Loss of Innocence – Role of Media and its impression on todays young generation

Nikita’s viewpoint -

These days I would not use the words, childhood and innocence together. Everyday, I read the papers and find some new kid being a victim of the “Happy Slapping” craze. The most recent appalling story I came across was a year 8 student tied up against a tree using masking tape and then set on fire by some year 10 students.

I do not understand why acts like this provide amusement to kids today. It is just so evil, sick and twisted. I believe that the idea of having fun these days as kids has changed. Kids today simply want to grow up fast and become adults. These days your cool status within peers is marked against whether you have the latest gadget!

What happened to the good old days when as kids simple pleasures such as going biking or play in the mud or pretend to be pirates, just generally have a laugh would give amusement? I feel the media has does have a heavy role with influencing kids how to behave these days. Kids are bombarded with violent images everyday. About majority of playstation games are all related to gory blood spilling violence.

And programmes such as JackAss are all promoting that bit of violence can be cool and funny. For example, stapling your hand tot he table! I have to admit I do watch Jack Ass sometimes and find myself laughing, but, being 21 I know they are stupid prats and I wouldn’t replicate their stupid stunts. However in the eyes of 13 yr olds they are being disillusioned thinking what they see is what all adults might regard as funny or cool, and naturally want to mimic it.

Question now is what do we do? How do we prevent kids from carrying out evil nasty acts of “fun”? Personally I believe the root of the problem lies with the parents. I definitely know that here in the UK that parents are somewhat loosing control on their kids from an early age. All ready we have many reality TV shows for parents who cannot even control their little toddlers. Little 4 year olds kids swearing the “F” word to them. Both mums and dads have full time 9-5pm jobs. They come home tired and not wanting any further stress let their kids do as they please. Naturally when the kids do not get their way they cause chaos. Now if the parents are angry shouting and swearing it is obvious that this part of their personality will rub off on their children.

Hence, the children will take this side of aggression to the playground, stunt like happy slapping take place. Parents need to be a bit stricter and more of an active role in their kids lives. Make sure what they see and do not see etc. Not to be afraid of taking control and show who exactly is boss. But this should be done by clever means- i.e. not always by screaming and shouting. Anyways, I maybe totally wrong in the way I think but have viewed my opinion.
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According to me she does make a valid point about the Role of Media and its impression on today’s young generation. However, I feel there is very little what parents and teachers can do to control it.