Neuro-Semantic Pollution in Today’s Youth

OUR PROBLEM

Our problem is how Neuro-Semantic Polluters (music, TV, movies, video games, etc.) is negatively affecting the youth, specifically teens, of today.

NEURO-SEMANTIC POLLUTERS ARE HURTING OUR TEENS BY:

Teen Pregnancy

Violence

Sexual assault

NEURO-SEMANTIC POLLUTERS

Teen Mom

Grand Theft Auto – Vice City

Eminem

SCARY TRUTH REGARDING VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES

“In a recent research study, adolescents played two different types of video games for 30 minutes. Teens that played the violent game (right) showed increased activity in the amygdala, which is involved in emotional arousal.” *Indiana University School of Medicine 

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

BECAUSE…

"I have been to something like 50 gang funerals where the guy in the coffin was no more than 20. The game companies don't see the family crying and the people in the coffin. They don't see the impact this has on our culture. They make or play their games in the studio, but for kids on the street it's a real life."- Terrance Stone youth leader and former gang member on how violent video games such as Grand Theft Auto has glamorized the gang lifestyle

RESEARCH REASONING:

The goal of this research is to introduce ways to remove neuro-semantic polluters from the youth of today, so they can be happy and productive members of society.

WAYS TO ELIMINATE NEURO-SEMANTIC POLLUTERS:

Neuro-Semantic Polluters

Increase Parental

Control Over Content

Increase Knowledge of

Content

Change Artists’ Beliefs on Content

Decrease Distribution to

Teens

Parents must get more involved in what their teens are watching and listening to in order to help them avoid polluters in their life. Ways to help include:

• Limiting daily TV time for their teens

• Placing restrictions on internet use

• Screening movies, books, TV shows, and music for their teens

• Talking with their teens about violence, sex, drugs, and alcohol

When parents gets involved in their teen’s life in a positive manner, it shows the teen that their parents care for them, and the teen is more likely to listen to their advise.

Increase Parental Control Over

Content

One of the biggest issues with neuro-semantic polluters is how readily available they are for teens. Some ways to regulate the distribution to our teens are:

• Media stores should not sell anything to a minor (under 17 years old)

• Internet websites should create more secure sites to ward off underage teens

• TV stations should run their “racy” programming at later times to avoid teen viewing

These small steps are ways to ensure that the distribution of polluters to our teens will decrease and maybe one day completely vanish.

Decrease Distribution to Teens

One of our biggest issues in the realm of neuro-semantic polluters is lack of knowledge or understanding of the subject. These ideas can help teen knowledge:

• Parents should sit with their teens and discuss violence, sex, alcohol, and drugs.

• TV shows should have resources available for teens and parents to use for research purposes

• Artists should involve themselves in awareness seminars, so that they can be an example for their fans.

These ideas may require more interaction from the artist and the parents, but it is necessary to help teens understand the difference between media and real life.

Increase Knowledg

e of Content

The artists of the neuro-semantic polluters have an extraordinary amount of control of how their material is shown and delivered to their fans. Their beliefs are:

• If their material isn’t shocking, albums won’t sell

• If a TV show doesn’t have murder or sex, no one will watch it

• If their video game isn’t violent, it will be a bore, thus limiting the market

We must change the beliefs of the artists who put out the material that our teens see. If their beliefs do not change, they will continue to put out raunchy material.

Change Artists’

Beliefs on Content

CONCLUSION

In order to eliminate Neuro-Semantic Pollution from our teenagers, we must engage in the 4 following ideals. Only by engaging in these ideals can we actually gain ground in the war against Neuro-Semantic Pollution.

Decrease Distribution to Teens

Increase Knowledg

e of Content

Change Artists’

Beliefs on Content

Increase Parental Control Over

Content

YOUR TASK…

•Continue to research ways to avoid Neuro-Semantic Pollution

•Go out of your way to ensure the safety of your teenagers

•Research the things your teen wants to listen to, watch, or read

•Make sure your teen understands the love behind your purpose

BIBLIOGRAPHY

All images found on Yahoo Images.

Castillo, M. (2010, July 28). Hardships and lessons return with 'Teen Mom'. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from MSNBC.com: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38281908/ns/today-entertainment

Katz, J. (2002, August 11). 8 Reasons Eminem's Popularity is a Disaster for Women . Retrieved July 19, 2011, from JacksonKatz.com: http://www.jacksonkatz.com/eminem2.html

ParentsTV.org Staff. (2011, June 17). Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: More of the Same. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from ParentsTV.Org: http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/videogames/reviews/vicecity.asp

ParentsTV.org Staff. (2011 , June 17). Media Quotes. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from ParentsTV.Org: http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/facts/mediaquotes.asp

Kalning, K. (2006, December 8). Does game violence make teens aggressive? Retrieved July 19, 2011, from MSNBC.com: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16099971/