what influences youngsters the most?

Question

and what should influence them?

Answer 1

Jimmy : Daddy, I want to be Sachin Tendulkar....I want to be Arnold....I want to be.....blah

Dad: That's nice, how about being 'Jimmy'?

Different people, different views says the HSBC catchline. So lets apply that flavour of jam on this bread, on what influences youngsters the most:

You can't ask anyone to provide a statistical figures because it's impractical to survey the billions of "youngsters", add to that the fact that, youngsters' source of influence changes with their frequency of changing clothes, today it's Cricket (because of CWC '07) tomorrow it'll be music (Indian Idol) day-after it'll be studies (with the exams overhead) after that pop music (Shakira concert in B'lore) later politics (with Rahul Gandhi's premature nose-dive into Congress) The list goes on...

To single out a bead from another without statistical data would be like throwing a dart at a bull's buttock, with a blindfold on. So, let me analyse the impact of a "whatever" influence on youngsters in a negative and positive facet.
After watching a certain patriotic movie, I came out of the hall with my hair rising stiff, I was so influenced I thought I should set out to kill militants myself. This fantasy stuck to me for a week, but after watching the news item about "Army carrying out fake encounters to gain merit" it all drained in a flash. The question is: How could I un-influence myself from the patriotic movie so quickly? It was simply due to: The human mind is prone to idle-fantasy where, it makes the person wish he were anyone else but his present self. It makes him feel good. There have to be constant inputs to this "fantasy" else it dies out quickly, as in my case. When the first James Bond movie rolled out, people actually got into the net the producers laid, but the "net" was getting loose, so they had to roll out a sequel, the thing continued then on.... Same as we have Rajni Kanth, a south Indian actor who has an insane fan following. So influential is he that, when he set out to draw people into donating blood, there were such large crowds coming forward, that they called in the army to mantain calm. So how does Rajni Kanth remain Rajni Kanth? He rolls out a movie periodically (not frequently enough to bore people), so he actually is feeding people's idle-fantasy to mantain his cash flow.

Merits of a "whatever" influence: Every society requires a certain source of influence, be it a political figure, an actor, a sportsperson or a group hysteria because this is what comes to its rescue when during crisis: During the Kargil war, we actually had certain personalities peomoting people to join the army. Today while we have SRK asking people to cheer for Team India in the CWC '07 (and seling Pepsi), people youngsters neglect the very same message given by Somnath Chatterjee (LS Speaker, cricket fan). Youngsters are choosing their sources. I would respect the same message from Mr. Chatterjee because he's not selling Pepsi here.

Demerits of a "whatever" influence: While there is a "whatever" influence, there's also a factor : "degree of influence", or how much is the thing influencing a youngster. A typical emotional SRK fan would weep if SRK dies in a movie (as Kal ho na ho) and the same would buy Pepsi, the same would cheer for India in the WC. "But" a slightly less emotional person would not weep watching the movie, just appreciate his performance, go home and cheer for India.
But the extreme case here would shout foul at SRK for no reason just because he's obsessed by the self generated influence of not being influenced by SRK.
Having a source of influence, be it a person or a media ,I feel, retards original thinking (something I worship), brands cretain things as "positive" while others "not so positive". Wouldn't you want to become influential yourself? It isn't difficult, start of by being youself.

Personal opinion: Sigh.....finally...Since this looks to be more of an opinion poll than a question, for the heck of it...
The movies (and the "big" "public-made") personalities influence younsters most (atleast where I live)

I think we should first get influenced by our parents, we're all because of what the set us out to. Ultimately, they pay for our fancies, not SRK or the media. Also a worthy mention, is that of Somnath Chatterjee, my favorite Delhi-ite.

Answer 2

Hi,

I believe the three biggest influences on youngsters these days are:

Peer pressure--teens try hard to be accepted, even if it means lowering their standards or backing down from what they believe in or how they were raised. Teens today think standing out means being a geek. This includes having pre-marital sex, oral sex, smoking (legal and illegal substances) and drinking.

Media-TV plays a huge part and is a teens source for what is hip and cool. Girls are especially influenced by this with respect to having the perfect figure, perfect lips, perfect eyes, perfect back end, perfect hair, etc. Guys are more influenced by games and action/horror movies.

Parents-Unfortunately, parents expect the teachers to do ALL the teaching and many teens are left guessing, while the parents think everything is taken care of by their tax dollars. Parents who do not get involved with their teens, ask about their life and what they learn in school, what's on their mind and what their views are, are really slipping and setting a bad example for the future generation of leaders.

The best influences, I believe, are church and God. Many think that is overrated, but if teens are told the truth and have principles to live by, won't they be better off and more prepared for bad influences? Many teens have vowed to save sex for marriage. The schools are not teaching them this, and the teens are certainly not influenced in that direction. They pick up these principles from their youth pastors and other Christian counselors. Parents are also a great moral support. Parents should watch their teen's friends and encourage them to pick morally-minded friends.

