The manipulation of music
How music is unconsciously changing Gen-Z.
Graphic by Anshi Vajpayee, Opinions Editor
Caleb Smith, Staff Writer
Generation after generation, new trends arise and gain followers. It could be clothing, apps, music, or even dances, as seen recently. The app TikTok, a current trend, has been used by millions of teenagers, kids, and adults who create short videos to entertain its many viewers. TikTok has gained users from all over the world. Different users, known as TikTokers, are able to create trends that grab a lot of attention and share it with everyone on the app so they can recreate it as well. This app turns regular songs into trends and then eventually into a lifestyle. In today’s generation, many kids have been listening to various kinds of music and making dances to post on TikTok. This is more than just a dance video, however, it is slowly changing people, regardless of whether they realize it or not.
TikTok brings a variety of genres to life more than they already were. Songs that have gained popularity on TikTok have triple times the number of plays they would have had if not on the app. The song might not even be good, but somehow it can still become a number one hit. The words alone have been normalized by a lot of people. Several songs on the app have received attention because of their lyrics. Some of which are clearly not appropriate songs for kids to dance to or even sing along. Besides the excessive amount of vulgar language, the lyrics are disgusting to the ear with their many sexual references. These aren’t just songs, their explicit lyrics are altering the thoughts and views of teenagers today.
The music industry and apps, such as TikTok, that use music have a lot more power over the people than they let on. Many fans look up to these artists as role models and idolize them. Often Rap/R&B songs include lyrics on drugs, women, and money, which only serves to encourage and normalize these activities to listeners. When you listen to music that mentions certain things for a period of time, you will develop those ideas and your mind can seem limitless in possibilities. Teenagers who used to have morals and never did certain things have become more bold and daring, doing things they know they should not be doing. You are a result of what you listen to no matter how hard you try to be the opposite. Weed and Juuls have become very popular amongst this generation. There can be a lot of reasons for this, but many times it might be from music believe it or not. You can say one thing and stick by it, but that can change slowly because the music you listen to made that thing seem like it was a good thing, too.
Music can be good or bad, but you have to determine what is the best music for you as a whole. The melody and harmony may sound good, however it may be at the cost of your goals, aspirations, and character. The music industry can lead you down a dark path of failure, destruction and regrets based on what songs have normalized. If you have morals and goals, stick to those and listen to music that will encourage those in the best way possible. Music has power and can change everything that you used to be about into what they want, but you can turn over a new leaf and go after who you truly want to be.
