As many of you have heard, MTV debuted it’s new series, “Skins”, on January 17th. This is a quote pulled from Fox News:
“On January 17, the Viacom-owned cable network MTV aired a teenager-based drama, ‘Skins.’ The episode included all manner of foul language, illegal drug use, illegal activity as well as thoroughly pervasive sexual content,” PTC President Tim Winter said in a letter sent to the chairmen of the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees and the Department of Justice. “Many of the actors appearing in the show are below the age of 18. It is clear that Viacom has knowingly produced material that may well be in violation of [several] federal statutes.”
Here are a few photos of teens that MTV is using to promote the show:
Here’s another:
And another:
Unless you have lived under a rock for the last few years, you know that MTV also produces “Teen Mom,” “Teen Mom 2,” and “16 and Pregnant,” (seasons one, two and three). All of which are reality shows about pregnant teens. You have seen these girls grace the covers of magazines and watched as they were turned into celebrities.
MTV needs to be stopped. These repulsive shows that target our teenagers with the intent of drawing them in by dangling the proverbial teenage carrot (sex, drugs, language and alcohol) is irresponsible and abhorrent. MTV should be ashamed of themselves. They are glamorizing the behaviors that we parents of teens fight so hard to prevent. The very behaviors that are ultimately responsible for countless teen deaths every year.
MTVs response:
“We review all of our shows and work with all of our producers on an ongoing basis to ensure our shows comply with laws and community standards,” the statement continued. “We are confident that the episodes of ‘Skins’ will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers.”
Apparently we as a community have failed our children if this show falls under the header of “compliance with community standards.” More importantly, we have failed to protect them from a creepy, “Want some candy little girl,” ogre like MTV. We, as a community, need to show them that we care for our children. We care what they watch. We care that MTV is filling their minds with this poison. We. CARE. And we won’t stand for it.
Jessica Bennett, Newsweek, wrote, “And, well, let’s face it: real teenagers can be a little nuts. They do have sex; they do experiment with drugs. Three in 10 of them will get pregnant before they turn 20, and 9 percent of them will attempt suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control. They can be angry and volatile, depressed, isolated, and often insecure.”
All very true. So the idea is to glamorize and encourage such behavior with a one hour teenage drama. Why further these ideas? Why dress them up in pretty clothes, with pretty people, with paychecks and overnight stardom?
I know we can’t stop a big conglomerate like MTV from producing these shows. But I also know this. We can stop ourselves and our children from watching this trash. And guess what? They can’t have a show if no one is watching.
We are asking that every one of you prepare a post on Monday asking for a boycott of “Skins.” Let’s make sure EVERY parent is aware of this show and preventing their teens from watching. It is imperative that we spread the word, so that they are not watching it at your house and they aren’t at their friends homes’ either.
Ask other bloggers to do the same. Let’s tweet it. Let’s Facebook it. Let’s link up. It is said often that we mom bloggers have a lot of power. Let’s put it to use for good.
Mom Blogger Powers activate. Shape of Parents Who Parent.
Worth noting:
An excellent New York Times article by David Carr.
Parents Television Council, a TV watchdog group said Skins, “…may well be the most dangerous television show for children that we have ever seen.” That is some statement considering the other trash MTV has produced.
Taco Bell has pulled all ads stating from the show stating, “We’ve decided that the show is not a fit for our brand and have moved our advertising to other MTV programming.”
USA Today is reporting, “Wrigley has decided to suspend any advertising during MTV’sSkins as it is never our intent to endorse content that could offend our consumers,” a rep for Wrigley told Access Hollywood on Friday evening. “Any ads that previously aired during the show were part of a broader advertising plan with the network.”
The Parents Television Counsel has called for the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Committees and the Department of Justice to “immediately open an investigation regarding child pornography and exploitation on MTV’s ‘Skins.’”
Also. Please do not watch the show in order to understand what it is all about. That gives them ratings. You can click on their website, http://www.skins.tv/ It will tell you all you need to know.
Here are the instructions on blocking MTV on DIRECTV.
Here are the instructions on blocking MTV on Dish.
oh lady… i already fear for what my child will see and he’s only two and half years old. MTV adding to that fear does not help.
you’re right. it must be stopped.
get on it!!! i hear there is already a law suite in CA….each state has do its own!!! so super stupid…..IT IS CHILD PORN!!!!!!!! PERIOD!!!!!!!!! let me know what i can do and i will!!!!!
