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Maddie Labott

Ms. Gardner

English 10H/6

5 May 2017

The Way Music is Shaping our Youth

Do you ever stop to think about the message that your music is giving and the influence it

may be having on you? Many researchers and concerned parents agree that the lyrics of many

popular songs are inappropriate for young listeners and are affecting their development. This

issue is of great importance to the many who believe that children who hear these ideas at a

young age will start to believe that all of the things these artist say is okay. Topics such as drugs,

sex, language, race are just a few topics that have been discussed disrespectfully through the

lyrics of popular songs. Although there are some regulations on what words can be said on

public radios and television, that doesn't stop people for blasting this music in public stores or in

their cars. Also, these regulations are very small and some music lyrics that are inappropriate are

played on public radio. Even though artists may not intend to influence the minds of kids, studies

show that their lyrics are impacting young children not only through encouraging messages but

also with their disrespectful, violent and inappropriate language.

Some may argue that these are just words and that children wouldnt understand what

they meaning, let alone let them influence their lifestyle. An article from University Wire,

entitled "Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B Express Struggles of Black Experience", expresses that this music

is a part of the black culture and carries an important message, I think a lot of the time, people

hear the lyrics and just assume sex, drugs and alcohol are all that is being talked about, but for a
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lot of artists, these are the type of experiences they and many others in their position get exposed

to. Sage Salvo, supporting citizen, thinks that hip-hop is important to his black culture,

Hip-hop is more than just sounding bass and twinkling similes. It helps us. I was 26 when my

mother died. I kept three songs on repeat, and the lyrics cradled my broken heart to sleep at

night (qtd. in Perkins). These people grew up surrounded with these lyrics. It is special to them

because they feel like they can connect to the rappers topics. But, these people know nothing

else. If they were not surrounded by these ideas, maybe they would relate less because nobody

would have negative music to get ideas from in the first place. By putting these words in their

head, they are more likely to act out on them.

Both sides can agree that the lyrics to popular songs can have great impact on people

Not all lyrics to music have a bad influence. Lyrics with positive and encouraging lyrics can

have the same affect on children and teens that negative words do. Peter Walker, of Guardian

Newspaper, notes, After years of studies purporting to show the harmful effects of young

people listening to songs with violent or misogynistic themes, a psychologist has concluded that

music containing a positive message has a beneficial impact on listeners. Dr Tobias

Greitemeyer from the University of Sussex experimented with teens testing out their willingness

to be of service after listening to songs with encouraging messages. His results were very

successful and on average, those who had been listening to songs including Michael Jacksons

Heal the World were five times more reactive when someone was in need of help (Walker). All

lyrics to songs can have an impact on one's mood and actions. Not only songs with crude

subjects are affecting children and teens. If we surround ourselves with more uplifting messages,

it can change our attitudes and all around disposition.

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Young artists that are singing/rapping about sexual activity make it more likely for kids

to think that it is normal to be participating in sexual activity at such a young age. Steven C.

Martino, behavior scientist at RAND corporation, did a study within student that listen to music

with sexual lyrics. Along with his team, Martino found that, Among kids with the highest levels

of exposure to sexually degrading lyrics, 51 percent went on to initiate sexual intercourse He

continues to inform us that, For those with the lowest levels, only 29 percent initiated sexual

intercourse (qtd. in Cobb). These kids are only 12, 13 and 14 years old. They are looking to

their friends, parents and their idols (the artists) for guidance. Associate professor P. Cougar Hall

of Brigham Young University adds to the topic:

If Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are talking about sexual activity, and Im 14, that just

increases this misperception that I have that all kids are sexually active. Its this idea that

if youre listening to music that is saturated with sexual messages, you tend to believe

that everyones doing it. That in itself becomes a powerful perspective. (qtd. in Cobb)

Songs that encourage sexual behavior among teens just make it all the more likely for children

to believe that this is normal behavior and that they should be participating as well. Many songs

that fill our ears, intentionally or not, have inappropriate content that could sway the decisions of

children and teenagers. Sheltering this generation's ears from these ideas, may prevent decisions

that will later be regretted.

Artists songs are not just extremely sexual but also are condoning violence and cursing

by using this language frequently. Studies from Western Connecticut State University show that

Those who listen to music with violent lyrics are more likely to be violent (Jackson). Timothy

Jay, psychologist, believes, its like listening to a foreign language and also compares is to a
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babys developmental strategies, Newborns are very attentive to the emotional states of their

caregivers. If you use emotional language around them (like profanity), theyll pick up on it

(qtd in Johnson). Just by hearing language about violence or hearing profanity doesn't

necessarily make you the most violent person or change your whole vocabulary to profanity. But,

every time a child hears a swear word in a song, they become more immune to it and it doesn't

have the shocking effect on them that it should. Teens that listen to this music, will not think as

much of it when someone comes up to them and insults them with curse words because they

have become numb idea. Students that hear lyrics with violence may not be as concerned when

they see a fight at school. They may even be in that fight because they think that it's normal

according to their song lyrics. Although these kids and teens may not be purposely filling their

minds with these ideas, the words are not harmless like some may believe. Research is proving

that lyrics do have an impact on your actions.

Through concepts in lyrics like sex, violence and language kids can be affected

negatively in the way they act. The same goes for positive lyrics. Encouraging songs have been

proven to lighten ones mood and make them more eager to be of service. With more regulations

and shelter, disturbing lyrics can be tamed and not as influential in our generation. Kids, now, are

making decisions based on what they think is normal, even though they really are just hearing

this in their music. Music can be a great outlet for kids to connect with the artist and be happy,

but unnecessary references are just going to create chaos. Next time you plug in your earbuds,

think about the words you are putting through your mind. Do you want to speak like that? Do

you want to act like that? Help make this generation positive by surrounding you and your kids

with positive messages.

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Works Cited

Cobb, Sydney. Literal lyrics? The effects of sex, violence and misogyny in popular music.

DeseretNews.com, Deseret News, 21 Apr. 2016,

www.deseretnews.com/article/865652703/Literal-lyrics-The-effects-of-sex-violence-and-miso

gyny-in-popular-music.html. Accessed 29 Apr. 2017.

Jackson, Nakia. Can Music Be a Bad Influence on Kids & Teens? LIVESTRONG.COM,

Leaf Group, 2 Apr. 2013,

www.livestrong.com/article/1000832-can-music-bad-influence-kids-teens/. Accessed 30 Apr.

2017.

Johnson , Chandra. Kids and swear words: Can profanity in media hurt? The Washington

Times, The Washington Times, 20 Aug. 2014,

www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/20/kids-and-swear-words-can-profanity-in-medi

a-hurt/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.

Newman Perkins, Gilbert. "Hip-Hop Hypocrisy." Washington Post, 20 Sep, 2013, pp. A.21,

SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

Walker, Peter. "Positive Lyrics can Hit Home with Grumpy Teenagers, Study Says." The

Guardian (London, England), 04 Jan, 2010, pp. 11, SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://sks.sirs.com.

"Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B Express Struggles of Black Experience." University Wire, 26 Jun, 2015,

SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.