“The times they are a changing!”
Although these are words from a decades’ old song, we are seeing more and more that they ring true today when it comes to the ethics and choices of today’s youth; the culprit of these changes: Technology and Changing Morality. As an ethics speaker addressing university campuses across the US, it is clear that there is a serious disconnect between choices and the consequences they produce!
Activities which was once overlooked as youthful indiscretion has now, in large part due to technology, come into the white-hot spotlight of choices, consequences and ethics. Youth today are “at-risk” in ways never before imagined…and a good portion of it caught on a “smart phone!”
With the availability and use of their wired toys, there is a heightening lack of respect and understanding by our young people. Not only do they not realize, in many cases, they are committing crimes…but also they seem to see nothing wrong with taking a technological record of their activities. Take for example the recent Steubenville rape case. In addition to these youths having a complete disregard for each other, they involve their handheld tools to document their adventures (i.e. taking photos and videos of the crimes and related aftermaths) and act as if either activity was nothing worse than brushing their teeth?
In the case of Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond – football players in Steubenville, Ohio – both were found delinquent by a judge — the juvenile court equivalent of guilty. Sexual assault accompanied by a photo posted on line added up to a life changing choice that will profound affect both all teens involved. In an ABC new report the following was stated:
Judge Thomas Lipps told the court that he reviewed the case’s documents and text messages again. He said that many of the things learned during the trial were “profane” and “ugly.”
Lipps said the case showed alcohol “as a particular danger to our teenage youth” before finding the teens “delinquent beyond a reasonable doubt.”
After the verdict, the victim’s mother read a statement in which she scolded Mays and Richmond for their “lack of moral code,” but said the situation does not define her daughter.
“It did not matter what school you went to, what city you lived in, or what sport you’ve played. Human compassion is not taught by a teacher, a coach or a parent. It is a God-given gift instilled in all of us. You displayed not only a lack of this compassion, but a lack of any moral code,” the victim’s mother said.
The mother said they lacked any moral code, but I say that goes to both a moral and ethical code. Today, teens are criminally abusing social media via activities of “sexting” and video taping their common extracurricular events. Through the evidence these activities leave behind, what once may not have been considered a strong crime is now drawing media attention and forcing us, as a society, to evaluate our ethical standards. Teens use of technology to record the moment they are in focus on the point there are in and not considering the consequences that may follow.
But then again, all unethical activity starts without truly thinking about the most certain consequences that follow.
As a result of this and the lack of ethics it shows, today, we have new more youths in jumpsuits, and a still continuing trend of a dangerous technological activities that is being seen by the individual as “cute” or “fun” but is in the end criminal and the beginnings of a felony. If they do not see anything wrong in committing and/or let alone recording a crime, what does that say to the ethics of our youth? Perhaps more importantly, what does allowing our youth to continue this behavior without providing the proper ethical training say for our society?
In the end, modern technology has in turn created a more modern agenda of accountability; an agenda we are seeing more and more our youth is lacking. Hence, we as adults and leaders have a responsibility to teach ethical behavior. If we help instill respect, and responsibility for themselves and others, we perhaps help them use that very powerful item in their hands: Their smart phone.
So what if you could wave a magic wand and help fix the problem that is so prevalent among our youth today – what would you do?
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.