People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands-literally thousands-of songs about broken hearts and rejection and pain and misery and loss. The unhappiest people I know, romantically speaking, are the ones who like pop music the most; and I don't know whether pop music has caused this unhappiness, but I do know that they've been listening to the sad songs longer than they've been living the unhappy lives.
In the discussion about childhood influences, there's significant concern regarding the impact of guns and violent media on kids and teens. However, an equally important issue seems to be overlooked: the extensive exposure of children to music that dwells on themes of heartbreak and sorrow. This raises questions about whether such lyrics might contribute to a culture of emotional distress, just as violent content raises fears of aggression.
The author observes a curious correlation between the popularity of pop music and romantic unhappiness among listeners. Many of those who enjoy sad songs tend to experience significant heartache, leading to a reflection on how these lyrical themes may affect their emotional well-being. It is unclear if pop music directly causes this unhappiness, but it is evident that many who resonate with its messages have spent considerable time immersed in that type of music long before encountering their own heartbreaks.
