Society today is changing and this is nothing new, it's always changing. However my problem is that sometimes I feel like our younger generations are too "eager" to grow up. I mean I'm only 20 and I already miss being 13 years old (and rotting away in front of the tv playing video games, all day), but why does every 13 year old want to dress up or act like they're 20?

I bet you can't walk through New York without seeing at least 1 billboard with a half naked woman. Even in the malls today, almost every window will include some form of person half naked modeling the product of clothing. In magazines, you see many stars that everyone looks up to, half naked or naked (with proper censorship or none at all). Apparently the trend today is more skin, is more in.

The idea of sex sells is obvious and very true, but the problem is that it's posted in places where it sells to EVERYONE. By everyone I mean Me, You, and the young middle school student trying to find the next best thing. If thats what they see will they try to mimic it? Will the younger generation try to attain more sexual appeal? Is that what we're doing these days, exposing the younger generation to sex at this early of an age? Then we all wonder why teenage pregnancy seems to be more common nowadays.

This is something that you can see clearly when you go to the mall. A good example, Victoria's Secret. My one friend was telling me about her experience in the store, she mentions to me she sees this group of really young girls looking around for underware. She told me it bothered her that girls at such an age are trying to look sexy. My only response to this was "Sexy for who?".

It's disgusting how these young girls are wearing less clothing just to "fit in" with today's trends.

In today's media, violence seems to sell pretty well. Everyone once in awhile does enjoy a good action movie. But sometimes, do we take heed to the maturity ratings in place today? Obviously not, I am currently employed at Circuit City and it sucked to have sold this M rated video game to some guy who bought it for his 9 year-old son. The law states you can sell M rated games to minors as long as their parents are present. Sometimes you just wanna shake parents and scream at them "What the hell are you doing?"

I mean honestly I do follow read the local newspaper whenever I get the chance. I remember reading an article about 4 kids (between the ages of 16-18) who were murdered. If that's not upsetting enough for you then the fact that 3 of them were high school graduates, and collegebound. It is said to be the result of gang violence. Another instance is where I was watching a documentary on the History channel, you know the series "Gangland" and to even hear that gangs recruit people as young as 16. What's going on here?

Well if we go back to media (while still ignoring maturity ratings) apparently there are a lot of songs out there that promote gang violence and illegal drug use. And who listens to it? Yes thats right the young ones that are just trying to find a place to fit in. Even in my years in high school I encountered many kid's who have done and even sold illegal drugs.

I also remember watching a CNN report of a 7 year old stealing his grandma's car and taking out for a joy ride. When the reporter asked why he did it. In his own words he said "because being bad is fun". (I'd post it up if I had the rights to it)

As a whole, we have tried to stop it, we have censorship laws. We also have parental control on the internet and the television. Other various programs that are focused on keeping kids focused. Instead of having them off gallivanting through fields of marijuana. It's also very common to find that sex education is out there to lower the rates of teen pregnancy

My only question is, since we as a whole have done all that, what more can we do to stop exposing younger generations to the wrong types of messages?