The conversations today are: What are our children exposed to when it comes to violent crime? When a violent event happens everyone wants to know who, what, when, where and why? Many times we are quick to assign blame instead of solving the problem. The media influences the amount and type of violence our children are exposed to, but the media should not bear all the blame for the violence shown to children today. Cartoons were much more violent in the 80s and 90s than they are today and our society has not experienced the amount of mass shootings that we have in recent years. Whose responsibility is it, the media or the family? In recent years the family structure in our society has broken down to the point that the meaning of life, family and success is not a popular idea, but depending on others is the most popular path in life these days. This idea shapes our society so that our children grow up and understand how to contribute to society even when exposed to violence in the media or violence in video games. The media bears all the blame for the violence in our society; our society drives what the media shows our children. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Even though as a country we have one of the highest rates of youth violent crime, the important role of a good family foundation is increasingly important. Family is needed to discuss what is wrong and what is right. High rates of broken families play a role in how our younger generations understand the violence they encounter in their society. “Parents ultimately have responsibility for the environment in which their children grow up. We can pass laws to keep this garbage out of the hands of children, but parents must remove their children from the polluting environment that greedy purveyors of violence are eager to sell” (Rep. Hyde, 1999) Violence in the Media; what our children see from an early age shapes their vision of the society in which they live. Children who have experienced violence throughout their lives believe that their life should unfold the way it is portrayed on television. This becomes a problem for our society, how do we separate reality from fantasy? “After the tragic shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigated whether the movie, music, and video game industries specifically advertised and marketed violent material to children and adolescents.” (Strasburger) Children learn from what they see in their daily lives. This is where the media plays the role of showing certain shows at times when children will be less likely to see violence in their programs. “The media and social violence must both be addressed as parts of phenomena that have numerous interconnections and pathways of influence between them.” (Surette, 1994) The people who influence children and violence the most are the people who teach children right from wrong. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Media shows what will give them ratings and make them a lot of money. We as a society are the ones to show our children what is right and wrong. We shouldn't protect them from everything because they need to know that violence exists in the world. This is where the structured family plays the most important role in explaining this point to younger generations.