These kids have a lot of potential, but they need good support from all areas of their life to be lead in the right direction. Everyone involved in their life needs to take an intitiative to help them along and not just expect them to learn it in school or from their friends.

Great question!

Answer 3

Leading a life of youngster is not easy in present scenario. With the advancement of technology. Youngsters are greatly influenced by what is shown on television, internet and print media and Ofcourse peers also plays an important part in youngster's life. Youngsters' mind is impressionable mind. I will here give an example the kind of impact the films Rang de Basanti and Lage Raho Munna bhai had had on the youngsters, both the films have greatly influenced our youngsters. Whereas the movie Rang de Basanti gives a strong message to youngsters to fight against injustice, respect our traditional values and the film like Lage Raho Munna Bhai sends across the message of Non-violence. At young age one should not be carried away by all the bull-**** and anything that misguides them. One is mature enough to take his/her own decision.Every decision should be taken with due deliberation and with utmost care. Remember this is your life and life in very precious.

Answer 4

Well, it depends how young you are talking about. To a certain extent, I'd say that the parents have the most influence, at least for the first 4-5 years of their lives. After that, the rest of the world might take over to a certain extent, depending on the child and their relationship to their parents' at that point. I think it's mostly what someone sees. If they spend most of their time in front of a TV, then, yeah, that's what they're going to get influenced by. But I wouldn't say that adults are all that different in this aspect.

Answer 5

Influence is of media and foreign culture,competing with their peers and colleagues.They try to ape the Western civilization and forget their heritage and culture.

Influence should come from within the family ,how they educate their children and by inculcating moral values.Also education is a powerful influence in which the teachers play a very important role.A child is like a gentle bud and these influences can mould their minds towards the right direction.Playing games in the right spirit is equally important.

Teach them good moral values from the cradle and try to expose them to our own cultural heritage so that they are proud of it and not get influenced by any external factors.

Answer 6

whom ever or what ever the child is around the most. If the child is around the television the most- then the media, if they are around the mother/ and or father- then the parents, if there are absent parents- then the friends, the streets and media. I have taught for 13 years and I have found that the biggest influence in younger years will have a big impact in older years. Good, involved parents in the younger years + wayward friends in older years= (usually) teens who have enough core values to get them past peer dificulties.

Answer 7

Discounting mental illnesses, whom ever or what ever the child is around the most. If the child is around the television the most- then the media, if they are around the mother/ and or father- then the parents, if there are absent parents- then the friends, the streets and media. I have taught for 13 years and I have found that the biggest influence in younger years will have a big impact in older years. Good, involved parents in the younger years + wayward friends in older years= (usually) teens who have enough core values to get them past peer dificulties.

Answer 8

Friend,

It is first the parents or elders at home.

Second, their friends and the envionment they are allowed to spend maximum time.

Third: The present day movies which , for commercial purposes, making the youth a target and show all bad things in such a way that the young ones are easily trapped.
The magazines contain stories of teen age love.You see LOVE is the MOST MISUNDERSTOOD WORD at present .

So the societty, home,school,friends. and MOSTLY THE VISUAL MEDIA (T.V., or Movies) have great impact on the youth and side tracking them. And bythe time they realise , it may be too late.

So it is for the prents or elders at home to keep an eye on them and try to correct them politely , telling them examples that happened in real life.

Next teachers shall too observe the behaviour of the students and teach them value of life,value of time , value of education and how to behave , how to stand proudly on their own legs, how to bring good name to their parents, their teachers, their Institutions, and To the Nation.

Parents should not librally give pocket money to youth.They should ask the children to say what they did with the money given.It should be checked frequently for its corectness.
Abundant money in purse attracts friends, and there by bad habits automatically.So a check shall be there.

Parents MUST spend some time with their children and know how they are progressing.They should make the children understand that they love them most.Mingle with them.

If any wrong thing is found better nip in the bud.It will save their life.

So it is the responsibility of all elders in society to see that the next generation is intelligent,honest and humane and exemplary with all the morals of our society.

Let us hope our children will become so.
Let us pray GOD to bless us all to give the patience and perseverance to achieve this.

Answer 9

Movies influences the youngsters to a large extent. They imbibe bad things very fast and good things very late.

Answer 10

I guess I could be considered a youngerster because I'm 15. I wish ppl would stop thinking we're stupid and all we care about is looks and Paris Hilton (whom I dislike). So definetly, media is big for some, but for other ppl it's mainly the cliques at their schools and who they hang around. Girls especially are influenced by competition and guys.

Answer 11

Movies and peer groups. Parents / grandparents should preferably be the influence of choice.