not given way to what I felt like doing with those temptations, not once. Perhaps I have had too much freedom in other areas, but these have stayed strong. My parents aren't perfect, but they'd never assume so either.

I have great pity for kids like those described in the "OC" post above. Forgive me, Lauren, but I couldn't disagree with you more. It may seem like you have molded safe and healthy children because you very carefully guided them through their mistakes. But in the end you have empowered them to believe that as long as they stay within the rules and boundaries: "safe sex", avoiding bad situations and bad crowds, making the healthy choice... that they will ultimately be happy. Sure, maybe they'll be successful if they live that long, but success doesn't fill emptiness, and wont necessarily lead to happiness. How could you make that awful presumption NOT to pass judgment at a time when their judgment was so lacking? You really thought not giving them a car except when they asked for it was any different from giving them a car? (Perhaps you don't realize how incredible your capability to give them one in the first place is). You think well informed carefully planned STD free sex is all one needs to justify having it? You honestly believe that experience is the best way to learn about the consequences of unacceptable behavior? What will they do when there are no rules? What will they do when you aren't there?

It's as if you despair of being able to keep your children from driving off of a cliff, so you make sure the car has airbags and wash your hands of the whole affair. What will they do when confronted with REAL decisions? Not "shall I smoke pot or not"... but the BIG ones that their, my, generation will be left with because of the condition of our planet at present. Will they say NO because it's right when the rules say YES? If you haven't noticed, the ones who control the rules and guidelines happen to be the very ones vomiting this sort of filth all over my generation. I fear my fellow twentysomethings may find it impossible to believe in revolutions.

The current lives of my many twentysomething friends who had that sort of upbringing show me quite clearly that the first and most severe unacceptable decisions were made by the parents.

Thanks for bringing this Frontline episode back... Clearly, this still poses challenging questions to today's generation.

This whole piece is ridiculous and sounds like something my grandfather would say. Sex is not the problem! The media is not the problem. Corporations are not the problem. The stench of abstinence only education, slut-shaming and generally archaic conservative "moral" values is far too pervasive in american culture for my taste, (but what do I know I'm a socialist canadian?)

"We're throwing so much at young adults so fast ... there's no amount of preparation or education or even love that you could give a child to be ready." Groan...Kids are going to have sex, they always have been. However, if there was a less oh my god sex is bad! and more open minded dialogue with today's youth then we wouldn't see rising STI's and pregnancy.

The voiceover at the end of the clip hit the nail on the head when he said "...and that's when it hit me - its a giant feedback loop[between the media and the kids]".

The human mind has amazing plasticity, consciousness expands into whatever is put before it, and the more compelling what's put before it, the more mired it can become (sex, drugs, and violence are all crass and therefore easily-assimilated subjects/themes)

This is not just about the kids, WE ALL need to spend less time engaging in thoughts that are oriented toward shallow self-satisfaction and narcissicm, and more time engaging in thoughts that are directed toward the health and prosperity of our communities and our environment, which are unravelling at an alarming rate.

With the exception of thought-provoking educational programing found on public television, virtually everything on TV is garbage.

But back to the kids, since they are the future: Yes, kids are going to be obsessed with sex, because of the biological imperative built in to all living things. They don't need Dawson's Creek, they need solid counseling and information from parents and other community elders, AND THEN they need serious distraction in the way of youth athletics, clubs and recreational opportunities. Keep them busy, keep them informed, burn up that energy in productive ways. Some are gonna slip through the cracks, that's just the way it is.

The media who fan the flames of the runaway desires of this privledged society that is about to crumble should be ashamed of their contribution to our failing culture.

I don't see it as a political party not doing enough...no matter the side that seems to proclaim values and does or doesn't do what they said.

I don't see it as squarely blaiming the media as this short clip highlights....when yes they influence society....but they are not under any oath (as politicians) or any family bond (as parents).

So, since I don't want it to rest in the hand of those giving oaths (politicians lie by the way).

It's a subject that differs with each family and each religion...so put the debate their. Let the family control the tv watching, the religion, the schooling....the whole game.

It's hard to control today, and anything is almost not possible to control in this modern day. So...you do your best as has been the same basic plan from the start of partenting with any other help gladdly recieved on such a difficult subject.

But help is recieved and not demanded or forced.

This is a blatant example of what all of us are up against every day. Madison Avenue has stolen our lives. It is an effort to block its pernicious and pervasive influence. Advertising even targets infants. Teens are just consumer objects, not citizens, not human beings. These children are just another example of our greed that sacrifices everything for profit.

