Gym. Tan. Laundry. STD?

Approximately 5.5 million people have watched at least one episode of Jersey Shore. This means approximately 5.5 million people have watched a reality television show that is based on drinking, partying and sex. The cast is made up of four guys and four girls who all live in a shore house together. The MTV reality series instills the wrong values, morals and images to teenagers. I have created a list of the top three reasons why Jersey Shore should be taken off the airwaves.

GTL Baby. This three letter combination which stands for gym, tanning and laundry has become a popular phrase among teenagers, especially college students. There is nothing wrong with going to the gym or doing your laundry but what about tanning? Is the Jersey Shore cast teaching teenagers that it is okay to fry your skin in tanning beds to get that Guido glow? According to Web MD, the number of women using tanning beds under the age of 30 has increased significantly. Melanoma is one of the fastest-growing cancers among whites, increasing by about 2% a year between 1997 and 2006. In 2009, nearly 70,000 Americans were diagnosed with melanoma. 

“Damn, the kid’s sleeping right now. That’s what you get for talking sh*t.” In Episode 8 of Jersey Shore, Ronnie decided to get in a fist fight on the boardwalk due to a comment made about his girlfriend and co-star, Sammi. Is this teaching teenagers that it is okay to fight? Even though Ronnie had to spend a night in jail, he was out partying the next day at Club Karma. But some fights do not have the same care free ending. On April 1, 2011, a 17-year old boy died due to a fist fight with another peer over a disagreement. Teen violence ending in homicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents and teenagers.

“I'm hooking up with my girl, Pauly's hooking up with his girl and ahh, we're gonna have sex, so, ya know, that's the situation.” Jersey Shore is based solely on partying, drinking and having sex. The show is filled with obscene nicknames for girls and sexual innuendos. Is this teaching teenagers its okay to go to a club, get drunk and then have a one night stand with a stranger? It is estimated that one in four college students will contract an STD during their time at school. In the larger population, this works out to 50% of people getting an STD at some time in their life. According to Women's Forum, over 45% of college freshmen who have been binge drinking and under the influence of alcohol failed to consider the usage of contraceptive aids when engaging in sexual intercourse. 15% of these students contracted and/or spread STD's amongst other college students with 7% of these infected students unaware of their condition.
  
These three reasons alone are enough for the infamous MTV reality serious to be canceled. Jersey Shore instills the wrong values, morals and images to teenagers. In short, tanning leads to skin cancer, pointless fights lead to deaths and random hook-ups lead to sexually transmitted diseases.

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Weighing in on Body Image

 

 

I wish I had Cameron Diaz's legs, Kim Kardashian's skin, Jessica Biel's arms and Carrie Underwood's hair. Have teenage girls become obsessed with their body image? Is this obsession leading to plastic surgery, eating disorders and low self-esteem among teenage girls? According to Dr. Peter Rowan, “Society has changed enormously in the past 20 years and there is not only immense pressure on young girls to look body beautiful but to be academically successful too.” Body image plays a huge role in society and an even larger role in the media. Teen Health and the Media documents a study done on fifth graders. Yes, fifth graders who are only ten years old. Researchers were told that after watching a music video by Britney Spears or an episode of the television show Friends that they became dissatisfied with their body image. Is the media largely responsible for this obsession? Would it be different if television and magazines minimized the use of celebrities or models?

Women watch TV more than men do. Advertisers have it all figured out. A study has been done calculating who, what, when and where females watch television. A Kaiser Foundation study found the following statistics: In movies, particularly, but also in television shows and the accompanying commercials, women's and girls' appearance is frequently commented on: 58 percent of female characters in movies had comments made about their looks, as did 28 percent in television shows and 26 percent of the female models in the accompanying commercials. Mens' and boys' appearance is talked about significantly less often in all three media: a quarter (24%) of male characters in the movies, and 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively, in television shows and commercials. Why is there such an emphasis on female gender's looks rather than of males? According to You and Me, Babe: Sex and Advertising, “In advertising it is easy to get a man's attention by using women's bodies and associate getting the woman if he buys the product.” Is this teaching a teenage girl that in order to get a man's attention you have to look one particular way?

Television is not the only medium to blame for the emphasis on body image. One in every three (37%) articles in leading teen girl magazines also included a focus on appearance, and most of the advertisements (50%) used an appeal to beauty to sell their products. Teenage girls buy these products to imitate the look of the celebrities they like. But do celebrities even look like the images being printed? Or, is Photoshop the secret to flawless beauty? Is Media causing girls to buy into a fictitious image that even celebrities can not achieve?

According to Eating Disorders Treatment, “teenage girls who use dieting tactics such as appetite suppressant pills, laxatives, vomiting after eating or severely restricting their calories are more likely to be heavy readers of women's health and fitness magazines, a team of researchers reports.” The media is using unrealistic images of women that are triggering eating disorders and lowering their self-esteem. Teenagers want to mirror what they are looking at, even if it takes extreme measures to achieve. Could those measures be plastic surgery? People are going under the knife to look like their favorite celebrities or models. For example, a young female, Chanelle, is considering getting breast implants to look like Victoria Beckham. Chanelle already cuts her hair like Beckham and dresses like her, so why not? Obsession is a powerful word but becomes even more powerful when acted upon in such an extreme way.

