The new thing is to host a lavish "Sweet 16" birthday party it has become a cultural "right of passage". The term Sweet 16 is relitivly new so to speak - this wasnt popular when my parents were kids - it didnt exist. According to teens themselves: "for females, its an excuse to get dressed up and get tons of presents and feel like a princess." (Urbandictionary.com http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sweet+16)
Mostly I have noticed that girls partake in this - some boys too but really not many. It seems that boys will go to them but they dont often have one. The parties include many guests, food, DJ, and often times a rented party space.
The MTV show My Super Sweetsixteen has only added to the popularity of this event. Kids watch the show and feel that they too deserve a lavish paery. On the show the teens are generally wealty and get fancy cars and celebrities at their parties. Real sweet 16 parties are also lavish more than regular birthday parties but not to the degree thay they are on the show. I feel that this show makes teens feel like they too need to have a party like on MTV. The show has outragously expensive parties and they are not realistic for most children.
The media has a huge influence on people espically kids and teens who at that young age are reather impressionable. The fad of haveing a sweet 16 party is on the rise and teens all over the country are taking part.
- Jennee
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I do not watch My Sweet Sixteen. I do not think it is a bad show, it is just those sixteen year olds spend a lot of money, too much money. There are milion upon millions of people starving. People are homeless and dying everyday, yet that show makes life seem like everything is ok. I like Juvies or True Life on MTV. I like shows that talk about everyday people and everyday experience and not just rich, wealthy, or affluent people. Those sixteen year olds need to spend time volunteering. A lot of them seem selfish and stuck-up to be honest. I just do not watch that show, but I do not think it is a bad show. It's just not entertaining to me
If you think that the teenagers are squandering time and money that they could use to improve the world (as I do, and you seem to), then doesn't that lead to a moral judgement that the show is bad?
Aren't the 21st birthday parties popular too? Because mine was because it was in Las Vegas.
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