Effects of Music on Teenagers

Azam Mirabdullaev Professor Christdas ESL 094-622 March 4, 2013 Effects of Music on Teenagers I strongly agree that many of today’s popular songs refer to sex, drugs, and violence. I think these songs are very harmful for teenagers, and have to be taken off the market. These songs are causing a lot of problems in our society such as increasing rate of early pregnancy, drug abuse, and violence among teenagers. Furthermore, these songs project to teenagers that it is acceptable and glorified to behave in this manner.
First, the songs that refer to sex are causing many teenagers to have early sex, which often leads to early pregnancies. Most of the time early pregnancies often end up with abortions. In the United States of America the rate of pregnancies among teenagers have gone up about 20 percent in the last five years. Recently I was reading an article in the New York Times about research which was done among high school teenagers. The research has shown that 90 percent of pregnant high school girls will end up with abortions.
Moreover, the research has shown that teenagers whose iPods are full of music with raunchy, sexual lyrics start having sex sooner than those who prefer other songs. Whether it is hip-hop, rap, pop or rock, much of popular music aimed at teenagers contains sexual overtones. Its influence on their behavior appears to depend on how the sex is portrayed, the researchers found. Songs depicting men as “sex-driven studs,” women as sex objects and with explicit references to sex acts are more likely to trigger early sexual behavior than those where sexual references are more veiled and relationships appear more committed.

Teenagers who said they listened to lots of music with degrading sexual messages were almost twice as likely to start having intercourse or other sexual activities within the following two years as were teenagers who listened to little or no sexually degrading music. Therefore, these songs are polluting our society causing early sex and a lot of abortions among teenagers. Secondly, songs, which refer to violence, are increasing the rate of violence among teenagers. Today’s most popular songs teach teenagers to be violent, to be tough.
These songs are one of the main reasons teenagers are joining gangs and committing crime in early years. In fact, every day we can see from the news a teenager takes a gun and shoots someone. According to a new study published by the American Psychological Association, “The violent-song increases in aggressive thoughts and feelings have implications for real world violence. Furthermore, repeated exposure to violent lyrics may contribute to the development of an aggressive personality. I think these songs pull teenagers away from school and home into a life of violence.
Therefore, the songs which refer to violence must be taken off the market. ” Third, songs that refer to drugs are increasing the level of drug abuse among teenagers. The songs, which refer to drugs, teach teenagers that it is fine and very normal to use drugs. In addition, these songs infer that using drugs makes you cool. According to the study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, one in three popular songs refers to drug or alcohol use if a person listens music about an hour he or she will receive 35 references to substance abuse.
Furthermore, study has shown that teenagers are listening music to about 2. 5 hours a day. Consequently, teenagers are hearing about 90 references to substance abuse a day. No wonder that most of the teenagers abusing drugs. In conclusion, I want to say that songs, which refer to sex, drugs, and violence, are very harmful for teenagers and have to be taken off the market. These songs are polluting our society and teenagers. Furthermore, these songs are taking away the shock value from the teenagers, and damaging their identities and characters. Finally, government agencies must take appropriate actions against such songs.