Why Culture Matters

We need to give our children a healthier, better culture than what they're exposed to now

Researchers found that the most popular shows from the 1960s to the 1990s focused on the message that the most important thing is to do the right thing, such as being a good friend or telling the truth. Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

I saw a teenage boy for a school physical the other day. He was playing a game on his phone when I came into the room, while his mom scrolled through emails on her phone. Mom put her phone away when I came in, and we chatted briefly. She said she had no concerns about her son, who continued playing his game while we talked. The physical exam was unremarkable.

Toward the end, I asked the boy, “So, what do you want to be when you grow up? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”