Influence in Society

People are influenced by society in thousands of ways every day. We are influenced by media; commercials and advertisements, musical lyrics, and even movies. We are influenced by how the people around us are behaving, sometimes even changing our morals or values based on what they are doing, such as in mass behaviour.
Media Influences
Between TV, the movies, online videos and all of the other media sources out there, it's no wonder that these societal influences can shape teen's behavior for good or for ill. The American Academy of Pediatrics' Healthy Children website notes that parents should watch for media influences that include acts of violence, sexual situations, statements about body image, alcohol and drug use, and gender or cultural stereotypes. Although teen’s might seem immune to what the media is saying, some messages can slowly begin to sink in and make risky behaviors such as underage drinking.
Advertisements
Advertising can influence a teen's behavior in multiple ways, including how the child acts as well as her spending habits. For example, the child development experts at the Healthy Children website note that cigarette ads can negatively influence a teen's ideas and thoughts when it comes to smoking. Without adequate adult guidance, ads that feature young, attractive people smoking can make this unhealthful habit seem acceptable or even appealing. Aside from glorifying, or selling, risky behaviors, advertising can also alter the way a teen chooses to spend money. Whether it is mom and dad's cash or an after-school job paycheck, enticing ads in magazines, billboards, TV or in-store displays can make teens think it's acceptable to spend hard-earned money on pricey or unnecessary items such as designer label jeans.
School
The schools, and subsequent social environments, are parts of society that exert a communal influence on teens. Every junior and senior high school setting is different in some way, creating a community that accepts or...