My Generation Needs to Grow Up

I am reading a book called, "The Godbearing Life."  This book is a great book for anyone who works in youth ministries.  I love reading self-help type books, especially in the youth ministries area being that that is one of my fields of work.  One thing in books about youth ministries is that there are always statistics in them.  Although I have read many, I am still shocked about these statistics that I read in these books.  Honestly, I have no idea why I continue to be shocked, knowing that I grew up in the age where drinking at 13 was normal, going to a high school where teen pregnancy was very high, and STD's were a problem.

Here are some of the statistics that are in the book that I am currently reading:
*77% of 8th graders have report having used alcohol.
*Parents spend 40% less time with their children than they did a generation ago.
*Roughly 1 million teenage girls become pregnant each year.
*1/4 of all new HIV infections occur among those under age 21.
* 73% of teenage girls agree to have sex with their boyfriend in order to please them, then later regret it.

To me, these statistics are more than shocking, they're sad.  One thing that I can not understand is that ever since social media, it has become popular to post the drunk pictures or (excuse my language) the slutty pictures.  It has sent our youth into a downward spiral and what they do not realize is that once you post a picture like that on the Internet, there is NO way to fully delete it.  More and more businesses are checking out potential employee's facebook before even considering to interview them.  Whether you are of age, or underage to consume alcohol, posting drunk picture's is not smart.

As I was looking at my facebook today, I came across some very inappropriate picture's of teenagers.  The worst part about it, is that the age difference in the teens range from freshman in high school to people who have already graduated college.  I can not imagine being my age and partying with high school freshman.  I blame these so-called young adults who first off buy these kids alcohol and then proceed to party with them.  What has happened to my generation of people!?!?!  The way these young girls were dressed was completely offensive and inappropriate.  Why is this becoming okay?

I am not against drinking.  I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.  I do however have a problem with underage drinking, and drinking with the intentions of getting drunk.  But my biggest pet peeve is the people who are of age to drink who party with kids and provide them with alcohol.  We need to start taking responsibility, even as young adults, to protect the kids and teenager's in our world.  It literally hurts me to see these type of pictures posted all over the Internet.  I just wish people my age would grow up and start acting like an adults and be the role model they should be to the younger people.