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Edic Rangel Professor: Rebecca Lawson English 113B 2/26/13 Project Web- Final Draft Media VS Teens Mass Media has been around for many years now, and although there many positive aspects to mass media it has also affected the world in a various negative ways. Media has a big influence on teenagers. Television shows, video games, and even music has been one of the reasons for why teenagers have become more rebellious in which they start to drink (underage), do drugs, and become violent. TV show like Skins, Gossip Girl, and Jersey Shore are watched by many teenagers around the world. Shows like these are one of the reasons why several teenagers view life as one big party with no rules. Skins and the first few seasons of Gossip Girl promote lots of underage drinking and drugs, Jersey Shore not so much since it a 21 and over show, but the characters in the show are always going to clubs and getting drunk. Teenagers dont realize that alcohol and drugs can get them in some serious problems. Here is a YouTube drinking awareness video made by Ashlei Nicolas demonstrated how teens drinking without thinking. (YouTube video here) Nicole aka Snooki from the Jersey Shore TV show was rated as one of the worst TV role models. She wasnt the brightest in the cast and her excess drinking would get her arrested and lead to iffy sexual behaviors. Kids who watch this show are more likely to try drinking than those who dont (Worst TV). Snooki wasnt the only one rated as worst TV role model, but Tony aka James Newman from the hit show Skins was as well. In the show, James sleeps with

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every hot girl he sees and along with his girlfriend, and tries to convince his friends to follow in his footsteps. Teens who watch a lot of sexual TV content are TWICE as likely to end up pregnant (Worst TV). Thats why parents should monitor their teens while watching TV. Parents should sit down with their teens and make sure the shows they are watching are appropriate for their age. Also, watching TV should be treated as a privlage and should be limited. Video games have also made a negative impact on teenagers. Games like Halo, Call of Duty, Left 4 Dead and Grand Theft Auto are just one of the few violent games that attract teenagers. These game offer teenagers, guns, drugs, slang, sex, and make it seem as it is a proper thing to do. Teenagers who usually play these sort of video games become affiliated with gang members due to the fact they want to be like the characters they see in there video games. In 2006, study revealed that 70% of 13-16 year old teens were able to purchase Matured-rated games. These video games are specifically for adults only (Gruel). Not only are teenagers getting a hold of these games, but they are being influenced by them. Video games as the ones mention before tend to be very graphic and inappropriate for teenagers. These video games mainly focus on killing people, robbing, racism, sexual assault, and even assaulting the police. As teenagers keep playing those violent video games, the more it influences them into becoming a bad person. Ive seen teenagers become more aggressive towards people and especially their parents. If parents keep letting their teens play violent games, in the future who knows how rebellious your child might turn out to be. Thats why parents should buy their teens appropriate video games. Parents should also find their kids interest to be able to buy fun video games they will enjoy.

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Additionally teens dont seem to realize that music is a big influence as well. Music artist like, Immortal Techniques, Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Wayne all rap about drugs, rape, violence in the society and what they become because of that. For example, Wiz Khalifa raps about weed in half of his music album. Wiz, has a song called Young Wild and Free in which he views life as one party where drinking, smoking and not giving a damn about anything is okay. (Wiz video here) Not only does he have songs exposing weed to his listeners, but he also has a tutorial video of how to row a joint. A joint consist of paper raps and weed. (joint video here ) Many people look up to Wiz Khalifa, but in my opinion I find nothing to look upon to. Research studies show that nearly half of rap/hip hop genres expose alcohol and drugs compared to other genres (Pacific). Now a day, rap and hip hop is mostly what mostly teenagers listen, because its the new trend, and its what all the cool kids do. Parents should pay more attention on what their teens watch, play, and listen to. Media was brought into the world for resources and helping our society become a better place, but has brought otherwise. The media promotes lots of alcohol, drugs and violence that our society doesnt see. Whether it be from the tiniest way media has impacted teenagers in varies negative ways.

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Work Cited Nicolas, Ashlei. Drink Awareness Advertisement. YouTube, 1 May 2012. Web. 19 February 2013. AtlanticVideos. Young, Wild and Free, By Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dogg ft. Bruno Mars. YouTube, 28 November 2011. Web. 19 February 2013. Slimcofficail. How to Roll a Perfect Joint, By Wiz Khalifa. YouTube, 26 December 2012. Web. 23 Feburary 2013 "Worst TV Role Models: Is Snooki Teaching Your Kids?" ParentDish. Ed. Common Sense Media. Media, TV, 27 May 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. Gruel, Steven F. "Violent Video Games Cause Aggression in Children and Should Be Regulated." Media Violence. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Brief of Amicus Curiae." Schwarzenegger v. Video Software Dealers Association and Entertainment Software Association. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. "Rap Listeners Are Prone to Violence."Rap Music and Culture. Ed. Kate Burns. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Rap Listeners Prone to Alcohol, Drugs, Violence." 2006. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.