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Community Corner

What are our kids watching or listening to on the internet these days?

Kids are exposed to many things that are available on the internet. I'm talking specifically about music, movies, and cable shows. Some of the content are fun and harmless, and some are more adult, or at least not age appropriate for kids in the middle school. I target the middle school-age kids because I have a son in middle school.  I asked him what are some of the things kids of his grade are listening to or watching.  Apparently some of the kids enjoy rap music from rappers such as Jay Z, Kanye West, Eminem, Wiz Khalifa, etc. Many of the songs contain explicit language: the N word, the F word, the M-F word, you get the picture.  The shows that are popular with kids are Breakin Bad (a big hit), and South Park, to name just two.  If a parent is not familiar with either show, please logon and take a look to see what some kids in your community are looking at. Most definitely take a look at a few episodes of South Park(!), an animated half-hour show from Comedy Central that can be viewed online, all 17 seasons.  It's difficult if not impossible to restrict kids from these type of on-line content since the internet is everywhere. Your internet at home may be monitored, but perhaps the kid your son (or daughter) hangs out with may not have the internet monitored at their home.  As a parent just be aware and prepared to talk with your kid about age appropriate content, and whatever inappropriate ideas, behavior, words, etc., they pick up off the internet should not be accepted as the norm in the off-line world. Most kids understand this, but some don't.

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