21st-century pop culture music can negatively influence or impact the behavior of American teens culturally, socially, and psychologically. The youth of America are prone to follow pop culture phenomenons merely because other individuals do. Collectively, its seen as a way for them to be relevant or up to date with the coolest trends. This contributes to the concept of symbolic interactionalism. A negative effect of this trend is the influence or swaying of a teen’s interest. The 21st-century pop culture music references sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, and the degradation of women.
“The study of Strasburger (2002) shows that in the United States of America, alcohol and tobacco are always associated with exotic and glamorous places, as depicted in much Rap music” (Chauke T.A. & Malatji K.S.: Deviant behaviour portrayed by television). On a broader basis, these songs shift teens’ views upon the world and glorifies rebellion against authority. On a more psychological measure, these songs can increase in the rise of teens committing self-destructive acts.
Music has moreover, a negative impact than positive. “A recent study by WebMD reports that teenagers who listen to rap music are more likely to have babies and engage in risky sexual behavior (Cheerier)”. Gothic music like My Immortal and Bring Me Back to Life by the Rock Band, Evanescence, talk mostly about suicidal thoughts and dreadful things about life. Teens that allow themselves to be swayed by this music can fall victim to its message about life and can completely shift their perspective of living.
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A teen like me has experienced this trend of emotion. Picture this: It was the spring of 2018 when I fell into a deep depression. The vibrant and gleaming two o’clock sun was no match for the darkness inhabiting my soul. I lock myself in my darkened bedroom, my head hanging in my palms as I sit in the corner. Only then, I allow myself to be swayed by the agonizing tunes of Evanescence, Bring Me Back to Life and My Immortal. Now, I am in the sunken place. In this dark abyss, I become a raven, a gloomy little shadow with eyes of night, roaming the graves of the deceased. I fly high below the nimbostratus clouds blanketing the sky. I sound a gurgling croak, signifying my presence. Kraa! I call, the sound of my piercing voice ripping through the atmosphere.
My dark wings are spread out as the winds brush against my feathers, the air repugnant with the scent of freshly cut grass. I land, clawing three lines on the fresh soil, like the ones attached to my wrist. Suddenly my body turns to ashes, crumbling into nothingness. A stream of tears slide down my face, some making refuge on my taste buds, yet most landing on my bleeding wrists, salted wounds. My cheeks burn, red and inflamed, as for the 100th time, I wipe my tears away.
Teens worsen their state of mind by engaging in negatively subjected music. The consequences of teen depression and destructive behavior is a product of their choice to fall victim to the trend of pop culture music’s negative effect on their health psychologically because they refused to, as a wiser person, to accept that inevitably, there will be downfalls in life that one will just have to cope with and look past with a positive point of view.
In conclusion, the 21st-century pop music has a detrimental effect on American teens’ health and perspective on a broader level. The portrayal of drugs, alcohol, and profane language makes an innocent teen vulnerable to engage in such acts. Teens are psychologically manipulated to look and behave a certain way. It is essential that parents introduce their children to the right music from an early stage. Parents introducing their children to positive subjected music can potentially lessen the chance of their child falling in risky behaviors if introduced to negatively subjected music on their own without parental supervision.
If American teens are continued to freely be in control of their song choice from the start, our society will be plagued with hostile, ill-mannered, misogynistic, rebellious, psychologically imbalanced, and brainwashed youth. Pop culture music is relentless, but the negative effects can be altered if parents took time to direct their children on the right path when discussing interests in music, the entirety of adolescents’ influence from music will benefit not only them but the world culturally, sociologically, and psychologically.
