“Boy shoots friend after listening to
Eminem” - This is now a common newspaper headline throughout the world, as
more and more youths and children listen to explicit music. Music plays a
substantial role in the socialization of children and adolescents. Popular
music is present everywhere and is freely accessed through radio, various
recordings, the Internet and new technologies, allowing adolescents to listen
to it in different settings and situations, alone or shared with friend.
More often than not, parents are ignorant of
the lyrics to which their children are listening. This is the result of the
constant downloading and changing of songs. Research on popular music has
explored its effects on school work, social interactions, mood and affect and
particularly behaviour. The effect that popular music has on children’s and
adolescents’ behaviour and emotions is of paramount concern.
Lyrics have become more explicit in
their references to drugs, sex and violence over the years, particularly in
certain genres. For example a song like ‘On My Level’ sung by Wiz Khalifa featuring
Too Short says that it’s fine to drink and not care about anything. A
teenager’s preference could be correlated or associated with certain behaviours.
As with popular music, the perception and the effect of music video messages are
important, because research has reported that exposure to violence, sexual
messages, sexual stereotypes, and substance abuse -- alcohol, illegal drugs and
the like - in music videos might produce significant changes in behaviours and
attitudes of young viewers; caretakers and parents should be aware of this.
Furthermore, with the evidence revealed in these studies, it is essential for us
to take a stand regarding music lyrics. Parents should monitor the type of
music their children are listening to and song lyrics as this knowledge can
benefit them in the future. I thank you for spending a few moments to take the
time and reading about the possible harm of explicit music.
By Justin Robinson
I think this is a good article and wise advice for parents. As a parent of a 14 year old, I try to ensure the lyrics in her music are not inappropriate. It's a real challenge for parents....
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