Show And Networks Like Mtv example essay topic
458 words
During the last 50-60 years many families have chosen to leave America's urban areas in hopes to escape the social and psychological influences endemic of large cities. Seeking low crime rates, strong communities, and relative safety, these families have fled to the suburbs. With the advent of the modern talk show and networks like MTV, however, the reality is that everything they were trying to escape is now being piped directly into their living rooms. Television talk shows such as "Jerry Springer,"Jenny Jones", and networks such as MTV, are actively shaping the minds of today's youth, causing disastrous social and psychological effects. An example of how today's television culture causes undesirable thought processes in America's youth is by holding up high, role models which not even the most uncaring of parents would want their children idolizing. Turn on MTV at any given time and you are sure to find a "Gangster", pretending to be an artist, glorifying the life of a thug to our children. These improper role models not only encourage their viewers to embrace a criminal lifestyle, but do it in a language that few parents understand. The effect of this phenomenon is that many parents do not have a clue as to what their children are saying. When today's youth are not being enticed to emulate their favorite gangster they are bombarded by the messages of talk shows like "Jerry Springer".
One recent show was titled, "Children Having Orgies While Their Parents are at Work". Even though the host may not believe the behavior of the guest is appropriate, the message to our children is that these behaviors are normal, acceptable, and everybody is doing it. What is worse is that many times these shows are on right after school when many children are unattended by working parents. With messages like these being sent out over the airwaves it is no wonder that many people feel that teenage sex, violence, and drugs are out of control.
Maybe, however, we should not blame these television shows for the corruption of America's morality. After all, we have a choice of what we watch and allow our children to view. I don't buy it, and either should you! Even if we deprive our children of television all together, there will be ten other children at school who will have seen these programs and who are in a position to influence those around them.
This issue is not about freedom of speech, or religious beliefs, but rather about common decency. The social and psychological effects of these shows are as damaging as the greed that drives the thugs that produce them..
