We might be giving adolescents less credit than they deserve in being aware of the consequences of their actions. Robert Payne points of the difficulties in labeling youth in terms of being “both sophisticated enough to master new technologies and yet innocent enough to require protection” (Qtd. in Draper, pg. 230). Many teens are aware of the consequences of their actions yet take risks anyway. In order to reduce risk it’s important to educate youth of consequences rather than admonishing them. It’s hard to tell whether teens have become sexualized in recent years or whether the advent of social media has simply brought this to light. The idea of youth is changing and evolving and there is a problem with older generations holding up an ideal of youth based upon their experiences. Stern points out that: “given the apparent extent of adult discontent with youth, we are compelled to consider the basis for these negative impressions. Presumably, adults draw on memories of their own adolescent years, experiences with teens, and stories told by friends and relatives. They also are likely to be influenced by images of teens they encounter in theaters, on television, in magazines, and on the Internet” (Stern, 24). It’s uncomfortable for older generations to think of their sons and daughters engaging in sexual activities via new forms of media, but rather than punishing them, it’s important to educate them on the consequences that can result from their actions.
Cited:
Draper, Nora R. A. (2012). Is Your Teen at Risk? Discourses of Adolescent Sexting in the United States Television News. Journal of Children and Media, 6 (2): 221-236.
Stern, Susannah R. (2005). Self-Absorbed, Dangerous, and Disengaged: What Popular Films Tell Us About Teenagers. Mass Communication & Society, 2005, 8 (1), 23-28.
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