Generation M

Could that article Generation M be any longer? After reading all of that, I feel that I didn't really learn anything that I didn't already assume about children's use of media.

I believe that every second a new MySpace user is born. All you have to do is hang out with some teenagers and they are obsessed! The addiction is really powerful. It reminds me of how I used to talk on the phone until dawn when I was 13.

At night, do a drive by in the neighborhoods and that blue light is constantly flashing on the walls. The majority of mainstream Americans are watching TV whenever they are at home! It is on in the background even if they are not watching it. Researchers say that if you eat dinner with your child at the dinner table, your child will be less likely to do drugs. Is this true if everyone is watching TV while eating dinner?

Media has consumed the interest of our youth at amazing amounts of speed. Is it good for our youth, for our nation? We know that it is good for all of the companies whom are profiting from it. As the article states, "Young people are often among the early adopters of new communication technologies." This is because youth are targeted by industry with content that appeals to mainstream wants.

"Media plays an important role in the socialization of our youth." True, but that should NOT be true! Life is too short to be mindlessly driven by media and the commercialization that comes hand in hand with it.

A quick personal story of interest: When I was traveling on the small island in Fiji, Vana Levu, I met a lot of native Fijians that were untouched by global media. This wasn't because they were on a remote island, because 30 miles down the road was a fully functioning town. I learned that the tribe's elders made a conscious choice not to allow media into the lives of their people. A wealthy resort had upgraded their generator, and therefore offered to donate their old generator to the tribe so that they would have electricity. On a basic level this means that the tribe of people would have hot water and light. However, the elders rejected the generator by saying if they allowed electricity to come into their tribe, their youth would loose their traditions and culture and no longer have the morals of the tribe, because they would be exposed to TV.

Amazing! What an omniscient prediction and so true!

And another short personal story: In Harare, Zimbabwe where I studied traditional Shona music and dance, very few young people their were interested in what I was doing. They thought I was strange to come to Zimbabwe to study traditional music & dance. Instead of learning the ancient instrument the Mbira, teenagers were learning the electric guitar. Interestingly enough, they were taking traditional melodies of the Mbira and putting them on the guitar. One of the strangest things I did while in a township or high-density area was I watched an episode of “The Golden Girls” and on another night I watched an episode of David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” What a trip to watch them watch these shows. By the way, they had 1 TV and no furniture.

Again as the article Generation M stated, Youth of America and other developed countries are being socialized through TV, whether it is PBS or MTV. My rhetorical question is: Where are the parents? I know where they are. But really, why have kids if you aren’t going to raise them?

On another note: Stay young, ride a bike! Enjoy the weather ~