Okay, that is just sick and wrong and so many other adjectives too. I went to their website and I was appalled at the content and the story lines.
Its shows like these that make me think its better to just shoot the damn TV.
Apparently at least one of the actresses (playing Tea the lesbian cheerleader im told) is 18, which is narrowly avoiding child porn laws. Tricky tricky MTV. Scares the hell out of me that my 5 and 2 yr olds will see worse than this if we dont stay on our guard
My Mother and I were discussing this the other day. Not MTV persay but everything in General. She used to be absolutely appalled at what MTV and TV in general would allow 20 years ago…Now all of that seems ultimately innocent compared to what goes on today. I Have always said it’s up to the parents to monitor what the children watch and not be so quick to blame the media (after all watching our children is our job) however I was in the kitchen the otherday, I over a commercial for an adult show –VERY adult show and I screamed at Mason……Only to find it was a childrens television station that was airing a commercial for an adult show.
When I saw the previews for this show I didn’t know what to make of it, I assumed it was about college kids. I didn’t realize they are portraying teens. It is up to parents to know what their kids are watching and also to talk with them and be open about what they are seeing. At the same time big corps like MTV need to be more responsible. Pushing the envelope just isn’t cool any more!
Completely agree. Its disgusting and needs to be stopped.
OMG. I can’t even believe this. MTV most definitely needs to be STOPPED. This is disgusting. My daughter is only 4 and I can’t imagine having older kids that might actually be watching this crap. #STOPMTV
Ya know, I’ve always had MTV blocked since we signed up for cable years ago, so I didn’t even know about the show until I saw your tweet. Thanks for the warning.
How is this show entertainment? Really? Guess i’m old because I’m not in the least bit interested. I’m offended.
Unfortunately being in Canada I was unable to view any of the "Skins" clips. The reason I say unfortunately is because I usually like to see first hand the content in which I comment on. Having said this, given the information provided above I would have to strongly disagree with MTV in thinking this type of program is acceptable for teens to view. It begs me to question…..
Whatever happened to positive influences? When does the almighty dollar stop being more important then morals & values? How many MTV executives who have teenagers themselves think it is perfectly acceptable for ‘their’ teen to watch such trash? Do major corporations no longer have a social conscience? At what point will they draw the line when it comes to shock value?
I am appalled!!
Well…..I agree it is trash. Not sure I think making a big deal about it is going to do anything more than make it that much more attractive to the kids. Heck…I woul never have seen the Passion of the Christ if the Catholic Church had not said it was wrong. LOL
Bad behavior by teens has ALWAYS been glamorized and the fact of the matter is that a lot of what they cover in these shows does go on more than we like to admit. I however remember being a teenager pretty well. I remember drunk driving. Back seats of cars. Parties when the parents were away. Coke and pot at parties and being passed around in cars. One of the guys that used to do it is now a MA State Trooper.
Best just to communicate its existance to friends. Use it as you can for a teaching opportunity. Feed the beast and it only gets bigger. Ignore it and it dies of starvation.
Fantastic job on NPR today! I agree 100%. This show makes MY skin crawl! It is my life’s mission to revolutionize the kind of TV we are offering our kids. This is pandering to the lowest levels – our kids desearve better.
Very awful for most parents of teenage cast members of Skins. I have a controversial photos of the cast in their underwear. Elanor Zichy (Eura Snyder), the youngest cast member is 15 and wears only shorts and a bra. I would say this to all parents of the cast is to PUNISH them because it will ruin their futures. Skins on MTV is now 100% child pornography!
This show was already a show in England, and they just made a new version for MTV. I think you’ll all be fine. Just check what your kid is watching every so often. You can tell when they immediately change the channel. Just take the remote from them and click the "last channel" button. Ta-Da. But don’t freak if they do change it right away, take it from a 14 year old. Sometimes shows have a brief bit of swearing, and you don’t want your parents to freak out on you. And sometimes when your watching a movie, parents ALWAYS walk in at the worst scenes. Trust me.
MTV shouldn’t be "stopped", just simply change the channel. Or go to the parental control settings most TV’s have? Its one channel out of the thousands of other channels your kid could be watching.