Have teenage girls become obsessed with their body image? Is this obsession leading to plastic surgery, eating disorders and low self-esteem among teenage girls? Yes, yes and yes. From 2002 to 2003, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of girls 18 and younger who got breast implants nearly tripled, from 3,872 to 11,326. Seventy-eight percent of 18-year old girls say they are unhappy with their bodies. It is estimated that 5 to 10 million females are battling some sort of eating disorder in America. How can the media begin to fix this problem?  Maybe, the media could use a little less fake and a little more real.

Rx: Twitteritis

Twitter is an open playground for celebrities and the general public. Unlike most social networks, Twitter allows one to instantly follow one's favorite celebrities without a friend request acceptance. However, can using this social network site cause Twitteritis? Twitteritis, as defined by Urban Dictionary, is the condition that arises when one becomes diseased with sharing every aspect of what they are doing all the time, everywhere. Society has become addicted to celebrities and reality stars. “Close to 90 percent of them are female...Young women have always looked to the celebrities of their time as role models,” Bonnie Fuller who is editor in chief for HollywoodLife.com said, “It used to be that they were primarily interested in them as style and beauty role models, but they're also interested in the lifestyle choices celebrities are making.” On the Early Show, Lisa Bloom, lawyer and author, conducted primary research to discover that college women could not name how many wars the United States is in but could name all of the Kardashians. On March 3, 2011, Charlie Sheen won the Guinness World Record for reaching one million followers on Twitter in the fastest time. By using Twitter, one can live vicariously through almost every aspect of a celebrity's life. Is the general public obsessed with Twitter or are celebrities? Can celebrities become addicted to tweeting?

John Mayer, singer-songwriter and music producer, joined Twitter and quickly gained 3.7 million followers in January 2010. Mayer was an active Twitter user. He would reply to his adoring fans and gave away tickets to many of his shows. Mayer, who became famous in the early 2000s for his talent on the guitar and soulful voice, did not always know how to keep his mouth shut. He found himself involved in many controversial situations. During an interview with Playboy, Mayer used the n-word. Soon after he used Twitter to apologize to his fans. Mayer wrote in a series of tweets, “I am sorry that I used the word and it's such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself. It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it because I realize that there's no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged.” He also updated his account with inspirational quotes and his whereabouts throughout the day. However, Mayer might have spent a little too much time on the social network site. Jennifer Aniston ended a relationship with John Mayer in 2009 because of his Twitter addiction. According to The Telegraph, “A source claimed Aniston decided Mayer was not committed enough to her and called time on their romance having found hourly updates on his Twitter page.” Mayer even tweeted after the break-up with Aniston, “This heart didn't come with instructions.” On September 14, 2010, John Mayer tweeted his last tweet. It read, “What does this button do?” Mayer claimed he was leaving the site because he needed to be spending more time writing music. Others may say he was quitting an addiction.

John Mayer is not alone but possibly smarter than a lot of celebrities for actually deleting his account. Maybe he is #winning? Charlie Sheen along with Kim Kardashian, P. Diddy and Ashton Kutcher are a part of the most active Twitter users. These celebrities are constantly tweeting about a new business venture, product, family outing or new style trend. For example, Kim Kardashian tweeted, “Starting QuickTrim today! Its officially summer. I want to really get in fab shape! Whose with me?” Is it the general public that is obsessed with Twitter or is it celebrities?

Carl Gustav Jung said, “Every form of addiction is bad no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.” Celebrities tweet about their “perfect” lives with their family and friends. Celebrities have turned to Twitter to endorse themselves and gain a larger fan base. Twitter is another marketing tool along with other social networking sites and campaigns. Can a celebrity over-tweet and become addicted? The only cure to Twitteritis may be when the next social network trend comes along.

What happens in Vegas, ends up on Facebook?

Do college students understand the difference between private and public? Can a picture, status update or candid video cost a future graduate a job? Facebook was originally a closed circuit and safe social network site. In 2005, a college (.edu) e-mail address was required to join the network. However, the rules of Facebook have drastically changed. High school students, professors, potential employers - and even some of our parents - now have Facebook accounts. What should a college student make “public” on Facebook, if anything?

It may be obvious to say that most college students have attended a party or event where pictures where taken. The saying “a picture says a thousand words” is true. But those “words” can hurt you, especially in the job market.  How would one explain to an employer a keg stand picture, risque outfit or illegal behavior such as drug use?  Facebook users may not be aware that job employers actually monitor social network sites.  In my current internship at Sugar Heaven, the general manager routinely screens the social media profile of job applicants - before and after hiring.  Professional jobs require professional candidates.

What image should a college student present of himself or herself on Facebook?  Here are some guidelines that I have developed for college students who want to enjoy their social network and not damage their professional reputation:

Do not use profanity. Status updates, such as quotes or song lyrics, should not contain profanity. For example, no one, except Jay-Z, should be telling the Facebook world that they have “99 problems but a b*tch ain't one.”

Do not post racist comments. Keep personal opinions, especially controversial ones, private.

