MTV’s 'Skins' -The Demoralization of our Children



MTV premiered its American remake of Skins last Monday and it has stirred up a lot of controversy!  The Parents Television Council (PTC) called on the Feds to open an investigation regarding child pornography and exploitation of MTV’s Skins, the network itself is also concerned.  Sexual content includes 42 depictions and references to drugs and alcohol in the 41 minute premiere episode alone, as reported by the PTC.

Skins depicts a group of drug taking, hard partying, sexually obsessed teenagers who disrespect authority figures, use strong language, and use age inappropriate flirting (can you say Cougar).  With a rating of TV MA, of the 3.3 million viewers, MTV’s target audience of 12 to 34 year olds made up 83%.  12 year olds! I could not imagine letting my 12 year old watch Skins.  I wonder how many MTV execs let their children watch the show!

Taco Bell, GM and Wrigley, a subsidiary of Mars, Inc., have all ditched their advertising for MTV’s racy drama.  Let’s see who else steps up to the plate and takes notice.

Could this be teen porn?  You decide:



If you let your teenager (hopefully not anyone younger) watch this drama, I challenge you to sit and watch it with your child.  If you do not feel the least bit uncomfortable while watching, I suggest you immediately search for help!  Society has done enough to demoralize our children.  I keep hearing and reading teenagers (and may I gasped, younger) are all experimenting with sex, drugs, and overall racy behavior.  Does it surprise me? No.  Should it? Yes.  It’s time parents stand up and take back the control they have given away.  It’s hard enough keeping track of all that is going on in our children’s lives, constantly keeping vigil of who they’re hanging out with, where they’re going, what they’re doing, watching, googling, texting, Tweeting, posting on Facebook...  The list is dizzying!

Lead actress Sofia Black-D'Elia, who plays a lesbian teen on Skins, said in an interview, "It's the way teenagers believe, I think, especially you know in certain situations when you come from home lives where your parents don't really support you or really listen to you. That's what most of these kids are going through.”

So, if you take the back seat when it comes to monitoring and engaging with your children, then don’t be surprised when the choices they make don’t reach your expectations.  Whether you want the job or not, you are the PARENT, not the FRIEND!