To say that teens have always engaged in sex is a cop-out. The T.V. producers aren't responsible, adolescence itself is! Adults need to provide teens with role models, not exploit them.

Our sex and violence is destroying us. The Europeans do a much better job of raising responsible children. Could there be a connection between our obsession with free markets capitalism and raw sensation seeking?

Personally as a teen I think that adult figures on t.v. complain about how parents abiously aren't good role models. But look at t.v. obviously we get alot of the oh hey lets bang because it has to be cool. Adults hold teens to be perfect and that they can't like certain things no offence people but teens look to what parents think are acceptable and what they like to influence what they like and what they think are cool. Parents avoid talking about sex. i think they need to start talking about it because then when the teens start watching the high rated programs they will know abstinence is better than going out and banging who ever. Its really not possible to stop it. the mass corruption of todays teens is horrifying. im one of those teens that beleives its not right to go out and have sex befor marriage but im not going to critisize

You know, when I was in HS, we had something like 30 pregnant teenagers out of a class of 200. There were enough that they started a special school.

You can say all that you want, but life imitates art as much as art imitates life. It is reciprocal.

We will lay in the bed we make.

I dont think sex is anymore invading young teens now then in the 80s, 70s or even the 60s. I think its just more public now because the media makes it into reports, stories and prime time TV. I think most of this is more to do with the parents of kids then just media.

I'm not defending the media but there wouldn't be shows, videos or movies about this, if it wasn't already happening. I'm 37 years old, and I remember how much sex and the beginning of sexual desire and activity was rampant through out middle school years. But too often because a stupid hip hop bump and grind dance has turned a teeny bopper dance into a strip club, we think all these kids are having sex. ITs not fair to the kids to assume that, and its up to parents to maybe try and expose their kids to more than the horrible crap MTV calls music these days, and get their interest into other forms of music, arts, books, sports, and so on.

But when their parents are out doing the same thing, what do you expect. Maybe I'm just a old punk rocker, who is out of touch, but my kids have a broad spectrum of interest, and I'm proud of that, and so far, knock on wood, my daughter has interest other then grinding on some boy at the school dance and feeding off of POP media

Today's kids and the digital world.

Most of the kids today won't even bother remembering a telephone number, because it's stored in the cell phone. Why not speed dial it?

The TV shows or sitcoms these days have pre-teens and teenagers talking and yelling back at their parents and the parents just laugh it off that they just got disrespected.

I have a daughter who learned to dress modestly early on; no clothes too tight or too small and no cleavage or belly to show. She never went to Mexico for Spring break; she wasn't even exposed to the idea. As a divorced parent, I was responsible for knowing where she was most of the time. I know I've passed that on to her to be a responsible parent one day. My mother was a great example to me.

It all starts in the home whether there is only one parent present. Don't break that communication between a parent and a child.

why you can not teach to teach to make a bomb to teenager? Answer for this question may be because a teenager can not handling this type information. Sex information is too much for teenager even so that information deal abstinence sex. Information early without a culture that let the compromise it is a big mistake.(sorry for my english)

http://mrxfromplanetx.com/propaganda

Propaganda (1922)

"Universal literacy was supposed to educate the common man to control his environment. Once he could read and write he would have a mind fit to rule. So ran the democratic doctrine. But instead of a mind universal literacy has given him rubber stamps, rubber stamps inked with advertising slogans, with editorials, with published scientific data, with the trivialities of the tabloids and the platitudes of history, but quite innocent of original thought. Each man’s rubber stamps are the duplicates of millions of others, so that when those millions are exposed to the same stimuli, all received identical imprints."

The media knows this. The bottom line is sex sells. For all the Conservative love of capitalism, they deny it's adverse side effects. If this is what it takes to get a kids attention and secure ratings, this is what they will do.

On the liberal side you have nimrods who claim people are in control, and somehow this debauchery is liberating.

We are all very sexual. We are all very given to using our power. And we are human. We have vast choices as to when, how, with whom,for what reason, and with what meaning. Sex, money and power are important--but not everything. Beautiful or ugly. Loving or abusive. Wise or foolish. Enjoy your humanity; a wonderful and unique gift to the rest of us from an endlessly innovative and boundless divine lover. There is a time and a place for everything under the sun. At age 39 I had loved many and loved deeply and for gave myself for the first time in full physical union with my newlywed--giving her a life of devotion to my own person, to her and to God. Life is broad. Life is deep. Life is high. Life is wide. ENJOY

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