It is the year 2011, and we face a problem that wasn’t even a topic of discussion twenty years ago. The topic is sex. Sex is something we can’t escape or get around nowadays. Its presence in the media is prevalent in popular music, movies and TV shows that emphasize sexual relationships and teen pregnancies. Books and magazines focus heavily on using sex to draw in readers. Today, children grow up being bombarded by this topic, which makes them think it is normal when they get older.

“In young people, it is more acceptable, and it shouldn’t be,” said Mrs.Conner, science teacher. “St. Louis is rated number two in the country for STDs, such as gonorrhea and Chlamydia. When I was in high school, pregnancy was rare, and it happens now a lot. It wasn’t even on our minds in high school.”

Through the media, it is shown that teenage mothers have created a perfect family, but what isn’t shown is the obstacles those teen parents have to face every single day. The teenagers can no longer go to college or hang out with friends. Their plans for the future are now over. In nine months, the young adults have to mature ten years early and get ready for something that will cling to their lives forever.

So the question becomes: is it good for the media to advertise sex? By advertising, young adults are more knowing of the things that can be done to prevent sex, but advertising sex makes young people want to have sex since it is seen everywhere.

“Sex is all over the media,” said Mr. Tabscott, P.E. teacher. “All over commercials, all over chat lines. Birth control is easier to get, education about teen pregnancies is seen more, Planned Parenthood is easily accessible which all is a good thing.”

Although true, knowing that there is so much to prevent sex encourages teens to use these measures, but even birth control is not 100% guaranteed. The argument can go both ways. The media needs to cut down on how much they publicize sex. If the media is going to make sex such a positive action to younger people, then they also need to include the consequences of sex. With this, young lives can be saved from responsibilities they weren’t ready to handle for at least another ten years, and to enjoy young innocence while they can.