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Social problems among teenagers are on the rise, and there are
several factors that contribute to this trend. Parents play a crucial role in
guiding their children and instilling values in them, but unfortunately, the
influence of parents is steadily diminishing. Often, both parents hold full-time
jobs and their children are left in the care of babysitters or foreign maids. As
a result, children spend less time with their parents and are deprived of the
essential guidance and discipline parents should provide. This effect is not
apparent until it is seen in their behavior and attitudes when they become
teenagers. The social problems among teenagers are examples of these attitudes.
These include gangsterism, loitering, vandalism, alcoholism, smoking, and drug
abuse.
However, the absence of parental guidance is not solely to blame for social
problems among teenagers. Another critical factor is the influence of friends.
Teenagers need to belong to a group and have a circle of friends with whom they
can identify. They feel they need to conform to belong. This is peer pressure.
Members of a group will all try to do the same things. For example, they may
even begin to look like each other, sport the same hairstyle, speak in the same
way, dress like each other, and so on. This helps enhance the sense of
belonging. Imagine how left out a teenager would feel in a group of friends who
smoke. The influence of peers and his desire to belong would compel him to take
up the habit or leave the group.
In addition, there is the all-pervading mass media that influences
impressionable teenagers. It affects their values, behavior, thought patterns,
and expectations. The influence of the mass media is so great that teenagers
cannot tell where fantasy ends and reality begins. They believe what they see in
the movies is reality. They expect things to happen like they do in the movies.
They enter into relationships and expect everything to be romantic and rosy.
When this does not happen, they get angry, frustrated, and extremely
disappointed. Many resort to socially unacceptable behavior such as vandalism to
give vent to their frustration. Others may turn to smoking or worse still, to
drugs. It is a form of rebellion against reality because it does not meet their
expectations.
To make matters worse, too much pressure is put on teenagers. Their parents, as
well as their teachers, have high expectations. They expect their children to
excel. To this end, parents rush them here, there and everywhere for extra
classes and tuition just to ensure they score straight As in public
examinations. And this begins at a very tender age! It is not surprising
therefore, that many teenagers react in silent protest. They refuse to work
hard; they prefer to go out and have fun with friends. It may be that they feel
they have been robbed of their childhood. They have not experienced the
care-free days of fun and laughter. It is always study, study and more study. So
now, in their teenage years, they are protesting. The pranks they resort to as
an expression of their protest may have more serious consequences and may even
be criminal.
In conclusion, social ills among teenagers are increasing as parents and society
demand more from them than they can give. Parents cannot be blamed entirely as
much is beyond their control. The influence of peers, the subtle messages of the
mass media, and the resulting boredom with life and its pressures all play a
part in creating an environment that gives rise to social ills among teenagers.
It is important for parents to stay involved in their children's lives, to set
boundaries and rules, and to communicate effectively with their children. This
can help to reduce the negative influence of peers and media and can provide a
positive example for teenagers to follow. |
