We must start educating our children about the media. Young people's values can be influenced by what they learn in the media, and we are seeing disturbing signs of what's happening.
Some computer companies, for example, give students discounts to buy computers. It's not uncommon, at the beginning of the school year, to see students selling their discount rights through internet chat rooms. The young people know full well that they are breaking the rules, but they do it anyway, to make a quick buck.
Such behaviour should not be condoned. We should pay attention to students' moral and social values because they are the future leaders of our society. In a recent public-opinion survey, 18 per cent of adult respondents said they were concerned about young people's honesty and conduct - a sharp increase from 8.8 per cent in a similar survey done one year ago.
Youngsters' values are shaped by what they learn at home, at school, from their peers and through the media. By the time they enter university, it is too late to change them - their value systems are already formed. We should educate youngsters between Primary Five and Form Five.
I believe most parents are doing a good job of telling their children what is right and what is wrong, although more could be done.
No doubt, teachers have also done well in educating our children. And we can always advise youngsters to distance themselves from undesirable friends.
But it's the media's impact that makes us feel so helpless. It's everywhere. And the media's role in shaping young people's values is enormous.
