Beware the media's influence
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.
Asking the media not to spread evil, undesirable or improper values is an uphill battle, if not a losing one. Some media companies never regard the protection of moral or social values as their concern. Their sole objective is to maximise profit.
The government is reluctant to act because it could easily be accused of trampling press freedom and freedom of speech. Further, it could be politically sensitive to integrate media education into school curriculums. Once the government touches on moral values, people will start asking questions about political values - such as the virtues of communism and capitalism.
So, media education can only be done at home and through after-school programmes. Parents should talk more with their children about issues reported in the media, to help them determine the sort of behaviour that's acceptable.
In some other cultures, media education means more than just discussing issues covered in the media. Parents and teachers explain to young people what the background of a TV station or newspaper is, and what the organisation stands for. Knowing such things would help our children understand the messages they're getting. For instance, the anti-communist stance of The Wall Street Journal is known to all of us.
The government and charity organisations should fund after-school programmes to educate students about the media and what they report. This would help young people tell the difference between good and evil. I believe such programmes would be highly popular among students, because most young people are fascinated by the media.
When the new, six-year high school education system is implemented in the next few years, perhaps the government will consider including media education elements in one of the general-education courses. I will keep my fingers crossed.
It will be a long, hard battle to win the hearts and minds of our young, but it's a battle worth fighting: it will help shape not only their personal values, but also the future of Hong Kong.
Victor Keung Fung is a Hong Kong-based commentator on political and education issues