Privacy settings. Check privacy account settings often on Facebook, because they constantly (and sometimes quietly) change. Make sure all settings are set to private for only “friends” or a certain group to view.

Do not post or be tagged in incriminating photos. Yes, the party might have been unforgettable, but maybe it should be forgettable to the Facebook world. Pictures of alcohol consumption (especially illegal underage consumption), explicit photos, sexual dancing, or drug use should not be included in a photo album.

Do not accept random friend requests. Not everyone that has a Facebook account wants to be a “friend.” Be careful and safe when accepting friend requests. View mutual friends and identify the person's identity before confirming his or her friend request.

Do not gossip, “Save the drama for your mama.” Do not make status updates about a boss or fellow employee. Posting something on Facebook is like putting a red shirt in a white load wash. The red may fade, but it will never disappear.

Relationship Status. “It's not official until it's Facebook official.” Do not post every aspect of a relationship on Facebook. There are only two people involved in a relationship. Keep this part of life private. An employer does not want to see an employee kissing his or her significant other in Hawaii after he/she called in sick the day before.

Facebook litmus test.  When all else fails, in the new social media world, ask yourself what your mother would think if she read or saw your Facebook - because she just might.

Virtual Life – Reality Death

Could a social networking site cause a teenage girl to commit suicide? Facebook, a popular social network, allows someone to stay in contact with old friends, post albums to share, play games and become fans of favorite artists, celebrities and places. Are there any disadvantages to social networks? Could a disadvantage be death?

Cyber-bullying is becoming popular and prevalent as the number of suicides due to social media are increasing. According to Merriam-Webster, “cyber-bullying is the electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person (as a student) often done anonymously.”  Would you like to accept this friend request? Next time one should think twice after reading the following tragedies of two girls who wanted to be “accepted.”

On October 17, 2006, Megan Meier, 13 years old, committed suicide by hanging herself three weeks before her birthday. Meier had a history of depression and suicidal impulses. Meier had been under the care of a psychiatrist since she was in the third grade. Meier began a MySpace relationship with an attractive young man, “Josh Evans.” Josh Evans was not a peer but rather a 49 year old woman, Lori Drew who lived four houses away. Drew thought Meier was teasing her daughter so she started a fake account to humiliate her. Private messages were sent back and forth through the two MySpace accounts. However, the tone of the messages went from uplifting to cruel over a period of a few weeks. Drew wrote a message to Meier under the account of “Josh Evans” stating, “Everybody in O'Fallon knows who you are. You are a bad person and everybody hates you. Have a bad rest of your life. The world would be a better place without you.” Megan Meier replied, “You're the kind of boy a girl would kill herself over.” And that is just what she did, 20 minutes after the message was sent.

Missouri prosecutors decided not to file charges because they felt there was not enough evidence. The Federal Government decided, however, to pursue this case in California where MySpace is based. Thomas O'Brien, the United States Attorney for the Central District of California, personally prosecuted the case. Drew faced a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a 300,000 dollar fine.  On May 15, 2008, Drew was charged under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.  In November 2008, Drew was found guilty of three misdemeanor charges.  Judge George H. Wu later granted an acquittal and overturned the jury's conviction on August 28, 2009. He stated that upholding the sentence would criminalize any violation of web site terms of service.

On January 14, 2010, Phoebe Prince, 15 years old, committed suicide after intense and relentless bullying after moving from Ireland to Massachusetts. She entered a new high school and started a brief relationship with a senior football player. Northwestern District Attorney, Elizabeth Scheibel, said in a press conference that the mean veteran girls of the high school did not approve of this relationship so they stalked her and called her a slut to her face, over the phone, and on Facebook. She was constantly harassed and threatened day in and day out. The bullying Prince endured became intolerable and she fell into a deep depression. “Apparently the young woman had been subjected to taunting from her classmates, mostly through the Facebook and text messages, but also in person on at least a couple of occasions,” school superintendent Gus Sayer told the Boston Globe. With no self-confidence, worth, or esteem, Prince committed suicide by hanging herself from her bedroom closet. Her younger sister found her there, dead.

The sickening thing is the nine students who ultimately caused the death of Phoebe Prince due to this abusive bullying did not feel badly. They mocked her death by leaving evil messages on a Facebook page created in Prince's memory. The nine students only received probation and 100 hours of community service.

What do people gain from gossiping or bullying? One might answer that a bully gains power, self-esteem, and confidence. Or do they gain knowledge? The knowledge that they caused another human being enough pain to take a rope and tie it around their neck.

Works Cited

"Cyberbullying - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Web. 29 May 2011. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyberbullying>.

"The Real Mean Girls: 15-Year-Old Girl Commits Suicide After Intense Bullying." Care2 - Largest Online Community for Healthy and Green Living, Human Rights and Animal Welfare. Web. 29 May 2011. <http://www.care2.com/causes/womens-rights/blog/the-real-mean-girls-15-year-old-girl-commits-suicide-after-intense-bullying/>.

Steinhauer, Jennifer. "Verdict in MySpace Suicide Case - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 29 May 2011. Web. 29 May 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/us/27myspace.html>.