Teens In The News - August 16, 2007
Our picks from teens in the news headlines for August 16th, 2007. The following stories were chosen to increase cultural awareness among rebelutionaries of the dangers and opportunities facing modern teens. Our opinions are limited to the brief commentary below and are not necessarily represented in the articles themselves.
Teen PCSOs are just too young
by Matt Wilkinson, Oxford Mail
Summary: News coverage continues regarding the hiring of teenagers as Police Community Support Officers in Great Britain. Our previous coverage mistakenly cited the location as Thames Valley, New Zealand, rather than Thames Valley, UK.
Our Take: The decision is generally regarded as irresponsible, but Chief Nick Gargan says applicants should not be discriminated against because of their age: “I would be the first to agree the normal 17-year-old would not be ready or mature enough,” Gargan admits, “but if they happen to be capable of the job on their own merits than why should we put unjustified barriers in their way?” Read Article »
4 million U.S. teens drenched in drug, alcohol culture
by JoAnne Allen, Reuters UK
Summary: A new survey shows that “our nation’s youth are drenched in a culture where drug and alcohol abuse are commonplace and that drug-infested schools encourage the idea that it’s cool to get high and drunk.”
Our Take: Researchers say that teens view drugs as just another part of the high school experience — which is just another deadly application of the myth of adolescence. Teens have no idea what these years are all about. Read Article »
The secrets of a teen’s Internet success
by Stefanie Olsen, News.com
Summary: Catherine Cook, the 17-year-old co-founder of MyYearbook.com, hatched the idea for her now-thriving online yearbook site when she was a sophomore in high school — with generous amounts of help (and money) from her older brother. She works 40+ hours per week while going to school and so far it’s paying off — the site is making millions in advertising revenue.
Our Take: We cannot recommend MyYearbook.com because of its atmosphere and content, however, it is another example of what teens are capable of — particularly when it comes to using technology to reach their peers [see last section of this post]. One of you could be a Christian Catherine Cook. Read Article »
Teen gets probation for fliers
by Carolyn Starks, Chicago Tribune
Summary: A teenage girl who distributed anti-gay fliers at her high school as a prank has been sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to write a letter of apology. She can avoid 14 days in jail if she abides by the rules of her probation.
Our Take: Nothing about this girl’s behavior is commendable, however, the situation gives a glimpse into what a Christian teenager might face when his or her convictions are labeled as hate-crime. Read Article »
Teen Marketing: Apple’s the Master
by Anastasia Goodstein, BusinessWeek
Summary: BusinessWeek declares Apple the master of teen marketing, sharing that teens put the iPhone higher than a car on a list of what they wanted most.
Our Take: Though Alex and I could be considered Mac fans it is important for us and every other teenager to realize how many millions upon millions of dollars Apple and other brands spend to secure the $150 billion teen market. Check out our post Merchants of Cool for further reading on this topic. This is a cultural dynamic we can’t afford to miss. Read Article »
Share Your Thoughts in the Comment Section
August 17th, 2007 at 5:51 am
Those are really interesting… i’d write more, but i have to go babysit for six hours. so i’ll post again later
August 17th, 2007 at 7:54 am
This post was interesting particularly the article on the teen getting probation for passing out the anti-gay fliers.
I read the news article and although the motives and actions of this girl were not Godly, the fact that she got probation for passing out fliers that express a different point of view from maintstream America is appalling.
The fact that the gay agenda is able to push aside the beliefs and rights the founding fathers knew to be so essential, and deny those rights to many is against all the principles this nation was founded on.
This girl passed out those fliers for revenge, but many other innocents have gone to jail for passing out such material simply because it was a contrary and unpopular belief.
I would encourage readers to check out Chuck Colson’s BreakPoint articles on the current Hate-Crime legislation.
If this legislation passes, incidences like the above will become all to common and we can say good-bye to America, the land of the free and the brave, and say “Hello!” to Big Brother.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Hmm…It’s interesting, about the two, teenage policemen.
One girl commented asking the question, ‘Is eighteen a magical age?’ What makes you, at the age of eighteen, more prepared for the job of a policeman?
Then I got to thinking about the age for drinking and driving. What makes us more prepared for consuming alcohol at 21 then at 18? What makes us more capable of driving at 16 then at 14?
There are billions of different kinds of people. We cannot even BEGIN to tailor different boundaries and limits for everyone. A standard must be set.
Anyone would be lying if they said there is no growth in maturity between the ages of 16 and 18. People would be much more responsive to Alex if he pointed a gun and revealed a badge then if his little brother had done the same.
Eighteen is somewhat of a limit concerning physical growth. At 18 you are basically an ‘adult’, full-grown.
We would say it was foolish for 16 year olds to get married, but not an 18 year old. Us sixteen year old are still raging with uncontrolled hormones! We can be depressed one day and then be on cloud 9 the next.
There is a pronounced difference between those to years which is hard to define or place exactly. Those boys might be the exception in this case, but just because they are deemed mature enough doesn’t mean every 16 year old is. We could start issuing
competency tests for anyone older then twelve, but how safe would you feel if a 13 year old was protecting you house? Wouldn’t you feel a little demeaned if a 14 year old stopped you and took you in for questioning?
People that young lack the kind of authority that demands respect.
I think I’m done now.
August 17th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Thanks for the compact info. It’s great to have it all right there — headlines, your perspective… thanks again! It’s easy to get swallowed in all the news sources out there…thanks for bringing these to our attention and encouraging a Christlike response to them.
Peace,
Claire
August 20th, 2007 at 3:37 am
I was rather amused by the Apple post. Many retailers target the teen market because they know that many teens have access to their parent’s money and will spend the money on trinkets their parents would never consider(not to mention a wardrobe they will not be able to use next season.) It’s a form of hunting, or victimization, this marketing strategy creates demand by telling the teens that their lives have no higher meaning that to be cool and to have what their peers have. Then the retailer makes use of the fact that what they sell does not satisfy to create an unending market with these teens. Apple only does this as a portion of their advertising, many retailers use this as their sole means of promotion.